Fun little incident just happened to me

[Styx]

I’m at the tire store getting my rollers replaced. I go next door to Wawa and buy lunch and go out back to sit on a curb and eat. A young, tall muscular guy walks toward me, asking for money. I slide my fingers in my carry pocket, casually. I shake my head and say”No.” I didn’t have any attitude, just matter of fact.

He keeps coming and starts to reach for his pocket. I get a grip on the gun and pull it out just enough to clear my knuckles, but not enough to show the gun. I said calmly, “Don’t come any closer.”

he backed off quick, but then started yelling, “You pulled a gun on me! There’s a cop car by Wawa. I’m gonna tell ‘em!”

I said, “You didn’t see any gun. But if you want to to talk to the cops, go ahead.” I took another bite of my food. He went off the other direction. So when I had eaten, I went over to the cop car and told the officer what happened.

He just asked for a description of the guy. He didn’t ask for my name, ID or permit. He said, “You know, you’d have been OK if you had pulled on him.”

I said, “Yeah, I figured, one step at a time.” He nodded approvingly.

I was good with how I handled it. I wasn’t scared at all. I was confident and determined. If he pulled anything out of his pocket, he would have been muzzled instantly. If it had been a weapon, I would have not hesitated to shoot him to the ground. I’d probably have been a nervous wreck in the aftermath, though!

 

[Ed4032]

Perfect

 

[old lady new shooter]

Perfect

Agree.

 

[kje54]

Sounds to me like you handled it very well. Projecting calm confidence was probably more of a deterent than anything else, if you give the impression you know what you are doing most individual perps will leave you alone.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Well done.

I was working at a poolhall and had to talk down a drunk with a knife once. He never knew I had my finger on the trigger under the counter the whole time. Only reason I didn't shoot was there were other people downrange of him. Fortunately, the cops arrived to collect him and no one got hurt.

 

[hso]

What does "out back to sit on the curb" mean? Behind the Wawa in the service alleyway?

 

[KY DAN]

I voted no

This whole situation would have been avoided if you had chosen a different environment to eat lunch.

I live in a small town of around 5000ish people and I don't go certain places because of the Crack addicts/homeless.

Avoid stupid places
Avoid stupid places at stupid times
Avoid stupid places at stupid times with stupid people.

You just didn't do that here armed hero

 

[243winxb]

Depends where you live and the law. Pennsylvania- " No in Pa. (intimidation)
"On Behalf of Thompson Law | Oct 11, 2019 | Criminal Defense
You might know that pointing a firearm at a person is a crime. However, did you also know that making a gun hand gesture with your forefinger and thumb could also result in criminal charges?
Link may seem a little absurd that pointing a “finger gun” at another person could constitute behavior that violates Pennsylvania laws. However, a man was charged with and convicted of disorderly conduct for making the gesture at one of his neighbors. He tried to challenge the judgment, but an court upheld the lower court’s decision."

Pointing a gun at a dog that a lady had on lease, got another guy in trouble with the law.

 

[SunnySlopes]

I didn't vote. The post strikes me as an attention getting device for THR. And I definitely would not characterize any situation that could escalate into a life-or-death event as .. "fun."

It makes me doubt the credibility of the narrative of the original post.

 

[Coyote3855]

Agreed. I think it wrong to characterize any incident involving the potential use of a firearm for self defense as "fun."

 

[entropy]

Well handled.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I didn't vote. The post strikes me as an attention getting device for THR. And I definitely would not characterize any situation that could escalate into a life-or-death event as .. "fun."

It makes me doubt the credibility of the narrative of the original post.

I think it's reasonable to ask questions. I once had to declare an emergency in a small airplane. I handled things the best I could, but I went to an aviation forum, dumped everything I could remember about it, and asked for the opinions of others on how I handled things.

I didn't do so for internet points. I did it because my tendency is to relive the experience in my head over and over in an attempt to learn from it. And the opinions of others help in these situations. So this raises no red flags to me.

To the OP: You did fine. There are infinite ways to handle any situation, and living through the event is different than reading someone else's experience from my keyboard, drinking a coffee, and having a different life experience and worldview.

The situation never escalated, you didn't need to present your weapon, the local cop thought you did fine and showed restraint. All good.

You'll keep thinking this over. The only answer that matters is your own. Are you happy with your response, and the outcome? Should you have been more aware of the guy? Do you wish you'd had a $5 in your change pocket and you'd just given him that, or might that have escalated his demand? You can't know.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Agreed. I think it wrong to characterize any incident involving the potential use of a firearm for self defense as "fun."

Oh please. I'm quite sure the OP was sarcastically using fun as in anything but. That's how I took it.

 

[bearcreek]

And I definitely would not characterize any situation that could escalate into a life-or-death event as .. "fun."

That's very clearly sarcasm. But man, you must have a very monotonous life. There is hardly anything that I do for fun that doesn't have at least some element of danger to it.

 

[lightman]

I would say you handled it well. Its hard to beat situational awareness and a cool head.

