Quote:
Originally Posted by bmac
How many is several times? I am 41 and only once have I ever been in a situation like that. Mine came when I awoke to find an intruder in my house.
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Best not to go into details here. I have a Hispanic background and I grew up on the streets of New Orleans. Both immediate and extended family members dealt drugs, and I saw and experienced a lot of ugly things in life.
Our home was broken into multiple times and we were the victims of other crimes as well, including significant bodily harm. A family member gave me a pistol at a very young age which I kept in my nightstand. Looking back, there were several situations where deadly force was justified and where many young men would have justifiably used deadly force, but it is as if an angel of God made me invisible and I was able to walk, ride, or drive away without having to hurt anyone.
As a believer, I am very much conscious of the meaning of shedding human blood and very reluctant to cross this line. I believe hell is very real, and I am not eager to send someone there, even someone intent on harming me. Threaten my wife or children however ...
I was well into adulthood before I fully appreciated the importance of avoidance, so I ended up in situations where escape and evasion was necessary.
Don't get me wrong, I do not think there should be a duty to retreat, but there are cases when given the present risks, escape and evasion may be the best tactical choice.