I've always maintained that simply brandishing a weapon is about 5-10% effective, so don't do it unless you're prepared to use it. Well, it came down to the brass tacks over the weekend. It happened out of state, but I hold a valid non-resident CWP there.
We were coming out of a sandwich shop just after dark. 40-50 ft to the car - lot mostly empty. The car was parked with the driver's side door facing us. About 100 ft beyond the car was a guy holding two plastic bags, dressed nasty walking away from us - the only other person in the lot that I could see. He was talking and laughing to himself, but in this day and age it could have been a bluetooth, right?
Just to be safe, I walked around the car with my wife and teenage daughter to let them in. Great time for the remote door opener not to work, so I put the key in the door. At this point, he stopped, turned, dropped his bags and started walking towards us. He yelled; (I won't state the vernacular) "Oh, you gotta walk the ladies to their doors to keep them safe! From me, huh? I ignored him but hastened to get them shuffled in, by now, he had gotten within about 50 ft and basically repeated himself, so I stated: (without staring him down) "It's proper to open a door for a lady", and went around the back of my car.
While doing so, he picked up his pace, and reached into his pocket. He produced something shiny, though I couldn't quite make it out. He also changed his angle so the car didn't cover me, and my teenage son was just getting in.
At this point he was shouting; "What you afraid of"? I stated loudly; You need to go on about your business, we're leaving". Unfortunately, He was a little too close to turn my back on. My wife had opened the door and was on the cell to 911, but I didn't feel safe turning away. I even started to put one leg in the car, but it's a high SUV, and I wasn't comfortable. I said "STOP THERE" one more time, but to no avail.
By now the 21ft rule was in play, and he was waving something shiny (off to the side for some reason - it looked like a stapler if that makes sense, but if he's waving it, he has some purpose - staple me? There was an Office Max nearby). When he took one more step - still barking about being sick of white people being a**holes, I had no choice but to produce my 45. At first, he called it a toy. "Oh I'm supposed to run from a "capper"? (cap gun?).
I stated; "You are a threat to my family. If you come any closer or make any move towards this car, I will have no choice but to shoot you. Go away and leave us alone"!
I guess the barrel of the .45 took on a different look now. Perhaps he got a better look in the lights. My wife had started the car and was yelling that she had 911 on the phone. He took some kind of fit like he was stomping ants - anyhow, his attention was off me, so I jumped in the car, darn near dropping the gun in the process. He walked away, still ranting.
The LEO's were no problem to us (sherrif dept.), and took a statement. They called us later to let us know they picked him up, no weapons on him, but a bag full of ladies items - probably stolen.
Just sharing an experience and I guess it could have been much worse. This time (thank goodness) simply brandishing was enough. Not always the case. This was a quick synopsis-just the facts. A bit more went on.
We were coming out of a sandwich shop just after dark. 40-50 ft to the car - lot mostly empty. The car was parked with the driver's side door facing us. About 100 ft beyond the car was a guy holding two plastic bags, dressed nasty walking away from us - the only other person in the lot that I could see. He was talking and laughing to himself, but in this day and age it could have been a bluetooth, right?
Just to be safe, I walked around the car with my wife and teenage daughter to let them in. Great time for the remote door opener not to work, so I put the key in the door. At this point, he stopped, turned, dropped his bags and started walking towards us. He yelled; (I won't state the vernacular) "Oh, you gotta walk the ladies to their doors to keep them safe! From me, huh? I ignored him but hastened to get them shuffled in, by now, he had gotten within about 50 ft and basically repeated himself, so I stated: (without staring him down) "It's proper to open a door for a lady", and went around the back of my car.
While doing so, he picked up his pace, and reached into his pocket. He produced something shiny, though I couldn't quite make it out. He also changed his angle so the car didn't cover me, and my teenage son was just getting in.
At this point he was shouting; "What you afraid of"? I stated loudly; You need to go on about your business, we're leaving". Unfortunately, He was a little too close to turn my back on. My wife had opened the door and was on the cell to 911, but I didn't feel safe turning away. I even started to put one leg in the car, but it's a high SUV, and I wasn't comfortable. I said "STOP THERE" one more time, but to no avail.
By now the 21ft rule was in play, and he was waving something shiny (off to the side for some reason - it looked like a stapler if that makes sense, but if he's waving it, he has some purpose - staple me? There was an Office Max nearby). When he took one more step - still barking about being sick of white people being a**holes, I had no choice but to produce my 45. At first, he called it a toy. "Oh I'm supposed to run from a "capper"? (cap gun?).
I stated; "You are a threat to my family. If you come any closer or make any move towards this car, I will have no choice but to shoot you. Go away and leave us alone"!
I guess the barrel of the .45 took on a different look now. Perhaps he got a better look in the lights. My wife had started the car and was yelling that she had 911 on the phone. He took some kind of fit like he was stomping ants - anyhow, his attention was off me, so I jumped in the car, darn near dropping the gun in the process. He walked away, still ranting.
The LEO's were no problem to us (sherrif dept.), and took a statement. They called us later to let us know they picked him up, no weapons on him, but a bag full of ladies items - probably stolen.
Just sharing an experience and I guess it could have been much worse. This time (thank goodness) simply brandishing was enough. Not always the case. This was a quick synopsis-just the facts. A bit more went on.
