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Comment by mywittyname | Hacker News Reader

People take this "every second counts" idea as though it's axiomatic.

I've been in my fair share of sus situations in my life and they've been either telegraphed (people starting with yelling, then intimidation, then getting into personal space) or ambiguous. I was recently at a block party with a loud DJ, and some guys fired several rounds and it took minutes to figure out what was going on. Even the first responders were amazingly sluggish in their response.

Hell, I had a guy sneak up behind me while I was parked in my car, bang on my window and tried to start shit with me. I had enough time to shoot off a text to my wife to stay put while defusing him.

So I personally think people with good situational awareness have plenty of time to act appropriately in a variety of common dangerous situations.

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> I've been in my fair share of sus situations in my life and they've been either telegraphed (people starting with yelling, then intimidation, then getting into personal space) or ambiguous.

The problem is that in a "sus situation" you would not be able to chamber a round without brandishing the firearm, which in many situation would be illegal in a merely "sus" situation where you don't have a clear threat (brandishing laws, intimidation, etc). This is why many self-defense advocates encourage people to carry with a round chambered while also carrying something like pepper spray for situations where lethal force is not necessary.

> So I personally think people with good situational awareness have plenty of time to act appropriately in a variety of common dangerous situations.

Most people I've encountered who carry concealed would agree that you should try to keep yourself from being in common dangerous situations. The reason they carry is not for the avoidable situations, since they'd obviously just avoid them, but for the unavoidable situation. The vast majority of people who carry concealed never need to use their firearms, the point is to be ready to defend oneself and others if the situation should arise.

When I carried regularly I was always *extremely conscious" of having a sidearm(s) at the ready. And, knowing the the civil laws of engagement (=> I read all of Massad Ayoob's stuff) the result—for me at least—it makes you the most meek, chill person ever (if you actually understand the power that you have on tap which I surely did).

Pretty much everyone I know in the gun community would say that all the situations you mentioned are ones where you better not draw your gun.

As another commenter pointed out, drawing your gun in those situations is usually a pretty serious crime (supposedly even showing that you're carrying a concealed gun to ward people off is a crime in some jurisdictions - I haven't verified).

So not sure what the point of your comment is. You're describing scenarios that are irrelevant to the thread.

Oh, and just BTW, lots and lots of cases of people acting like you ending up dead. Acting appropriately in dangerous situations doesn't mean you will come out on the better end.

there are plenty of videos online showing situations where it did matter.

if you google around for "Ring camera video appears to show man shoot assailant in self-defense" you can find one.

some people do live in legitimately very dangerous places. whether one should carry chambered is a function of that.

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