Do you ever get scared?

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I used to work for pizza hut, papa johns, and dominoes. Shady areas, shady crackhead apartments, etc etc were my typical route.

The closest I ever came to something exceptionally disturbing was when this HUGE black dude with a metal pipe started eyeballing me as I walked up the stairs to my customer's apartment door. He acted like he was going to follow me for a second, but then he walked off.


INSTANTLY I thought "THIS DUDE KNOWS I'M GETTING PAID RIGHT NOW! METAL PIPE! BIG DUDE!"

I grew up in a house of people who will wake up at the sound of a fly fart, but I didn't sleep much, and I liked to move around, so I got well enough at sneaking to make it around a CLEO sleeping on a couch, and that skill is very useful for other situations, too.

Anyway, I might have looked like james bond or something with the route I was taking out of this place. It has raised fences around 10ft high, and you can get to it from the second story balcony. I took that way. I didn't go back downstairs where the guy went off to, which was in the direction of my vehicle and the exit of the place. I went around the outside of the complex, got back in my vehicle and headed toward the gate. As I'm driving up, the dude with the pipe walks into the middle of the road and holds it above his head. He moved without me having to slow down or be inconvenienced any further, probably because I was obviously not going to stop, and had plenty of time to reach gutwrecking speed.


I didn't have my .45 at that time, but I did have a crappy knife that would have possibly been able to penetrate all that dude's external shell so I can take a poke at something that might kill him, or atleast cripple him, or something.. not much I coulda done honestly that was different from what I did.

Pizza delivery taught me how to use my vehicle as a weapon, though. I used to practice on people's trashcans they'd leave sitting at the base of the driveway.

I also became lightning quick at disengaging locks (with/without key) , donning restraints, cranking vehicle, and GOING!

I get questioned sometimes as to why exactly it's such a violently efficient practice for me to enter and exit my vehicle.. Habbit, from pizza delivery. If you're not moving, you're not doing your job. It's a good practice, though, cuz it reduces the amount of time you're concentrating on something besides what everyone else is doing.

Then I took up cable installs, and that was even worse..

You think you're scared now, in a bad neighborhood holding a pizza that's hopefully not as crappy as the ones my co. made, worth <50$ 99% of the time, exceptions are usually direct to location anyway with one delivery for a crapload of pies for a church or something.


No no... Imagine doing that, except you stay at the customer's house for around an hour to 2 hours, you're in a notorious houston ghetto neighborhood, the back of your vehicle is filled with hundreds of dollars of cable, supplies, etc, 1200$ worth of ladders, and about 20,000$ of equipment that EVERY MORNING you sign a piece of paper saying that

"IN THE EVENT OF LOSS, THEFT, OR ANYTHING ELSE, YOU PAY FOR IT!"



I got a .45ACP and a smart carry holster. Wore it every day for the year I worked there.


Quick review - Smart carry holster after one year of use -

It's stained with sweat, well worn, but still held my pistol in the same spot, 12 hours a day, through attics, underneath houses/trailers, on telephone poles, upside down, climbing in trees, running, crawling, sliding on your belly, etc etc.

Safety didn't disengage, no rounds fired inside my pants, still allows for a pretty quick draw, and it's INVISIBLE!


The best CCW holster, IMO, for applications in an environment where your boss does not want you armed, but only because it's cheaper to hire someone else when you die, than to risk having to pay for your medical coverage, the purps coverage, associated lawsuits, etc etc as a result of you shooting, or attempting to shoot, your attacker.


Nothin else really offers the outstanding comfort, complete freedom of movement, and total concealment of your firearm the way the smart carry does.

This was with a 1911 OM.
 
