What Would You Do?

[Bman505]

A scenerio that runs through my head all the time and I am sure I am not the only one is,

You pull up to a Allsups or Quicky Mart to run in a get a drink, snack, smokes whatever, and as you are standing in front of the cooler looking at the selection of drinks to choose from, a guy comes in and points a gun in the clerks face and demands money! You are packing your firearm. What do you or would you do?

[MrReady]

If I am by the drinks and he is at the register, I would not shoot. I
would wait and see what happens. If he shoots anyone then I feel like
I MUST do something becasue he would most likely be willing to shoot
more people if he had to.

I would hate to try to be a hero and miss my shot and it rolls downhill
from there. If I were right next to him I would just shoot/kill him with
the trusty Ruger.

[rtuck77]

stay by the cooler and take the cell phone call the cops and try to help them and only draw and shoot as last resort.

[Scooter]

I don't think I could wait to see what harm he is capable of. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I could have potentially stopped him. Waiting for him to act means I am reacting, not acting. He has already shown his intent to commit harm, and not being a LEO, its not my job to talk him down.

[Deacon Jim]

Until the situation actually comes up, you are never sure what you would do. My initial thought is that I would draw on him, tell him to drop his gun (while I had plenty of cover), and then fire if necessary.

[jlsalc]

I really agree with Scooter. If I stood there and watched a BG kill an innocent store clerk before I acted then the entire reason I went through the CCW course and carry everywhere I go would be for nothing. I do carry to protect my family and self first, but I couldn't stand by and watch a BG harm someone else before I acted.

I also agree with Deacon Jim. Until the situation arises we really don't know how we will re-act...

[MrReady]

Not to argue or anything. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
I just rather not make it worse and the clerk gets shot/killed
and I have a civil suit.

If I shoot the bad guy and I hit him in the stomach (for example) he
might not go down right away. He may use his last ounce of energy
to squeeze the trigger and shoot the clerk. Just a thought.

[Darwin88310]

1st a 911 call and make myself as scarce as possible. I'd be ready to shoot, but would only do it if it looked like the BG was going to put the clerk down or something. That's just what comes to mind now, the situation could changes in an instant...real tough to call.

[Jizzle]

I carry to protect myself and those that I love. If someone points a gun in the face of someone else that's their problem. It's cold heartless and honest. I don't carry to be an extension of the law or protect those that CHOOSE not to protect themselves. If you shoot someone even if justified, you WILL go to jail even for a short stay and you will incurr legal fees. I'm not going to go through that for someone I don't know. The option that I would chose isn't available. I would leave as quickly as possible.

That being said.

Reacting to the situation relys on a number of variables. It's not an easy decision by any means. Is my family there? How close am I to the BG? What is in my line of fire? What is beyond the BG (10mms tend to penetrate a good bit)? How is the BG acting, irritated, calm or impulsive et? Can he hear me if I call 911? Those are just a few questions that come to mind.

The answer to the question of "what would you do" is different and personal for each of us. It comes down to: What will make it easier for you to sleep at night?

[Sam]

If he will shoot the clerk he will shoot me or someone else soon as he sees me. Soon as he looks serious about shooting someone he gets it. You are under no obligation to warn or challenge.
If you can get away with calling the cops fine, don't depend on them. They are under no obligation to even show up at all, and a lot can happen in 3 seconds.

[Jizzle]

like i said. lotta variables.

[jlsalc]

I spoke to a DPS SGT today and posed the same question. He said it is a decision of conscious, basically what Jizzle says, what will allow you to sleep at night. The Sgt. also stated that the person acting on good faith would be charged however as soon as the DA got it in their hands the charged would be dropped. Basically it's not the officers decision and an investigation would have to take place. I understand what Jizzle said (and I respect your honesty), but what if that were your wife in danger and she happened not to carry. I promise you Jizzle if I were in the store and he pointed the gun at your loved one the only way I could sleep at night is if I took him out of the equation. I can't, WON'T stand by and watch an innocent person who didn't know better or ask for it; be gunned down by the scum of the earth. There's my thoughts.. Sorry if I offend anyone....

[Colt 45]

This type of question is so hard to answer. We can say we would react one way, but when actually faced with the situation our response may be totally different. I partially agree with Jizzle, that I do not consider myself any type of law enforcement officer or hero. However, if I felt that someone was in imminent danger and I thought that there was something that I could do without making the situation worse, then I would do it. Anything less and I don't think I could sleep at night.

Max

A scenerio that runs through my head all the time and I am sure I am not the only one is,

You pull up to a Allsups or Quicky Mart to run in a get a drink, snack, smokes whatever, and as you are standing in front of the cooler looking at the selection of drinks to choose from, a guy comes in and points a gun in the clerks face and demands money! You are packing your firearm. What do you or would you do?

