beer and a scenario ...

[israel67]

I just went out to buy a couple of beers. It's past eleven PM here, and it reminded me of when I TX, my belovèd niece drove me to a liquor store to buy some beer, which her husband and I then quaffed.

The name of the liquor store escapes me, but it's not far from I-40 on Western. Biggish parking lot out front, and inside, there are no 'aisles' which I'd normally associate with a store of this kind. Instead, the fridges are arranged around the walls, and the counter is at one end. There are a few 'promotional' stands dotted around the floor, but basically, every point in the shop is visible. Of course, this also means that if some skuzball decides to rob the place, he'll be able to keep an eye on every customer in the store.

As I walked into this place (niece had to stay in the car as she's only 20), I tried to imagine how I'd react if someone did come in, demanding money, and I was carrying.

What would you all do in a situation like that?

[seamusTX]

1. Don't go to places like that. Buy your beer at the grocery store.
2. Go to drive-thru liquor stores for hard liquor.
3. Nearly every commercial building has at least two exits. Make sure you know where they are. They're required by law to have an exit map in each room, even if the door is right there.
4. Most of those refrigerators are open at the back. You can climb through one.
5. Stay off the line between the clerk and the robber, in case someone starts shooting.

Other than that, you would just have to play the situation by ear. Most robbers just want the money in the cash register and a quick getaway.

- Jim

[israel67]

1. Don't go to places like that. Buy your beer at the grocery store.
2. Go to drive-thru liquor stores for hard liquor.
3. Nearly every commercial building has at least two exits. Make sure you know where they are. They're required by law to have an exit map in each room, even if the door is right there.
4. Most of those refrigerators are open at the back. You can climb through one.
5. Stay off the line between the clerk and the robber, in case someone starts shooting.

Other than that, you would just have to play the situation by ear. Most robbers just want the money in the cash register and a quick getaway.

1. We could have gone to Wal-Mart but it was further away.
2. what's 'hard liquor' ? Spirits? I never drink 'em .. they make me throw up.
3. noted
4. the fridges were full of beer ...
5. noted

As for your final point, even over here in Europe we get more and more thugs who get the loot and still stab or shoot their victim, even when the latter has fully co-operated.

[seamusTX]

2. what's 'hard liquor' ? Spirits?

Yes.

4. the fridges were full of beer ...

It's just a question of motivation. If you want to go that way, it's possible.

As for your final point, even over here in Europe we get more and more thugs who get the loot and still stab or shoot their victim, even when the latter has fully co-operated.

Unfortunately, that happens here, too.

- Jim

[GlockenHammer]

Agree with the above.

If the BG's hands are empty, I'd go pro-active and draw to get the upper hand to control the situation. Any rapid moves by the BG and I would probably fear for my safety and that of my friend left in the car (especially if BG flees out the door) and would have to shoot. Reposition yourself to put the BG between you and the door so you can watch for accomplices coming in to help (or hopefully abandoning him). Order the BG into a position where he can't see you and is difficult to move (e.g., lie face down, hands behind head, legs crossed). Scan through the windows if you can see out. Bad day.

If the BG has a contact weapon in hand and you have some distance, I go the same as above. Still a bad day.

If the BG has a gun or is close with a contact weapon, I go weak kneed and hand over the wallet, watch, wedding ring and car keys and hope he leaves with them. I like a technique of tossing the goods to the BG as I back up as a terrified soccer-mom. That creates distance. If the BG lets you have the distance, take it. If he's got a contact weapon and you get enough distance, you can try to draw to control as above. If he's got a gun, but lets you back up, perhaps you'll survivie the encounter after all. If the BG closes with you as you back up, choose your time to strike and strike with violence, controlling the weapon as best you can, possibly bringing yours into play. His closing with you is a sign that he's not just going to take your money and leave. Very bad day.

The LAST thing you should ever do is try to outdraw someone with a gun already in their hand. Your last day.

[KBCraig]

As I walked into this place (niece had to stay in the car as she's only 20), ...

???

Minors aren't restricted from liquor stores.

[israel67]

As I walked into this place (niece had to stay in the car as she's only 20), ...

???

Minors aren't restricted from liquor stores.

Dunno, but I do seem to recall a sign on the door saying something like, 'it is a felony for any person under 21 to enter this store..'

I'll MSN my niece and ask her to go by there and check out the exact wording.

[Kalrog]

As I walked into this place (niece had to stay in the car as she's only 20), ...

???

Minors aren't restricted from liquor stores.

Dunno, but I do seem to recall a sign on the door saying something like, 'it is a felony for any person under 21 to enter this store..'

I take my kids into a liquor store from time to time - and I do think that they have to be with a parent/guardian in order to enter the store.

[israel67]

I take my kids into a liquor store from time to time - and I do think that they have to be with a parent/guardian in order to enter the store.

Maybe it was 'unaccompanied', but she did stay out in the car. I'm 41 (was 40 at the time), so if it was 'unaccompanied', then I'd expect her to have come with me.

Or maybe she just wanted to stay out in the car and send text messages to her husband. She's on that phone non-stop. Darn, I love that girl!.