LHRGunslinger
Member
Even if it was an uncomfortable situation you should feel good knowing you helped a person out of a tight spot.
This may have been the closest I've come to needing my handgun ....
- Thread starter PcolaDawg
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spook
Member
I never pick up hitchhikers. A dear friend had his throat slit by a hitchhiker he picked up on US1 in South Miami.
These days, people have cell phones, they can call for help. I sure as heck am not stopping. As with the OP, I might call them a taxi....a black and white (or in my case silver and blue) Taxi.
#77 is the number for State Police in VA, I would just dial #77 and say, there is a broken down car at mile marker 154 on I-64 West. Or there is a strange girl trying to flag down cars on such and such road between Whosit Drive and Whatsit Avenue.
I work in Richmond, not a particularly safe city. I was taught in Driver's Ed and I have always followed it. Keep your doors locked at all times while in your car. If they come up and try the handle, that at least gives you some time to floor it. Heck, even if you have to hit the car in front of you, it is better than possibly getting killed in a car jacking. I've had people approach my car before trying to ask me questions. I keep the window rolled up and when I find out they are either looking for a ride or just plain being shady, I just brush them off. Many times they act like they can't hear me, although I can hear them perfectly well. I will not roll down the window, and I will tell them that too. I had a shady character walking down the middle of a street while I was stopped at a traffic light just this morning. He was "talking on his cell phone" or pretending too. I could also tell he was eyeing me. So I was eyeing him. I was also getting ready to gun it away from him or run him over if need be...yes I am prepared for that and would have done just what your buddy did on that dirt road.
My dad keeps a Saturday Night Special .22 revolver loaded with stingers in his glove compartment. It is now legal in Virginia to do without a CCP. I may have to think of doing the same now that I am working down town.
My current job makes me wish I could also concealed carry, because I work in a public building where homeless people hang out and druggies shoot up in the bathrooms and hookers turn trix in any semi-private area they can find, but carrying a firearm by non law enforcement is strictly prohibited.
answerguy
Member
Her version of the story may have been:
I was desperate for a ride after being stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Finally a decent looking couple in a nice car stopped and offered me a ride.
Still, not knowing who they were made me nervous.
(dutring the ride I found it strange that they never asked me how I happened to get stranded out here or why I didn't call one of my friends for a ride)
Thank goodness I had a pair of large scissors with me.
Then I heard what sounded like the safety of gun being clicked off.
I don't know what they planned on doing but I wasn't going down without a fight. Fortunately all they did was drop me off at a convenience store some ways down the road. But things could have been much worse....
I swear I will never hitchhike again.
I was desperate for a ride after being stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Finally a decent looking couple in a nice car stopped and offered me a ride.
Still, not knowing who they were made me nervous.
(dutring the ride I found it strange that they never asked me how I happened to get stranded out here or why I didn't call one of my friends for a ride)
Thank goodness I had a pair of large scissors with me.
Then I heard what sounded like the safety of gun being clicked off.
I don't know what they planned on doing but I wasn't going down without a fight. Fortunately all they did was drop me off at a convenience store some ways down the road. But things could have been much worse....
I swear I will never hitchhike again.
If I see someone needing a ride, I will usually give them one.
While some of the stories mentioned here are scary as well as tragic, I make a judgment call as I look at the person(s) and go from there. Maybe it will get me one day, but if I see someone who could use a hand, I will usually give them one.
While some of the stories mentioned here are scary as well as tragic, I make a judgment call as I look at the person(s) and go from there. Maybe it will get me one day, but if I see someone who could use a hand, I will usually give them one.
As mentioned you probablly picke up a druggy that broke down after robbing a house. Keep your alarm on next few days during the day. she may have got your plates of asked where you lived. They are good at getting information if you are unaware.
I never pick up anyone hitchhiking. It's a surfire way to get held up of worse. So far i my 62 years I have stopped 3 carjackings on myself before they got to the door, using mirrors when you drive a mercedes or a porshe type car in an urban enviornment is a must. You start getting distracted and someone is going to try to open your door. Especially awhen you said mercedes, I drive one also, and you have a bullseye on your back, understand that there are people out there who make their living stealing cars like this on a daily basis. I had one jump off the back of a crotch rocket, 'suzuki", in Manhatten, "when I lived there", I say a 6 inch blade, he saw a ppks looking at him, said have a nice day and took off. this is just business to them.
