Here's a situation that happened recently. Nothing exciting, just a vagrant looking for a handout but if anyone wants to read and critique I'd appreciate it.
Four of us were leaving a meeting around 9:15pm. We were standing in the parking lot talking when I see a black male in baggy clothing approaching from my 7 o'clock about 200 feet out. I turned so he was at my 9-10 o'clock to observe and continue facing the group I was with.
At first he appeared to be moseying along (loudly shuffling, actually) but as he spotted our group he seemed to slightly adjust his path towards us. Speed did not increase.
At some point we all stopped talking and watched him approach. Upon closer inspection he was about 40-50 yrs old. He started speaking incoherently as if to tell us a story and my friend and I just sort of nodded our heads as if to understand. The other two in our group sort of starting walking away back to their cars, but did not leave the parking lot right away (may have been watching to see what happened).
As far as I know I was the only one in our group armed. Glock G19 under my buttoned up shirt, no jacket. Spiderco knife clipped to right-hand pocket.
As he was speaking I was watching his hands. He did not seem violent and I could not smell any alcohol on him. After a few minutes of this my friend and I started to leave, and then he asked for a few bucks. I said "sorry, I don't carry cash" but my friend walked behind me so as not to expose his wallet and pulled out a few bucks and gave it to the guy. As we leave the guy held his arms out and hugged my friend and then started to hug me. He sort of half-did it as I was backing away. We left, and he moved on.
Pretty anti-climatic, huh? But since this is the first time I've been approached while carrying, I wanted to post it here for feedback.
What I did right:
Observed the approach, positioned myself to keep in sight and kept my body bladed as a defensive posture. Right hand was free and near knife/gun.
Kept around a 60 degree angle with my friend (supporting angle, not standing next to each other) with a wall as a backdrop behind the vagrant.
Did not offer cash or pull my wallet.
Didn't escalate the situation by yelling at the guy, though his demeanor was in no way threatening so didn't feel in any danger.
What I did wrong:
Stayed too long. Should have told my friend "let's leave, now" and been more firm. Did not take control of the situation.
Stood too close to the guy (6-7 feet).
Should not have let him anywhere near me for a hug.
In my mind most importantly -- I was fixed on this guy and didn't really observe if he had a partner lurking around.
Even though I didn't offer the money, doing so may keep him "coming back to the well". Lots of college-age students around so they are not likely to be equipped to deal with any threats.
I'll give myself a C-minus.
Four of us were leaving a meeting around 9:15pm. We were standing in the parking lot talking when I see a black male in baggy clothing approaching from my 7 o'clock about 200 feet out. I turned so he was at my 9-10 o'clock to observe and continue facing the group I was with.
At first he appeared to be moseying along (loudly shuffling, actually) but as he spotted our group he seemed to slightly adjust his path towards us. Speed did not increase.
At some point we all stopped talking and watched him approach. Upon closer inspection he was about 40-50 yrs old. He started speaking incoherently as if to tell us a story and my friend and I just sort of nodded our heads as if to understand. The other two in our group sort of starting walking away back to their cars, but did not leave the parking lot right away (may have been watching to see what happened).
As far as I know I was the only one in our group armed. Glock G19 under my buttoned up shirt, no jacket. Spiderco knife clipped to right-hand pocket.
As he was speaking I was watching his hands. He did not seem violent and I could not smell any alcohol on him. After a few minutes of this my friend and I started to leave, and then he asked for a few bucks. I said "sorry, I don't carry cash" but my friend walked behind me so as not to expose his wallet and pulled out a few bucks and gave it to the guy. As we leave the guy held his arms out and hugged my friend and then started to hug me. He sort of half-did it as I was backing away. We left, and he moved on.
Pretty anti-climatic, huh? But since this is the first time I've been approached while carrying, I wanted to post it here for feedback.
What I did right:
Observed the approach, positioned myself to keep in sight and kept my body bladed as a defensive posture. Right hand was free and near knife/gun.
Kept around a 60 degree angle with my friend (supporting angle, not standing next to each other) with a wall as a backdrop behind the vagrant.
Did not offer cash or pull my wallet.
Didn't escalate the situation by yelling at the guy, though his demeanor was in no way threatening so didn't feel in any danger.
What I did wrong:
Stayed too long. Should have told my friend "let's leave, now" and been more firm. Did not take control of the situation.
Stood too close to the guy (6-7 feet).
Should not have let him anywhere near me for a hug.
In my mind most importantly -- I was fixed on this guy and didn't really observe if he had a partner lurking around.
Even though I didn't offer the money, doing so may keep him "coming back to the well". Lots of college-age students around so they are not likely to be equipped to deal with any threats.
I'll give myself a C-minus.