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Another reason why I got my CHL...

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 4:59 pm
by WillieD
Besides being able to protect my family.


First off, a little back ground of what I do. I work in the telecomm industry, specifically with cell phones. My daily activity consists of visits to mom & pop cell phone stores all across the metroplex in both nice and not so nice areas.

This afternoon I spoke with a store owner that I have worked with for over 5 years and he told me he has decided to sell off one of his stores. Over the past year or so, this store has been broken into a couple times at night just like many other stores around the metroplex. This past Thursday, October 11, he was robbed at gun point shortly after he arrived to open the store.

He told me that a man walked into the store with a gun drawn threatening him and ordered him into the back room. The robber then tied him up and took all of the money ($800) from the register. He is still shaken up from this incedent and has left him a bit traumatized.

After he told me about this event, I immediately started thinking about what I would do had I been in the store at that time. I guess it would be hard to competely analize without seeing exactly how things went down. Would I have had an opportunity to get a shot in without endangering another person? Do I wait until the suspect tries to force me into another room? Do I just stay calm and hope he takes what he wants without hurting anyone?

How would you guys have reacted in this type of situation? The robber was just there for the money, but you have no idea what is on his mind and how easily he could decide to pull the trigger. One of these days there is a chance I could encounter a similar situation while making a store visit.



A few weeks ago a similar event happened at another store I cover in Oak Cliff that was on the news.

Oak Cliff Robbery Video

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:48 pm
by mr surveyor
total awareness of one's surroundings goes a long way into allowing a defensive position ... you don't have to be paranoid, but make a point of not setting yourself up for a bad day. It isn't always possible, obviously, as many cautious folks are taken advantage of every day in this country, but it is a goal to strive for.

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:25 pm
by Snake Doctor
I agree with mr surveryor. While paranoia is far from necessary, full awareness is good for you in everyday life. Try to keep a healthy balance between being so aloof that you almost get run over by moving traffic (:sleep) and being so "aware" that you're spinning in circles with your hand on your gun at all times (:willynilly:).

As far as the cell phone store scenario, it all depends on little details. Decisions like that are tough to prepare for, no matter how much you run them over in your mind. There was a thread on this site a month or so back about the value of your wallet vs. taking a life, or something to that effect. I don't know that I could take a life over my wallet unless the BG tried to attack me. I would tell him NO when he demanded my wallet and gladly show him why it was not worth it to rob me. As far as your scenario, had I been there with the man or had I in fact been that man (and been armed), I know what I would've done...

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:17 pm
by Photoman
I was taught to never go to a second location without a fight.

Re: Another reason why I got my CHL...

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:53 pm
by fm2
WillieD wrote:
After he told me about this event, I immediately started thinking about what I would do had I been in the store at that time. I guess it would be hard to competely analize without seeing exactly how things went down. Would I have had an opportunity to get a shot in without endangering another person? Do I wait until the suspect tries to force me into another room? Do I just stay calm and hope he takes what he wants without hurting anyone?

How would you guys have reacted in this type of situation? The robber was just there for the money, but you have no idea what is on his mind and how easily he could decide to pull the trigger. One of these days there is a chance I could encounter a similar situation while making a store visit.
It's good that you are thinking about this situation. Run those scenarios through your head while looking for different response options. If you have a training partner run the options with a bluegun or airsoft and see how it works out for you.

You can never be sure what the BG has in mind.