I never pick up anyone hitchhiking. It's a surfire way to get held up of worse. So far i my 62 years I have stopped 3 carjackings on myself before they got to the door, using mirrors when you drive a mercedes or a porshe type car in an urban enviornment is a must. You start getting distracted and someone is going to try to open your door. Especially awhen you said mercedes, I drive one also, and you have a bullseye on your back, understand that there are people out there who make their living stealing cars like this on a daily basis. I had one jump off the back of a crotch rocket, 'suzuki", in Manhatten, "when I lived there", I say a 6 inch blade, he saw a ppks looking at him, said have a nice day and took off. this is just business to them.
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answerguy
Member
Just to be fair you should nominate yourself for the Darwin Award also.
Stopping and offering water or a cell phone to a stranger? You realize they could have killed you were you stood while you handed them either of those items?
stuff like this stops be from letting sympathy cloud my judgment
http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2006-11-29/home/001.html
They were classmates, the murder's father was a deputy sherriff. The vicitm gave him a ride to the Library and was murdered because the murderer had a fight with his father and needed a car...
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
No hitch-hikers for me ~!
All of them, MUST LEARN to use MOE & JOE~!
Now, if I see a female being attacked on the side of the road, and help is
needed - SURE, I'm gonn'a try and halt the assault; and order someone
else to call 911~! That is just the solider and police officer in me.
All of them, MUST LEARN to use MOE & JOE~!
Now, if I see a female being attacked on the side of the road, and help is
needed - SURE, I'm gonn'a try and halt the assault; and order someone
else to call 911~! That is just the solider and police officer in me.
to clarify, answerguy:
in the case I cited, my friend and I, both armed commissioned LEO's came upon a woman with 5 young children stranded on the side of the interstate in the middle of the day 200 yards from the nearest tree and only a half mile from the nearest exit in 110 deree August Louisiana weather.
We pulled up alongside and my friend rolled down his window enough to offer them that we'd run into town and bring them back some gatorade and water, on the house, and that I would use MY cellphone all by MYSELF to contact a tow service.
Both of which we did, without putting ourself in imminent danger, I dare say.
Back to my original point: Situational Awareness.
mljdeckard
Member
I have had bad experiences with hitchikers before. Even ones who were in accidents. (They REALLY got nervous when I offered to call the police. After I dropped them off I did anyway.)
It is a horrible personal security risk. The only times I would consider helping out now would be when I see a person in obvious immediate danger, particularly if it is a small child, and even then I would probably call the police as I stopped. It would also be best if I had someone else in the car to cover me.
If someone isn't in danger, let the police do their job.
It is a horrible personal security risk. The only times I would consider helping out now would be when I see a person in obvious immediate danger, particularly if it is a small child, and even then I would probably call the police as I stopped. It would also be best if I had someone else in the car to cover me.
If someone isn't in danger, let the police do their job.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Hmm.
Strange woman.
Florida.
Brings someone else to mind... http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/wuornos805.htm
lpl
Strange woman.
Florida.
Brings someone else to mind... http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/wuornos805.htm
lpl
Trad Archer
Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
- Messages
- 274
I would have left her on the highway.
answerguy
Member
Really? Do you mean drive right passed her or have kicked her to the curb after having picked her up.
I would find either of those things difficult to do unless she did something really hinky.
Ayone venture to guess the terminal performance of the mighty .380 after being fired through about a 4" thick car seat?
Next time, tell your wife that if she has cell phone batteries to use as a beacon then she could use them to call for help herself. You made a very very poor choice...especially after smelling weed and booze, come on man. Glad you are now ok.
Next time, tell your wife that if she has cell phone batteries to use as a beacon then she could use them to call for help herself. You made a very very poor choice...especially after smelling weed and booze, come on man. Glad you are now ok.
BassHunter
Member
It's amazing to me the amount of, "No way I'll stop for anyone" type replies to this thread. No wonder the world's in the crapper....
While I would have handled the OP's situation a bit differently myself, I most certainly would have stopped and offered help had I seen a person on the side of the road asking for help. Granted that this particular girl could have been a hazard, but she just as easily could have been your wife/ daughter who was out of gas/ broke down, and had dead phone batteries or no service.
I may be "old school" and I may not, but I still try to live my life by the Golden Rule. I belive if we all still did the same, the world would be a lot less crazy place.
While I would have handled the OP's situation a bit differently myself, I most certainly would have stopped and offered help had I seen a person on the side of the road asking for help. Granted that this particular girl could have been a hazard, but she just as easily could have been your wife/ daughter who was out of gas/ broke down, and had dead phone batteries or no service.