I have worked full-time and part-time, on and off, in pizza delivery since 1985. I didn't read all the responses, but these are some safety/security practices I believe in:
Know the area you are driving into, and be aware of surroundings as you arrive in it.
Contrary to what the stores tell you, it is not always a good idea to pull into the customer's driveway, even to illuminate the doorway with your headlights. It makes it too easy for an attacker to use his car to block yours in. I leave my truck in the street when safe to do so, which is virtually 100 percent of the time here.
Carry a 4-cell MagLight on every after-dark run. As you exit your vehicle, sweep the front yard and the adjacent properties, as well as the interiors of any parked vehicles with the beam. Once at the doorway, you can deactivate the beam if it is well lit. Tuck the light into the back of your pants while transacting, the way cops do. Take it back out again as you return to your vehicle. If you have too much food in your hands to carry the light, your priorities need to be re-examined. Leave some in the vehicle; no legitimate customer will take offense that you chose to carry a light instead of their two-liter. Tell them the approach was dark, and you didn't want to drop the bottle or whatever. Don't walk away from the door counting money.
Once back in your vehicle, get out of the area. If you make drops within your vehicle, or need to study a map or address ticket to get to your next run, get away from the last address first. Just because the delivery is complete does not mean you are out of danger; many pizza drivers are robbed by thugs on a simple "opportunity presented itself" basis; they see you leave an address with money and sit in your car, unaware of their presence.
If you are unable to make contact at the door, return to your vehicle to make the call. I do not re-enter mine; I stand in the street, at the left rear corner of my truck. From that position, I usually can see quite clearly in all directions. If the reason I am making such a call is because the house is dark or otherwise "doesn't look right", I do re-enter my truck and back up, back down the street by a hundred feet or so, and then make the call.
If a customer comes out to the street to meet you, especially if you did not call him out first, do not let him approach your vehicle with you in it. Either tell him to wait at the doorway, saying you will come to him, or exit your vehicle and take that L/R position and ask him to remain in front of it "where it's light" (that's what I tell them), and you will meet him there.
Look like a cop. Carry yourself with apparent confidence, and speak with professional assertiveness. I know of at least two instances in which my mere appearance has resulted in what was supposed to be a robbery ending up as nothing more than an unfounded order; the would-be robber(s) simply chose to remain concealed and not follow through.
Weapons: I carry one on myself, and keep another easily accessible from a seated position in my truck (both are firearms, and I am a permit-holder.) I also carry an edged weapon, and the MagLight, which is also a potential impact weapon.
My full-time position now is in EMS, but I worked for a few years in law enforcement before that. My practices, particularly those regarding personal and vehicle placement, stem from those years, following tactics used while interacting with unknown subjects, and while conducting traffic stops. That's where the "don't be approached in your vehicle" practice I follow comes from.
Of course, your situations can vary, and each location has different potential. Trust your gut instinct, and learn from apprehensiveness.
For more discussion on pizza delivery robberies, visit www.tipthepizzaguy.com/discussion.
Be safe.. it's only pizza..
 
I've decided to not be a smart ass on this one and give you my experience of fear. I became a LEO when I was 19. I worked for several small police dept and mostly you were on your own. I have been lucky!!! Several times I was imtimidated but didn't back down. I acted confident in the confrontation and afterword thought about how It could have been handled. After 6 months and some knowledge I kinda liked that tickle in your belly!:neener:


Jim
 
WLTX-TV
Published: March 8, 2009

Irmo - A suspected robber is dead after officials say a pizza man shot him in during the robbery.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts says Saturday night, four men ordered pizza to a house on Avery Place Lane with the intent of robbing whomever delivered it. None of the four lived there and officials say the homeowner did not realize his home was being used for a robbery.

Pizza Hut delivery man, 43-year-old Christopher Miller, says he showed up at the home at 10:30 p.m. and 17-year-old Paul Sturgill was standing on the sidewalk waiting for him. Officials say soon after Miller got out of the car, two other men ran at him from the woods.

When Miller started running away, that’s when authorities say Sturgill continually tried beating him in the face. Miller, who has a concealed weapons permit, says he pulled out .45 caliber handgun that he had in his fanny pack and shot Sturgill in his chest.

Sturgill was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The three other suspects ran and officials are still looking for one of the men.

He’s 18-year-old Justin Roundtree. Metts says he’s wanted for robbery and criminal conspiracy. Roundtree is a member of a criminal gang and is 5-foot-5 and weighs 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC with any information you may have that can help authorities catch Roundtree.

Meantime, Lexington County officials arrested 18-year-old Jason Beckham, at the home of the alleged robber who died early Sunday morning. Beckham is at the Lexington County Detention Center waiting a bond hearing on charges of robbery and criminal conspiracy.

20-year-old Carlos Dates is also behind bars awaiting a bond hearing on the same charges and was arrested Sunday afternoon in connection to the crime.

An autopsy will be performed Monday on Sturgill.


Miller has not been charged in connection to the shooting, but the incident remains under investigation.
 
I have found that emotion can be a bad thing when carrying.

Fear is natural and an emotion that can be a warning. If the hairs on the back of your neck stand up for no apparent reason, take heed. It's a danger warning.

I try very hard to control my emotions as much as possible. Especially negative emotions. I show my love to my family as I always have...unconditionally.