 

[scaatylobo]

I’m at the tire store getting my rollers replaced. I go next door to Wawa and buy lunch and go out back to sit on a curb and eat. A young, tall muscular guy walks toward me, asking for money. I slide my fingers in my carry pocket, casually. I shake my head and say”No.” I didn’t have any attitude, just matter of fact.

He keeps coming and starts to reach for his pocket. I get a grip on the gun and pull it out just enough to clear my knuckles, but not enough to show the gun. I said calmly, “Don’t come any closer.”

he backed off quick, but then started yelling, “You pulled a gun on me! There’s a cop car by Wawa. I’m gonna tell ‘em!”

I said, “You didn’t see any gun. But if you want to to talk to the cops, go ahead.” I took another bite of my food. He went off the other direction. So when I had eaten, I went over to the cop car and told the officer what happened.

He just asked for a description of the guy. He didn’t ask for my name, ID or permit. He said, “You know, you’d have been OK if you had pulled on him.”

I said, “Yeah, I figured, one step at a time.” He nodded approvingly.

I was good with how I handled it. I wasn’t scared at all. I was confident and determined. If he pulled anything out of his pocket, he would have been muzzled instantly. If it had been a weapon, I would have not hesitated to shoot him to the ground. I’d probably have been a nervous wreck in the aftermath, though!

I was not there and I have no idea what a WaWa is .

But as long as you were not in a place that was questionable as to expectation of an issue,then your perfect handling was GTG with me.

Retired LEO here,and I practice EXTREME situational awareness.

Meaning I stay away from any place that I suspect a turd would be trolling.

 

[Kleanbore]

Please understand that one need not show a firearm to be charged with and/or convicted of the serious crime of aggravated assault.

The police officer's comment was extremely irresponsible--and the officer does not make the charging decision.

See our sticky on "When Can I Draw".

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I will assume "fun" was used ironicly or sarcasticly. Still I'm not voting.

The gist of the stoty seems to be not showing fear to a perceived threat while not being overly aggressive in response does work.

 

[Styx]

Please understand that one need not show a firearm to be charged with and/or convicted of the serious crime of aggravated assault.

The police officer's comment was extremely irresponsible--and the officer does not make the charging decision.

See our sticky on "When Can I Draw".

What forum is the sticky under?

 

[Styx]

I was not there and I have no idea what a WaWa is .

But as long as you were not in a place that was questionable as to expectation of an issue,then your perfect handling was GTG with me.

Retired LEO here,and I practice EXTREME situational awareness.

Meaning I stay away from any place that I suspect a turd would be trolling.

Wawa is a popular convenience store/gas station chain of stores that also make and sells made to order food.

 

[Kleanbore]

What forum is the sticky under?

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/brandishing-and-when-can-i-draw.731200/#post-9149498

 

[drobs]

For everyone that says I don't go to dangerous places. Gas stations get robbed all the time and I unfortunately have to put gas in my vehicle. Where are you going to meet the general public that might want to do you harm in your "safe" small city? The Gas Station.

 

[wayneinFL]

I’m at the tire store getting my rollers replaced. I go next door to Wawa and buy lunch and go out back to sit on a curb and eat. A young, tall muscular guy walks toward me, asking for money. I slide my fingers in my carry pocket, casually. I shake my head and say”No.” I didn’t have any attitude, just matter of fact.

He keeps coming and starts to reach for his pocket. I get a grip on the gun and pull it out just enough to clear my knuckles, but not enough to show the gun. I said calmly, “Don’t come any closer.”

he backed off quick, but then started yelling, “You pulled a gun on me! There’s a cop car by Wawa. I’m gonna tell ‘em!”

I said, “You didn’t see any gun. But if you want to to talk to the cops, go ahead.” I took another bite of my food. He went off the other direction. So when I had eaten, I went over to the cop car and told the officer what happened.

He just asked for a description of the guy. He didn’t ask for my name, ID or permit. He said, “You know, you’d have been OK if you had pulled on him.”

I said, “Yeah, I figured, one step at a time.” He nodded approvingly.

I was good with how I handled it. I wasn’t scared at all. I was confident and determined. If he pulled anything out of his pocket, he would have been muzzled instantly. If it had been a weapon, I would have not hesitated to shoot him to the ground. I’d probably have been a nervous wreck in the aftermath, though!

When you say you were out back sitting on a curb- there are usually tables at a Wawa. You were sitting on a curb behind the Wawa? Or the tire store? Where there plenty of people around you to see what was going on?

Would it be more comfortable to eat at a table at Wawa or in the lobby if the tire store?

 

[Styx]

When you say you were out back sitting on a curb- there are usually tables at a Wawa. You were sitting on a curb behind the Wawa? Or the tire store? Where there plenty of people around you to see what was going on?

Would it be more comfortable to eat at a table at Wawa or in the lobby if the tire store?

I've never seen any tables at any of the many Wawas I've been to all around VA. It maybe different in FL.

 

[bubbaturbo]

I've never seen any tables or other attached stores at any of the many Wawas I've been to all around VA. It maybe different in FL.

Several are asking for clarification on where you were eating. Seems like that information would be helpful for your poll voters and easy to provide.