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by jimlongley
Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:58 pm
Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
Topic: Saturday Morning Encounter
Replies: 20
Views: 2930

Re: Saturday Morning Encounter

I had a similar situation night before last.

I was on my way home from work and stopped to fill up my gas tank. Having just left work I had not finished rearming, which I usually do on the way home, slipping on my holster (already done that night) and then retreiving my .45 from the lock box or glove compartment. Since the gas station is right across the street from my work parking lot I was in front of the pump with an empty holster and I opened the passenger side door while I was pumping the gas (the gas tank is on the passenger side forming a pretty good all around screen) and, careful to not reveal my gun to most observers, finished holstering up.

Just as I slid my 1911 into the kydex, which can make an interesting sound, I heard a voice saying "Hey man . . ." from off my right side, which would be on the other side of the door and the pump, and turned to see a young fellow ambling toward me about ten feet away emerging from the visual shadow of the pump, not particularly agressive, but with that attitude that says "I intend to intimidate you!"

He never finished saying what it was that he wanted, but seemed to hear the gun sliding into the holster, and did an almost immediate about face and made a more direct path back across the large empty parking lot toward the grocery store.

This worthy was not dressed in a manner consistent with the employees of the grocery store, and it being after closing time for most, if not all, of the stores in the strip mall, I don't think he was an employee at any of them. I kind of wonder if he was legitimately trying to get a ride, or if he was merely trying to cadge money, or if he had some evil intent, but whatever it was I think my motions holstering up and the sound of the gun sliding into place.

While the tank filled I watched him head across the lot and then around the side of the grocery store, about fifty yards away, and disappear into the dark, and never really considered calling the police at the time. After I got home I reconsidered and called the non-emergency number and gave them a description and location along with the time of the "sighting" but I have no idea whether they found anything. I will watch next week's local paper for any further details, they have a "police beat" section where they give minimal details about reports and follow ups.

In retrospect I still don't believe that he could have seen me holstering up, his sight line was effectively blocked by both the car door and the gas pump, for that matter I don't believe anyone not sitting in the car could see it, but he might have been able to deduce what I was doing from my motions and the sound, and I think that made him reconsider whatever it was that he intended.

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