Shotgun in Your Face and .380 in Your Pocket

Front Sight Blog ^ | June 22, 2009 | Ignatius Piazza

[bkopto]

Sniff....I like a story with a happy ending...Sniff (but the citizen-hero could have pre-empted the confrontation had he used a bit more common sense, as discussed at the link)

[Islander7]

First, let me say that I do not recommend, if you are ever involved in a shooting, that you agree to be interviewed in front of the press unless you have the kind of support this armed citizen has from the law enforcement officials involved and you have an attorney present. Even then, a live interview with the press is still not a good idea.

Best advice in the whole article.

[paul51]

florida gets it right. nice work mr. firby.

[Halgr]

Love a great ending.

[SUSSA]

Yep. But they neglected to say call a lawyer right after you call the cops. In fact it’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer about what to do if you are involved in a shooting before you are involved.

[P8riot]

Well the first thing is to have a .45 in my pocket instead.

[CholeraJoe]

My opinion is that the .380 cartridge is useful only for summary work. Always bring enough gun to a gunfight, and make sure the caliber begins with a 4.

[nikos1121]

I just moved to GA. They allow concealed weapons. I have one that I have in my car for now until I can get a license to carry.

The police here tell me that on any given day, walking around Walmart, up to 40% of the people, many women, will have weapons on them.

I’m worked out scenarios with friends, pretending that someone with a weapon has approached you. If you’re accustomed to using fire arms, I think it’s a reflex thing, otherwise, if you’re like me and haven’t used them much, you might be worse off for even having the weapon.

My question is this. What’s wrong with the 38 the guy was carrying. Is there something better?

[basil]

Place holder

[BuffaloJack]

Elliot Firby bonafide hero.
Well done, Mr. Firby.

[crghill]

You have 38 confused with 380. 380 is much smaller.

[imjimbo]

A 38 Special is more than adequate for women and others with minimal hand strength. A quality double action revolver is the safest, most dependable of ALL handguns, period.

[Mobties]

Outstanding!

[Tainan]

video plays for about 45 seconds and then stops.

[CholeraJoe]

A quality double action revolver is the safest, most dependable of ALL handguns, period.

Hear, hear!

[RKBA Democrat]

He was carrying a .380, which is a very small caliber handgun. That said, I think it was Jeff Cooper who said that the first rule of a gunfight is to have a gun. Having a gun and the willingness to use it to defend yourself seem to be the most important issues.

[nikos1121]

I think a 38, not 380, is perfect size.

[Jackalope Hunter]

Yep Small caliber. Bullet is exactly .001 smaller in dia. then .38 special , .001 larger then the .357 Magnum, & exactly the same as the 9mm para. Now it is a little anemic on the power charts, but bullet dia. has nothing to do with it.

[arthurus]

Had he “pre-empted the situation” the perp would have been free to go get someone else. Mr. Firby performed a valuable community service. The only fly in the ointment is that the perp is now a tax liability for some years to come, maybe many years.

[arthurus]

.380 is a .38 caliber bullet but it is a very short and low power cartridge. It’s not a bb gun but it is not much improvement on a .22 long.