I control my anger much better now than I did when I was younger. I avoid confrontation but show no fear. I look possible predators in the eye and show confidence. I don't make alot of small talk with strangers, nor am I easy to get close to emotionally. I have some really, really close friends and alot of acquaintances. I basically stick to my family and friends. I have made conscious decisions on how I will respond to threats beforehand. I train accordingly. I don't want emotions entering in as to how I will respond to a threat. It's not easy and it's much easier said then done but it is what I do, as best I can.

Hope this helps. Stay safe.
 
Would have made more sense to just give up the pizza and the cash and save a beating. Thats the problem with untrained people carrying guns. If he had of just fired a shot into the ground the badguys would scatter like quail and no harm done. Now he's charged with murder and all the good stuff that goes with it.
 
The good Lord gave us fear for self preservation. With training it can be focussed and channeld to that end. Fear is fear; public speakers feel it, but the good ones learn to harness that negative energy to channel that fear into helping them focuss on the message they are giving. Properly trained, that fear can put you into a state of hyper readiness & awareness. Read on this topic; Mass Ayoob has some great stuff, as does Clint Smith of TR; In fact, Clint has a full DVD series that would be good to invest in, mental prepairedness being a big part of the message.
 
The absence of fear isn't bravery, it's stupidity. Bravery is the ability to overcome fear and still function.

The following is one of my favorite quotes from John Wayne. I'm told he said it during his last bout with CX but I don't know for sure. Anyway:

Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway.

John Wayne
 
The Duke's writers nailed that one.

I find keeping myself busy with whatever the task at hand helps a lot. Running a Quikee Mart by yourself on the midnight shift keeps you busy on Friday night. Running the register, looking for shoplifters, evaluating every customer that comes through the door, watching for who is avoiding the cameras. Stay focused on reducing and preparing to properly react to the threat. You can rest when your shift is over.

It is no different than leading a patrol in Iraq. Track your position, search and scan, keep the traffic back. When the IED goes off and the vehicle disappears in a big cloud the first thing out is everyone's favorite curse word. Keeping a group of excited, anxious and upset 19-21 year old Marines from shooting everything that looks like it might be a threat is the real challenge at that point. You lose your head and let fear take you and tragedy will follow you.
 
Thinking of an example of a fear I overcame, sort of. While I was working with Dish network, the fastest way to cable a house was to use the crawl-space. You didnt have to worring about being neat and hiding the cable down there. Only problem, northern NV has tons of black widow spiders. And every house has them. Me haveing a natural aversion to spiders was having a hard time crawling down where I could clearly see a black widow dangling there. My boss told me either go in there or your fired. What helped me was that my boss finally went in first, just clearing the webs outa the way and squishing spiders. After a few months of seeing these spiders at least once a day everyday. I remember the first time I saw a big female with the red hour glass crawling right toward me I set my elbow down hard on top of it and went on crawling through. I began to realize that black widows were just like any other spider they dont realize their more poisonuos. you destroy their web the curl up into a ball and run away. Hope this relates to pizza delivery. For me it helped seeing other people doint it. And just doing it enough times. I think if you spend enough time in "those" parts of town the fear will lessen.
 
My Daddy told me there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity. He fought two wars in the101fst. Older I get the smarter he gets. If You have a job that is in a dangerous area. That does not mean find another job. Buck up and plan scenario's that can happen. A handgun may not be the weapon if choice. Lights, mace, canes or sticks. Think about how your hit would go down and plan to counter it. We need to take back this country for good people. Its a duty said every day with the pledge. And it will not be solved with handguns.


J
 
FWIW:

I'm a senior citizen and so chicken that anytime I find myself traveling on a right of way that is named for a deceased preacher I make a U-turn...

And I live in the South so you just gotta know that's a lot of U-turns. :D

Jesse
 
I at on time was a fighter. I doubt I could last 30 seconds now. DON'T depend on your firearm to save you. Study flashlights and canes they are devestating. If you are in fear take a few lessons in the uses. ONly thing I fear is a Grissly Bear, that is only when I don't have 45 lc.


Jim
 
I can sympathize with you completely. I had that same nerve freezing feeling in Iraq. I also get the feeling a lot now that I am home. I carry my Glock 23 with me everywhere on a drop leg holster. Yes, I do have a GFL (Georgia Firearms License). I get into some shady neighborhood and cities with my job and even though I have 14 .40 rounds in a cocked and loaded gun I still get THAT feeling. Almost like "What if i don't draw in time when one of these goons comes after me?" No doubt that I am very capable and trust in my abilities to drop an assailant but the feeling still racks my nerves sometimes. I found a way to settle these feelings and that is simply reach down and graps my firearm for a few brief seconds. It helps a lot.
 
i heard this great thing the other day from a missionary that has literally been in warzones for over two decades:

yes, i fear men but i fear God a whole lot more.
 
due to finances or lack of them , i have lived in a few of those kinds of neighborhoods . for the most part , they are not as bad as their reputation makes them appear. think about this if other people are willing to lve in that area how bad do you think it really is .if it were as bad as your fear leads you to beleive , would any one be living there?
dont get me wrong a little fear can be a good thing . it decreases your reaction time , and focuses you on your surroundings,but dont let it rule you. that same kind of paranoid mentality that makes the anti gunners think that all guns should be outlawed. they cant see past the blinders they put up for themselves.
 
