[JustinM]

You;re at the local gas station getting gas. All you have is pepper spray (you left your gun int he car for some reason)

A panhandler starts walking towards you. He gets within 12 feet and you tell him thats close enough. He keeps advancing. What do you do? Your pepper spray is in your left pocket, knife in the right.

 

[Rugerman]

Is a unarmed panhandler a threat?

 

[rocky]

1. be armed. 2. shut off pump and get in vehicle , lock doors.

 

[Zundfolge]

He gets within 12 feet and you tell him thats close enough. He keeps advancing. What do you do? Your pepper spray is in your left pocket, knife in the right.

Assuming he's not advancing at a high rate of speed (in which case you just pepper spray him ASAP) you "tell" him again to back off ... this time at a volume and tone of voice that would make a Marine DI wince (maybe a few colorful expletives included).

If he continues to advance at that point you pepper spray him.

 

[Bumper]

I'd tell him to move on that I had nothing for him and leave the pepper spray and knife where they were. If he starts something, he'll be the one paying at the pump.... :wink:

 

[Ben Hennessy]

If he is of no threat, you tell him to move on.

 

[Sheldon J]

Almost every scenario covered above your initial question you need to supply more information if you want a more definitive answer.

 

[dimmak]

No need to pepper spray someone cause their hard of hearing....

 

[Scott]

I use the same response for almost all of them. Give them "the look" and put my hands in my pockets. I worked in downtown DC for years and it worked well there.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Gas pump's another weapon.

We really need more info... like is he armed?

Josh <><

 

[97Octane]

Spraying an unarmed panhandler who is approaching you at a gas pump is asking for trouble on your part. Where I live... this has gotten to be almost "Expected". I live downtown Houston...and on the edge of downtown mear my loft is a Shell station. In fact, if they dont approach me while getting gas, I look around wondering where everyone went.

I drive a BMW, and in that particular area, I must have "I hand out loose pocket change" written all over my forehead. I am guarded, but you also have to have a 6th sense about these things. 99% its just because you may actually give them some money to go buy the 40oz. Colt 45. I just say "Sorry... good luck to you though!" They have in the past always moved on. I have never been hostile, nor have they ever been hostile. <--- to date. Its the 1% that makes me keep on my toes, but in my opinion you can tell and get a sense of real danger when it approaches. Drawing a weapon such as a knife/pepperspray on a bum or panhandler/thug out for loose change can quickly cause a non-issue to esclate very quickly. Some of those people are harmless... until YOU pull a weapon. Then they feel threatened. You could get hit with esclating the situation. Develop your 6th sense, and it will serve you well.

 

[Wayne]

Here the transiets are starting to get more agressive, even up to assaulting you. They know that all they will get is a warning and even if they go to the jail house, they are out within 30 minutes. Had one here get so mad that people weren't giving him money that he threw human waste into some cars. He was back out throwing human waste again within 45 minutes. The police, when called, said to "just roll up your windows".

Same goes with the property theft. They know that they are 1st class citizens who can almost get away with murder.

Me, with what is going on here, would have sprayed him if moved closer.

Sorry, but I live here and know the score.

Wayne

 

[97Octane]

Here the transiets are starting to get more agressive, even up to assaulting you. They know that all they will get is a warning and even if they go to the jail house, they are out within 30 minutes. Had one here get so mad that people weren't giving him money that he threw human waste into some cars. He was back out throwing human waste again within 45 minutes. The police, when called, said to "just roll up your windows".

Same goes with the property theft. They know that they are 1st class citizens who can almost get away with murder.

Me, with what is going on here, would have sprayed him if moved closer.

Sorry, but I live here and know the score.

Wayne

With that scenario above, they are not simply panhandlers. Nor are they "normal". If they throw feces in/on your car then they are 99% insane or mentally challenged. Thats still not legitimate grounds to draw a weapon. I dont believe that the situation described is now the "routine" occurance of what happens at the gas pump.

 

[Red Stick]

2 shots to the center of the pump just below the price display. Have you seen the prices lately? If that's not robbery I don't know what is.

 

[RaeG]

Is there anyone here who has really participated in this scenario?

 

[Miggy]

I had panhandler experience at the Hess gas station across Dolphin Stadium this week. When I pulled over I noticed the guy looking at the people pumping gas and, for whatever reason, he made a beeline for me. I did a quick scan and did not see a weapon but I did not let him get closer than 20 feet before I raised my left hand, palm outwards and forward and told the guy firmly to back off. He did a quick 180 and left the pump area.

 

[Macattack]

Gas pump's another weapon.



Haha just had a image of you standing at a pump, a beggar asking you for $ and you yelling "back off" while spraying him with gas super soaker style.

 

[Thumper]

If he freaks you out that much, just head inside and ask the clerk to call the police! :gah:

 

[Doc Holliday]

I saw a panhandler get all in another guys personal space coming out of the Cleveland Indians-NY Yankees game last night. I was not carrying since it was not legal but I did have spray and my Surefire. I just directed my wife in a beeline direction quickly away from him. He made eye contact with me but he decided that I apparently was on to him and was not an easy target. Just gotta stay alert folks. If he had approached me and bumped into me like he did the other guy, then he may have gotten my Surefire slammed into his windpipe and a little "Salsa" on his chips.

Most panhandlers are not a threat. Take control of the situation, keep your distance and move along.

On the other hand, when I am pumping gas into my vehicle, or loading groceries, this is when I feel that I am most vulnerable to an attack. Maybe we should discuss this scenario but change it up a bit. What would you do if you were attacked while pumping gas? How do you watch your six? Do you use your vehicle as a barrier or the gas pump. It seems to me that you really have to be on your toes because it is hard to see with your vehicle or with the pump itself.......

 

[AutoFan]

I stop pumping the gas into the car, pull the nozzle out, and tell the vagrant that I don't have any money for him. If he gets aggressive, he gets "accidentally" doused with gasoline.