HI express
Member
The other day I picked up my new purchase (Para-Ord CCO) and on Saturday my wife and I were out and about and on the spur of the moment I decided that I needed to check out accesories for my new toy.. somehow at that time my car was about 6 blocks from Turner's off of the 605 freeway. My car already knew the way so when we parked just outside the doors my wife elected to have me get her handgun in the car trunk so that she could sit in the car so that she could enjoy quiet time.
Remember, this is Los Angeles County so that is a no-no. So is having a "loaded" weapon in the store. So I put my handgun in a Life Jacket and lock it in the trunk. I have my Benchmade folder and I figure I'd be in the gun/sporting goods store for only a "little while." That is why my wife decided to sit it out.
I get about midway into the store, checking out the available holsters, checking around. People go in and out of the store constantly and about 8 people are checking out the guns in the glass counters..nothing overly suspicious.
I'm looking at a holster in the shelves when I hear near the handgun counter.."You can't bring that thing in loaded!" There is a lady working at the counter who was showingg a handgun to a customer when she noticed a young man hand a loaded magazine (bullets loaded in the mag) to one of his friends in front of the counter.
Everyone within hearing went on semi-alert. I peered around the shelving to see what the situation is, hand on Benchmade. here is what I saw, four young men standing near the lady facing out in a semi-circle. Some with hands in jacket pockets The man nearest to her with a loaded pistol magazine, starts arguing in a loud voice defending his position. One male customer nearest my left and the counterman serving him have their hands on their handguns.. the customer appears to be an armed citizen. They are focussing on the loudmouth. The lady does not appear to be armed. Another employee comes out of the backroom, he does not appear to be armed but he starts explaining to the loudmouth what the law is.
The way the four guys are standing, they look like several are packing under or in their jackets. Things are getting tense.
I turn quickly towards the cashier and the door into the door. Setup? Anybody blocking the escape? Or covering the door for the four?
Time to go. If things go south I am in a bad situation, I am relatively unarmed. I might be able to sneak up on the guy closest to me but if the things escalate at that moment, I stand a good chance of catching lead. shelves tend not to stop bullets, agreed?
Looking around the aisles around the exit corridor, I have eyes and ears wide open. Before I go out the doors I check the cars outside of the store. My wife sees me, her eyes are wide open. She nods at me, surprised that I was coming out of the store so quickly. (Not my usual half an hour or longer) She had been paying due diligence to her surroundings and her nod indicated to me that she hadn't seen anything suspicious outside.
I jump in the car, got us into a far corner of the parking lot with the car facing out. Called the local police on her cell phone then got gun out.
The cavalry arrived a short time later and my wife and I headed home without any new gear.
I'd appreciate any input on what I could have done to improve my odds or what I could have done period?
Remember, this is Los Angeles County so that is a no-no. So is having a "loaded" weapon in the store. So I put my handgun in a Life Jacket and lock it in the trunk. I have my Benchmade folder and I figure I'd be in the gun/sporting goods store for only a "little while." That is why my wife decided to sit it out.
I get about midway into the store, checking out the available holsters, checking around. People go in and out of the store constantly and about 8 people are checking out the guns in the glass counters..nothing overly suspicious.
I'm looking at a holster in the shelves when I hear near the handgun counter.."You can't bring that thing in loaded!" There is a lady working at the counter who was showingg a handgun to a customer when she noticed a young man hand a loaded magazine (bullets loaded in the mag) to one of his friends in front of the counter.
Everyone within hearing went on semi-alert. I peered around the shelving to see what the situation is, hand on Benchmade. here is what I saw, four young men standing near the lady facing out in a semi-circle. Some with hands in jacket pockets The man nearest to her with a loaded pistol magazine, starts arguing in a loud voice defending his position. One male customer nearest my left and the counterman serving him have their hands on their handguns.. the customer appears to be an armed citizen. They are focussing on the loudmouth. The lady does not appear to be armed. Another employee comes out of the backroom, he does not appear to be armed but he starts explaining to the loudmouth what the law is.
The way the four guys are standing, they look like several are packing under or in their jackets. Things are getting tense.
I turn quickly towards the cashier and the door into the door. Setup? Anybody blocking the escape? Or covering the door for the four?
Time to go. If things go south I am in a bad situation, I am relatively unarmed. I might be able to sneak up on the guy closest to me but if the things escalate at that moment, I stand a good chance of catching lead. shelves tend not to stop bullets, agreed?
Looking around the aisles around the exit corridor, I have eyes and ears wide open. Before I go out the doors I check the cars outside of the store. My wife sees me, her eyes are wide open. She nods at me, surprised that I was coming out of the store so quickly. (Not my usual half an hour or longer) She had been paying due diligence to her surroundings and her nod indicated to me that she hadn't seen anything suspicious outside.
I jump in the car, got us into a far corner of the parking lot with the car facing out. Called the local police on her cell phone then got gun out.
The cavalry arrived a short time later and my wife and I headed home without any new gear.
I'd appreciate any input on what I could have done to improve my odds or what I could have done period?