….when out from the front of my vehicle steps a guy who doesn’t appear “right”.
I’m parked with the compressor in about the middle of the left side of my vehicle so that I can air up both tires. My 9-year-old is climbing around on the concrete pad that the compressor is sitting on.
The guy appears out of nowhere asking which direction I was headed because he wanted to save some money on the cab fare that is on its way. I looked over and up towards him and said that I was headed around the corner to my house. He asked if I had a cell phone. I did not. He starts to inch towards me asking if I was a hunter. I said that I was. He got to the front of my driver door, asked if I collected guns and if I’d be interested in a gun.
I was really on high alert at this point and began scanning this guy as I stood up. He was wearing baggy sweatpants and a T-shirt too big for him so I couldn’t make anything out. He was very much intoxicated from the smell even from 10 feet away. I had the air hose at my right hip where my weapon was. I slowly began to move towards the front wheel that was now behind him. He immediately backed away and I’m thinking my size kind of startled him. Either that or he was still competent enough to use those questions to figure me out enough to realize that I could be carrying.
He has now backed away to well out in front of my vehicle. At this point, his cab has driven by; he notices, sort of gives chase and hollers out to it. I drop down to air up the front tire while keeping an eye on the back of his head. His couple seconds of running must have disrupted things because my 9-year-old, who has now moved to the right rear of the vehicle, watched him raise his shirt and adjust the position of the shotgun he was carrying. He comes around and asks if I saw it. I immediately called the cab company and gave their dispatcher the cab number.
My thoughts afterwards:
First, I was proud of my son because he immediately moved from the compressor to the left rear of my vehicle during the whole thing. I do know that he was peeking around the corner to watch. We have sort of “trained” for intruders at home. He was taught to put me between himself and the bad guy (not in a line) but not to be right on me for when I have to act. He said he slid from one side of the vehicle to the other side with his back against the vehicle “Mission Impossible” style to watch the guy go to the cab. He said he felt very tense because he was also on high alert. We talk regularly about "spidey sense".
Second, I called the cab company because I felt that the dispatcher could decide whether or not to involve the police and could at least put the driver on alert. They at least already have some info on him and his destination. I don’t know that it’s technically against the law to carry a shotgun while intoxicated so I didn’t think he was breaking the law. Please correct me if I’m wrong on this.
Third, I think this is about as close as I’ve ever been to actually reaching for my weapon. I was very calm throughout the thing. I’ve practiced my draw and while I’m not a black belt, I can handle myself in close encounters. I’m not sure what would’ve happened if this guy had just run around the corner and jumped on me because I would not have been able to get to my weapon in time. I think I need to consider training from this point for sure.
I’m parked with the compressor in about the middle of the left side of my vehicle so that I can air up both tires. My 9-year-old is climbing around on the concrete pad that the compressor is sitting on.
The guy appears out of nowhere asking which direction I was headed because he wanted to save some money on the cab fare that is on its way. I looked over and up towards him and said that I was headed around the corner to my house. He asked if I had a cell phone. I did not. He starts to inch towards me asking if I was a hunter. I said that I was. He got to the front of my driver door, asked if I collected guns and if I’d be interested in a gun.
I was really on high alert at this point and began scanning this guy as I stood up. He was wearing baggy sweatpants and a T-shirt too big for him so I couldn’t make anything out. He was very much intoxicated from the smell even from 10 feet away. I had the air hose at my right hip where my weapon was. I slowly began to move towards the front wheel that was now behind him. He immediately backed away and I’m thinking my size kind of startled him. Either that or he was still competent enough to use those questions to figure me out enough to realize that I could be carrying.
He has now backed away to well out in front of my vehicle. At this point, his cab has driven by; he notices, sort of gives chase and hollers out to it. I drop down to air up the front tire while keeping an eye on the back of his head. His couple seconds of running must have disrupted things because my 9-year-old, who has now moved to the right rear of the vehicle, watched him raise his shirt and adjust the position of the shotgun he was carrying. He comes around and asks if I saw it. I immediately called the cab company and gave their dispatcher the cab number.
My thoughts afterwards:
First, I was proud of my son because he immediately moved from the compressor to the left rear of my vehicle during the whole thing. I do know that he was peeking around the corner to watch. We have sort of “trained” for intruders at home. He was taught to put me between himself and the bad guy (not in a line) but not to be right on me for when I have to act. He said he slid from one side of the vehicle to the other side with his back against the vehicle “Mission Impossible” style to watch the guy go to the cab. He said he felt very tense because he was also on high alert. We talk regularly about "spidey sense".
Second, I called the cab company because I felt that the dispatcher could decide whether or not to involve the police and could at least put the driver on alert. They at least already have some info on him and his destination. I don’t know that it’s technically against the law to carry a shotgun while intoxicated so I didn’t think he was breaking the law. Please correct me if I’m wrong on this.
Third, I think this is about as close as I’ve ever been to actually reaching for my weapon. I was very calm throughout the thing. I’ve practiced my draw and while I’m not a black belt, I can handle myself in close encounters. I’m not sure what would’ve happened if this guy had just run around the corner and jumped on me because I would not have been able to get to my weapon in time. I think I need to consider training from this point for sure.
Very impressed with juniors training though
The only advice I can offer is to buy an air compressor to handle such tasks at your house. Or, buy one that runs on 12v to keep in the car, allowing you to fill up wherever you wish. I don't like hanging around gas stations any longer than is necessary
