Pincus on open carry

[Solus]

Yeah, I was following the "If I am in a C-Store with five other people and someone pulls a gun on the clerk I have no reason to respond with deadly force." comment with my thoughts on being is said situation.  

In general, the tweeker robbing the pharmacy worries me a lot more than the guy in coveralls and a mask robbing the bank.  As a third party CCWer the extent of my involvement would depend on how I read the situation.

It is a whole different ballgame if they are pointing the gun at me.

I was scared and fearing for my life
I was shakin' like a leaf on a tree
'Cause he was lean, mean
Big and bad, Lord
Pointin' that gun at me

That was my point.  I would not see a lot of difference in motivation if the gun was pointed at me or some other innocent.  The main difference would be that I have a whole lot less risk making a move when the gun isn't pointed at me.

My heart tells me I could not just stand there and let another person be placed in that danger without responding when I have the means and capability to do the job.  I've not been in that situation and I hope I would respond as my heart is telling me to.

I don't want to be looking in the mirror the next morning and be saying, like the guy who didn't fire in the latest IHop shooting, "I wish I would have shot him and stopped the killings".  I don't want to live with that.

Jeanne Assam is my hero.....at least in how she dealt with an armed shooter.

[kmitch200]

"If I am in a C-Store with five other people and someone pulls a gun on the clerk I have no reason to respond with deadly force."

Anyone care to comment on this?
To me, if someone pulls a gun on someone with criminal intent, they have expressed their willingness to use deadly force....and they have the ability to carry that out in less than one second.

This is truly a multi-edged sword. Can we watch someone get threatened and robbed and not do anything?

From a LEO training tape: Off duty cop is in a bank with about a dozen customers. Robber shows up, produces weapon and does his thing. OD cop is standing about 15' from bad guy. They're advice? Do nothing and be a good witness.
If cop or CCW decides to intervene, there is a possibility that BG's unknown partner, who is already in the store/bank, will make himself known in a very bad way.

There is also the possible (probable?) errant shots fllying towards innocents. Unless you clean out his brain pan, he will probably turn to flee while firing until he is out of ammo. After all, we shot him with a 9, 40, 45 popgun, not a 12ga or deer rifle.
How many people are in danger then?

I'm all for doing the right thing. That right thing is going to depend on what the BG does and how I read his intentions. (as mentioned, twitchy or calm pro)
Per the OP, I prefer concealed carry because of the element of surprise. I do OC once is a while but it's usually because I'm coming from a desert session and haven't taken the gun off my hip yet.

[JC5123]

I guess it all comes down to making a judgment call. If you can let the BG get out without hurting anyone, then great. Let the LE do it's job. Once BG goes violent, I say all bets are off.

My head hurts.....why do you guys always gotta make this stuff so complicated! 

[Hazcat]

I was scared and fearing for my life
I was shakin' like a leaf on a tree
'Cause he was lean, mean
Big and bad, Lord
Pointin' that gun at me

Gimme three steps and you'll never see me no more.... 

[PegLeg45]

Gimme three steps and you'll never see me no more....  

Shoot, you'd be sitting in the beer cooler with a gun in one hand and a beer in the other......      

[Sponsor]

[Ichiban]

Shoot, you'd be sitting in the beer cooler with a gun in one hand and a beer in the other......      

Don't get them mixed up.   

[JC5123]

Don't get them mixed up.   

Knowing Haz, it would be a squirt gun full of tequila and the beer would just be for a chaser. 

[PegLeg45]

Knowing Haz, it would be a squirt gun full of tequila and the beer would just be for a chaser. 

 

[twyacht]

My 20 years in N.C., an open carry state, enlightened me to a few things.

The OC statute in NC, is so regulated, watered down, and restrictive, unless your NOT in a city, it makes no sense.

Sure in Meatcamp, NC, (real town BTW, outside of Boone and Banner Elk), nobody cares if you OC or not....Mind your manners, be polite, and OC all day everyday.... There are several rural areas of NC, where this is accepted and not a big deal. Yes, there are gun racks in the back windows of pick up trucks also...With GUNS in them.....

The 800lb. Gorilla, is more urban settings.  The point of the 2nd Amend. is the " and Bear Arms" part....subject to interpretation, regulation, fees, permits, and otherwise gov't interference.

I am always going to be a proponent of OC, as the sole CHOICE of the gun owner. IMHO, there is a time and place for everything.

In an urban environment, I like CC. Nobody's business...Don't start no shi*, won't e no shi*.....In a rural setting, (which we will never get back to culturally), OC is the way to go. No muss, no fuss.

and everyone is so polite....

[Ping]

As for the convenience store scenario, if a robber was pointing a gun at the cashier and I was present and carrying concealed, it would be hard not to react. How many times have we read where they were just going to rob the store and the adrenaline got pumping and they started killing customers?
The robber is showing intent, capability and opportunity that deadly force could be used in the blink of an eye. Do you want to be the one who does nothing and the bad guy shoots a person while exiting the store? The decision is yours.