You took a CCW class about five years ago and you carry your gun with everywhere you go. Up until now you have never had to use.
It is late and you pull into a gas station to fill up. As you check your surroundings you notice you are the only customer. As you exit your car and begin fueling your car you see a young man coming out of the darkness about fifty feet away. He is acting very nervous and has not yet made eye contact with you. Your awareness has just peaked as he slowly approaches you.
He is within ten feet now and still has not said a word or looked at you. Suddenly he darts towards you as he pulls a large knife out of his jacket. You have very little time to react. But since your awareness was peaked you are ready for a confrontation. As he lunges at you, you pull your gun and shoot him twice in the chest. He falls to the ground motionless.
The police arrive and you give them a statement. The security tape is pulled from the store and shows that the shooting was self-defense. No charges are filed.
You used deadly force to protect yourself. You took a young mans life before he was able to take yours. Now what?
One is the number of bullets needed to change your life forever. The shooting was justified but you were responsible for killing another human being.
42% of Americans will suffer a completed violent crime in their lifetime. This crime ended in your favor. You are alive because you were alert and ready if you were threatened. But how do you deal with the fact that you killed someone.
Your life will change as you learn to cope with the fact that in the process of protecting yourself a life had to be taken. This is not an easy thing to live with. You may think you can put on your tough face and go on like nothing happened. But you are human and this is a heavy burden to carry the rest of your life.
At some point you may develop PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). This condition cannot be corrected by ignoring what you are feeling inside. Don’t hide your feelings get help. Talk to someone that you can trust. Someone who will listen and be empathetic to how you feel.
“But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Proverbs 1:33.
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