My response: "Well you don't let him get his gun pointed to your head,
!"Always sit near the exit. That way, you could leave and if the bg were to follow (unlikely), then the bg would be silhouetted in the doorway for easy pickings. If an exit seat were unavailable, then a seat with cover and an escape route would be preferable. As a last resort, a seat with a clear line of fire to the cash register and close to the entrance would be least preferred.
Body language, speed, and clothing would be indicators of possible intent. Always be aware of your surroundings with your peripheral vision. Even if you are looking at an exotic dancer at your center of vision, your peripheral vision should still sense something is possibly wrong if someone RUNS into the hair salon. There's no reason to RUN into a hair salon. Frowning and reaching for something underneath a cover garment would be corroborating body language. Clothing might be a giveaway, but many bg put on their Sunday best to lessen suspicion of a robbery and make a clean getaway, so that's not always reliable. Given the perp's speed and body language, you should already be reaching for your weapon and pedaling out the door. By the time the perp draws and yells, "It's a stickup!" You should already be halfway out the door with your gun drawn.
If you do have to shoot in a crowded room where there's no clear shot without danger of penetrating the bg and hitting someone else behind the bg, then practice shooting for a perp's foot. A perp who loses his balance due to a missing foot has a natural fall instinct response; the hand releases the gun and extends for balance and to break the fall. This means the perp will lose control of his weapon if you shoot him in the foot. The downward trajectory of a foot shot ensures that the shot will not over-penetrate the bg and hit someone behind him.
In summary, anywhere you go, be sure to look for the required by law red "EXIT" sign. This may save your life someday.
P.S. IMHO, I think that all these crazy "what if" situations where it's impossible to come out a "winner" are started by anti 2nd A posters. Don't play their game. Instead of saying what you'd do if you were in such and such a situation, let them know that you're able to AVOID the situation because you know where the exits are.
P.P.S. Please note that I said "as a last resort" get a seat with a "clear line of fire" and only shoot the bg in a crowded room "if you have to". 74novaman, as you can see, I agree with you. It's a terrible idea so shooting the bg in the foot/pelvis should only be your "last resort" thing to do "if you have to."
mamabear, yeah, pelvis shots are a good downward trajectory shot if you're tall and there are major arteries in the pelvis area. Great idea! If you're tall and/or close, pelvis shot and foot shot if you're far and/or short in stature. Thanks! (that's what this forum is for, an exchange of ideas).
SewTexas wrote:Situation:
Place: Hair Salon
there are a small number of adults (most women), at least one toddler and two very young elem.
2 men come in look around, pull out guns, demand money from everyone. They wave guns at everyone! Beat up a guy because he tries to tell the babies everything will be ok. They leave.
An acquaintance of mine was in the shop, she is the mom of the baby and one of the others. I've been working with her, trying to help her get past this...it's going to be a very long process.
I was talking with my sister about it, (she's a counselor) she asked me what I would have done...after thinking a bit, I decided that taking into account that there were 2 angry gang banger bg's, 3 small children, lots of sharp stuff and chemicals....but mostly the 2 to 1 thing...I would have given them my purse, my gun in my waistband, and prayed like mad that they left! When I talked with my husband about it, he said the same thing.
What would you do?
I don't really like dealing with this incident as a "what if", I hate that it happened to someone I know, but I think working through these scenarios is good for us.