Interesting Observation

[Gogle2112]

I made an interesting observation this weekend.  My family and I were in a highly populated touristy mall this weekend.  I typically avoid places like these like the plague, but we were on vacation and the kids wanted to go.  We were walking down the main concourse when I noticed a small group of hooligans hanging out against the rail about 30 yards ahead of us and my spidy sense was going off.  I made eye contact with who appeared to be “the leader”.  He was all gang tattooed out and making harassing comments to just about everyone who passed by.  As we walked by them, I placed myself between my wife and children and the group.  As I passed by, this individual got up from the rail and his elbow pumped into me.  It was ever so slight so I don’t believe it was a pick pocket attempt, wouldn’t have mattered because my wallet was in my front pocket anyway.  But more importantly, his elbow made contact with my sidearm which was concealed in my IWB crossbreed type holster.  This is where I made my observation.  In the split second he made inadvertent contact with something hard on my waist band, his demeanor completely changed.  As we made contact, I spun around and again we locked eyes.  His superior and aggressive attitude immediately changed.  He went from acting like top dog of the mall concourse to turning pale and apologetic.  He immediately apologized for bumping into me, including calling me sir and motioned to his gang to head off.  We decided we had seen enough of the mall and it was time leave.  The entire incident took about 30 seconds to occur.  I replayed the incident in my head for the rest of the afternoon.  I am almost positive he knew he had bumped my firearm.  Was the thought of a legally armed citizen in the gang’s midst enough to make them decide to call it a day?  Was the timing of their departure pure coincidence?  All I know is that there is a reason I do not like those places and a reason I carry if I have to go to one. 

[Pecos Bill]

Coincidence? Not a chance! He knew what he felt and it scared the crap out of him.

[tombogan03884]

Coincidence? Not a chance! He knew what he felt and it scared the crap out of him.

I agree with 2/3rds of what Bill posted.Your eye contact made him want to check you out, so he casually "bumped" you where a gun would probably be, and when he felt something hard his felonious little brain went BINGO.
I doubt he was scared, predators brains don't work that way, they only think in terms of "prey" or "not prey".
He may have thought you were a cop, either way he made a business decision to relocate .

[Tyler Durden]

He probably just thought you were cute.  Were these gangbanger dudes looking fabulous?
 

[Rastus]

I would say the bump was more to establish who was boss.  It's a power thing....having something that caught his attention was probably more a surprise to him than an actual search. 

[Sponsor]

[Gogle2112]

I would say the bump was more to establish who was boss.  It's a power thing....having something that caught his attention was probably more a surprise to him than an actual search. 

This was the feeling I had.  He was trying to assert his dominance and realized he may have gotten more than he had bargained for.

I agree with 2/3rds of what Bill posted.Your eye contact made him want to check you out, so he casually "bumped" you where a gun would probably be, and when he felt something hard his felonious little brain went BINGO.
I doubt he was scared, predators brains don't work that way, they only think in terms of "prey" or "not prey".
He may have thought you were a cop, either way he made a business decision to relocate .

I had the feeling the bump was intentional but I hadn't thought about the possibility that he could have been looking in that area on purpose.  I'm not sure I saw "fear" in his eyes but there was definitely "surprise".  I agree that they "made a business decision to relocate"

[santahog]

I would say the bump was more to establish who was boss.  It's a power thing....having something that caught his attention was probably more a surprise to him than an actual search. 

Agreed.

[Pathfinder]

I would say the bump was more to establish who was boss.  It's a power thing....having something that caught his attention was probably more a surprise to him than an actual search. 

Agreed as well. Since you had the temerity to lock eyes with him, he had to act, so it was not inadvertent.

There's another possible element as well. The other bangers may have seen you and "da boss" lock eyes, so the leader had to re-assert his dominance in the gang as well. Remember the old Indian act of counting coup, where you ride up not to kill or maim, but simply to show how tough you were, and tap an enemy on the head? He was also showing off to the gang when he bumped you - look what I can do, I'm a badass.

[Solus]

No matter if the bump was to intimidate or to also determine if you might be armed, when you spun to face him, he knew you were not intimidated and had a good idea you might be carrying.

Without that possibility, he might have pushed the intimidation attempt, knowing he had his gang at his back and there was only one of you...

With the possibility you might be armed, the advantage of his "toughness", his gangs numbers and possibly his possession of a weapon, knife or even a firearm evaporated.  Your response indicated you were ready to act and might have started already which would mean he might have less than 2 seconds to live...should you be a bit crazy...

He did what he thought he "had to do to go on living".