Joined
·
1,384 Posts
We had a WEIRD evening tonight. I took 10-yr-old Bunny Jr. with me to buy a new area rug, and it was in the "University City" area of Charlotte (NC), which isn't known for its LOW crime stats.
First, I had to purse carry today because of wardrobe issues, I was in my work clothes. Second, it started getting dark by the time we got to the carpet/rug store.
We walked in, and no one was there. I looked around and opened up my purse, just in case, so that my Sig was more easily accessable. We're talking in normal voices, looking at two different rugs when boom, lights out.
We had no idea if the owner just shut off the lights to close up, and just didn't realize we were there, or if something else was going on. All the other stores in the strip mall were lit up, so it wasn't a power failure. I put my hand on the grip, just in case. Gun was still holstered and inside my purse. Called out SEVERAL TIMES before the store owner realized anyone was inside, and turned the lights on again.
Lesson for Jr about how the store owner had very bad SA and how that could have potentially gone wrong for him if it wasn't us in the store, but folks with bad intent.
--------
Leaving the store, like 6 yards from the door, a vagrant approached us VERY quickly and started to follow, calling out to get our attention. Purse still open, my hand once again on the grip, (still where no one else could see it, but only Jr and I knew what I was doing) I stated several times that he needed to walk on, leave us alone, we were not interested, etc. He kept following. Finally I stopped, stared him down, and in a VERY authoritative voice told him to move on. He did, but he ran behind some pillars where we could not see him. We ducked into another store and I decided it was better to probably OC at that point. Let's not debate the merits of OC here.
I hate purse carry. I like to have my pistol on my hip, where I have it accessable ASAP. It's my fault, but I only train to draw from the hip at the range, guess I need to start training to draw from the purse. I'm not very comfortable with that yet, clearly.
--------
Finally at the third and final store, drove to a primo spot on the side of the building and noticed the street light was out, so I circled around to a parking spot farther away but well-lit. Quizzed Jr about why Mom did that, and he was right on target! Woohoo!
And yes, we finally got our new area rug. THIS one is supposed to be puppy-proof, thank goodness, as we still have "leaky Trigger" issues
lol
First, I had to purse carry today because of wardrobe issues, I was in my work clothes. Second, it started getting dark by the time we got to the carpet/rug store.
We walked in, and no one was there. I looked around and opened up my purse, just in case, so that my Sig was more easily accessable. We're talking in normal voices, looking at two different rugs when boom, lights out.
We had no idea if the owner just shut off the lights to close up, and just didn't realize we were there, or if something else was going on. All the other stores in the strip mall were lit up, so it wasn't a power failure. I put my hand on the grip, just in case. Gun was still holstered and inside my purse. Called out SEVERAL TIMES before the store owner realized anyone was inside, and turned the lights on again.
Lesson for Jr about how the store owner had very bad SA and how that could have potentially gone wrong for him if it wasn't us in the store, but folks with bad intent.
--------
Leaving the store, like 6 yards from the door, a vagrant approached us VERY quickly and started to follow, calling out to get our attention. Purse still open, my hand once again on the grip, (still where no one else could see it, but only Jr and I knew what I was doing) I stated several times that he needed to walk on, leave us alone, we were not interested, etc. He kept following. Finally I stopped, stared him down, and in a VERY authoritative voice told him to move on. He did, but he ran behind some pillars where we could not see him. We ducked into another store and I decided it was better to probably OC at that point. Let's not debate the merits of OC here.
I hate purse carry. I like to have my pistol on my hip, where I have it accessable ASAP. It's my fault, but I only train to draw from the hip at the range, guess I need to start training to draw from the purse. I'm not very comfortable with that yet, clearly.
--------
Finally at the third and final store, drove to a primo spot on the side of the building and noticed the street light was out, so I circled around to a parking spot farther away but well-lit. Quizzed Jr about why Mom did that, and he was right on target! Woohoo!
And yes, we finally got our new area rug. THIS one is supposed to be puppy-proof, thank goodness, as we still have "leaky Trigger" issues