Wearing a ski mask?

[Rayden]

.......Well, don't......

Today my brother (a CHL holder but not on this forum) was pumping air on the right side of his truck at a gas station when another truck pulled up on his right at an angle. By the time my brother saw the guy he was already behind him. Lord and behold the guy was wearing a ski mask . He said something like: "What's up my friend .... it's cold man ...." My brother was startled for a second or so and came close to drawing just on pure instinct. However, since he didn't see the masked man holding a gun, he remained somewhat calm and just kept being on the highest alert.

Possibly sensing this, the guy pull of his ski mask, but my brother decided to just get back in his truck and drove off, all while keeping a watchful eye just in case. This experience has enforced on both of us that we must always be aware, and we really need to go more often down to the range for more frequent practice of different scenarios. We would like to welcome comments and suggestions of what you would've done in that situation, and what possibly could've been improved.

Finally, I know it's cold out there people, but if you wanna wear a ski mask, at the very minimum take them off before you get close to people. The scenario could've played out a lot different and you got a dead innocent man and jail time for unjustifiable shooting

[MadMonkey]

Ski mask?? Some people just can't take it...

I've been out and about today wearing my thin shorts-and-short-sleeves jogging outfit (I was at the gym). I love getting those weird looks

No way I'm going to go ANYWHERE wearing a ski mask except maybe a MilSim event. Too much chance of being mistaken for a crook...

[Beiruty]

It is cold out there, man!

In Canada, we use 2 Ski Masks, a wool hat and leather hoody too.

[drjoker]

Dude, I'm wearing a ski mask. It IS cold. br....

He tried his best to put you at ease with a friendly greeting.

[MadMonkey]

He tried his best to put you at ease with a friendly greeting.

Same MO as a mugger...

[Rayden]

Dude, I'm wearing a ski mask. It IS cold. br....

He tried his best to put you at ease with a friendly greeting.

Still asking for trouble .... I for one will definitely not wear one under those circumstances.

[03Lightningrocks]

This is a funny post...sort of. Maybe some of us need to relax a little bit? The world is really not as bad, as all that, folks. Flipping out because a guy is wearing a ski mask is out there. I can only imagine what terror a black dude wearing a hoody would cause.


One more thing I will say. I read a whole lot of posts on this forum where guys speak of pulling a weapon out and being the victor. Any of you fellers ever wonder if maybe the other guy might also be a CHL? Maybe he or she is a better shot than you??? Maybe you end up dead instead??? For instance...what if the ski mask was hiding the face of High Velocity...or even Compvest???? HMMMMMM? Ever think of that angle?

Think hard folks....before you resort to gun play. How would your brother have dealt with this situation before he had a CHL? There was no immediate threat what so ever! Pulling a gun should never have crossed his mind!

[Hos]

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. There's no law against it. I think a reasonable person could wear the ski mask since it's so cold, although I wouldn't do it. I can't quite picture the scene but if your bro's getting air and there's no logical reason to park right behind his car but then someone does that at a right angle then there could be a small red flag.

Was he then blocked in?
How far away was he when he spoke up?
If Mr. Warmface didn't say anything until after he was seen then who knows if he's only being polite by saying something or trying to get the exposed guy who's hunched over to be off guard.

I'd probably keep talking to the guy just to make sure he stays friendly and who knows, it might turn into a friendship.

[03Lightningrocks]

He tried his best to put you at ease with a friendly greeting.

Same MO as a mugger...

So is carrying a gun. Does that make us CHL's muggers?

[Bart]

I can't quite picture the scene but if your bro's getting air and there's no logical reason to park right behind his car but then someone does that at a right angle then there could be a small red flag.

Especially if they're blocking you in.

[Rayden]

This is a funny post...sort of. Maybe some of us need to relax a little bit? The world is really not as bad, as all that, folks. Flipping out because a guy is wearing a ski mask is out there. I can only imagine what terror a black dude wearing a hoody would cause.

........

I think I stated that he was startled but calm, never did I say he was "flipping out" did I? Being startled and calm means he's still alert and aware, things that he's supposed to do for any CHL'er. After all, you get a CHL because you want to protect yourself if it comes down to the last resort. Remember, we are in Houston, how often does it really get that cold that you have to wear a ski mask and "unintentionally" sneak up on someone?

At the end of the day, no gun was pulled, no confrontation, nothing else other than an experience that makes you think and keep up your situation awareness because that is why you hold a CHL. Otherwise, we might as well move to DC or one of the anti-gun states ...

[Rayden]

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. There's no law against it. I think a reasonable person could wear the ski mask since it's so cold, although I wouldn't do it. I can't quite picture the scene but if your bro's getting air and there's no logical reason to park right behind his car but then someone does that at a right angle then there could be a small red flag.

Was he then blocked in?
How far away was he when he spoke up?
If Mr. Warmface didn't say anything until after he was seen then who knows if he's only being polite by saying something or trying to get the exposed guy who's hunched over to be off guard.

I'd probably keep talking to the guy just to make sure he stays friendly and who knows, it might turn into a friendship.

Mr. Warmface was already close up and behind my brother at a diagonal position and spoke up after being seen by my bro. Just one of those things that make you think. I am just glad no misunderstanding took place ... no harm no foul.

[MadMonkey]

He tried his best to put you at ease with a friendly greeting.

Same MO as a mugger...

So is carrying a gun. Does that make us CHL's muggers?

No, but it should make us more alert...

[03Lightningrocks]

This is a funny post...sort of. Maybe some of us need to relax a little bit? The world is really not as bad, as all that, folks. Flipping out because a guy is wearing a ski mask is out there. I can only imagine what terror a black dude wearing a hoody would cause.

........

I think I stated that he was startled but calm, never did I say he was "flipping out" did I? Being startled and calm means he's still alert and aware, things that he's supposed to do for any CHL'er. After all, you get a CHL because you want to protect yourself if it comes down to the last resort. Remember, we are in Houston, how often does it really get that cold that you have to wear a ski mask and "unintentionally" sneak up on someone?

At the end of the day, no gun was pulled, no confrontation, nothing else other than an experience that makes you think and keep up your situation awareness because that is why you hold a CHL. Otherwise, we might as well move to DC or one of the anti-gun states ...

If he was "instinctively" about to pull his gun, he was flipping out. I have known Vietnam vets who spent time staying alive in the bush who don't "instinctively" pull a gun on someone because they have the wrong look.

[03Lightningrocks]

He tried his best to put you at ease with a friendly greeting.

Same MO as a mugger...

So is carrying a gun. Does that make us CHL's muggers?

No, but it should make us more alert...

Not unless we are paranoid. Now if you see a guy wearing a ski mask in the summer...go orange. Winter is a time for ski masks. Getting alarmed for a guy wearing a ski mask outside in the winter is just plain silly. Saying howdy is not a threat...ski mask or not!