I have been very interested to read this topic. I have a concealed carry permit and have a bersa .380. I introduced myself on another thread today and while we are about to be homeless and considering living in an RV full time, I will not give up my permit.<br /><br />I was stalked a few years ago by a woman I had been friends with. She was threatening to kill me and my children. I lived in NY and when I tried to get a restraining order, I was told that because I was not married to her, I could not have one. This was one of the reasons why we moved to CO. When we got out here, she continued to stalk us long distance and make death threats. We had a temporary restraining order but the judge took it away because she claimed not to have any money to be able to get to CO.<br /><br />After he took the order away, the threats started again. The police advised us to get permits and told us about the 'make my day' law. Apparently, if she is banging on our door, screaming that she is going to kill us, we are allowed to shoot her through the door. Now, I have a problem with this. I live in an apartment complex (temporarily) and would have no way of knowing where that bullet would end up (I can't see what I am shooting if there is a door in the way). Besides, if I am safe behind my door, I can call 911 and let them deal with it. I absolutely do not look for trouble, I moved halfway accross the country to get away from it. But, my thought is this - would I have shot her, if necessary? Yes, it has to be easier to live with an assailant's death than the death of your child because you failed to act. After a period of time an officer in our town put out a warrant for her arrest in NY for harassment. While she was never actually arrested (her lawyer quashed it) we haven't heard from her in 1 1/2 years.<br /><br />One of the reasons we are losing our apartment is because the people downstairs drink...alot. For some reason they decided they didn't like us. I have repeatedly been subjected to threats like they will kick my ### and other stuff every time I would go to my car in the lot. It finally stopped when one day, as I was going to my car, my jacket blew open and the woman (who is twice my size) saw my bersa on my hip. Since she must have decided that confronting me directly might not be wise, she has been complaining to the office that I have been confronting her. Last week, one of the men downstairs was drunk and tried to physically touch my mother and put his arms around her. I have proven to the office that I have not done anything (since my mother moved in last year, I am never alone) but they decided "not to renew our lease". You know what, that's okay, given how much this complex has gone downhill, I might actually be safer being homeless...lol.<br /><br />The point of my post is this, I only carry a gun for personal protection. I am willing to use it only if all other options are not available and it will afford me an escape. I used to carry knives and I know how to use them. When I travel to other states where I cannot carry my gun, I carry my knife on my belt under a sweatshirt. I have been attacked a couple of times in my life when I lived in bad areas, and knives have saved my life (without cutting anyone up).<br /><br />If you do not think you can use the weapon you are carrying, do not carry it. You are only handing your assailant something to use against you. I would rather kick out a knee and run like hell then hand someone a weapon I cannot defend against.
