About a year ago, I found myself driving to a restaurant to meet some colleagues. It was about 6pm on a November weekday about one block away from my apartment in a major Maryland metropolis. I was alone in my car and stopped at a red light at the intersection. I turned my head to the right, and looked through my passenger window.
At the corner was a scene from an old Shaft or Dirty Harry movie. A scruffy man had grabbed a little old lady by her dress and brandishing a switchblade. I kid you not, it was a blue floral dress. She seemed to be resisting; she was pulling away and struggling to hold onto her handbag.
I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the passenger window, and yelled to the lady, "jump into my car!" The woman indeed pulled away from her assailant. I unlocked the doors, reached over and opened the passenger door. She indeed clambered into my car. At the same time, the young man dropped his knife, then bent over and picked it up. We looked at each other for a moment and he ran off behind my car and away toward the left.
I drove off, turned the corner, and talked to the old lady, who was quite panicked. The passengers in another car who witnessed the event stopped to ask if she was alright. She calmed down after a few minutes. It turned out she had a car parked a few blocks away. I dropped her off, and she drove off.
I learned a few things:
1. Strange thoughts go through one's mind. I was at first incredulous. Was this some sort of joke? When the mugger and I looked at each other, the only thing I could think of was, "That asshat is going to scratch my car with his knife!" When I realized it was all real, I got mad! I think I shifted my car into reverse as the mugger ran behind me. I was probably mad enough try to run him over. My conscience probably got the better of me before I did.
2. Tunnel vision is real. The whole incident happened in a few seconds. I would still be able to identify both the mugger and victim today. I don't think I was aware of anything else around me. I didn't realize someone else had witnessed the event from close by until afterwards. I might have been fooled had this been some sort of tactic to distract me from, say, a carjacking.
3. In retrospect, I was in no personal danger. I was in a car, which is a far better fight-or-flight tool than a knife. I was, however, unarmed. Maryland (effectively) does not allow concealed carry. I didn't even have my usual pocketknife clipped to my pants; I had simply forgotten it that night.
4. Even if I were armed, I think this was still the best course of action. Actually, I feel pretty darn good. I hope (think) that I would have done the same thing even if I did have a sidearm. It goes without saying that I wish concealed carry were legal here in MD.
Well, thank you all for listening (well, reading). Comments?
At the corner was a scene from an old Shaft or Dirty Harry movie. A scruffy man had grabbed a little old lady by her dress and brandishing a switchblade. I kid you not, it was a blue floral dress. She seemed to be resisting; she was pulling away and struggling to hold onto her handbag.
I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the passenger window, and yelled to the lady, "jump into my car!" The woman indeed pulled away from her assailant. I unlocked the doors, reached over and opened the passenger door. She indeed clambered into my car. At the same time, the young man dropped his knife, then bent over and picked it up. We looked at each other for a moment and he ran off behind my car and away toward the left.
I drove off, turned the corner, and talked to the old lady, who was quite panicked. The passengers in another car who witnessed the event stopped to ask if she was alright. She calmed down after a few minutes. It turned out she had a car parked a few blocks away. I dropped her off, and she drove off.
I learned a few things:
1. Strange thoughts go through one's mind. I was at first incredulous. Was this some sort of joke? When the mugger and I looked at each other, the only thing I could think of was, "That asshat is going to scratch my car with his knife!" When I realized it was all real, I got mad! I think I shifted my car into reverse as the mugger ran behind me. I was probably mad enough try to run him over. My conscience probably got the better of me before I did.
2. Tunnel vision is real. The whole incident happened in a few seconds. I would still be able to identify both the mugger and victim today. I don't think I was aware of anything else around me. I didn't realize someone else had witnessed the event from close by until afterwards. I might have been fooled had this been some sort of tactic to distract me from, say, a carjacking.
3. In retrospect, I was in no personal danger. I was in a car, which is a far better fight-or-flight tool than a knife. I was, however, unarmed. Maryland (effectively) does not allow concealed carry. I didn't even have my usual pocketknife clipped to my pants; I had simply forgotten it that night.
4. Even if I were armed, I think this was still the best course of action. Actually, I feel pretty darn good. I hope (think) that I would have done the same thing even if I did have a sidearm. It goes without saying that I wish concealed carry were legal here in MD.
Well, thank you all for listening (well, reading). Comments?
Good job.