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Accosted in Wal*Mart; what would you do?


That's exactly what I've been saying to dh. We're still discussing calling the police. He says that there would have been no problem shooting the bad guy, he just wants to forget altogether anything to do with shooting anyone, because of his Viet Nam daize. I would like to balance dh or others from being hurt and helping dh heal from his anguish, albeit these many years ago.

Ideas? Suggestions?
 


Seems to me your first allegiance is to dh. He was the one involved, so I think it's his decision to make and yours to respect.

I would say the same if it had been YOU who had dealt with the BG, just so you know.
 
I think the police should be called, but I think WalMart should be the ones to do it since it happened in their store. Your husband should have just had to hang around to provide a description.
But it sounds to me like he handled himself just right.

And to prevent the bad guy from filing a "guy with a gun" report, or even worse, a felony assault charge for threatening him with a gun.
 

Because if you don't prove your innocence on the front end, you could end up having to do it in a court room. Plus, it makes it so that the other guy has to prove his innocence too.
 
Seems to me your first allegiance is to dh. He was the one involved, so I think it's his decision to make and yours to respect.

I would say the same if it had been YOU who had dealt with the BG, just so you know.

JJFlash, I understand what you are saying, yet can we agree to disagree? Yes, he was the one involved, but he's not a hermit and we all affect each other in the public arena. The incident happened in a store, in public, so the store was involved. He's my hubby so I'm involved. Finally, the fellow is still roaming the streets so public safety is involved. I do believe that we are strictly and solely responsible for our immediate safety as most LEO forces cannot protect us nor keep us safe 24/7/365, leading to my belief that the public safety is also my concern. If this fellow commits a crime against someone else then I've not done my due diligence in keeping the public at large safe. There are people who probably don't agree with that concept but that's the way I think about it. I don't know if it's been too long since the incident so that Wal*Mart tape might not be around anymore, but I can certainly notify the Sheriff's deputies about the incident, and that's something that everyone has the right, or maybe I should say the ability, to do if they so desire.

Thanks, everyone, for your input. You've all given me so much to consider. :biggrin:
 
Others may disagree with me but it seems to me that pulling your firearm, aiming and firing should be one action as quickly and as accurately as you can do it. The gun shouldn't clear leather unless you plan to fire it. Otherwise, in your own mind, you did not fear imminent bodily injury or death to yourself or others. If I were the prosecutor trying to put you away for brandishing that's how I'd argue the case. That's pretty much what I was taught at my concealed carry class as well.
 
Others may disagree with me but it seems to me that pulling your firearm, aiming and firing should be one action as quickly and as accurately as you can do it. The gun shouldn't clear leather unless you plan to fire it. .

Well, count me as disagreeing. Most "armed conflicts" are ended by simply showing the weapon (I have had one real-world experience where that was the case.) The American Rifleman's "Armed Citizen" column regularly reports crimes that were prevented by simply presenting the weapon.

If making the bad guy aware that you are armed (or in the language of this board that you are a "sheepdog) is sufficient to stop the threat/crime, then there is no need to use lethal force.

Do LEOs shoot every time they draw their weapon? Of course not.

bill
 
I too would disagree. That argument is akin to saying that we cannot legally bring a gun to a knife fight. In most cases, assuming a knife wielding BG isn't completely psycho, staring down the business end of the peace-maker is enough to neutralize the threat. That is always the primary objective in self-defense.
 
A knife is a lethal weapon and you can meet force with force.
No argument there, and shooting someone in close proximity wielding a knife would be justified. But my point still stands that it is not necessarily required that you pull the trigger once you "clear leather". If the knife wielding (or in this case, bar, pipe, club, whatever) BG backs off at the sight of your firearm, mission accomplished.

If you still stand by your "don't clear leather unless you plan to fire" statement, then I ask you at what point should DH have shown his weapon?
 

