So, I'm sitting in the Tahoe with my 18 month old daughter waiting for my wife who is in the grocery store. I find myself constantly checking all the mirrors and trying to see who is around me at all times.
Next thing I know, I see this guy in my driver's side mirror all ragged out coming up from behind me. I don't even realize it but my hand has now gripped the Keltec in my pocket holster and I'm watching his every move as he approaches the Tahoe.....then......he walks right by and keeps on going.....
The funny thing is, I never even thought "better get ready to draw" my hand just instinctively found its way to the gun.
I sometimes sit in the vehicle waiting on my sister who happens to live in a rough part of town. I always have a firing grip on my G19 which sits in a Blackhawk Serpa holster on my right hip, when I'm waiting for her, and always checking my mirrors. I've had some pretty scruffy lookin dudes walk by, but they never once looked inside my vehicle. My friends think I'm paranoid, or just looking for trouble, but I call it being prepared.
There's simply no way around this one. Paranoia? With an 18mo child and wife to protect? It's called preparedness. It's called being ready to meet a threat by monitoring it and watching what unfolds. Had you been deaf, dumb and blind, and then someone turned on the "fan", you would have been hard-pressed to prevail with a child in your arms and your head in the sand. Preparedness. Repeat that, whenever you begin to question the wisdom of doing what's right.
Thats what Col Cooper refered to as being in Yellow. Your aware of your situation, and you started to go into Red because you recognized something that look like a possible threat. Alot better than White, LOL.
I was at the public range when a kid my age 20ish walked in with sideways hat and pants at his knees walked down the line carrying a smith and wesson case, my sister who was on the line firing rifle turned say my off hand in my pocket on my Kel-tec. She responded "Thank You" and layed her head back down to the rifle.
I find that carrying the Kel-tec in my pocket my hand tends to go to it faster than my IWB. Why? It is easy and out of sight.
I find myself doing the same thing. I was driving down the interstate yesterday and two cars were flying up the inside lane which was clear for quite a while in front of me.
All at once they showed way down and dropped in behind me. I started looking for escape/evasion routes and unholstered the 1911 and tucked it under my leg
I don't know what they were doing...but I didn't even really think about anything other than the what if game.
It sounds to me as if you've just developed a healthy awareness of your surroundings and potential threats. You've also conditioned yourself to be prepared for a response, if necessary. Nothing paranoid about that, just good judgement. Well done!
It's better to be safe then sorry. A lot of weird things happen in parking lots especialy when it's dark. Those who are not prepared stumble through life and are the ones who get robbed or worse. You are not paranoid ,you are just prepared.
A lot of weird things happen in parking lots especialy when it's dark. Those who are not prepared stumble through life and are the ones who get robbed or worse.
Preparedness and situational awareness saved me in exactly this situation (dark parking lot, alone). Broke up a two-on-one rapid assault on me via drawing the firearm and suggesting I had alternative arrangements. They disappeared. I went home and slept well. I likely would have been left for dead, had both reached me at the far end of that parking lot. Thank you, S&W.
With a wife and child to protect, at the time? "Alternative arrangements" would be quite narrow, for the BG's.
Preparedness is a good thing. Whomever doesn't understand that has not had to be prepared yet.
Some advice I heard once was that the only pistol you're really going to be able to get in time in a gunfight is the one already in your hand.
Pocket pistols make a lot of sense for that reason. you can have a full firing grip, be ready, and no one is the wiser. It allows you to escalate your awareness and preparedness to get a bit ahead of the reaction curve without unduly alarming the populace or looking like Berny Goetz.
Def. of paranoid is Exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others
I don't believe it is either extreme or irrational fear just concern, if you were paranoid you would have pulled your gun and shot him if he stopped and looked at you.
Thanks for the replies. You know, it is funny how a few years ago my wife thought it was excessive to have the 45 with us when we went places. Now that we have a daughter, she doesn't mind it at all. Funny how being a parent can wake you up to potential dangers.
FMC
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Defensive Carry
5.4M posts
117.5K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to defensive firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about everyday carry, optics, holsters, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!