Freaked out, but Not too upset with my response.

[TCB in TN]

OK, I have to laugh at myself for just a second, because of the outcome and the circumstances, but after that I have to say I am not to disappointed with my response. So here you go, feel free to give your comments. (and I am sure you will have some)

I was in the rest room at the local wally world night before last, at the sink washing up. I am carrying IWB with my little snubby .38. I hear the door start opening and so I turn to the side and the first thing I see is a black ski masked head attached to a rather large body, walking around the corner. My 1st reaction was to put up my left hand and turn my body side ways, to cover my weapon. The guys eyes get real big and he steps back, then kinda laughs. Before he even takes the stepped back I catch myself (even though it is here in middle TN, 25 degrees with a 20mph wind and spitting rain and snow does call for a ski mask although you don't see many of them in a wally world in Middle TN). I laughed with him and he says he should have taken it off before coming into the building. Said he thought I was gonna slug him for a second. (little did he know)

I felt real silly, but still I have gotten into the habbit of watching anytime I have my back exposed, and I try to stay as alert as possible while out in public. So while while it was not perfect, I both recognized the possible threat and started to react, but made the mental connection based on both the conditions and his reactions and did NOT pull my weapon.

I don't feel that I really stay on "alert" all of the time, but I try to remain aware of my surrounds, and I was happy that I was definitely NOT on condition white.

 

[bogie]

...?

 

[Pax Jordana]

wow, TN.. heh. ok. just wow.

Yeah, part of being aware is being aware that it's ___'n cold outside, bud

And hey, the guy learned his lesson without a protracted lecture.

 

[Grizfire]

Actually the bathroom is a likely place to get robbed. Imagine you're in the stall, with your pants around your ankles, no where to run. Even at the Urinal, you are in a precarious position making it difficult to defend your self.

This has actually happened many times. They work in pairs, one stands outside the bathroom keeping watch, while the other goes in and kicks down the stall and demands for your wallet.

Maybe this guy saw that you were "finished" and decided to abort.

you never know!!

 

[TCB in TN]

wow, TN.. heh. ok. just wow.

Yeah, part of being aware is being aware that it's ___'n cold outside, bud

And hey, the guy learned his lesson without a protracted lecture.

Well in my defense, do you have any idea how many people I saw all day with ski masks on?



Exactly 1, and he came up in the rest room inside Wally World with it on. So while I did feel a little embarressed, it is hardly like it would have been there in PA. (I have spent winters in Indiana, Ohio, and MI and would NOT have been so startled by a ski mask there). Here in TN, it is hardly a common occurance.

 

[Pax Jordana]

he came up in the rest room inside Wally World with it on.

eh heh, well, had you had trauma plates duct taped to your back, he wouldn't have stood a chance.

(that is to say, you've made a good point and now I'm just muddying the waters to cover my retreat)

 

[DWARREN123]

Do what you have to do. The rest room at Wal-Mart is not always a safe place, I think you did okay.

 

[Snagglepuss]

I support your response. Better safe than sorry. What kind of guy walks through a Walmart with a ski mask on. A dork?

 

[TCB in TN]

I don't know what kind of guy he was, but he scared the crap outta me for just a second there.

 

[The Canuck]

Did you present? No.

You managed to check yourself before you presented and scared the heck out of a guy who just wanted to go pee. Your awareness is good and your reactions were within the realm of normal. AKA, nobody got shot = good.

 

[Hardtarget]

I don't care where you live...the ski mask comes off AS you walk in the door. Buildings are heated. Many places even have signs instructing to remove hats, sunglasses, and ski masks on the front door. So, if the guy made it to the restroom with his mask on...he was up to no good.

thats how I see it.

Mark.

 

[Noxx]

Sounds to me like you did just fine.

 

[fishingjld]

i think you handled it well. i mean i am in east tennessee and it has been cold here too. NO SKI MASKS though. again he may have aborted too. you never know. way to stay cool.

 

[boalex207]

I hear him.

As he says, in our neck of the woods a guy wearing a ski mask is so uncommon that your first thought usually is he's up to no good.

It would have thrown me into Condition Orange for a second, too !

 

[The Unknown User]

You made two mistakes:

1. You voluntarily went to Wal-Mart
2. You used a public restroom

Just kidding.

Your reaction sounds perfectly normal to me, but as you say you told him, the mask should have come off once he stepped in the store. The covering of one's face inside where a ski mask or similar covering is unnecessary draws unnecessary, yet warranted attention and suspicion.

 

[hceptj]

I think you did okay...probably the same thing I would have done in the situation.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I think you did okay...probably the same thing I would have done in the situation.

Yep. Me too.

 

[Geno]

Had a similar situation in the bank, except it was a guy wearing full helmet w/ face shield...all dark black. He stood there to my 7:00 wearing that helmet with shield pulled down. All I had was a P3AT on the left ankle. I simply tried to keep side-positioned enough to see what the character did. His "bud", who happened to be the teller, finally recognized him and asked, "X...that you?!"

Lesson that I learned: never, ever, under any circumstances carry only an ankle-piece :banghead: never carry only a P3AT :banghead:. Fortunate for me this person was not a bad-guy, just a foolish guy. But then...so was I, because I was woefully under-prepared.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

A fellow member here at THR posted where he was robbed while taking a leak in the urinal in a public restroom.

He stated that the bad guy stuck a gun to the back of his head and took his wallet, but fortunately did find his CCW firearm.
IIRC he posted something like this - "It's hard to draw your weapon when you're holding a handful of lizard..."

I know that this incident you describe happened while you were washing your hands, but I make it a point to only use the stalls when I use a public restroom.

 

[WC145]

Use a stall and don't pee on your hands, then you don't have to wash them.

 

[TCB in TN]

I always use a stall, but I still plan on washing my hands, because cleanliness is next to godliness!

 

[WhoKnows]

Had a simlar experiance except it was my Dad at the urinal at a rest area at about 3am. Dad was doing his bussiness when a gruffy guy walked in and walked up behind him and my dad turned his head and the guy was just getting a little closer he told the guy Do yourself a favor and get the **** out of here. My kids already heading over here from the car with his pistol. The guy didn't say a word turned and walked briskly out. I always prefer a stall and watch for feet infront of the door. And watch the mirror while washing the hands.

 

[another okie]

I saw a young man wearing one of those ski masks indoors the other day and had basically the same reaction. He was the only person I saw all day wearing one, indoors or out. After a second I recognized him as a young man I know with some severe neck and face burns who is a little self-conscious and probably decided to take advantage of the cold weather to cover up, but my heart rate did go up for a few seconds.

 

[Ditto_95]

I think you did a great job of not drawing on him.
Volentarily going to WAllyworld is another thing. You should be ashamed.

 

[TCB in TN]

I know but here in small town America you often have the option of WW or nothing.