Got a reality check this morning...
- Thread starter JJEH
- Start date
Sometimes one gets entwined in ones own little world. I once made a flying run to Sears, I'd broken a socket while working on some piece of equipment and I was...ah, incensed. First that the cotton picking thing broke, second at the near 30 mile drive to exchange it.
At any rate I got to the one entrance of Sears that generally had very little traffic, aimed at a parking slot right in front of the doors and ignored a thought that I should park further away. I slid into a slot right next to another car.
Just as I turned the ignition off, I realized what my mind had been trying to tell me. I parked right next to a car. Directly in front of that car, but in the next group of parking spaces, was another car. There was someone in the passenger seat of both cars and the drivers were having a discussion right between the cars. As they turned to look at me a guy in the car beside me who'd been out of sight suddenly popped up.
OH **** I JUST PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRUG DEAL! (maybe)
I hopped out of my car and headed for Sears while doing my best Elder Johnny Whitebread act while closely watching the reflection of the cars and the people in the Sears entrance glass. When I got inside Sears and out of sight, I stopped to recover, give thanks and resolve never to be that self involved/internally focused again.
Why didn't I restart the car and move? That would have cued the folks doing whatever they were doing that I'd realized what they were (probably) up to. Playing blind/dumb seemed like the better choice.
At any rate I got to the one entrance of Sears that generally had very little traffic, aimed at a parking slot right in front of the doors and ignored a thought that I should park further away. I slid into a slot right next to another car.
Just as I turned the ignition off, I realized what my mind had been trying to tell me. I parked right next to a car. Directly in front of that car, but in the next group of parking spaces, was another car. There was someone in the passenger seat of both cars and the drivers were having a discussion right between the cars. As they turned to look at me a guy in the car beside me who'd been out of sight suddenly popped up.
OH **** I JUST PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRUG DEAL! (maybe)
I hopped out of my car and headed for Sears while doing my best Elder Johnny Whitebread act while closely watching the reflection of the cars and the people in the Sears entrance glass. When I got inside Sears and out of sight, I stopped to recover, give thanks and resolve never to be that self involved/internally focused again.
Why didn't I restart the car and move? That would have cued the folks doing whatever they were doing that I'd realized what they were (probably) up to. Playing blind/dumb seemed like the better choice.
For that particular purpose, a crossdraw holster also works well...
...Ben
At the risk of igniting a different argument, this scenario is exactly why one should have a “truck gun . . . “
OP
JJEH
Member
You know, a few months ago I would have agreed with you. But the current situation with car- and house break ins I don't want to leave a gun in the vehicle.
Best is to have it on the person, period.
I grew complacent because nothing really has happened for so long... but all it takes is 15 seconds and life can be very different.
Doug M.
Member
I am a fan of keeping my carry pistol(s) on me and readily accessible. Only gun in a backpack? Nope, nope, nope. In a backpack while walking the dog? Same nope. The single most likely scenario for me to need a gun is in the case of a dog attacking us.
Vehicle guns have their time and place, but I don't like having a gun off my body in the car. If I have to leave the gun (like in a couple weeks when I have to go to another county for a case), there is a Rott in the back seat to discourage the miscreants.
Vehicle guns have their time and place, but I don't like having a gun off my body in the car. If I have to leave the gun (like in a couple weeks when I have to go to another county for a case), there is a Rott in the back seat to discourage the miscreants.
I'm a bit confused by this thread. As described in the OP, a young kid in his mom's minivan pulls up and approaches the car with cash in hand, approaches the car, realizes the OP isn't the person he thought it was, acknowledges that it's a different guy, and leaves.
Where's the part that made you fear for your safety or otherwise miss having a handgun? Seems like a pretty benign interaction without any conveyed sense of danger or malice.
Where's the part that made you fear for your safety or otherwise miss having a handgun? Seems like a pretty benign interaction without any conveyed sense of danger or malice.
OP
JJEH
Member
That's what I did, changed from IWB to paddle holster. And now I regret it, because the paddle went from the console into my backpack.
