I get a kick out of reading the critiques and posts of some of the misadventures of the forum members. I'll share an experience I had last summer. Be nice.
I shot an IDPA match at Ghost Town Shooters. When I finished the match I put my Les Baer back in the bag and removed my Kydex holster. I stuffed my IWB back in my britches, filled with a Kimber Pro Carry stoked with 230 HydraShocks. OK, we can stop right there, how many of you guys are thinking, "For crying out loud, it's a freaking IDPA match. At least shoot what you carry."
So I am headed down I-25 and I need gas, a snack, and I really need to take a leak. I get to the next exit and there is a Mini-Mart at hand. Right off the interstate, right into the parking lot, then right back on the Interstate. I exit knowing this is the bad part of town and there was a drug related muder three blocks from the Mini-Mart only a month earlier. I thought about going on, but I exited anyway. Stop rolling your eyes.
I pull into the Mini-Mart and I am in condition yellow. I am fueling the old pick up truck and this car pulls up with one trophy scumbag behind the wheel. I mean this guy looks hard core. Ink, hair, and leather. The guy gets out of the car 45 feet away in front of the entrance and leaves the car running. Hmmm...that's not good. As he gets out of the car, his leather vest and t-shirt sticks to the seat and raises up, he has a huge freaking knife carried small of the back. I can't tell if it's an Arkansas tooth pick or a Bowie, but now I am in condition red. There are no other vehicles around so I assume it's just the scum bag and the clerk.
I watch him enter the store and he is acting normal. I take the pen out of my pocket and quickly write the vehicle description, plate number, and time on the back of a scoresheet and place it on the driver's seat in plain sight. The fuel is dispensed. I am thinking wait for the guy to come out, then go pay for the gas. He is still inside and I can see him away from the entrance getting a beverage. I figure, crap if he tries something with that clerk I'll never forgive myself. I lean inside the cab take my .45 out of the holster and place it in my sweatshirt pocket. You know, the type with a front pocket like a kangaroo pouch.
I enter the store and walk down an isle that puts me where I can watch the guy and also be at 90 degrees to him when he pays the clerk. He gets his coffee and walks to the clerk and I follow watching his hands. He doesn't even look at me so I figure everything is cool, but I stay red. He is in front of me and he has one of those big freaking wallets on a log chain in his hip pocket, only inches from the knife. I walk right up behind the guy, far enough away to not invade his space, but close enough not to miss. I had my hand on the gun, but no one is the wiser. His left hand is on the counter. As he reaches back for his wallet I figure I'll draw if his hand goes past the wallet and lifts the vest. The dude is all muscle and no way in hell am I going to latch onto the guy. He gets his wallet out, pays the clerk and leaves. I finally get to go take a whizz.
As I grow older and society gets even creepier, I find myself paying more attention to everything around me. I have even gotten to where I carry on a routine basis. I almost feel like I am paranoid. For crying out loud, I live in Wyoming. I really feel for those of you who live in the metroploitan areas where violent crime is a way of life for so many people. Get a gun. Stay sharp. Be safe.
I shot an IDPA match at Ghost Town Shooters. When I finished the match I put my Les Baer back in the bag and removed my Kydex holster. I stuffed my IWB back in my britches, filled with a Kimber Pro Carry stoked with 230 HydraShocks. OK, we can stop right there, how many of you guys are thinking, "For crying out loud, it's a freaking IDPA match. At least shoot what you carry."
So I am headed down I-25 and I need gas, a snack, and I really need to take a leak. I get to the next exit and there is a Mini-Mart at hand. Right off the interstate, right into the parking lot, then right back on the Interstate. I exit knowing this is the bad part of town and there was a drug related muder three blocks from the Mini-Mart only a month earlier. I thought about going on, but I exited anyway. Stop rolling your eyes.
I pull into the Mini-Mart and I am in condition yellow. I am fueling the old pick up truck and this car pulls up with one trophy scumbag behind the wheel. I mean this guy looks hard core. Ink, hair, and leather. The guy gets out of the car 45 feet away in front of the entrance and leaves the car running. Hmmm...that's not good. As he gets out of the car, his leather vest and t-shirt sticks to the seat and raises up, he has a huge freaking knife carried small of the back. I can't tell if it's an Arkansas tooth pick or a Bowie, but now I am in condition red. There are no other vehicles around so I assume it's just the scum bag and the clerk.
I watch him enter the store and he is acting normal. I take the pen out of my pocket and quickly write the vehicle description, plate number, and time on the back of a scoresheet and place it on the driver's seat in plain sight. The fuel is dispensed. I am thinking wait for the guy to come out, then go pay for the gas. He is still inside and I can see him away from the entrance getting a beverage. I figure, crap if he tries something with that clerk I'll never forgive myself. I lean inside the cab take my .45 out of the holster and place it in my sweatshirt pocket. You know, the type with a front pocket like a kangaroo pouch.
I enter the store and walk down an isle that puts me where I can watch the guy and also be at 90 degrees to him when he pays the clerk. He gets his coffee and walks to the clerk and I follow watching his hands. He doesn't even look at me so I figure everything is cool, but I stay red. He is in front of me and he has one of those big freaking wallets on a log chain in his hip pocket, only inches from the knife. I walk right up behind the guy, far enough away to not invade his space, but close enough not to miss. I had my hand on the gun, but no one is the wiser. His left hand is on the counter. As he reaches back for his wallet I figure I'll draw if his hand goes past the wallet and lifts the vest. The dude is all muscle and no way in hell am I going to latch onto the guy. He gets his wallet out, pays the clerk and leaves. I finally get to go take a whizz.
As I grow older and society gets even creepier, I find myself paying more attention to everything around me. I have even gotten to where I carry on a routine basis. I almost feel like I am paranoid. For crying out loud, I live in Wyoming. I really feel for those of you who live in the metroploitan areas where violent crime is a way of life for so many people. Get a gun. Stay sharp. Be safe.