Happy I was carrying

[weissr]

Last weekend my wife and I were on a camping trip when we needed to drive 30 miles into the nearest town for some firewood. The only businesses that were open at 9:30 on a Saturday night were a couple of "stop & shop" type gas stations, but one of them had firewood for sale.

As I pulled into the parking lot my wife exited the vehicle and proceeded into the store. I was a delayed a few seconds because I wanted to grab my concealed holster from the back of our car. With my 9mm in my jacket pocket, I exit my vehicle and hear a slightly intoxicated voice from behind me saying "Well, that sure is a nice car you have" and I turn to see a male & female who are now walking towards me from behind. His next comment is directed at the fact that I am clearly not from their town and that I'm "A long way from home" when I told him I'm from Yakima, WA (A small city about 4 hours away in that same state & really not that far).

I engage them in some distracting conversation for a few minutes while reaching into the ammo can that is in the back of our SUV for my concealed holster. As I am talking to him, he and the woman keep moving closer to me and my open door (left open to provide some cover if needed).

After a minute or two of conversation I believe that the woman noticed either the holster or the gun because she leaned in close to the man, whispered to him and they both began to back away, quickly leaving the area.

My first mistake was parking in a darker part of the six car parking lot, but thankfully the shady situation ended quickly and simply for all involved. I believe that it would have gone down differently if I hadn't been carrying my concealed weapon, and my lesson is to make sure that my holster is accessible at all time.

 

[longslide10]

Thankfully you weren't required to use deadly force. It might have ruined your camping trip.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

Yes. I agree. I am glad they backed off and that your wife wasn't there at the time too....

 

[eagleeyes]

just never know when carrying will come in handy
glad they got the message you wasn't to be f'd with and noone was hurt

 

[Jay Pearson]

glad you were able to learn that lesson without having to have something bad happen first.. too many people learn too late!!!

 

[Kalamity023]

No one may point this out, but as a suggestion on your next camping trip pack an ax and small saw. The woods can then provide you with enough deadfall firewood, as it sounds you were pretty far out of any major city (I'm taking a stab here from what I read). In the long run these 2 tools will help you save some money too. Then the only shady situation you need to prepare for is a bear or other predator.

On the other hand glad it turned out well as the drunkard didn't seem to have the most noble of intentions.

 

[pistolannie]

Just curious where this happened? I'm in Wash. state, too.

Ax and saw might be a good suggestion, but in Washington lots of our trees are tall, tall evergreens, which don't often drop their branches. And since so many of our camping areas are in state/national forests/parks, it would be a big no-no to cut down any living vegetation.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Firstly, I'm glad a fellow Washington carrier (and so close to the town I live in), is safe.

I gotta ask though, how is it your "concealed" weapon made a difference? If it was truly concealed, they would have not known you had it...now your openly carried firearm is a much different description...which in my mind, is more accurate to how you were carrying your firearm if the drunken couple could see it.

In the end, I'm glad you are okay, and have a fun camping trip.

 

[Shoobee]

I am always happy when I am carrying, no matter what I am carrying.

Perps can always tell when you are carrying.

Its because you get this look on your face, and they can read it, it says, cmon make my day!

They are not totally stupid. I have noticed that much.

Ive been in 1 confrontation against 4 guys.

And 3 confrontations against 2 guys.

And 2 confrontations with 1 guy.

Two of these were armed themselves, but they were CCW while I was OC/loaded/chambered. So they could not have outdrawn me, and they knew it.

They have always backed down.

The 4 guys really surprised me because I truly thought I was going to need to shoot all 4 of them. But they all backed down.

 

[Shoobee]

Last weekend my wife and I were on a camping trip when we needed to drive 30 miles into the nearest town for some firewood. The only businesses that were open at 9:30 on a Saturday night were a couple of "stop & shop" type gas stations, but one of them had firewood for sale.

As I pulled into the parking lot my wife exited the vehicle and proceeded into the store. I was a delayed a few seconds because I wanted to grab my concealed holster from the back of our car. With my 9mm in my jacket pocket, I exit my vehicle and hear a slightly intoxicated voice from behind me saying "Well, that sure is a nice car you have" and I turn to see a male & female who are now walking towards me from behind. His next comment is directed at the fact that I am clearly not from their town and that I'm "A long way from home" when I told him I'm from Yakima, WA (A small city about 4 hours away in that same state & really not that far).

I engage them in some distracting conversation for a few minutes while reaching into the ammo can that is in the back of our SUV for my concealed holster. As I am talking to him, he and the woman keep moving closer to me and my open door (left open to provide some cover if needed).

After a minute or two of conversation I believe that the woman noticed either the holster or the gun because she leaned in close to the man, whispered to him and they both began to back away, quickly leaving the area.

My first mistake was parking in a darker part of the six car parking lot, but thankfully the shady situation ended quickly and simply for all involved. I believe that it would have gone down differently if I hadn't been carrying my concealed weapon, and my lesson is to make sure that my holster is accessible at all time.

Good story. Yes several mistakes. But you were on vacation so your guard was down.

I knee jerked when you said you let your sweetie go into the store alone first. I watch over my sweetie(s) like a bald eagle. Even while she is in the ladies room I am outside of the door listening for screams or anything.

I always park in front of the store by the door and check it out before I go inside.

I've gotten that line too "oh you must be a long way from home?" its usually suspect, could be one of many serial killers or highway robbers.

 

[Shoobee]

Thankfully you weren't required to use deadly force. It might have ruined your camping trip.

It never usually requires deadly force.

For some of the perps, the moment they see or figure out youve "got a gun" or knife they split.

For the others, they can read in your body language that you have no fear. They are cowards and they need to see fear to drum up their own phoney courage.

