I saw the thread a while back about post pix of you at your job (I guess to flush out the people who work at McD's and play Ranger Joe at home) and if you pack your firearm at work.
I was a computer engineer for the last 10 years or so. I took a break to care for my ailing grandfather. I'm back in AZ now but can't find work as an engineer. I am painting houses as a sideline. It's okay work, I stay to myself and I get to pack my P220 everyday.
Which brought me to the issue at hand. I have packed a firearm most of my adult life, in uniform and out. Sometimes I was unable to pack at a workplace due to policies and such.
For those who don't carry daily or carry on and off, please train. This is why:
I was at a home doing prep work before painting. Owners are usually not home and I am all around the outside of the house doing my thing.
I was caulking some cracks in the stucco and some kids were walking by with a rather large dog. It broke free of the grip of the teenager and started to charge me. I was packing my 220, but in that instant, I was thinking at lightspeed about what to do. They say that diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggy" while finding a large rock. I was looking all over for a weapon to stave off the aggressive pooch, all the while thinking that I am going to be mauled pretty bad by this horse-like beast.
Well, the angry doggy decided that about 5 feet from me to break off the attack and listen to his child/owner. Tragedy averted. The type of dog was - umm,,, big, black and vicious. All I remember.
The thing is that I pack everyday - even while caring for grandpa when I left the house, as rare as that was. I practiced IDPA religiously until 2 years ago. Have been an armed guard and was in training for a PD before I left to help grandpa. I reload, have worked in a gunshop and even pack around the house.
It didn't even hit me that I had my sidearm on until after the incident. I guess it was such a surprise and I wasn't thinking about a dog attack at all. Keep in mind that I usually carry an ASP baton, pepper spray, a Kubaton and some kind of high-end folding knife at all times (Emerson CQC7 usually) - but not while I paint houses.
I was running in my mind what I had accessible to me to fight off puppy and everything was missing that I mentally inventoried. The 220 never even came to my list. I didn't think it was a lethal incident, so the firearm never made the list.
My point is that I was weak in the mindset dept that day and if you carry part time, train yourself to instinctively determine the threat and use the force you need to if you have options. Don't forget the final option.
The argument could be that I have too many tools/options, but I have used less lethal force before where I would have had to withdrawl from the threat (may or may not have worked) or kill them outright.
I'll keep the options open as I really don't want to be mauled to death by Fluffy the Poodle, if I don't have to kill poor Fluffy outright.
Besides, I doubt I could kill off the family pet in front of kids unless I had no other options.
Godspeed to everyone.
ADDED:
Found a bottle of pepper spray I got for bears a while back. I think I'll add that to my tool bag since I won't be packing my other stuff during the day. I think it will be a good solution to dog attacks if I wouldn't have to shoot them. I really don't need that.
I'm thinking about borrowing a Tazer from my roommate. He has a bunch for his squad with the sheriff's dept.
Train, train, train. The lest you bleed in combat.