It's about situational awareness and having your tools ready for when you need them.
It's not like he parked 15yd away, got out, got my attention, then waved his hand and cash while approaching my car.
I was parked and busy on my cell phone.
While I was doing that, he must have entered the parking lot (it's not super big).
He parked in my blind spot, and I only got a glimpse of him as he's getting out, and only because he parked super close and I thought that's odd, I was making out a mom van, a young kid and what appeared to be some cash in his hand.
I had to turn my head ~120 degree to my right in order to see what's going on.
He walked fast and close, over to the driver's side of my car, from the back.
He, again, 120 degree to my left now, stood in my blind spot as he was realizing he's got the wrong guy.
All this took max 15 seconds, probably less.
The point I'm trying to make is that almost everything that could go wrong did. I was focused on him, there could have been other people in the van, gotten out from the other side and I would have been way too late to react.
He got very close to me and Misty (who surprisingly didn't bark), and I had only a few choices because my gun was out of reach, or rather it would have taken way too much time to get it and be ready to use it. There was a car in front of me and his car was to my right.
If he would have had a gun or any other weapon instead of cash, I would have been SOL and this story here would most likely sound different.
That's the point I was trying to make.
It's easy to grow complacent, especially when nothing happens for a long time. Then you have, what seems to me, another normal day and boom, mistaken identity, targeted crime, or people going nuts, you are busy on your phone, preoccupied with other stuff, etc blah blah.
Don't be like that, be better. Text one or two words and then look up and around. That's what they taught us to break up tunnel vision. I hate cell phones and texting in public.... I'm so focused on the damn screen and typing that I lose my situational awareness if I take too long. That's why I can't read a book while using public transportation and I still don't understand people that in fact can.
Sorry my post was confusing to you. I did not fear for my life and I did not call 911, but of course I was at a heightened alert!! I was ready to engage in case the guy wanted to do Misty or myself any harm. How the hell should I know what he wants?!
It's not unheard of for crooks to flash something to get your attention and then make their move. I had a young couple in OK ring my doorbell at 2130h to offer me a free carpet clean.... right there and then. I answered the door with my gun behind my back and they left after I, as friendly as possible, declined their offer.
We have to stay vigilant, because any normal looking situation can turn real ugly real quick.
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I was suggesting a second pistol in the console (the proverbial "truck gun"), in addition to the one you dumped in your backpack . . .
Telecaster
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Wow, a kid was buying a Nintendo or something and everyone wants to go all SWAT on him.
Like the OP said, just don't be complacent when the real thing goes down.
Like the OP said, just don't be complacent when the real thing goes down.
It is really easy to get complacent like JJEH found himself doing. I personally appreciate his post and honestly see nothing he said that would encourage overreacting. If we are honest, probably most of us have caught ourselves getting too complacent for comfort at least a time or two.
BKLooney
Member
Glad to hear the situation never really materialized into something worse and ended as it did. ��
When in a vehicle, my BUG stays in the front pocket in its holster, my primary weapon comes out of its holster and resides just under my right thigh...good idea or bad idea, this is my method and it has served me well for about 45 years.
My head stays on a swivel and my mind is as prepared as I can get it.
When in a vehicle, my BUG stays in the front pocket in its holster, my primary weapon comes out of its holster and resides just under my right thigh...good idea or bad idea, this is my method and it has served me well for about 45 years.
My head stays on a swivel and my mind is as prepared as I can get it.
You’re gonna regret that when you have to slam on the brakes . . .
Until you need to call 911, right now . . .
There are times out of politeness and respect for others that I will turn my ringer off and set my phone to vibrate. It never gets turned off.
Marshal Tom
Member
Look at my post above about not having a gun loose in the vehicle. Muss addressed this as well. In certain scenarios you might want to take it out and place it under your leg or next to you until the threat has passed but it would be much better to have it secured in the event of an accident etc. AIWB is another option with the seatbelt secured behind it and the weapon exposed so it can be readily accessed.