[Sam]

When people with conscience step in, all too often the world wants to look at it like it's some cowboy thing. They immediately start with the lawyer talk, and civil suits and all that, then devolves to some hero cowboy mentality commentary.

Many of us have chosen a life of service to out fellow humans, our nation, and our communities. The concept of personal risk of life, or comfort is of very low value compared to doing the right thing. That is what service is about.

Many of us are highly distressed at the direction we see the nation going. The nation is drifting off it's moral compass, not in regards to "morality" in the sense of deviant sex or drugs or the like, but in its sense of obligation to their fellow man. I REFUSE to accept that in my society.

If you refuse to accept the pooh pooh lawyer attitude, refuse to elect cowering fools to fill your elected offices, you'll do better. Have a society that really cares about their members. They begin to take care of each other in all ways. That makes a better society.
Standing up and acting like a human is not cowboying, or playing hero, it's the right thing to do.

Lawyerlivered folk are not going to save your country

[Jizzle]

I spoke to a DPS SGT today and posed the same question. He said it is a decision of conscious, basically what Jizzle says, what will allow you to sleep at night. The Sgt. also stated that the person acting on good faith would be charged however as soon as the DA got it in their hands the charged would be dropped. Basically it's not the officers decision and an investigation would have to take place. I understand what Jizzle said (and I respect your honesty), but what if that were your wife in danger and she happened not to carry. I promise you Jizzle if I were in the store and he pointed the gun at your loved one the only way I could sleep at night is if I took him out of the equation. I can't, WON'T stand by and watch an innocent person who didn't know better or ask for it; be gunned down by the scum of the earth. There's my thoughts.. Sorry if I offend anyone....

Hey Jsalc if I knew it was your wife/kid I'd probably do the same for you. But, what I'm saying that it depends on a lot of variables for me to shoot someone that I don't know for someone that I don't know. I can honestly say that I do not know if I would pull the trigger prior to my own life or someone close to me (emotionally, or responsibly) being in danger.

If he has a gun on the clerk that's intent and capability. Some say it's simple. Call me a democrat if you wish. I don't see it as a simple situation, pull the trigger save a life.. It's not that easy.

I do only see 2 right answers to this situation from my point of view.

Shoot him and deal with the fallout, and there will be a large amount of it. But, being able to sleep at night is a huge bonus.

or

Remove yourself by any means possible from the situation that has you feeling unconfortable/scared and deal with the fallout from that, IE possibly hearing on the news later that some poor cashier was gunned down for $17.42 in the cash register and the BG is still on the loose. But, if you can justify that to yourself and I don't know honestly if I can or not. Possibly. But, if you can then sleep tight. No harm no foul, it's not your responsibility to protect someone who choses not to protect themselves.

Those of us that carry are not some "watch dog" force of citizen ninjas that come in to save the "sheeple" when some BG decides to change someones day for the worse.

And PS don't apologise for stating something that you feel passionately about. No reason for it. The only part that offended me was that lol. If someone doesn't like how you feel about something in your heart. Screw em.

[MasterBlaster]

I voted to wait it out, if I was to tip my hand by announcing that I'm armed it might pressure the perp to do harm that otherwise may not have happened?
I would only present my weapon in plain sight if he or she was pointing at me or shots have already been fired, thats me whether being in the right or the wrong in said decision.
Your last alternative is always to fire because bullets have a mind of their own once they leave your weapon.

[jsnole]

When seconds count, cops are only minutes away. I think we have the duty to stand in the clerks shoes. He or she is someones husband/wife, son/daughter. I would have to shoot because if i don't, he might...

[calvin]

Scooter you and I seem to be on the same page. Every self defense magazine i have read tells you by the time you react it's to late. You have to act. Shoot the BG. Worried about not getting a clean kill or hitting the clerk? Then maybe you need to go to the range more often. The 3 P's of concealed carry- PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.............
Being a new guy, I hope I did't step onto many toe's.

[Jizzle]

I still think that the clerk's responsible for his own life. I may shoot the BG prior to anyone getting hurt, but you'll never know until your in that situation.

We can armchair quarter back this to death but, will are actions be the same as our words?

[Atlanta,Georgia]

If im close enough,shoot OR possibly disarm.Whichever runs through my mind first,i dont hesitate.

[hadasamatter]

This is an old thread, I know. But I think about this scenario a lot, too.

I'm one of those who would probably have my gun ready and remain inconspicuous - just in case the BG turned around and looked like he was going to start shooting up the store or harassing others instead of just getting the money and running. I've always been afraid that my shot would trigger a reaction so he'd shoot the clerk - inadvertently or not.

Really though, I think it would almost be over by the time it even registered in your head that something was going on.

[Bman505]

I am with you there. I think I would probably do the same thing.