You know you are in over your head when you can feel only your pulse pounding in your temples and can hear nothing else. I have been in combat situations like that and heard known atheist ask for God's help. There has always been an increase in the ranks of preachers and priests after conflicts/wars because of help requested and received from the divine while experiencing periods of extreme fear in combat.
 
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Fear is natural and like most on this sight have said it is there to "tell" you something. Also many have said to be aware of your surroundings, DO IT. Here's a little story not to scare you but to inform you. I was at a friends house one night this is a reletively safe neighborhood and well lighted. Well we ordered a pizza while getting drunk, munchies. When the pizza guy arrived at the house my friend who lived there answered and i went out on the porch for a breather. Well the pizza guys car took off with him still on the front porch. He then turned and tried to run after it as his car was STOLEN. I then called the cops and he waited for them to show. Took about 15 min. for them to get there. SUCK. He filled out a report and was taken back to his store by a co-worker. In the time we were waiting for the cops to show i talked to him and he said a suspicious van had been following him for the last two stops, he also left his delivery money in the car, with it running! To make a long story short, BE AWARE while driving and while parked, and when at a stop sign or light give yourself enough room from the car in front of you to escape if needs be. and remember the 6P's, Proper Planning Prevents P*** Poor Performance! So be prepared for anything and that fear may start to fade away.
 
Fear is natural, and anyone who has spent enough time around critical situations can tell you that it happens to everyone, and it can save your butt from time-to-time. Some people like the do the macho show-boating thing and claim that they've never been scared in their lives. I figure that these folks are either lying, or haven't ever actually faced a life-and-death situation.

To my way of thinking, the key to success is to learn to control your fear(s). Ask yourself: Why are you feeling this fear? Is the fear you are feeling imaginary, or is your subconscious mind recognizing something bad about the situation that you haven't yet been able to articulate?

To help understand and control your fears it sometimes helps to play out possible "worst case" scenarios in your head throughout any given day. A lot of cops do this, and I'd imagine that a lot of soldiers do as well. When I'm driving down an alley at night in the ghetto, I'm always playing through possible incidents that could happen at that moment, and trying to determine how I'd react to them in that context. The more you do this, the more you'll be psychologically prepared to handle the real thing. In other words, think to yourself: "If a guy stepped out from behind that bush with a knife while I was walking up that that house, what would I do?"

Don't drive yourself crazy with these hypothetical thoughts, as you could easily become overly paranoid, and more afraid of things than you were when you started. Just use them as a way to feel more prepared about your ability to handle any given situation. Also, learn to understand your typical opponent! One of the classic questions I get at parties (where my inconsiderate friends always seem to "out" me as a cop) is whether or not I'm afraid of being involved in shootings, etc. I can only answer that question in saying that I'm not generally afraid of the idea of being involved in one of these events, though I never expect the "pucker factor" to go away when a real situation unfolds in front of me! The reason I don't worry about it normally is because I know that I'm more skilled and better trained than almost any of the fools I would be likely to face on the street (gang members, crack heads, and disgruntled spouses, among others). As such, I can somewhat control my natural fears by having confidence in my training and ability to handle a situation (don't confuse confidence with arrogance... arrogance will get you killed).

Regardless, it is also important to train, and train again, so that you can react appropriately under the stress and fear that naturally occurs when your adrenaline spikes towards the redline during a critical incident! I can tell you from personal experience, your training is going to make or break you when the chips are really down in a real life critical incident. My very first summer as an officer I had an incident that went from being a "routine call" (no such thing) to a "life and death" situation in about ten seconds. That kind of adrenaline rush kept me awake for most of the night after my shift, and my actions during the incident were purely based on my training... conscious thought was following behind my training by about ten seconds, it would have seemed. Moreover, if my training wasn't up to speed I'm thoroughly convinced that I would have been killed on that night.

To summarize:

Fear can save you.
Learn to control fear, so it doesn't control you.
 
Kevin,
Good post.

Where do you work at? I work for Mesa County SO. Feel free to send me a private message.
 
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