Witnessed a robbery up close

When you were 'trapped' in the haircare/cosmetics section, the only weapon there I think of would have been nail polish remover...it's not mace/pepper spray, but it would also be debilitating I figure. Or maybe hair spray. Of course I'm not sure how you could get a direct facial hit without getting shot. If I was where the jerkface didn't see me at first, I'd try and keep it that way. And when we're gonna be someplace with lots of people, I prefer to have those little fast food ketchups on hand, in case there is a mass murder and I need to fake dead. Granted it doesn't look like blood that much, but I haven't read about any (recent) mass murder where the killer took time to inspect every 'victim', they just want to attack as many people as they can before they're stopped. If I don't have the means to stop them, then my goal is to survive it and save as many people as I can(helping them escape/survive it).

I think, depending on how the election year insanity is after November, might be seeing more 'desperate' people. I'm ramping up 'prepping' to make sure my family is protected. That's what I care about. I don't have much faith in our 'society' because the cultural norms are crap.

 

Dude, maybe you should RETHINK, because you just ignored 75% of my post. If you had READ the whole thing, you'd know that I never said you should fight back.

 

after reading all the posts up till this I am so glad I live way in the woods - no need to worry about the squirrels muging you out here

 

You can most definitely possess/own a personal firearm on a military installation!!! Once I read that line, lost interest.............

 

Hairspray and a lighter aimed at someone's face can be a lot of fun.

 

I don't think any of us truly know how we will react in this kind of situation. We can all pre-plan in our heads and train to a certain extent, but the truth is we don't know until we are there. And the same store could have different circumstances, a more aggressive perp, two perps, etc.

my 2 cents @Airtime you done good, you walked out alive and so did the other people. You ran multi scenarios thru your head and you over came that damn voice that gets in the way (the one calling you a coward and a dumbass) that voice is for each and everyone of us, our own worst enemy. It will freeze you when you least expect it. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. I think its a great discussion and you are very generous in sharing not only the situation but the thoughts that ran thru your head. Thank you for that as well !

The girls are going to have to take you to the aerosol firing range for your own future protection! We all thought 'hair spray and fire' when you said cosmetic aisle.

It would be interesting to think up how many aerosol cans that could be used that way or any other, Mcgiver .... what could I use that is on hand in this situation. We women thought 'hairspray' and I am sure there are aerosol disinfectants and deodorizers, what is in automotive ?

 

@Airtime I don't know the Ruger LCP .380 but I think that proved that you should get rid of it. I just got a Glock 43 and am crazy over it and would definitely trust it at that range.

 

My two cents is you did the right thing. I was in a similar situation on a bus in Mexico, gave my billfold to my step daughter. Could have taken out the bandit with a machete which he had put under his arm to take money, jewelry, cell phones and laptops which he put in a bag.I had my pocket knife and thought about it but the skinny bastard at the front had what looked like a 45 or 44 revolver in his hand and was at the front of the bus.probably could have rushed him after taking out the one but had I not made it to him I am sure he would have starting shooting aimlessly as it was obvious they were new to this as the one was saying in English"give me money MF"(we were in mexico) after they wanted all the men to exit the bus and were going on about the gringo, went through my mind this isn't good, walked outside past the other men who were facing the bus with their hands up on the bus men crying some praying, took my place just not close or hands high, watching what was going on. The big guy with the machete was frisking the men putting the machete to their backs as he did it when he got to me he put it against the man past me and said give me money, that's when I turned around reached in my pockets pulled my keys from my left and my pocket knife from my right looked him in the eyes and said you got my money on the bus ,watching the machete from the corner of my eye he was slowly lowering it and stepped back and said to the others "he no speaking English" then backed up and acted like loops because of his nervousness he said it in English. That's when they said get on the bus and told the driver not to turn on the lights for 20 minutes. Strange as it may sound I was never scared but angry. I have played out different scenario's as you have but know I the right thing, like it no. Only lost my cell phone and camcorder. You did the right thing not confronting him.

 

Do not know about anyone else but today when I went into the drug store I thought what if.........I looked around and also thought about what @Airtime had said about the employees knowing the store better, in case you need to get out. I looked for other employees besides the cashier. That will be something I do. I always glanced at the shoppers but never the employees.

 

For me a robbery attempt was what that made me get a PAL and a licensed gun. Once on the way back from office I was mugged by two people on a deserted road. My job demand me to work late night and after this incident I got a personal security app because I did not have a firearms license them. I took the test soon and got PAL soon afterwards and got my first gun.