CHL'ers: What would you do in this scenario?

[Moonpie]

You're thirsty. You decide to stop at the C-store and purchase a soda-pop.
Mr.Storeowner says hello as you walk in. You return the hello.
You're at the rear of the store removing a cold can of pop from the cooler when you here "GIMME THE MONEY OR YOU'RE DEAD" from the front of the store.
You look over the rack of chips and jerky to see a goblin waving a gun at Mr.Storeowner.
Goblin has not seen you.
You are armed w/CHL.

What would you do?

[stevie_d_64]

Be a great witness, and be prepared to act within the parameters of the law in the state of Texas in regards to third party interventions in the use of deadly force...

Unless the goober notices me, and decides to directly confront me...At which time I would have to reasonably determine that force or deadly force would be necessary to stop the immediate before me...

Just kinda shooting from the hip tonight...

[BadCo45ACP]

Will the rack you're behind stop a bulet? Is there anybody else in the store? Does the BG have accomplices outside? Is it day or night? Rural setting? High traffic urban? Bedroom community? Does the BG look nervous? Mean? Under the influence? If you shoot and miss could it hit the clerk or some or some other innocent bystander? Is there a glare in youe eye? In the BG's eye? Is the BG's gun a pistol, revolver, shotgun, ar? Have you already pick up some items you'd have to put down before pulling? Too many variables involved.

[HEMIzygote]

Be a great witness, and be prepared to act within the parameters of the law in the state of Texas in regards to third party interventions in the use of deadly force...

Unless the goober notices me, and decides to directly confront me...At which time I would have to reasonably determine that force or deadly force would be necessary to stop the immediate before me...

Just kinda shooting from the hip tonight...

Good reply....and if possible without the BG hearing you....call 911 from cell.

And enjoy my beverage while I wait for police or for a problem arises.

[Jeff B.]

Stevie makes a good point, it would be best to be a great witness. But, in that scenario, your not going to have a great deal of time to decide if you will have the luxury of remaining in the background, or only remaining a witness. It's a tough call, but I believe that I would pull my pistol and prepare to use it. Not really anyplace to go if your in the back of the convenience store when the bad stuff happens...

If I read properly, PC 9.32, (a)(2)(B), use of deadly force would be within the scope of the law if the situation deteriorated to the point where you felt that you needed to act.

Your scenario is thought provoking and very conceivable...

Jeff B.

[THE ENGINEER]

If I am 100% sure that he is the BG, he has a gun, I have a clear shot without risking hitting anyone else, I will put a round in each of his butt cheeks. In all seriousness though, if I feel that the clerk is in eminent danger and I have a clear shot, I will take it. Besides, if I am in the back of the store, and he is blocking my escape, I too am now in danger.

[boomerang]

Which of the other customers is his accomplice/backup?

Does he have only one?

[razoraggie]

+1 with Steve!

Even though it may be in your blood to save the day. Just keep in mind that with that shot comes a world of consequences. There are a lot of variables that could cause one to shoot or to remain concealed, but ultimately, if my life or the life of my family is not in immeadiate risk, then I lean towards being a GREAT witness. If the BG makes the unfortunate choice of attempting to end a life by shooting at some one, then the scenario changes and it would be in the intrest of others there for me to stop the threat to protect the life of another. Just remeber though....sometimes bullets are 1000x more expensive for you when they are used for their intended purpose.

[Venus Pax]

Many variables are left out.
I would likely have my gun drawn at low-ready, but would likely not use it unless he headed my direction & I had no out.

[dustyb]

I believe most reasonable people would consider a man waving a gun and shouting "GIMME THE MONEY OR YOU'RE DEAD", as a clear and present threat to the storeowner and anyone in the store. I would do whatever was necessary to stop the threat.

[Doug.38PR]

Call 911? Be a good witness?

I agree with dusty.

I'm not here to pose as a hero, but the store owner is being threatened with a deadly weapon. His life is in danger, and if the piece of trash sees you then you are in trouble too. He is a threat to not only the store clerk but to both of you. Provided that nobody is standing behind him or in the line of fire between you and the thug, your path seems clear to me. Shoot him.

just my 2 cents

[WarHawk-AVG]

I would draw my weapon, thumb the safety off and put rounds center mass until the threat was no longer there.

Unfortunately there is NO easy way to answer this question, there is NO easy or proper way to handle the situation

You are authorized deadly force as the badguy has a gun, the three prerequisites have been met

Opportunity - the badguy has a weapon drawn, he is in the store
Jeopardy - the badguy has a pistol drawn and has threatened to kill the clerk
Ability - the badguy has a weapon

I am currently legally in the store, and under Texas law I can stand my ground, its not like I can say "excuse me mr. robber..please let me by you so I can leave"

per Texas Law

to prevent the other's imminent commission of
aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual
assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery.
§ 9.33. DEFENSE OF THIRD PERSON. A person is justified in
using force or deadly force against another to protect a third
person if:
(1) under the circumstances as the actor reasonably
believes them to be, the actor would be justified under Section 9.31
or 9.32 in using force or deadly force to protect himself against
the unlawful force or unlawful deadly force he reasonably believes
to be threatening the third person he seeks to protect; and
(2) the actor reasonably believes that his
intervention is immediately necessary to protect the third person.

Yes its a horrible situation, yes there could be possible civil trouble...but also the badguy could turn his weapon on you after he kills the clerk in an attempt to prevent witnesses, and could you live with yourself KNOWING you could have done something but did nothing

‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke

I guess it is the Marine in me that swore to protect the Constitution (and its people) both foreign and domestic that would make me react

I would like to think that I WOULD react this way, but how many can honestly say what they would do given the situation...I hope that my actions would be the right thing and good would win over evil

Could you go home and tell your wife and kids...I saved a mans life today, or I watched a man get killed today?

This is my opinion and we all know about those

[frankie_the_yankee]

Many variables are left out.
I would likely have my gun drawn at low-ready, but would likely not use it unless he headed my direction & I had no out.

That sounds like what I would do. At least until/unless the BG turned towards me.

[Will938]

Guy has a gun, threatening the cashier, points it at them? I can only assume that they're going to use it. I'd shoot if I had a clear shot.

Assuming there isn't some far out situation I can't think of at the moment that is.

[RubenZ]

I think some of you are making it more complicated than it is.



Guy with gun threatening to kill a clerk and blocking your exit is a no brainer.


What if BG does kill the clerk? and then a report is run that there was someone in the store who COULD have prevented? Imagine the family of clerk? You would have to live with that all your life.

Secondly, what if you had families outside? What if your family was outside? What if your wife and kids were walking in without you not knowing to get a last minute snack or to tell you to buy something?


Sorry guys but the positives of killing the BG far outweigh the negatives.