I may be "old school" and I may not, but I still try to live my life by the Golden Rule. I belive if we all still did the same, the world would be a lot less crazy place.
JackTheRipper
Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2010
- Messages
- 170
Isn't picking up hitchhikers illegal?
You smelled alcohol and weed on her... You put yourself and your wife in danger... Sounds like it coulda ended bad... And I agree with another post, with her making the first move with those scissors, she would have gotten you before you got her... Be careful, be smart...
Would you have still given a ride to a man who smelled like alcohol and weed?
You smelled alcohol and weed on her... You put yourself and your wife in danger... Sounds like it coulda ended bad... And I agree with another post, with her making the first move with those scissors, she would have gotten you before you got her... Be careful, be smart...
Would you have still given a ride to a man who smelled like alcohol and weed?
This post is purely FASCINATING from a sociological standpoint, IMO. It demonstrates bystander apathy and phobia, paranioa (and what it can do to the mind), and just how similar, yet differently, the social "Classes" really do perceive the world.
I'm in my early-mid 20's and hung out with "That group" of kids. Never got into the substances they did, but certainly had fun watching and learning what that lifestyle is REALLY like. To this day, I maintain friendships with most of them. That said -
I can empathize with your reactions, emotionally. BUT - as stated, drawing a gun would not have saved you, and unloading a .380 in a small cabin with VERY solid soundproofing sounds like pain, and a lot of it. Plus, now there's bullet holes, a dead girl, or if she kicks your gun, a dead wife. Not pretty. Also, as said, situational awareness. The most common gunshot-victims are the one who were packing and thought they could out-shoot the enemy without using their head.
As for your suspect - at first glance, here's how it went down. She was partying, got stoned, got a bit drunk, maybe got a ride to her friend's house. Friend smokes up, gets a couple of beers, it's a usual night. She mentions her keyboard died, can't do her homework or work or whatever, so her dealer or friend throws her one. We've always got keyboards and odds n ends kickin' around. She gets her keyboard, but she decides she needs to get back. Or, things go down at the dealer's house, and she needs to vamoose ASAP. If your budget goes into escaping reality, you DON'T have the $$ OR the common sense to pack a knife. Or you've never looked into it. So, she grabs a pair of scissors to protect herself on her walk back.
Those people who are THAT heavy into the drug use, especially pot, are generally UNRELIABLE for rides or transport. That kind of lifestyle leads itself to DUI's, broken-down cars w/no money to fix them, etc.
So, she gets in your car. A "lower-class individual" WILL make a nice comment on a NICE car, seeing as it's probably one of the nicest she's been in for a LONG time. She would choose the wife's side of the backseat, seeing as it's closest to the curb, and as stated, female comfort.
The ride commences, anybody stoned who just got picked up (and was probably panicking - marijuana creates paranioa like you wouldn't believe), is going to be feeling excited they'll be off the curb. It warrants a call to the boyfriend, the other friends, and an update of "I'll be there ALOT sooner!". If she's middle aged, and still that heavily into that lifestyle, chances are she'll be acting like a 20-year old, not a 50 yo. anyways.
When she gets there, she's still stoned. She's also maybe still tipsy, will thank for the ride, and hop out. She's already a bit sheepish about inconveniencing somebody who had "other things to do with their night" (as assuming from appearance and car) rather than having to drive her druggy a$$ all over the city. So, when she gets out, and HER personal defense falls onto the seat, well, she'll be sheepish about it...poor girl probably didn't WANT you to have the reaction you DID.
Believe me, I've seen all kinds of sketchy situations, and I've hung out with sketchballs myself.
Likewise, common in the street world is the knowledge that sometimes, the rich and powerful have sick desires that are kept out of view of the public's eye to protect their images. The more its repressed, the more it needs to come out. Also, in low-income areas, a guy wearing a suit and driving a nice car isn't exactly a guarantee of a model-citizen either, and when you get the world eating from the palm of your hand, a confused stoned girl is a nice plaything for a late night adventure. Easily convinced, you know?
Please, DON'T take this as me aiming it at you. Just saying, it goes BOTH ways, and explaining why SHE was probably a little scared getting into that car.
Also explaining why I found the entire situation, and everyones viewpoints so interesting, and sharing one of my own from yet another angle.
Cheers!
