[Zundfolge]

... or "thank God I carry a gun!"


Well today I had one of those "glad I was packing" situations ... and I think I may have used my gun to prevent a crime (although I never even drew it).

My wife calls me at work telling me "smoke" was coming out from under the hood of her car, so she parked it in a McDonald's parking lot (the one at I-25 and Garden Of The Gods' Road for those of you who know the area). She went on to do some shopping with friends asked me to check the car out after I get off work and if necessary have it towed home.

So I get to the car at about sun down. I start it up (it starts fine) and I'm letting it run for 15min or so to see if I can figure out the problem.

I notice that the parking lot of this particular McDonalds is being used as a makeshift bus depot. While I'm there a bus drops a bunch of people off ... and soon after there are a few people at the front of the McDonalds with bags and such obviously waiting on the next bus.

I'm toward the back of the parking lot, over by the order station for the drive through, with the hood of my wife's car up and me looking under the hood with a mini-maglite.

Anyway, there are 3 "disadvantaged youths" standing at the front of the McD's with their bags. They keep looking back at me and then quickly looking around. Well I'm not an idiot ... I can tell when I'm being sized up (I've been robbed once before). So after a few furtive glances toward me, they start walking toward me with that walk that's half stalking, half "I watched too many rap videos and think this one-leg-shorter-then-the-other walk makes me look tough". So I make eye contact with the lead guy and grab my gun through my shirt and grab my belt on the other side and "adjust" my pants ... to most people this would just look like I pulled my pants up.

They all 3 get that "we've been made" look, spin around on their heels and briskly walk back to their bags, they pick up their bags and walk around to the front of the building where I couldn't see them.

It was very subtle ... subtle enough that I don't think the average "law abiding citizen" would have even noticed what I did, but I am sure I convinced them to leave me alone without even having to draw my weapon. I really didn't think much of the incident at the time until I happened to mention it at dinner later that evening.

What's funny is I wasn't nervous at the time, nor did I have much of a reaction, but by the time we got home from dinner I had thought about it all, and was shaking a little :(

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I had not been armed. :(

I also can't help but wonder what would have happened if they wouldn't have been bright enough to see my "signal".


EDIT: Side note ... the "smoke" was steam ... her car had sprung a little coolant leak. We limped it home and it looks like I'll be replacing a hose tomorrow.

[C.R.Sam]

And...
Nuter what if;
What if it had been your wife lookin at it when the "youths" did their stalk ?
She prepared, mental and tools ?

Sam

[Zundfolge]

She doesn't carry a gun, but she's always got her pepper spray ... and is just shy of a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do ... that and she can run faster then most men (in her younger days she set most of the state track records ... she's still in pretty darn good shape).

She's also got a pretty bad attitude and a good sense of situational awareness (which is part of the reason she just dumped the car for me to take care of :p ).

I'd feel better if she carried a gun ... she's more comfortable with a knife though (so I guess I better go get her a good one). Eventualy I do believe I'll get her to carry a gun.

[TallPine]

Ah, but you didn't kill anyone, so this doesn't count as a legitimate defensive use of a gun. :rolleyes:

[jhisaac1]

I wonder if they knew you were armed, or if they simply knew that you knew what they were up to and it was the eye contact and confidence that made the difference.

Still glad you were ready in case they didn't get a quick case of the smarts.

[C.R.Sam]

Attitude shows confidece, awareness or whatever.
Window to the mind.
They peeked through the window and saw somebody home.

A battle not fought, everybody wins.

Sam

[Zundfolge]

I wonder if they knew you were armed, or if they simply knew that you knew what they were up to and it was the eye contact and confidence that made the difference.
Good point ... I guess I'll never know for sure.

I will admit that my confidence was enhanced by the knowledge that if it came down to it I could handle the situation.

Had I been unarmed, I probably would have lacked that level of confidence and calm.

And I understand that a gun is not magic ... its not a guaranteed "get out of trouble" card ... but it is a comforting piece of steel.

[DorGunR]

Zundfolge
Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Glad everything turned out ok.:)

[Sam Fisher]

I wonder if they were actually coming over to you to ask if you needed some help. I doubt it, but it's just a thought. I don't blame you for your reaction to the situation either. I would have done the same. Whether they were coming to rob you or assist you, the fact remains... they got the message you were sending. Nice job!

[Standing Wolf]

They all 3 get that "we've been made" look, spin around on their heels and briskly walk back to their bags, they pick up their bags and walk around to the front of the building where I couldn't see them.

I've driven by the place a time or two. It's definitely not my kind of food, so I've never eaten there.

I'm glad all turned out well, equally glad it turned out well without a direct, more than visual confrontation.

Scratch a criminal, and you'll always find a coward. Those three may be more reluctant to try to prey on ordinary law-abiding citizens in the future—or at least, I sincerely hope they become more reluctant!

[JohnKSa]

I wonder if they knew you were armed, or if they simply knew that you knew what they were up to and it was the eye contact and confidence that made the difference.
I was leaving the parking lot (in my car) when I noticed an older woman in a large car driving up to an ATM. About that time, a beat up vehicle with two men in the front seat pulled out of it's parking space. They had been sitting there in the car backed into a parking space facing the ATM and when she drove into the ATM lane they pulled in behind her.

The lot was relatively empty, and the ATM was situated quite a ways from the store. In other words, there was no reason for someone to be parking way out there by the ATM which is what first made me notice the car.

I pulled up close and rolled down my window and made eye contact with the two guys. They backed up out of the ATM lane and left the lot. I don't think the woman ever noticed a thing...

I may have scared off a couple of regular guys who were getting ready to use an ATM, but I think not.

I think you're onto something. Sometimes just knowing that someone sees them and is onto them is enough to make them rethink their situation.

[feedthehogs]

Related story,
Many years ago my wife and her friend went to the Miami arena for a Cher concert. (AHHHHHH Bogie Man!)
The traffic was backed up and the alternator quit and after some time with the AC and lites on, the car died and wouldn't restart.
Some people pushed it on a side street right across from a Miami police sub station.
My wife tried to enter but the door was locked and they wouldn't open it for her to use the phone to call me.
She and her friend walked a few blocks to the Arena and called. I said go to the concert and I would come down to fix the car.
Called a buddy who owned a car parts place. Picked up a new alt and battery and headed to Miami with a model 29.
Anyone knowing the area knows its real bad. I found the car and got out to look at it and was approached by a guy wanting to know what I was doing. Seems my wife paid a big homeless guy 20 bucks to watch the car and he was!
Only my wife could do this.
Once he saw my keys, he turned to leave and I gave him another 20.

While fixing the car I was approched by several unsavory characters wanting to know why whitey was in their area.

I always pulled my shirt back to reveal the 29 and they left. I soon got tired and just took off the cover shirt. Never was bothered again and fixed the car.
Waited for the wife to show back up, and we all went home.