Just put my hand on my pistol!

[Owen Sparks]

I just went down to the corner store to get a cold drink when I suddenly noticed a large man wearing a hoodie and a ski mask coming from the back of the store. The facts raced through my mind, convenience store, night time, mask, ROBBERY?

I reached under my jacket and put my hand on my 1911 and prepared to do what was necessary when the man removed his mask. It was an employee that I knew who had been stocking the walk in cooler.

Whew, sigh of relief.

Nobody noticed my actions, not even the guy in line behind me so I made my purchase and left. Of course I was not about to draw without a reason but the whole thing shook me up.

 

[Texan Scott]

A test of the old "emergengy response system", excellent!
(Gun: 100%. Visual and mental accuity: 100%. Cardiac response: 100%. Bladder integrity: within acceptable tolerances )

Now we all hoist a cold whatever to having it and not needing it!

L'chaim, Mr Sparks!

 

[Ehtereon11B]

A gun in the hand is...I'm sure there is something that can go here. As was said it is always better to have it and not need it; then to need it and not have it.

 

[smalls]

Had something similar happen to me last year, but I'm pretty sure the guy had ill intents. I cleared leather, but hadn't completely drawn before he turned around and ran like the wind in the opposite direction.

Glad everything went smooth for you, though, looks like you were prepared.

 

[beatledog7]

Smalls -- the guy didn't stop to check what caliber you were shooting before he decided to back off and run?

Amazing.

 

[MedWheeler]

^^ Or how much you paid for your gun?^^

 

[allaroundhunter]

I'm with beatledog and MedWheeler in calling BS on you, Smalls....for the above reasons

btw, Smalls, your sig line really did just make me laugh

 

[DNS]

Had a hoodie guy experience myself one night in the Wally parking lot.

Better than a whole pot of coffee huh?

 

[JEB]

good for you for being aware of you surroundings and ready to react!

Now we all hoist a cold whatever to having it and not needing it!

here here!

 

[lemaymiami]

Every uniform cop I ever knew had more than a few similar experiences. Nothing like all your alarms going off, and you prepare, then find out that there's not a threat at all. That sort of stuff will really wake you up...

As a corollary, since I preferred a shotgun on the street if I expected trouble.... I can't tell you how many times I was pointing the business end at someone or some group. Here's the thing, in all those years I only took the safety off (Wingmaster riot, standard model) on one occasion.... I'm pretty certain that no one downrange ever noticed that small detail. My usual routine involved clearing the popper from the vehicle, racking the action to make it ready, then advancing at high port with my trigger finger on the safety and that's where it stayed until things stood down or it was time to use the thing... A cop's life is mostly false alarms until that once in a lifetime occasion when it isn't a false alarm at all...

 

[beatledog7]

I'm with beatledog and MedWheeler in calling BS on you, Smalls....for the above reasons

I didn't call BS on smalls, and I don't think MedWheeler did either. I was simply calling out all the "your caliber is too wimpy for SD" crowd, and I got the impression MedWheeler was calling out the "your gun is too cheap for SD" crowd. The smalls example was just a vehicle on which to make the call.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Update:

I had a word with the manager this morning when I stopped by and asked him what he would think if someone came in wearing a ski mask and a hoodie. He said he would think it was a robbery. I told him that was exactly what I thought at first when I saw the employee wearing a mask and hoodie in 60 degree weather. I did not mention the pistol but he agreed that it was a stupid move on the part of the employee and he would ask him to uncover his face before coming out of the cooler.

It is really not smart for adults to cover their faces in places like convenience stores and banks that are prone to armed robbery.

 

[beatledog7]

Many banks ask that nobody enter wearing a hood, hat, sunglasses, or any sort of face covering. This gives their security cameras a good look at the face of everyone who enters.

Does a covered face = nefarious intent? No, but in such places as banks and convenience stores, an uncovered face usually means the person is NOT up to no good.

 

[Owen Sparks]

There have been several cases where people wearing Halloween masks have been shot or shot at. Come to think of it the fact that it is Halloween season never crossed my mind when I saw the masked man last night. His ski mask was something similar to Mossy Oak and it looked nothing like a costume.

 

[lemaymiami]

My last "semi" war story... I used to hate Halloween with a passion since it seemed that every 7-11 had customers in full face masks of one sort or other. Late night, working the streets by myself... I got into the habit of just staying away from convenience stores on that particular night....

 

[JustinJ]

I was simply calling out all the "your caliber is too wimpy for SD" crowd, and I got the impression MedWheeler was calling out the "your gun is too cheap for SD" crowd.

So all scenarios happen like the one Smalls describes and nobody has ever had to neutralize a determined threat? Sounds like a realistic looking toy gun would have been sufficient for the described anecdote. I'd suggest not carrying one.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Halloween is the one night a year that grown people can go around wearing masks in public and nobody notices. If a bad guy were planning an armed robery this would be the night. Be carefull!

 

[rbernie]

I reached under my jacket and put my hand on my 1911 and prepared to do what was necessary

What was that?

