The answer is yes, I would have still intervened even if I had no gun. I carry a gun not as false sense of security but to be prepared. In the event it is needed. In this situation it was not needed. I have become involved in physical altercations in the event of protecting myself or my family. I am confident in my physical ability and believe there is in many times ways to deescalate a situation without violence. I feel that becoming involved in this situation I was able to remove an innocent bystander from an uncomfortable situation.
I believe in building strong community and helping each other out. So unfortunately my children were exposed to a challenging situation and what they say was an individual needing assistance and someone coming to there aid. I have raised them to be generous through volunteering at food pantries, nursing homes walks for causes, etc. In my opinion we have a commitment to community. I do understand I may have put myself out there and that was a decision I made. I would do it again but yes allowing additional distance between myself and the aggressor. I grew up in a challenging environment and have seen first hand that violence begets violence.
I made a commitment when I received my CHL that I would not over react in a situation and assess all options. It is not a batman badge or give me any additional duties. I have stood my ground for my beliefs and my community long before my CHL and will continue to with or without a gun.
I do appreciate the various opinions though and it shows where many stand and were they are from.
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Return to “Interesting situation”
- Sun Oct 13, 2013 10:30 pm
- Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
- Topic: Interesting situation
- Replies: 55
- Views: 6832
- Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:36 am
- Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
- Topic: Interesting situation
- Replies: 55
- Views: 6832
Re: Interesting situation
Thank you all for the advice. Looking back I agree I should have secured more space in between myself and the aggressor. It is amazing how fast these situations can happen. I look at it as a learning experiance and take from it what I can. Thanks again.
- Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:07 pm
- Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
- Topic: Interesting situation
- Replies: 55
- Views: 6832
Re: Interesting situation
We were there 20 minutes and they still had not shown up but we finally got the security guards attention and had him watch the person until they came. My wife insisted we leave as the kids were getting very concerned. There was enough guys around to handle the situation. I work at a retail store in the same quadrant as this Wally World and the police are not quick at all as far as response time. We have let shoplifters go because if it takes longer than 1 1/2 hours to wait, it is our policy to release them. I work in north Austin, not Round Rock.
- Sat Oct 12, 2013 10:36 pm
- Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
- Topic: Interesting situation
- Replies: 55
- Views: 6832
Interesting situation
I have been watching this forum for many months now and appreciate everyone's input. I feel I have gained a lot of knowledge from everyone's experiences and would like to thank everyone. I am only about 6 months with a CHl and like everyone else looking for as much info as possible. I had an interesting situation happen to me this evening.
So I was at Wally world with my wife and children and as we are leaving a hear a loud yell. I turn to see what it was and a man was quickly walking across the drive towards another person. I assumed they had known each other. I told my children who it had caught their attention also to get in the car. As I looked back to see the man was harassing another customer as they exited the building for money with a piece of paper in his hand. After I saw him grab the cart of a young lady and not allow her to pass as he made these loud noises at her I saw she was frightened. At that point I told my wife to be aware and call the police if this escalates and I walked over to the situation to allow the young lady to leave. I asked if everything was alright and the man turned to me aggressively and the woman quickly left. As the man closed the gab between me and him I signaled for my wife to make the call. So this aggressor who had about 50 pounds on me approaches me and got up to my face about 6 inches away and started yelling at me making noises. I believe he was hearing impaired but whatever he was saying was not very nice. At the same time another concerned gentleman approached and informed the man that he had been watching him harass customers for some time and that he needed to leave. At this point the irate belligerent person focuses his aggression towards the other person. The only threatening actions that this man had made so far was a little pushing and shoving towards us now that we had allowed the female to leave. The entire time I kept asessing the situation to see if this was going to escalate had my hand about an inch from 4oclock where I keep my 1911. I was just buying time until the Leo was to come. He finally walked away yelling and cussing to harass people in a different part of the parking lot chasing people into their cars and banging on their windows obviously frightening them. I distracted the man until security came by honking my horn and distracting his attention towards me at a safe distance . Looking back I feel I was able to assist in the situation,getting several frightened people removed from the situation without having to utilize my gun.
So in my opinion I used my head and no one was harmed so I feel this was a success but had the person escalated and put anyone in danger I would have been prepared. This was my first close experiance in a confrontation since I have my CHL. I carry everyday I can outside of work who does not allow it. My wife who teases me daily about carrying saying we live in one of the safest cities in America (Round Rock) now understands that maybe situations may arise where protection is needed.
So my question. Did I handle the situation correct in your opinion? Should I have kept a safer distance and just called without distracting the man? What would you have done in this situation? I approached the situation so if I did have to utilize would I have been in the wrong? I was not trying to play cop but saw someone in need of assistance. Please let me know your thoughts and sorry for the rambling.
So I was at Wally world with my wife and children and as we are leaving a hear a loud yell. I turn to see what it was and a man was quickly walking across the drive towards another person. I assumed they had known each other. I told my children who it had caught their attention also to get in the car. As I looked back to see the man was harassing another customer as they exited the building for money with a piece of paper in his hand. After I saw him grab the cart of a young lady and not allow her to pass as he made these loud noises at her I saw she was frightened. At that point I told my wife to be aware and call the police if this escalates and I walked over to the situation to allow the young lady to leave. I asked if everything was alright and the man turned to me aggressively and the woman quickly left. As the man closed the gab between me and him I signaled for my wife to make the call. So this aggressor who had about 50 pounds on me approaches me and got up to my face about 6 inches away and started yelling at me making noises. I believe he was hearing impaired but whatever he was saying was not very nice. At the same time another concerned gentleman approached and informed the man that he had been watching him harass customers for some time and that he needed to leave. At this point the irate belligerent person focuses his aggression towards the other person. The only threatening actions that this man had made so far was a little pushing and shoving towards us now that we had allowed the female to leave. The entire time I kept asessing the situation to see if this was going to escalate had my hand about an inch from 4oclock where I keep my 1911. I was just buying time until the Leo was to come. He finally walked away yelling and cussing to harass people in a different part of the parking lot chasing people into their cars and banging on their windows obviously frightening them. I distracted the man until security came by honking my horn and distracting his attention towards me at a safe distance . Looking back I feel I was able to assist in the situation,getting several frightened people removed from the situation without having to utilize my gun.
So in my opinion I used my head and no one was harmed so I feel this was a success but had the person escalated and put anyone in danger I would have been prepared. This was my first close experiance in a confrontation since I have my CHL. I carry everyday I can outside of work who does not allow it. My wife who teases me daily about carrying saying we live in one of the safest cities in America (Round Rock) now understands that maybe situations may arise where protection is needed.
So my question. Did I handle the situation correct in your opinion? Should I have kept a safer distance and just called without distracting the man? What would you have done in this situation? I approached the situation so if I did have to utilize would I have been in the wrong? I was not trying to play cop but saw someone in need of assistance. Please let me know your thoughts and sorry for the rambling.