Opinions on the handling of a minor "confrontation."

[conw]

That element might be more impressed by a lead foot on the accelerator and a lack of consideration for the fact that they're in the way of the car...

I agree that "reaching" or implying you're armed is a bad idea. If you can do that, usually you can get out of there or de-escalate some other way. If you end up needing the gun, you just lost what little surprise advantage you had...

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I think the root cause of the problem is failing to recognize that the crowd in the entry way of the hotel is a problem.

Sometimes we are fat, dumb and happy.,.. looking forward to a nice rest in the hotel bed after a meal and not exactly scanning the property prior to entry of tatical problems like a group of aimless punks at the door.

At a gas station, LEO's regularly had to show up to clear the bums out so legitimate customers can come and go without fear of being panhandled, harrased or buried in smoke, stink of beer and bad hygene.

 

[lanternlad1]

I agree that "reaching" or implying you're armed is a bad idea. If you can do that, usually you can get out of there or de-escalate some other way. If you end up needing the gun, you just lost what little surprise advantage you had...

Like I said, I've done it several times, and it worked without me having to draw. I was fully ready to draw AND shoot to kill. The would be perps just wizened up in time so I didn't have to. I agree there are some that wouldn't be intimidated by my being armed, I've seen them in action too (though not with me). Let me give some info:

1. Walking through a dark parking lot outside a restaurant. We had just come out, were getting near our car when a BG approached us holding a steak knife. I went for my gun (the reach) he dropped the knife and ran off. I still have the knife in my kitchen drawer.

2. Coming out of a bar at 12am (didn't have my gun this time, just pepper spray) again approached by individual/panhandler VERY quickly with obvious intent to head us off. He had a look of unmistakable malice on his face. Went for the pepper spray (the reach), he turned right around and walked off quickly the way he came.

3. Riding in a horse drawn carriage at night in San Antonio. I had rented it exclusively for just my wife and I. An individual with an obvious meth problem attempted to enter the carriage with us. Got right up to the carriage and put a hand on it to help himself into it. Went for the CCW again (the reach), he wised up and let go and walked away. Don't know what his intentions were, and I don't care. He had a fixed blade knife on his belt and he wasn't going to get a chance to use it.

Like I said, I was willing and was actually one step away from drawing my weapon and using it. The BGs were just smarter than they looked and left the situation before I had a chance to.

 

[Byron Quick]

Maybe so, but don't draw that weapon unless you're going to fire it.

I've drawn a weapon twice and did not have to fire it. In both cases, the individual or individuals involved immediately followed my commands and left the area. Now in both cases, I was ready and willing to fire. In one, my sight picture was just beside his ear, I informed him that when my sight was on his head I would immediately press the trigger. Unusual circumstances, he didn't even know I was there until I told him of his choice-stop beating the old man or die.

Once, the man whose washing machine I was repossessing attacked me with a sledge hammer handle. I got off the line of attack as I was drawing. He realized I was drawing a firearm and dropped the sledge hammer handle. He stopped his attack. I stopped my defense and continued wheeling the washing machine out of the shed on the dolly.

Now, for the situation that the original poster was in...check out motels before you go there as far as the nature of the neighborhoods. When you see 'youths' who might be thugs loitering somewhere then don't go there. Talk with people you know in the cities. Heck, come here, and inquire about a city's neighborhoods and areas to avoid. There are cities I don't stop in...period. A shame really for most of these have very good music that is unfortunately in very bad neighborhoods.

 

[lanternlad1]

+1 Byron

My wife drew on a perp who tried to get in her car at a stop sign. He ran off before she could fire. She was willing to fire but the situation changed.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I got out of a city filled with possible perps shoving the old windhield squeezees all over my glass at every intersection for a dollar.

Once I put that city behind my life, I aint going back there and good riddiance.

 

[beatcop]

You need to get out more, kids blocking drives and staring at you is par for the course in areas these days. If that kid would have yelled, "He's got a gun" you would have been going for a ride in a cruiser.

 

[bensdad]

If that kid would have yelled, "He's got a gun" you would have been going for a ride in a cruiser.

A "ride in a cruiser" for having a gun? Did I miss something? The OP never brandished. He was scratching an itch on the small of his back.