 

[allaroundhunter]

I reached under my jacket and put my hand on my 1911 and prepared to do what was necessary

What was that?

I think he means that he was prepared to show everyone his pretty gun and make sure that the BG saw that he was carrying a big 'ol .45

If that didn't stop the BG then Owen might have been in trouble

 

[beatledog7]

So all scenarios happen like the one Smalls describes and nobody has ever had to neutralize a determined threat? Sounds like a realistic looking toy gun would have been sufficient for the described anecdote. I'd suggest not carrying one.

I don't advocate carrying a toy gun, or an unloaded one. Nor do I advocate drawing without the intent to shoot. However, the practice apparently would have worked in the scenario smalls encountered.

There have been many cases where presentation ended the BG's impetus to attack, but nobody should ever count on that. If you draw, your gun should be loaded and you should be planning to shoot unless the attacker acts in such a way that you get to change your mind about pulling the trigger. As I have stated before, the decision to shoot is the one you make--drawing is just a necessary part of the shooting process.

I do not advocate carrying a .45, a 10mm, or a .357 just because someone on the Internet says anything less is insufficient. I do not advocate carrying a gun that sells for a certain minimum amount because somebody claims that less pricey guns are not reliable. An attacker will never care about your gun's caliber or purchase price. If he is determined or drugged to the extent that drawing doesn't stop him, then misses with a gun the carrier can't control won't stop him either. And even if the carrier does score non-CNS hits, such an attacker will keep fighting no matter the size or speed of a single bullet. Multiple hits may change that.

I advocate making the choice in a concealed carry firearm that's right for the person who's going to carry it, and that means he or she can score hits with it. I advocate training and practice. I advocate lawful, respectful carry.

How is any of that wrong?

 

[Owen Sparks]

I reached under my jacket and put my hand on my 1911 and prepared to do what was necessary

At that point I did not know what might be necessary but If the masked man were to draw a pistol I would have the drop on him. I was at the end of the line with no cover near by and a potential 20 foot sprint to the door.

Again, nothing happened but if it had I was prepaired to put that 1911 between me and the potential danger.

 

[Cosmoline]

These are good opportunities to check your training. Personally I find I suffer from the "freeze up" when I run into potentially bad situations. I have NO problems finding my firearm, but my legs get locked into place while my mind races.

What SHOULD happen is an immediate, smooth movement to cover and concealment. Nothing to attract attention, but something to get objects between you and the potential threat.

If no cover is available, MOVEMENT ITSELF is of enormous tactical importance. It's much more difficult for the bad guy to hit a laterally-moving target than one standing there. But most of us are trained at ranges where you don't move and you certainly don't shift laterally to the target. It's a problem.

 

[JustinJ]

There have been many cases where presentation ended the BG's impetus to attack, but nobody should ever count on that.

Agreed. So why make a case in point in which presentation did?

I do not advocate carrying a .45, a 10mm, or a .357 just because someone on the Internet says anything less is insufficient. I do not advocate carrying a gun that sells for a certain minimum amount because somebody claims that less pricey guns are not reliable. An attacker will never care about your gun's caliber or purchase price. If he is determined or drugged to the extent that drawing doesn't stop him, then misses with a gun the carrier can't control won't stop him either. And even if the carrier does score non-CNS hits, such an attacker will keep fighting no matter the size or speed of a single bullet. Multiple hits may change that.

I don't want to get into a caliber or gun price debate. I'll just say that nobody advocates a higher quality gun because it will scare a bad guy. They do so because they believe it to be more reliable and or accurate.

Whatever your position is on carry gun selection or caliber I'm just saying that Small's anecdote cannot support it. Pointing out that one guy was able to deter an attacker by simply showing part of his gun seems to imply that nothing matters but having a gun to flash.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Not to get sidetracked here but I prefer appendix carry and last night was a prime example why. I was able to discreetly reach under my jacket and establish a firm grip on the pistol without alarming anyone including the guy who got in line behind me while all this was going on. He never had a clue. Had this situation gone bad and had the man who walked up behind me been an accomplice, there is no way he could block my draw as he would never see it coming.

 

[Stope Rat]

Every uniform cop I ever knew had more than a few similar experiences. Nothing like all your alarms going off, and you prepare, then find out that there's not a threat at all. That sort of stuff will really wake you up...

As a corollary, since I preferred a shotgun on the street if I expected trouble.... I can't tell you how many times I was pointing the business end at someone or some group. Here's the thing, in all those years I only took the safety off (Wingmaster riot, standard model) on one occasion.... I'm pretty certain that no one downrange ever noticed that small detail. My usual routine involved clearing the popper from the vehicle, racking the action to make it ready, then advancing at high port with my trigger finger on the safety and that's where it stayed until things stood down or it was time to use the thing... A cop's life is mostly false alarms until that once in a lifetime occasion when it isn't a false alarm at all...

And this sudden (but routine) adrenaline dump is one of the reasons that cops have an average life expectancy about a decade shorter than the rest of the population. Hard on the heart.