So I was in the Wal-Mart parking lot...

[Paladin]

The Wal-Mart at El Dorado and I-45. About 9PM

I was going back to my car, keeping a lookout as usual... when I see these 2 guys hanging out by a car. Something in my head told me that something was wrong about these 2.

Unfortunately my car wasn't that far from them (~30ft), so I had to get closer to get back to my car. I used my car as cover as I walked closer.

These guys were definitly shady characters, but one pulled a box out of his trunk and headed in to the store. (A return maybe?) The other one just hung out by the trunk and shut it. That's when I notice that this guy has "STOP SNITCHIN" in big letters on the back of his shirt...

Couldn't have been more obvious at that point the pair were gangbangers. I was staring at them the whole time and they didn't notice me. I put my stuff I my car and was leaving before I even got a sideways glance.

I wished I could call these guys in, but couldn't see that they were doing anything illegal.

Looks like they're getting pretty arrogant out there...

[KinnyLee]

Yeah. I frequent that Walmart because I live in the neighborhood behind it. I'm always on a look out when I'm in the parking lot there. Traffic going back to my neighborhood seems to increase significantly.

[Commander]

Reminds me of an incident that occured in the WalMart Parking lot in Rockwall a couple of years ago. I was placing my purchases in the back of my truck when I heard a female voice say "go away and leave me alone" I turned and observed a women loading her groceries in the back of her SUV with a scroungy looking 20 something male about 5 feet from her saying something to her. She repeated her warning again and he walked off. I got into my truck and watched him as he scanned the parking lot. He walked to the next parking aisle and approached an attractive young woman in her early 20's who was loading her groceries as well. She also had an infant in the shopping cart. As he got about 15 feet from her, he jumped straight up in the air and landed right next to her. Seeing this, I started my truck and pulled up next to them. I asked her if she knew this guy. She shook her head "no". Was he bothering her? Before she could answer, the guy started mouthing to me to mind my own business. I told him that he needed to move on and leave her alone. He continued to mouth some story about doing "research" and "interviewing" people for his project. He threatened to call the police on me- so I told him to go ahead. He then decided to walk off at which point I called Rockwall PD. While I waited for them to arrive, the young woman thanked me for assisting her. The entire time, I had my 9mm tucked under my leg just in case.

[DaveT]

Stories like this abound everywhere. Anyone who doesn't think our society and our country is changing for the worse really has their head buried in the sand.

My wife and I went to a restaurant in a neighboring county with another couple last night. While we were waiting for our dinner to arrive, a dude walked in and I immediately noticed he was glaring at me.... hard. When he sat down at a nearby table and I could get a better look, I figured out pretty quick why he was glaring at me.... the scar on his forehead was the clue....... I arrested him for DUI many years ago, he fought violently and somehow managed to lunge his head into my steel flashlight. Then, that arrest violated his parole so he was sent to the state pen to finish out an earlier sentence.

Guess he's out now. Hope he never wants to pursue a meeting with me..... and Kimber.

[Houston1944]

Yes, things are changing and not for the better. The following may sound like a joke to some of you but it is the truth.

In the 60's I did not have a lock on the house doors and rarely took the keys out of my car.
In the 70's I started putting a pistol in the car if we were going out of town.
In the 80's I started keeping a pistol in the nightstand with a loaded mag beside it.
In the 90's the 1911 in the nightstand became cocked and locked.
Today I carry 24/7 and keep a Sig 220 with nightsights by the bed and a 12ga pump with buckshot beside it.

Anyone notice a trend?

[KD5NRH]

Yes, things are changing and not for the better. The following may sound like a joke to some of you but it is the truth.

In the 60's I did not have a lock on the house doors and rarely took the keys out of my car.
In the 70's I started putting a pistol in the car if we were going out of town.
In the 80's I started keeping a pistol in the nightstand with a loaded mag beside it.
In the 90's the 1911 in the nightstand became cocked and locked.
Today I carry 24/7 and keep a Sig 220 with nightsights by the bed and a 12ga pump with buckshot beside it.

Anyone notice a trend?

Well, I guess it's a bit different out here in the country; the shotgun was always loaded, and we locked the front door to let folks know we weren't home or didn't want company. The back door was rarely locked, in case somebody needed to get in. The keys were always in the truck in case somebody needed to borrow it.

Now, there's a loaded handgun in arm's reach of most places in the house, and everything gets locked.

OTOH, I lived in Dallas for about six years, and never could get anybody to steal my beat-up Sentra, despite leaving the keys in it several times.

[Crossfire]

Yes, things are changing and not for the better. The following may sound like a joke to some of you but it is the truth.

In the 60's I did not have a lock on the house doors and rarely took the keys out of my car.
In the 70's I started putting a pistol in the car if we were going out of town.
In the 80's I started keeping a pistol in the nightstand with a loaded mag beside it.
In the 90's the 1911 in the nightstand became cocked and locked.
Today I carry 24/7 and keep a Sig 220 with nightsights by the bed and a 12ga pump with buckshot beside it.

Anyone notice a trend?

That, as you get older, you are getting more paranoid?

BTW, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they AREN'T out to get you...

[Paladin]

I arrested him for DUI many years ago, he fought violently and somehow managed to lunge his head into my steel flashlight. Then, that arrest violated his parole so he was sent to the state pen to finish out an earlier sentence.

Let me just give you my personal thanks for putting the guy away when you did. Sounds like they may have let him back out too soon (for the second time).

[Boma]

Wow those are some stories. You did the right thing Paladin. If the whole community protected each other like you did for that lady, there wouldn't be that much crime.

Now a days people just stare if something bad is happening. and they do nothing.

I used to be that type of person, because I wasn't tought to do anything. But now I'll do it.