When they see confidence, which only comes from being properly equipped and properly trained and after lots of practice and proficiency, they get really scared.

Sometimes they get so scared they even get really polite.

My own feelings in those situations have always been, cmon make my day, lets see what you've got, I know what Ive got.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

Good story. Yes several mistakes. But you were on vacation so your guard was down.

I knee jerked when you said you let your sweetie go into the store alone first. I watch over my sweetie(s) like a bald eagle. Even while she is in the ladies room I am outside of the door listening for screams or anything.

I always park in front of the store by the door and check it out before I go inside.

I've gotten that line too "oh you must be a long way from home?" its usually suspect, could be one of many serial killers or highway robbers.

That is very nice of you to be on guard about your wife. Doesn't she carry? My husband would be the one who would jump out of the car when we are on a trip, travelling overnight sometimes with our only stop will be some convenience stores or gasoline station or a wee-wee stop. We have a few of those "oh you must be a long way from home" sort of comment but I never really connect it to anything unusual because on every driving trip we usually take our rottenweiller and when someone talks outside of the car, his head will pop out of the window. And yes, he is spoiled rotten too!

Now I know...'learn something everyday...thanks guys....

 

[wolf_fire]

Last weekend my wife and I were on a camping trip when we needed to drive 30 miles into the nearest town for some firewood. The only businesses that were open at 9:30 on a Saturday night were a couple of "stop & shop" type gas stations, but one of them had firewood for sale.

As I pulled into the parking lot my wife exited the vehicle and proceeded into the store. I was a delayed a few seconds because I wanted to grab my concealed holster from the back of our car. With my 9mm in my jacket pocket, I exit my vehicle and hear a slightly intoxicated voice from behind me saying "Well, that sure is a nice car you have" and I turn to see a male & female who are now walking towards me from behind. His next comment is directed at the fact that I am clearly not from their town and that I'm "A long way from home" when I told him I'm from Yakima, WA (A small city about 4 hours away in that same state & really not that far).

I engage them in some distracting conversation for a few minutes while reaching into the ammo can that is in the back of our SUV for my concealed holster. As I am talking to him, he and the woman keep moving closer to me and my open door (left open to provide some cover if needed).

After a minute or two of conversation I believe that the woman noticed either the holster or the gun because she leaned in close to the man, whispered to him and they both began to back away, quickly leaving the area.

My first mistake was parking in a darker part of the six car parking lot, but thankfully the shady situation ended quickly and simply for all involved. I believe that it would have gone down differently if I hadn't been carrying my concealed weapon, and my lesson is to make sure that my holster is accessible at all time.

First and foremost, I'm very glad that nothing happened and you didn't have to pull the trigger. As one poster said, it would have put a damper on your camping trip.

My question for you was, why were you not carrying? Why was it in the back seat? Does your wife carry? If not, does she now?

I also have to echo another person's post... why did you let your wife going in alone from a darkened parking lot of a gas station in a town you were not familiar?

BG's are everywhere and anywhere. Be one step ahead of them at all times.

Best of luck to you.

 

[hogdoc357]

Glad it all turned out good, especially not having to use the gun. From all I have read, it seems that in the overwhelming majority of "self-defense" situations, a shot is not even fired. So your gun worked just fine in that situation!

 

[BIGJOHN621]

The nice car line, unless you are driving an odd ball exotic or antique, is almost always a lead in to nefarious activity if it isn't said in passing. About 20 years ago a version of that line ("that's a sweet ride you got") wound up with the car admirer staring down the barrel of an almost new S&W 4006 on Black Friday in a large mall parking garage in a NYC suburb. The conversation turned from my car to panhandling to a demand for money very quickly. When his hand went into his pocket, my gun came out. He decided not to continue on the path toward me and ran quite quickly away.

I too made some of the same mistakes such as parking away from the crowds (can't scratch the sweet ride now can I?) and not being aware of everything around me. I also made the mistake of not noticing enough details of the perp to give a great description to security or the police. I learned my lesson and don't park in the dark or away from the beaten path. I also don't drive anything close to a car that could be complimented anymore, but that's a different story.

Glad you're OK.

 

[CRW]

glad you two are okay! I think this situation might have helped you realize that before you go anywhere, best have that piece on you before you get to where you're going. But then again, if your holster spooked them, what could have happened if they continued on with their possible plan of robbery? Just glad nothing happened to you and your wife.

 

[tcox4freedom]

My first mistake was parking in a darker part of the six car parking lot, but thankfully the shady situation ended quickly and simply for all involved. I believe that it would have gone down differently if I hadn't been carrying my concealed weapon, and my lesson is to make sure that my holster is accessible at all time.

Some people have already said you should have been more prepared so having to leave camp at night would not have been necessary. (This was truly you "FIRST" mistake.)

-

 

[Shoobee]

Glad it all turned out good, especially not having to use the gun. From all I have read, it seems that in the overwhelming majority of "self-defense" situations, a shot is not even fired. So your gun worked just fine in that situation!

This is exactly correct!

 

[Shoobee]

First and foremost, I'm very glad that nothing happened and you didn't have to pull the trigger. As one poster said, it would have put a damper on your camping trip.

My question for you was, why were you not carrying? Why was it in the back seat? Does your wife carry? If not, does she now?

I also have to echo another person's post... why did you let your wife going in alone from a darkened parking lot of a gas station in a town you were not familiar?

BG's are everywhere and anywhere. Be one step ahead of them at all times.

Best of luck to you.

Yup indeed. It is always best to remember and never forget that at any given time there are always about 50 serial killers roaming the USA according to FBI forecasts and statistics. That's about one for every state. There are even serial killer couples.

 

[SGB]

There is always the potential for an act of violence befalling any of us at any time. Stay armed and aware.