No Spin Zone,
Ok. So here is what I would do.
I'd pull my weapon while quietly making my way to the BG. If he has an accomplice waiting outside, I doubt he is going to come to his friend's assistance. I figure he's gonna split the scene. See ya! So, I get withing 10 feet of this creep, point my weapon at him and tell him to freeze! If he turns to look at me and his weapon is directed towards me I fire my .45 and keep him covered while telling the clerk to call 911.
I make a statement to the police that I shot this scumbag because I feared for my life.
You have just posted a rookie cop's fantasy. It usually doesn't take too long on the street before they grow out of dreaming about those encounters though. Where to start?
I'd pull my weapon while quietly making my way to the BG.
What's behind the counter? Any glass display cases that the BG can see your reflection in? What about the big glass windows that are usually filled with displays and posters. Any chance the BG will see your reflection in them? What about other customers in the store. How will you make sure one of them doesn't see you present your weapon and scream or otherwise give you away? The other customers have no way of knowing you're one of the good guys, do they?
If he has an accomplice waiting outside, I doubt he is going to come to his friend's assistance. I figure he's gonna split the scene.
You're willing to bet your life and lives of anyone else in the store on this. And you've come to this conclusion from....your extensive experience studying the criminal mindset, they always do that in the movies and on TV, a good guess?
How do you know the BG's accomplice isn't in the stop and rob? Could be he's watching his partners back.
So, I get withing 10 feet of this creep, point my weapon at him and tell him to freeze!
10 feet, that's pretty close. Do you think you can react and fire before he could cover 10 feet if he were to turn and rush you? Are your ninja skills up to the task of getting that close to him without him knowing you're there?
What happens when you tell him to freeze if he jumps and shoots the sales clerk? And what are you going to do if he does freeze? What if he says; "Man, back away or I'll waste the clerk!" Now what? Can you put one right into the brain stem or the neural motor strip for a no reflex kill, under stress?
If he turns to look at me and his weapon is directed towards me I fire my .45 and keep him covered while telling the clerk to call 911.
What if he turns to look at you and keeps the weapon pointed at the clerk? How many times are you going to fire your .45? What if you miss and hit the clerk?
You're not a police officer. You said you're just a private citizen with a CCW. Why would you want to try to be a hero? There is so much that could go wrong with your little plan it's not funny. I can guarantee you that the police response would be to wait outside the stop and rob for the BG to exit for the same reasons I just gave you. Your quest for an engraved plaque from the mayor and all the accolades that go with it is just too dangerous for everone concerned.
Here's what I would do. I would quietly move to a place where I had some cover or at least concealment. I would draw my weapon and keep it concealed behind my thigh and watch the situation come down.
Only if I were certain that the BG was about to shoot the clerk or round the customers up for the execution trip to the cooler would I intervene If I thought that I could do it unseen or heard I would be on my cell with 911 while observing the situation. That's the perspective of an off duty police officer (no CCW here). No way am I going to risk mine and everyone elses life for a medal and big write up in the paper, neither should you.
Jeff
