Denny's customer shoots @ armed robbers

[RHenriksen]

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2011/11 ... n-houston/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not a lot of details about this one, yet.

[AEA]

One detail evident........customer that pulled/returned fire needs more range time.

[RoyGBiv]

At least he hit the van.

[RHenriksen]

Garden variety bad guys (ie, not the Zetas) REALLY don't like two way ranges. Even if he didn't hit them, he definitely gave them something to think about.

[thatguy]

It makes my stomach churn at the thought of innocent by-standers.... I believe thats what motivates me to practice the most.

[rp_photo]

Garden variety bad guys (ie, not the Zetas) REALLY don't like two way ranges. Even if he didn't hit them, he definitely gave them something to think about.

Zetas will never have free reign in Texas like they do back home due to more armed citizens and CHL's.

[Oldgringo]

Good on the customer! Denny's serves good value meals.

[mrvmax]

Not sure if I would have done that, I guess it depends on the details we do not have. I keep thinking about hitting a bystander both in the restaurant and in the parking lot.

[sugar land dave]

There is no telling how a 5am robbery may go in Houston. Robbers in this area have been know to execute the victims. I don't quite know how I feel about firing outside of the restaurant not knowing if the robbers were still a threat, but all in all I support the customer's actions in defense of self and the others.

[Oldgringo]

Not sure if I would have done that, I guess it depends on the details we do not have. I keep thinking about hitting a bystander both in the restaurant and in the parking lot.

but I still don't want nobody messin' with my breakast/lunch/dinner unless they's payin'. Know what I mean?

[tazz0018]

[KD5NRH]

One detail evident........customer that pulled/returned fire needs more range time.

Depends on the situation; I've tried doing some no-shoot-blocking-the-target and hostage-shot drills, and often miss the target to the side away from the no-shoot because of the tendency to pull that way too much in avoiding the "innocent bystander." IMO, it would take a lot more range time than most people can afford to overcome that.

[mrvmax]

My wife was asking me what I would have done if I had been there. BTW, I normally carry my STI Trojan in 45 ACP and two extra mags (if I am wearing cargo shorts like I do most of the year, I sometimes carry two more magazines in my cargo pockets for a total of four extra mags). This time of year when I wear pants I also carry my LCP in an ankle holster with an extra mag. To be honest, I would be reluctant to do anything until I was convinced they were going to harm someone. I know it may be hard to tell since they can shoot someone in a split second, but I'm not taking the chance of hitting an innocent person unless I am forced to. I also realize I am not a police officer and I am not a superhero so I am not obliged to protect the world. There are just too many "what ifs" to sit here and say what I would have done. The first thing I would have done was to shield my family and draw my gun under the table. I guess it would be a stressful waiting game after that for a few seconds until I determined what to do. Maybe others think this is an easy decision, but for me it is a difficult call.

[Piney]

The details of what transpired are still limited.
To me, the poor judgement on the citizen's part may have been him engaging the BGs. I agree with other posters that one doesn't know what to expect from a bg so perhaps he acted prudently. I wasnt there, looking towards a barrell. Poor judgement certianly occured in the decision made about following them out into the parking lot, firing on them as they drove away.
From KHOU == The suspects returned fire before fleeing the scene in a white minivan. The customer ran outside and fired at the suspects’ van, but they got away.==

This "following the BG outside....." activity is a too frequent part of such a report. I ask myself why in the world would I chase someone out into the open to engange them furthur. I consider that past the legal (and perhaps moral?) definition of self defense and shooting to stop the threat. As one sees the BG driving off or his/her backside out the doorway- the threat is effectively stopped.

[sugar land dave]

One might follow them to the doorway to make sure they are not merely retreating to get bigger weapons such as a shotgun. If they are driving off, I think it's time to call police.