I agree that he should have called LE after the incident, however since that was not done, I probably would not do it now. I'm pretty sure there are no video cameras inside the restroom, so worse case it's his word against the other guys if someone does try to report it.

As for your comment "leading to my belief that the public safety is also my concern.", be careful with that, because unless you are a police officer, that really is not the reason you should be carrying, it's only for the protection of you and your family/loved ones. It's the job of the LEOs to protect the public.
 

I guess it comes down to the undocumented list of responsibilities that come with the CCW license thing. Have to keep it on the up and up. We have to be the upstanding law abiding citizens (and I say that with respect not animosity).
I love the fact that I was able to get the unrestricted Class A license here in MA so I will do what it takes to keep it. It’s sad that we have to fight so hard to keep and justify this “God Given Right”.
Maybe the whole getting arrested thing could make an impression on the scum bag or perhaps not, many factors to discuss there.

Chances are if he tried it on you he may try it on another. Perhaps he tried the same stunt on some poor old man that was unable to defend himself and he was lucky and got the guys cash. In that case I would like to think that maybe getting the scumbag cuffed and stuffed avenged the old man. I root for the underdog and hate bullies.

Thanksgiving was very good. Turkey, open-fire-spit-roasted pig, family, and lots of homemade Yugoslavian plum brandy… God loves me…
Peace,
Dave
 

That's the reaction we are taught. Hesitation can and will cause injury and death.
I was told the 3 rules to gun carry are: (by a permit issuing officer in the past).
1. Never carry it unloaded, May as well carry a bat.
2. Never pull it unless it's going to be used, it's not a show and tell item.
3. If you shoot, dead men never tell lies. God forbid you have to and God help you if you have to.

So mixed feelings here that I'll try and explain.

I just recently added the Crimson Trace LaserGrip to my M&P45 for 2 main reasons. If in low light conditions and stressed in a threat to life condition, I'll need to make quick hits. I'll have that advantage with the laser. I will need to train with it to get that level of confidence. But the other reason I made the choice; I also like the idea of "If the bright red dot on the ribs stops the threat rather than a hole in the ribs, I'm ok with that". I hope (God knows this is true) I never have to make that quick choice. I would rather have the need to call the police and explain why I had to draw than to plead to the jury that shooting the guy was necessary.

So if the site of it gets the threat to stop than so it shall be. I’d rather it that way.
But if the site of it fails to force the change of game plan then it will be used as intended.
That time in between is what training is for.

Peace...
 

Each person will deal with stress and anguish in their manner. Gotta support the one you love.
So Sorry that DH had to deal with this.

Idea? Just love him as I'm sure he loves you.
Peace and good Christmas.
 
They'd be calling the meat wagon!!! As soon as he brandished those brass knuckles and stated his intentions, you have a legal right to protect yourself. I'll bet he'll use a gun on the next victim. I would report it anyway.
 
Call the Police

I think that anytime you have to depend on your firearm to protect yourself, or others, you should be calling the authorities. If for nothing else but to protect yourself. How many times have we heard of the bad guys sueing the good guys when their plan to make an easy buck fails. What would happen if the BG ran from the restroom screaming that someone tried to rob him. Even though it is not true I bet you get locked up, have to get bailed out and end up costing you a lot of money. One simple phone call protects you and costs you only time.
 

I would almost guarantee that he made a similar attempt within an hour.

Being confronted by an armed citizen and ejected from WalMart was just a minor inconvenience in what is probably his daily routine.

bill
 
I would almost guarantee that he made a similar attempt within an hour.

Being confronted by an armed citizen and ejected from WalMart was just a minor inconvenience in what is probably his daily routine.

bill

Agreed... Maybe he meets the guy who's carrying and is perhaps a bit to fast on the trigger...:butcher:
 
Wow! Sounds like a problem that could have been avoided entirely... if he was carrying openly.
 
Maybe, maybe not. If he had been open carrying the bad guy might have over powered him by surprise and who knows what the outcome might have been then?
 
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