 

[conw]

lanternlad, well put. I agree with your situations. I just don't see a reach (minus the justification, ability, and intent to draw and shoot immediately after) in and of itself as being a viable tactic. I get you though. Maybe next time you take the old carriage out, your wife can sit with a double barreled shotgun in her lap, so you can keep your hands on the reins

 

[Byron Quick]

You need to get out more, kids blocking drives and staring at you is par for the course in areas these days. If that kid would have yelled, "He's got a gun" you would have been going for a ride in a cruiser.

Yes, this is so and, as a result, there are many areas I avoid.

Now, as far as the kid yelling,"He's got a gun" and the ride in the cruiser goes...not here in Georgia you wouldn't. Maybe where you live but different laws and procedures are in effect in different states. As related by the OP, there was absolutely no action committed by the OP that would have resulted in a 'ride in a cruiser' here in Georgia...not if there was a metric ton of guns in the vehicle and each was loaded.

 

[wep45]

flea, you and your wife were very lucky to be in nashville.........you pull that "stare" and reach stuff with seasoned hood rats in new york, chicago , l.a., detroit and you will be morgue food in the blink of an eye..........those folks dont play and will respond to your challenge instantaneously

if the situation doesnt look right..............walk on by and look away

 

[conw]

wep45, the violent crime rate per capita in NYC is 1.23x the national average, chicago's is 2.18x the national average, and nashville is 2.5x the national average. LA is 2.13 and detroit takes the cake at 3.38.

according to city-rating.com

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I used to listen to the radio in the morning in NYC and this was about in the late 80's They used to have a sort of roll call of the murders the night prior. 20-40 names and where they were found. This was mixed in with the commute information. 10 million people getting along pretty durn well if we only lost 20 or so overnight.

 

[beatcop]

"A "ride in a cruiser" for having a gun? Did I miss something? The OP never brandished. He was scratching an itch on the small of his back."

Exactly!!

Just a heads up that telling lies is second nature to them..."the guy in the car yelled at me and told me to get out of the way, then he pulled a gun on me!" and his friends say "yeaaah" also.

Sir, do you have a handgun? ......uh, yes. The problems begin.

After the "big bluff", the op says he went into the lot. You're going to go into a store and leave your car unatttended after shoeing some thug away with a fake draw? Bad idea...time to leave the area. If joe-the-crack-dealer decided to get his gun and wait for you to come out of the store, things would probably get a little ugly.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

My tatic is to get out of the inner city completely. Call it 20 miles away or so. A half hour drive into the city from a peaceful motel 8 or Hamptons never hurt anyone. Kinda hard for city rats to walk that far to hang out in front of THOSE doors.

 

[amflyer]

Glock 17, Winchester +P (Daily carry; 3" @ 25 yards)||Smith & Wesson SW9VE (Home defense; 3.5" @ 25 yards)||Winchester 74 (Plinker; 5" @ 200 yards)||Mosin-Nagant M91/30 (SHTF weapon; 6" @ 400 yards)


Now, are these groups sizes an aggregate, or what?

Isn't this sort of like boasting how much you can bench press or run the 100m?

Dunno. Signatures like that can give the wrong impression.

 

[Claude Clay]

Kinda hard for city rats to walk that far.....

ahhh......"borrow" a car perhaps or take the bus

large mall 30 minutes outside of downtown/inner city runs 3 bus's per hour there but after late afternoon only runs 2 returning. seems the city youth are pretty good at 'finding' other ways to get home.
the police know where to find the 'borrowed' vehicles the next morning. and most of the mistreated can still be driven. gotta love the system

 

[sohcgt2]

You should have gone to another store if you felt thuggish youth were blocking your entrance. First move should always be to put space between you and the threat. Distance, cover, concealment.

 

[Flea]

I was not foolish enough to continue on into the store. I pulled into the parking lot, turned out another exit and promptly returned to my hotel room.

amflyer, my signature is not meant to provide an "impression" of any type; rather, I simply posted what I own and what each is capable of.

Most of the message boards I frequent are for vehicles of some sort, and as such, it's customary to have information on what you drive and how it does in your signature. I didn't realize that was frowned upon here.

Thanks for the input guys.