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So, you're doing some Christmas shopping at a crowded TX mall and a bearded Arabic man in bulky clothing all of the sudden starts shouting at the top of his lungs, "Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar!" (God is great) and some other arabic gibberish. There are about 100 sheeple shoppers milling about--most all would be killed if this was a suicide bomber. You're packing your licensed handgun and are about 20 feet from the individual. You are not in the field of vision of this person and feel confident that you could make a head shot. Nearest hard cover is another 30-40 feet away. The nearest exit is 150 feet away. He appears to be alone, empty handed and speaking to no one in particular. So far, the only reaction the crowd has had time for was to turn and look at this individual with a puzzled look on their face.

What do you do?

First - - - I avoid such places, there are other places to shop that are less attractive targets.

Second - - - I would beat a hasty retreat with my loved ones to the nearest exit.

Third - - - Call 911

Fourth - - - Be the guy the TV crew interviews.


From what I've read about many of the suicide bombs they have a "dead man's switch" so even if you kill the bomber the bomb will explode when his hand releases the switch.

Active shooter? - - - that's a whole 'nother scenario.

The man, looking the way he does and yelling what he's yelling, while definitely an attention getter, is not a threat.

Until I SEE a weapon or he screams something threatening, then I'd Just watch him from a safe distance.

all he'll see of me is my butt and my elbows pumping back and forth. I'd be outta there. If he's speaking arabic, i wouldn't even know if he was shouting anything threatening.

Really though, we see this all of the time driving around Houston. Ever been around main and whatever where the preacher has a mega phone and is shouting at the top of his lungs? Ever been in public and heard someone shouting about God or Jesus or The World is Ending? It's no different, we just see it differently because we expect more than just shouting from Arab Muslims. Why? Because they conditioned us to.

Hope i didn't offend anyone.

There is no option for calling 911 & tell people to get away from him, watching closely in very high code yellow or even red. If hands are in sight decide to stand close enough for tackle take down if he reaches inside. Have weapon as accessible as possible w/o brandishing. W/ above facts that is not infringing on his rights because a reasonable & prudent individual would under those sircumstances be threatened. If hands not visible either major hard cover or get out while calling 911 & hollering to others to get away. Would I get close? I stood by 2 at two different funerals that have threatened violence toward someone that was there. Both times were winter & before CCW. I had made up my mind that above action would be my decission if either reached inside a coat. Verbal threats had been made & documented. Reaching in a coat is enough for physical restraint.

I think that's close to a no-win situation. If you take him down and he was unarmed and not wearing explosives, you're going away for awhile. If you wait until he makes a move, that move might be as small as pressing a button, and your reaction isn't going to be quick enough to matter. If you run (my best option) you'd better hope you can make that 40 ft before he hits the switch.

Maybe he just scratched off a lottery ticket and won.

I think I would opt for retreat or at least very careful observation.

I agree....he might be yelling about a free slushy or something...I have no way of knowing! I hate to say it, but I agree with John that this is normal in Houston! I would hope that I might find the nearest exit, but to be perfectly honest...I would most likely give him a look over my glasses and put a little pep into my step. Lord knows it would be a hate crime to do anything less until someone is actually threatened or hurt.

I voted for seeking a quick exit...

But the whole dead man switch idea is not something I have seen in these bombings...Its way too above their bomb builder vest providers...

Its usually nothing more than a simple close circuit "toggle" switch on most of these rigs...Flip it, and "bang"...Very simple, and very fool proof in most cases...

The woman in Jordan (recently) who was captured when her bomb failed to go off, and was showing the "safed" vest she had on at the time...Had a "toggle switch"...I just happen to remember seeing that in the video...

So I think, unless the "sleepers" who are over here now, are starting to get froggy, and are planning "soft target" attacks...I just don't see the training or manufacturing of these explosive devices altering that training or redesigning of these things...

If I had that low of an IQ and faith in Allah, I certainly wouldn't...

I think this is another great "what if" discussion...

Thats why I like hanging out around here...You guys and gals are tops in my book!

Part of the reason for my post is that I have been in a vaguely similar situation.

I wasn't armed, nor was I in a public place. I was at work and my friend and co-worker Ashraf had just found out that his wife was pregnant with their joyfully anticipated first child. You could hear him declaiming that Ollie is a whackbar all over the floor, plus some other arabic phrases.

I have to say I'm proud of this group so far.