I'm in my early-mid 20's and hung out with "That group" of kids. Never got into the substances they did, but certainly had fun watching and learning what that lifestyle is REALLY like. To this day, I maintain friendships with most of them. That said -
I can empathize with your reactions, emotionally. BUT - as stated, drawing a gun would not have saved you, and unloading a .380 in a small cabin with VERY solid soundproofing sounds like pain, and a lot of it. Plus, now there's bullet holes, a dead girl, or if she kicks your gun, a dead wife. Not pretty. Also, as said, situational awareness. The most common gunshot-victims are the one who were packing and thought they could out-shoot the enemy without using their head.
As for your suspect - at first glance, here's how it went down. She was partying, got stoned, got a bit drunk, maybe got a ride to her friend's house. Friend smokes up, gets a couple of beers, it's a usual night. She mentions her keyboard died, can't do her homework or work or whatever, so her dealer or friend throws her one. We've always got keyboards and odds n ends kickin' around. She gets her keyboard, but she decides she needs to get back. Or, things go down at the dealer's house, and she needs to vamoose ASAP. If your budget goes into escaping reality, you DON'T have the $$ OR the common sense to pack a knife. Or you've never looked into it. So, she grabs a pair of scissors to protect herself on her walk back.
Those people who are THAT heavy into the drug use, especially pot, are generally UNRELIABLE for rides or transport. That kind of lifestyle leads itself to DUI's, broken-down cars w/no money to fix them, etc.
So, she gets in your car. A "lower-class individual" WILL make a nice comment on a NICE car, seeing as it's probably one of the nicest she's been in for a LONG time. She would choose the wife's side of the backseat, seeing as it's closest to the curb, and as stated, female comfort.
The ride commences, anybody stoned who just got picked up (and was probably panicking - marijuana creates paranioa like you wouldn't believe), is going to be feeling excited they'll be off the curb. It warrants a call to the boyfriend, the other friends, and an update of "I'll be there ALOT sooner!". If she's middle aged, and still that heavily into that lifestyle, chances are she'll be acting like a 20-year old, not a 50 yo. anyways.
When she gets there, she's still stoned. She's also maybe still tipsy, will thank for the ride, and hop out. She's already a bit sheepish about inconveniencing somebody who had "other things to do with their night" (as assuming from appearance and car) rather than having to drive her druggy a$$ all over the city. So, when she gets out, and HER personal defense falls onto the seat, well, she'll be sheepish about it...poor girl probably didn't WANT you to have the reaction you DID.
Believe me, I've seen all kinds of sketchy situations, and I've hung out with sketchballs myself.
Likewise, common in the street world is the knowledge that sometimes, the rich and powerful have sick desires that are kept out of view of the public's eye to protect their images. The more its repressed, the more it needs to come out. Also, in low-income areas, a guy wearing a suit and driving a nice car isn't exactly a guarantee of a model-citizen either, and when you get the world eating from the palm of your hand, a confused stoned girl is a nice plaything for a late night adventure. Easily convinced, you know?
Please, DON'T take this as me aiming it at you.
Just saying, it goes BOTH ways, and explaining why SHE was probably a little scared getting into that car. Also explaining why I found the entire situation, and everyones viewpoints so interesting, and sharing one of my own from yet another angle.
Cheers!
Hey so does concealed carry...
You must not read the news paper often then. Numerous instances of how this situation has ended in a death have been linked in this thread. Considering the message board we are posting on, full of concealed carry proponents. I'd say we are a cautious bunch. Besides, not stopping and not helping are two different things. Calling the police is plenty of help in a majority of cases.
except the OP specifically said she was calling her friends on the phone as she got into the car...
If it were my wife or daughter, I wouldn't want them to get in the car. They can just as easily say, would you please call the police for me. If the person offering the ride refused to call the police but insisted they get in the car...all the more reason to not get in the car.
I won't pick up a hitch hiker unless I am alone. No need to put anyone but myself in danger. Also I won't pick one up unless I AM ARMED.
I did a little hitch hiking while in college so I am sympathetic to people needing a ride. On the other hand, that was over 30 years ago and there are apparently more nuts around these days.
I wouldn't have done it.
I did a little hitch hiking while in college so I am sympathetic to people needing a ride. On the other hand, that was over 30 years ago and there are apparently more nuts around these days.
I wouldn't have done it.
BQuiz
Member
In the words of comedian, Tim Wilson, in regards to hitch hikers:
"You can go anywhere in this country and back on a Greyhound Bus for $89. If you don't have a friend....a loved one....a momma....who can loan you $89, then you pretty much SUCK as a human being. And you definitely aint getting anywhere near my car!"
