Posted on 12/15/2021 4:54:52 PM PST by ThunderSleeps
Subtitle this: how not to be a victim
Leaving the grocery store a little while ago - went through self checkout. There was a couple of young men, maybe early 20s, loitering around speaking in a foreign language. I didn't even recognize the language, let alone understand what they said.
A little odd, given that it was just after five, most people were in a hurry picking up something on their way home from work. As I pushed my cart across the front of the store towards the exit, I heard them about 15 or 20 feet behind me, still speaking in the foreign language.
Something made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, so I did what I usually do - find and excuse to check/verify. Rather than push my cart out, in the entryway I stopped and fumbled with my 3 bags, leaving the cart with the others. My two new friends passed by, but found an excuse to pause on the sidewalk deep in incomprehensible conversation.
As I started out into the parking lot, my buddies took up their position 15 or so feet behind me again. It was at this point I decided I needed to make sure my cell phone was still securely in my back right pants pocket. In checking it, I "just happened" to pull my unzipped jacket back and my hand "accidentally" caught on my shirt, pulling it tight across the 9mm in a holster on my hip. Oops, I accidentally "printed" ... hard. Oddly enough, my two new friends immediately remembered their car was in another row and veered off. Imagine that.
only in wilderness.
Well, it was a happy result. They’ll find easier pickings.
Only carry I have spotted in NW Tucson was a ranch hand/miner at O’Reillys. Very clear open carry, mid-ride holster.
No one paid him no mind.
Being in Constitutional carry country, have to admit not carrying (not sent any of mine over here yet) but also not really looked or spotted any CCW.
Suppose it takes one to spot one, or something?
Way to go
BS... When scum is hanging around, prove to the scum you’re their worst nightmare.
I’ve found in the past when people think they can intimidate you then you you need to be twice as intimidating and it scares the hell out of them.
Craziness met with more craziness works every time.
Kudos on the poster...
Fact: Guns prevent an estimated 2.5 million crimes a year or 6,849 every day. Most often, the gun is never fired and no blood (including the criminals) is shed.
Source: http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/7.1/Gun-Facts-7.1-screen.pdf, page 21.
Fact: A victim may have a strong reluctance to talk to a government agent about a firearm brandishing incident (which are 98% of DGUs) because they may not know the act was 100% legal.
Source: http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/7.1/Gun-Facts-7.1-screen.pdf, page 83.
> Only carry I have spotted in NW Tucson was a ranch hand/miner at O’Reillys. Very clear open carry, mid-ride holster. <
I live in an open-carry state. And the only one I spotted was some guy about 30 who was shopping in uber-woke Target. I was pleasantly surprised to see that no store employee bothered him.
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Good thinking.
Excellent situational awareness.
What state, if I may ask?
Was it in a city or small town?
you do it your way pal.
why show yer cards?
I’ll admit I’m a people watcher. After all, I know the grocery store like the back of my hand (literally, I’ve helped people find stuff like I worked there or something), it is the people that are interesting. The ladies, well I am a heterosexual male so yes, I notice the ladies. The guys? Yes, I look to see if I can spot a CC. Generally on any given trip to the store I can spot one other CC. It is not uncommon to spot an open carry. We’re rural enough we get real cowboys/ranchers. I’ve seen Stetsons, chaps, wheel guns, and horse trailers in the parking lot. Kind of makes me wonder about my two new friends. Must not be from around here, the local grocery probably almost always has several armed people in it. Not a good choice, neither is the local Walmart. You tend to see more open carry there.
Well done.
Because the next several ways it could've played out were mostly far messier and would've delayed me getting home.
If my "oops" hadn't deterred them and I continued to hear them I was going to make a turn to the left, not tight, not wide. Like I had forgotten something and was going back in. Just enough to conceal my drawing my S&W and clicking off the safety. If they approached me directly, one verbal warning and then it's green light. If they went on about there business, they'd never know.
Or I could have just continued to my car. If they were up to no good as I suspect, there would have been a confrontation at my car, resulting in either me forcing them face down on the ground at gunpoint, police, reports, their word against mine... I'd still be there. Worst case, I'd have to employ deadly force and who knows where that would end up.
I went for the ounce of prevention, but with a backup plan.
Yeah. One thinks one would have done something other than printing with one’s jacket. What if they had just jumped his ass and beat him to the draw before he could get his jacket out of the way?
One hopes that one would have just done the smart thing and found or made a reason to just stay in the store. If the bg’s loiter waiting to assault someone they become conspicuous, at least.
However, assuming this is a true story, no reason to think otherwise, one is happy it worked out in OP’s favor.
I have carried for nearly 30 years and only had to show my weapon once at an ATM. As in your case I noticed the miscreant closing on me with a long coat, hand inside on a blisteringly hot June day. He kept closing on the vehicle and I pulled my Makarov out of the glove box and raised it up high and dropped the safety and prepared to issue a verbal challenge. He saw the Mak and stopped in his tracks looking straight down about ten feet from my rear bumper. I grabbed my card/cash and tore out of there. The sight of the weapon stopped the event from erupting for I intended to engage him verbally and then with the weapon in another second.
When not to conceal carry: when you’re OPEN carrying of course!
You’re absolutely right that the best fights you don’t have to fight to win. And I’m very glad that your newest friends decided to take a hike. But let’s rerun the scenario with a slight twist: let’s say you were open carrying instead. Do you think your newest friends would have hung around long enough for you to pay much notice?
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