Lottery Line Question

[fearless leader]

Once I was working in a remote area convenience store. When I say remote, the store was out of eyesight of the neighborhood it serviced, leaving a BG 2 turns and he can be on I-64 unobserved.
I was working the lottery line, as it was quite high that night.

A man handing me a form with his desired numbers, asked me a queer question. He said, "What would you do if I took out a gun and asked you for your money?"

I told him I'd have a descision to make; whether to shoot you in the head and make you die fast, or shoot you in the gut and make you die slow, but your gonna die." I was bluffing, I just hoped he was too. I had a 1911 cocked and locked on my strongside hip, under my smock, but I'm not a magician. If this guy was serious, he had likely prepared for some resistance and probably had his other hand already on a gun of some sort.
Shooting response would not be good tactically because behind him are a half dozen or so patrons.
The lottery machine and cash register are about the same size and are between us, making physical contact difficult at best, and I am on a 6 inch high platform.

The man took his change and left, without incident, and I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

What do you think you would have done?

 

[fletcher]

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he assumed you were unarmed, and could have been making a point (without much tact) as to the vulnerability of stores.

But, the more likely scenario is that he was casing your store for a robbery, or is just a nut. Responding to that question goes two ways if that's the case; he'll either know to not rob your store, or he'll know to come in ready to shoot.

I just would have been ready to draw and let him go.

 

[308win]

I don't know that there is a right answer. I would have gotten his license number and called the PD if it was me. Maybe they would investigate and maybe not.

 

[fearless leader]

I got my answer from one of my favorite old gun guru's when I was just a tadpole, learning about guns. Call him J. A. We used to rib this guy because when my friend, a voracious reader, spoke of Wild Bill Longley, J. A. spoke almost as informed about the man as if he'd rode with him. He was the most learned man about the Old West I believe I've ever met.
He told me one day, a fellow put a question like the one above to him, and Telling him he'd die fast or slow, his would be assailant turned and left. Anyone who shoots bowling pin matches with a Colt Single Action Army is OK in my book.

 

[RoadkingLarry]

Similar situation, working a Stop & Rob in a less than picturesque neighborhood. One very cold 3:00am a car pulls up outside, I can see the passenger side of the car because it pulled up right to the door. 30-something woman gets out leaves car door open and enters store. Looks around empty store and comes to counter and asks for a pack of smokes. As I ring up the sale she says "I wouldn't work in a place like this unless I got to carry a gun". I say: "why now that would be against store policy" and give her a big smile. She looks at a me a couple of seconds then leaves. At the time I had a very strong suspicion that I had come close to being robbed. For what its worth I had no problem with emptying the cash drawer and asking if they wanted a paper or plastic bag but I intended to draw the line at violence against me.

 

[Exmasonite]

i'd probably call the PD. not sure if you have surveillance cameras or what but if so, pull the tapes and get a picture.

he may have been casing the joint and is waiting for a less astute/unarmed coworker to make good on his promise.