Hypothetical Situation: At your favorite restaurant

[AnthonyTX]

You're at your favorite mom and pop restaurant. The owner nods at you acknowledging that its nice to see you again. As you chow down on the amazing meatloaf and mashed potatoes n gravy things go south.

In walks a guy demanding cash from the old lady running the front. He's holding a handgun and his hands are shaking violently. You check him out and he may be on some sort of substances. He's obviously not done this before and he's anxious and fidgety.

You're cc'd with your trusty weapon of choice.

What would you do?

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

Too much info left out.

Are there people by the register?

Are you with your family?

What is the distance between you and him?

Are there people between you and him?

I could go on...

[.45mac.40]

Did ya' just get your meatloaf, gravy still hot ?



Where ya' sittin in relation to the BG ?

So many gut feelings, will be posted soon, ... good luck.

I'm standing by for some good readin' !

Mac

[jester]

Covertly calling 911 sounds like a good start, based on what you wrote.
(Any variables not defined in the original scenario are now what I defined them to be.)

[glbedd53]

That's the kind of situation I think about all the time. I'm pretty sure for me it would depend on , am I with my wife and/or daughter and/or grandaughter. I like to think I could act after trying to measure the threat to them. I can't help but feel like the reason I was put here was to keep harm from coming to them, especially from something that's not innocent or accidental. And then, could I act or would I freeze?

[Beiruty]

Most likely scenario is that normal people will try disengage, seek cover, and call for help. Now, since we are armed, we may only instinctively draw and pull the trigger if we are felt threated or someone in our company is threatened. If you feel, that you would like to be a cop for 30 sec and want to intervene, you are taking chances. Lucky for us, in TX we have stand your ground and the right to defend a third party too.

To draw, you need to consider:
1) Do you have an advantage to draw?, is the criminal distracted enough so you can draw without you being shot?
2) Are you going to shout commands like a cop and order the criminal to drop his weapon? or
3) Or, are you going to blast the criminal right away, with 1/2 dozen rds?
4) Do you have clear and safe line of fire?
5) Do you have a cover?

[baldeagle]

First question you have to answer - is that meal worth dying for? Because nothing is guaranteed in a gun battle.

[Beiruty]

How about letting the lady "talking faith" with the robber?

[AnthonyTX]

Hehrhehe like I said it was just a hypothetical question. I havent taken the class yet and it just popped in my mind was I was in the shower today.

So if you MUST have super detail. Lets say you happen to be sitting closest to the register. Where the X is.

You're with a friend not your family.

Again its hypothetical. You're on the fence whether this guy is a real threat or not...But the panic of the lady behind the register is causing him to become more and more dangerous.

I honestly dont know what I would do given the circumstance. If I am not attracting the bad guys attention... so you wait till he makes a potential move on the lady owner at the register? Before you accept this guy is a loose cannon and you have to defend your own life?

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

This is why you need detail. Each situation is different. Those details should determine whether or not you engage.

If you engage and you injure an innocent bystander you are in BIG trouble.

If you are wondering about this situation for yourself, work it in your head and on paper multiple times and ways and you will have a better understanding of what is and isnt possible.

Your shooting ability also plays a large factor in this. Can you engage from the distance that you are at? Will you have to move closer?

Like I said earlier...all the little details play a huge part in how one can and will react.


Bottom line...if I can safely and effectively engage and stop the threat, Yes I would.

[AnthonyTX]

I'd say you're approximately 3 yards from the bad guy... I'm guessing most of you guys would be able to hit center mass on the guy at that range with 0 strays...

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I'd say you're approximately 3 yards from the bad guy... I'm guessing most of you guys would be able to hit center mass on the guy at that range with 0 strays...

I was just talking in general...not according to your drawing.

[7075-T7]

Throw your plate of hot food at the baddie, this will be important later
Blow the charges you placed on the fuse box before the meal in case of a situation like this, lights go out.
In the darkness put on your thermal goggles and because of the hot gravy you threw at the perp earlier, he is clearly distinguishable from everyone else
Take the .460 Rowland 1911 (with handloaded frangible ammo) out of your man-purse and let rip.
Then [this is the important bit] make SURE you have your "Concealed Handgun Licence" badge with genuine leather badge holder ready for when the cops show up.
Then, be sure to thank the mayor of the city you were in when he hands you the keys.

/sarcasm

Seriously, Unless it's a direct threat to me, or he starts blastin, the shootin' iron stays skinned. Not worth the next 30 years of my life (or :30 seconds) for $300 insured dollars in the register. (especially if I've not payed yet, so none of the $300 is mine )

[Embalmo]

When it comes to CC, I'm self-centered, and absolutely NO HERO. I will usher my family out the window without drawing if I can safely without regard to anyone else in the restaurant. Otherwise, I get under the table with my family, me and my wife both draw, and we wait to see how it plays out. If the BG starts shooting, I will continue to focus only on my family's safety. I often wonder what other patrons would do if they saw us under the table with guns drawn during a hold-up. My fear is that multiple people would blurt out, "Gun!"

Embalmo

[Embalmo]

I'd say you're approximately 3 yards from the bad guy... I'm guessing most of you guys would be able to hit center mass on the guy at that range with 0 strays...

On a paper target I could rapid fire head shots. In that environ I'd feel more comfortable with <5 feet and a brick wall behind him.