My wife and I have discussed becoming licensed to carry a concealed handgun for some time. I think it is right to have the option should we decide to do so. There have been times in my past that I wished I had the extra protection with me, but by the grace of God, I have never been in a threatening situation where I feared for my life. Except maybe once...
About seven years ago now, I was in a situation where I innocently attempted to assist someone in the office where I worked. They were out and I was alone. A message come in and needed an answer. In my ignorance and haste to do a good job, I accessed the information and answered the question. To my surprise, when I told the person about the incident, rather than thanking me for helping, I was berated about my accessing the information. After discussing the situation and apologizing, I thought the event was over. It was not.
Later that day, as I was again alone in the office, the person's husband, an equity partner in the business, came in and confronted me. The situation become more threatening the more I tried to apologize. All of my desire not to fight this man or resist what he was saying resulted only in his becoming more enraged. I had no idea what was about to happen. All I could see is that he was between me and the only way out of the building.
After I realized that he was not going to let me out. I decided that if I was going to get beaten, I was not going down without a fight. Amazingly, I bowed up to this much larger man and it stunned him. I that moment of confusion, I made my exit and escaped the building without injury.
Several things came to light about that incident. One, there are times when non-resistance will not diffuse a conflict. Two, I didn't know a darn thing about self defense, and I needed to learn. Three, the reason for the anger and conflict is that they were embezzeling from the company and they thought I found out. Later on the next week, I was fired.
I don't know if having a firearm that day would have made a difference. I hope that I would have had the calmness to deal with the situation similarly and without injury to me or anyone else. I did enroll in a self defense class and learned a few things that I hope to never use.
We will, however, take this class. It will be a great responsibility if we decide to carry. I believe we have thought about it and are ready to accept it. It will be a busy week as we practice shooting and brush up on those skills before Saturday.