Kidding aside, glad it turned out okay.
I typically have a no-hitch hiker policy, depending on the situation I guess.
I have done it once, and that was for a Marine, in uniform, who's truck had ran out of gas on the side of a long stretch of highway. He was on his way to the airport, outbound for Afghanistan. I took him to the next exit, got some gas, and brought him back to his truck. That turned out fine and I was very glad I helped the young man out.
"You can go anywhere in this country and back on a Greyhound Bus for $89. If you don't have a friend....a loved one....a momma....who can loan you $89, then you pretty much SUCK as a human being. And you definitely aint getting anywhere near my car!"
Kidding aside, glad it turned out okay.
I typically have a no-hitch hiker policy, depending on the situation I guess.
I have done it once, and that was for a Marine, in uniform, who's truck had ran out of gas on the side of a long stretch of highway. He was on his way to the airport, outbound for Afghanistan. I took him to the next exit, got some gas, and brought him back to his truck. That turned out fine and I was very glad I helped the young man out.
I must add that if you were to shoot through the seat in your mercedes, it may not come out the other side, mine is pretty solid, "I don't want to go test it". and if it does it probablly won't be going where you pointed it, and your windows may blow out if they were all closed. I have seen shooting into a car with the windos all up in the summer, blow out every one. so it is something to consider and maybe look into if anone ever has to shoot into or out of a vechicle, on top of your head flying off from the concussion, and loosing control of the vechicle. there are so many variables there that it may not be the best way to stop an attack from the back seat. Perhaps hitting the brakes or stopping the car to check a tire, would allow you to clear the vechicle prior to anything really happening. You may never be in this situation again, "I hope" but shooting isn't aways the best way to go. You could even have said, there is a police officer in an unmarked car who signaled me to pull over. By the time she looks around you are out of the car, in a better position to get off a clean shot if you had to. It would definatelly be better than firing through the seat.
metalman8600
member
- Joined
- May 16, 2010
- Messages
- 276
Well I'm one of those people who won't ignore a person who looks like they need assistance. Of course it could be a trap, but it's a much higher chance that they actually need your help! If I was in their shoes I would want help. That women is just a helpless intoxicated women and not bait for a trap. There is always a chance though, I do carry. It's a young drunk female all alone with no one else in sight, not some disheveled Javier Bardem type guy.
1 way cross country trip is $250.
It seems like many of you guys overreact to many situations. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw a thread saying "Some guy just asked me what time of day it was, I told him in a loud voice "Stop where you are!". I then assessed the situation, put my 1911 off safe, and told the man "It's 15:00 hours.". Then I immediately made sure my family was ok."
1 way cross country trip is $250.
It seems like many of you guys overreact to many situations. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw a thread saying "Some guy just asked me what time of day it was, I told him in a loud voice "Stop where you are!". I then assessed the situation, put my 1911 off safe, and told the man "It's 15:00 hours.". Then I immediately made sure my family was ok."
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PcolaDawg
Member
Thanks for all of the replies. Some of them are very interesting, to say the least.
But I've gotta ask those that think I would've shot THROUGH the seat with my .380 -
Why the heck would I have had to shoot through a seat? That comment makes no sense to me. All I had to do was turn a little bit and I could've touched her with the gun. There was no need to shoot through anything.
Maybe it would help if you knew that the hitcher was sitting behind the passenger seat. So it would have been a relatively easy shot, almost impossible to miss, imvho. The only reason I would've shot through a seat in that scenario was if I wanted to add a needless level of difficulty.
Anyway, as some on this thread have mentioned, I think she was as scared of me as I was of her. I could almost hear a sigh of relief when she realized that my wife was in the car. I think that lowered the danger level in her mind significantly, although it certainly didn't make me feel any better.
But I've gotta ask those that think I would've shot THROUGH the seat with my .380 -
Why the heck would I have had to shoot through a seat? That comment makes no sense to me. All I had to do was turn a little bit and I could've touched her with the gun. There was no need to shoot through anything.
Maybe it would help if you knew that the hitcher was sitting behind the passenger seat. So it would have been a relatively easy shot, almost impossible to miss, imvho. The only reason I would've shot through a seat in that scenario was if I wanted to add a needless level of difficulty.
Anyway, as some on this thread have mentioned, I think she was as scared of me as I was of her. I could almost hear a sigh of relief when she realized that my wife was in the car. I think that lowered the danger level in her mind significantly, although it certainly didn't make me feel any better.
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