Twice in less than an hour

[Soccerdad1995]

I just had two SA lapses in less than an hour.

I met a guy to sell an extra barrel that I had for my Mossberg 835. He asked if he could fit it to his gun. Sure, I said. So he removes the old barrel and slides the new barrel in place. As he is doing this, a shell falls out of the chamber. I just assumed he would be smart enough to actually clear his gun before handling it. Luckily the gun was pointed in a safe direction, although there likely would have been pellets ricocheting off the concrete if it had fired.

So then I head to Academy to return a defective gun safe. I do my business and walk to my car. As I am sitting in the drivers seat double checking the return amount on the receipt, I hear a knock on my car window a couple inches from my head. I roll down the window while my right hand moves a bit closer to my openly carried gun. Guy says that he saw my holster while I was in the store and wanted to know where I got it (custom holster by RD Warren). So completely harmless, but I somehow let a guy follow me from the store to my car, then let him walk right up to my window, all without me noticing him at all.

I need to wake up!

[Jusme]

I just had two SA lapses in less than an hour.

I met a guy to sell an extra barrel that I had for my Mossberg 835. He asked if he could fit it to his gun. Sure, I said. So he removes the old barrel and slides the new barrel in place. As he is doing this, a shell falls out of the chamber. I just assumed he would be smart enough to actually clear his gun before handling it. Luckily the gun was pointed in a safe direction, although there likely would have been pellets ricocheting off the concrete if it had fired.

So then I head to Academy to return a defective gun safe. I do my business and walk to my car. As I am sitting in the drivers seat double checking the return amount on the receipt, I hear a knock on my car window a couple inches from my head. I roll down the window while my right hand moves a bit closer to my openly carried gun. Guy says that he saw my holster while I was in the store and wanted to know where I got it (custom holster by RD Warren). So completely harmless, but I somehow let a guy follow me from the store to my car, then let him walk right up to my window, all without me noticing him at all.

I need to wake up!

Great Post Soccerdad1995!

Good examples of how easy it can be to be distracted, for even a minute, and have a potentially bad situation occur. Glad, nothing bad happened, but it is definitely a wake up call, and a reminder to others to keep your radar on high alert at all times.

[carlson1]

It is very easy to go white quick. If someone can startle you then you were not aware. I am constantly having to wake myself up. We live in a dangerous world.

Thanks for reminding us and I am glad everything turned out okay for you.

[stever1950]

I just had two SA lapses in less than an hour.

I met a guy to sell an extra barrel that I had for my Mossberg 835. He asked if he could fit it to his gun. Sure, I said. So he removes the old barrel and slides the new barrel in place. As he is doing this, a shell falls out of the chamber. I just assumed he would be smart enough to actually clear his gun before handling it. Luckily the gun was pointed in a safe direction, although there likely would have been pellets ricocheting off the concrete if it had fired.

So then I head to Academy to return a defective gun safe. I do my business and walk to my car. As I am sitting in the drivers seat double checking the return amount on the receipt, I hear a knock on my car window a couple inches from my head. I roll down the window while my right hand moves a bit closer to my openly carried gun. Guy says that he saw my holster while I was in the store and wanted to know where I got it (custom holster by RD Warren). So completely harmless, but I somehow let a guy follow me from the store to my car, then let him walk right up to my window, all without me noticing him at all.

I need to wake up!

Great Post Soccerdad1995!

Good examples of how easy it can be to be distracted, for even a minute, and have a potentially bad situation occur. Glad, nothing bad happened, but it is definitely a wake up call, and a reminder to others to keep your radar on high alert at all times.

I always thought I was aware of my surroundings until I got my LTC training. I have since drilled parking lot awareness into my family and I probably look like a guard detail when I get out of a car, but at least THEY know I am watching. The wife and I laugh about the things we see now that we missed before. We call the ones with their head in their phone sniper bait.

[Sport Coach]

Thanks for the post. Always good reminders of those moments we slip up.

[TreyHouston]

So the guy saw you where carrying, followed you, then scared you by knocking on your window. We really need the face palm emoji!

[RPBrown]

Great post. It should remind us all to be aware of our surroundings at all times.