Man with concealed handgun holds Pinehurst store thief at ba

[MoJo]

Pinehurst is a small town in Orange County.

A convenience store customer with a concealed handgun license held a would-be thief at gunpoint until police arrived to arrest him.

Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/ ... z1KpEBsecQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BobCat]

He is lucky the responding officer did not mistake him for the "bad guy".

He was wise not to draw until (according to the news story) the thief pulled a knife on him, but I question his judgement in accosting the thief and telling him to stop. He escalated what started as theft of property into what could have turned into a lethal force confrontation.

Anyway I'm glad he is ok and the thief was caught.

[WildBill]

This is a good example of a CHL holder trying to perform the duties of an LEO. I am glad that it turned out well.

[RoyGBiv]

This is a good example of a CHL holder trying to perform the duties of an LEO. I am glad that it turned out well.

Follow the BG, maybe.
Confront the BG, no.

Call 911, follow if safe (to you and the public) to do so.

[Texas Size 11]

I wouldn't have followed the BG out...call the police. I know of a couple of people who have been shot following somebody out of a store that they stole something from. There is nothing in a convenience store that is worth risking my life over (other than people that is).

[MoJo]

I have to agree unless someone's life is in danger just be a good witness. Reminds me of the story of the guy who chased the guy who swiped he tip jar and got run over.

[baldeagle]

Wow, a CHL holder does exactly what we argue they can do when the antis get their backs up, and all you guys can do is criticize his actions? I'm not impressed. We point out all the time that 90+% of CHL incidents never involve shootings when discussing these issues with people who favor gun control. Why do we do that if we really think it's a bad idea to do exactly that?

I suspect this BG realized that the guy who confronted him was deadly serious, which is why he chose to remain docile until the police arrived. He knew if he tried anything he'd be perforated.

How is this a bad thing again?

[RoyGBiv]

How is this a bad thing again?

Let me try...

"Self Defense" ended when the BG fled. The immediate danger to any person has passed. The possibility of recovering some stolen candy bars, beer or even cash that is all covered by insurance is not worth upping the chances of making my children fatherless.

[texanron]

Personally, I'm not going to try and be a LEO because some knucklehead decided to steal a bag of Doritos and a 6 pack of beer.

[baldeagle]

Personally, I'm not going to try and be a LEO because some knucklehead decided to steal a bag of Doritos and a 6 pack of beer.

The article doesn't say what he stole. He was charged with felony theft, so whatever he stole had to be worth at least $1500.

But my point is not what would you do in this situation but why do we, as CHL holders, when arguing with gun control proponents, bring up the fact that most gun incidents don't involve shootings, and then turn around and criticize this guy for his actions when he provides a perfect example of how being a CHL holder does not mean we will necessarily shoot someone? We read stories all the time about citizens who got involved and helped police catch crooks, bank robbers, etc. Here's a guy who did just that and only drew his weapon when threatened, and all I'm reading is that he never should have done that. Why not, hey, that's not what I would do, but kudos to him for doing it without having to fire? Is this guy not worthy of any praise at all? Only condemnation?

[texanron]

You're right baldeagle, the article doesn't say what he was stealing. I was speaking in general terms. A poor attempt at humor I guess.
Dang! At least $1500 dollars worth of stuff from a convience store! He must of grabbed a bunch of those fine cigars they sell!

[baldeagle]

You're right baldeagle, the article doesn't say what he was stealing. I was speaking in general terms. A poor attempt at humor I guess.
Dang! At least $1500 dollars worth of stuff from a convience store! He must of grabbed a bunch of those fine cigars they sell!

Well, nowadays it could be two or three thanks of gas.

[BobCat]

No condemnation from me, at all. And I agree with you that we should be pleased with his restraint; legally he probably could have fired when confronted with a knife, since his life was in immediate danger.

However, I would not have intervened because doing so could have escalated the situation from theft to bloodshed.

I wasn't there, don't know the lay of the land or the circumstances or big picture. My mindset is to avoid confrontation, avoid trouble, ignore insults, walk away - but if attacked, to shoot back until I've ended the attack.

This is not "on the side of the gun control proponents". It may be cowardly, it may be despicable compared to someone who would intervene to recover someone's stolen property, or run into a burning building to save an innocent person, but it is a far cry from supporting gun control.

[baldeagle]

No condemnation from me, at all. And I agree with you that we should be pleased with his restraint; legally he probably could have fired when confronted with a knife, since his life was in immediate danger.

However, I would not have intervened because doing so could have escalated the situation from theft to bloodshed.

I wasn't there, don't know the lay of the land or the circumstances or big picture. My mindset is to avoid confrontation, avoid trouble, ignore insults, walk away - but if attacked, to shoot back until I've ended the attack.

This is not "on the side of the gun control proponents". It may be cowardly, it may be despicable compared to someone who would intervene to recover someone's stolen property, or run into a burning building to save an innocent person, but it is a far cry from supporting gun control.

If that's what you got from what I wrote, then please accept my apology. That certainly wasn't my intent.

[WildBill]

You're right baldeagle, the article doesn't say what he was stealing. I was speaking in general terms. A poor attempt at humor I guess.
Dang! At least $1500 dollars worth of stuff from a convience store! He must of grabbed a bunch of those fine cigars they sell!

Not neccesarily $1500. If the person has a previous conviction for theft, the charges can be enhanced to a felony.