Preface: I was raised into a certain type of work, one which made one a target of crime by its very nature. I later was involved with other areas , more responsible areas and this made me and other like me prime targets for stalking, being kidnapped and such.
Yes been a victim.
House targeted during Riots, I used a firearm to keep me and sibs safe when the front door gave way to brickbats. Stopped an immediate action, I was 13.
As a kid, everyone hitch-hiked. I used my knife and laid someone open, seems there was another person I did not see when I entered this vehicle, age 14.
Business armed robbed, business broken into, came home to find my alarm bypassed and .357 revolver with the hammer back to greet me, he had a friend too. All sorts of fun stuff.
This School of Hard Knocks is a tough School, curricula changes, and you still have to remember the old lessons too...
Had a UC LEO turn rouge (money and Cocaine will do that) and set me up. <shiver> Really sucks to have gunshots take out drivers rear window, have rouge cop know my route and with radio...keep his new friends advised.
Complicated...I got loose from being attacked by a good looking honey in a elevator, got by her pard a male, and ...I got really pissed after being shot at, I used my vehicle as a weapon. I survived, I looked like hell, but I gave better than I got. I am attempting to write this one out.
My car gun was a model 29 , getting tired of being bumped, and passenger was pointing a gun...I shot the car, like I said complicated.
I did not know whom to trust. I mean a rouge cocaine crazed cop, whom has put in a bad spot and his partner too. I dunno whom is on what side, he had radio and who knows what he is going to tell legit cops...I really learned the definition of "alone" the hard way.
I ran, I mean I RAN, you name it I probably did it. Not only was there about a $ 1million worth of goods [ its insured] ...it was my skinny butt [not insured and not replaceable] I was concerned about.
I went to trusted folks and contacted using code we used. Short version, I went in as bait to find these guys. I had to - one flat told me he was going to kill me and what he was going to do to my lady partner. I stood there in a jail and had to face this demon. I worked with folks as a decoy, my boss gave the okay...got all but one.
Then I disappeared for a bit.
In that other life, legitimate business has been conducted way before UPS, FEDEX, cell phones or internet. I was good, I am still good at that life. Just the nature of the business makes it a real dangerous life.
Put it this way, while the dog and pony show was going on with armed security and such...I was the low profile with the real deal. Lloyds of London, bonded and whatever else I was.
I was a a range rat, liked to hunt, liked to fish. I had a 'retail' presence...but my Resume' can never reveal what I did in that other life.
I still do not like parking decks, elevators ( vertical coffins) and front wheel drive totally sucks at getting over a median at high speed...
Chris...you may know some...DO NOT share anything I may have hinted at b/t us.
I still watch my six for more than one reason.
Conclusion: I did my apprenticship starting at age 12 under a Orthodox Jew. He and his folks took me in (a dumb Gentile) and I trusted and taught. Orthodox Jews are very smart folks, and they know about awareness and survival. Later on add the Reformed Jews and other folks.
Nothing wrong with firearms, understand back then we did not have pieces of paper in regard to guns. WE had a Moral Code , my kind had a Moral Code for living, the business had one as well. Mdse was insured to the hilt...human beings are NOT replaceable.
Main deal was training the brain,how to read people, places and things. Think. Awareness. Evade. My training included firearms I mean my short fat Jewish boss could shoot, his Sister in law had taken sniper training...I learned from LEO and Military folks. WE didn't have known gun schools per se' and there was that bit about not attending so as to not attract attention.
Don't be where trouble is, if trouble shows up - evade. Being in a situation and using a gun was a option, part of the package, firearms were not the only package.
I am not ashamed one bit to say I have run. I have acted a fool and tossed trash cans to get attention, pass a trooper to get pulled over, run a light or take a left on red. I got the officer's attention, was honest, and stayed safe, no tickets.
Buddy of mine was kidnapped and his family held hostage. They were coming for me these Professionals. I met one of this group in jail ( he got caught being stupid), he told me how they planned to catch me...'you are the most PITA un-predicitable person we ever run across- we thought you made us...so we napped so an so and emptied his safe..."
I saw the cars, all I did was answer a wrong number then use that phone to make a call, in the front of a business...they were watching and thought I called Police.
Never ever turn down Lady Luck, maybe all ya got.
I should have gotten into the bait shop business...oh no, that would have been too serene. *sigh*
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