I do not have a CHL license. I would like to know what the law is regarding pulling your CC gun in an attempt to defuse a "potential" situation that might warrant the use of lethal force.
For example, my wife and I were in the parking lot of an outlet mall smoking a cig before getting in the car to leave; it was late, we were 100+ yards from the store entrance, and most people had already left as the stores were closing. 3 younger people in hoodies, jeans down below their butts (you get the picture) were walking across the parking lot (obviously not coming out of the mall) and their trajectory was a path to pass close to my SUV. They could have easily taken a wider berth(sp?) not coming so close. I figured that if they were to approach us it would be to bum a cigarette or ask for some money, or who knows what could have happened. My nature is not to jump in the car before they got near us, although that would have been a good course of action. Anyway, I had my large SUV key firmly in my fist with the working end of the key poking out of my fist just in case. I turned toward them just to let them know I was aware of them and not afraid. They just walked past us and continued on their way, passing maybe 20 ft. from us.
So take the same situation but assume I have a CHL and am carrying. Also, lets assume that they did attempt to approach us, for whatever reason - good or bad. Can I pull my CC gun and make them aware I am carrying it, or verbally tell them I have a gun, etc. and tell them they should not approach? Even if their purpose was to ask for a piece of gum or whatever?
For example, my wife and I were in the parking lot of an outlet mall smoking a cig before getting in the car to leave; it was late, we were 100+ yards from the store entrance, and most people had already left as the stores were closing. 3 younger people in hoodies, jeans down below their butts (you get the picture) were walking across the parking lot (obviously not coming out of the mall) and their trajectory was a path to pass close to my SUV. They could have easily taken a wider berth(sp?) not coming so close. I figured that if they were to approach us it would be to bum a cigarette or ask for some money, or who knows what could have happened. My nature is not to jump in the car before they got near us, although that would have been a good course of action. Anyway, I had my large SUV key firmly in my fist with the working end of the key poking out of my fist just in case. I turned toward them just to let them know I was aware of them and not afraid. They just walked past us and continued on their way, passing maybe 20 ft. from us.
So take the same situation but assume I have a CHL and am carrying. Also, lets assume that they did attempt to approach us, for whatever reason - good or bad. Can I pull my CC gun and make them aware I am carrying it, or verbally tell them I have a gun, etc. and tell them they should not approach? Even if their purpose was to ask for a piece of gum or whatever?