Defensive Tactics on Entering Stores/Resturants

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the iron horse

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How do you keep your eyes "wide open?"

Are you awake?

A plan to respond?


I was in a parking lot a few nights ago waiting on my wife and watched dozens of people walking out of their cars, never looking around, talking on their phones, and not one of them ever looked around to check out their surroundings.

Others came to cars, some unlocked, and again, the same scene.


What you you think?

Or do?
 
Situational awareness is important, without a doubt. More suited to Tactics, so I'm moving there...
 
while the idea of constantly being aware of your surroundings is nice, it's far from realistic; especially when a 5'10" german girl is trying to kiss you as you walk out of a restaurant. ;)

However, efforts that can be made, should be made.

I mean, it doesn't hurt to anticipate dark corners, parked cars, and other things of that nature.
 
the iron horse said:
I was in a parking lot a few nights ago waiting on my wife and watched dozens of people walking out of their cars, never looking around, talking on their phones, and not one of them ever looked around to check out their surroundings.
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I look like that sometimes too, but it doesn’t mean I’m situational unaware, it just means I prefer people think that I am.
 
Have you ever noticed how someone can appear out of nowhere when in a parking lot. I actively scan my surroundings when I'm out shopping, but I'm frequently surprised by someone walking between parked cars.
 
I don't stress over this stuff.
I stay situationally aware, keep my eyes open.
I try not to sit with my back to the door. That's about it.
 
"...not one of them..." Very few people pay the least bit of attention to what is going on around them. Criminals know that and take full advantage of it. Mind you, being 'on' all the time is extremely fatiguing. The military calls it 'combat fatigue'.
 
Hmmm. Well, for starters I park at the far end of the lot, normally. Less chance of me scratching my car or somebody else's. I also know that anyone else who is parked near my car can be considered criminally insane until proven otherwise. :p
I try to be very aware of surroundings, and always lock the car and set the alarm when leaving. I also try to get the car moving as soon as I get in the driver's seat (shut/lock doors pretty much simultaneously, snap seatbelt, start car, put in gear). When you're walking to the car, you can run if you need to. When you're driving the car, you can really run from trouble - or run it down as the situation dictates. But when you're seated in a parked car, you don't have much in the way of evasion.
 
I highly recommend the NRA's "Refuse to Be a Victim" course. It's not a gun class or a shooting class. It's intended to help people develop situational awareness in many ways and it started as primarily a course for women who are not interested in having a gun for self defense. The course is about four hours long and is well worth the time.
 
Paranoia works. Most crimes and criminals are opportunistic. These people see us as holding thier stuff and future girlfriends until they need them.

In order for people to respect yours, they must respect you.
To respect you, they must first respect themselves.(Confusius,Sonsu,Geronimo?)
The wrong end of a gun may be the improper way to command such respect
but I remember a story about a stubburn mule. Until I can fab a classy rig for a 4' 2x4 it will have to do.
 
Do a quick survey of the poeple there,locate exits,sit faxing the door,tactically order a cheeseberger.
One PIA situation I am often in..we meet another couple out to eat alot.I always want to get there 1st,because the husband always gets the seat facing the door.He's unarmed and clueless to boot.I try to get him to move w/out being obvious why..alot of times I use the "I'm left handed"excuse if it will make sense.
 
I frequently use "call ahead seating" at the '99' Resturant.....

the purpose of this 'tactic' however, is to jump the line and get seated fast and has little to do with self defense. :p
 
One of the more aggravating occurrences (at least to me) is walking to my car only to find vans/SUVs/Pickups/etc. parked on one or both sides as you can't observe whether or not there is anyone around your car until you are standing in front of or behind it and you can't observe whether or not anyone is approaching your car after you get in. Then, you have to pull out/back out blind; I usually try to park facing out which helps. Maybe I should get a semi tractor as my primary vehicle and let everyone else worry about having their line of sight blocked.:D
 
Last fall when I was out in the Seattle area on business, a bunch of us were going out to dinner every night. One night we had finished eating but were still standing outside the restaurant talking. Out of our group, I was the only one stopping and looking all around every few seconds.

Another thing that I don't understand is how people can read books or work on a laptop, etc while waiting in an airport? I just have to know what is going on around me.
 
ans/SUVs/Pickups/etc. parked
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And if you're walking far enough away from them to have half a second with which you may crap yourself before a BG grabs you, you're probably standing in traffic.

My first rule, when I can follow it (rarely I know) is to shop on weekday afternoons. Fewer cars, fewer people, less traffic. Even moreso in the mornings, but that's usually hangover time (kidding....)

After that? I guess you need to be that guy and walk in traffic. Maybe if you had a big friend, he could walk on the car-side, giving you some time.. But there's gotta be SOMEthing out there that beats the sacrificial lamb theory.
 
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