Bank Robbery @ Kroger store

[Purplehood]

Any situation where we feel the need to draw automatically sucks by default (can I say that?).

As someone brought up earlier there are numerous variables that make such a scenario a potential nightmare. What if a cop walks in and sees you (the CHL holder) with your pistol drawn in front of a bank? What if another CHL holder is standing in line behind you and sees only you with your gun out and the tellers in a panic?

I hope and pray that I don't have to pull my gun again. When I did, it was straightforward and simple...just me and the other guy. But in a crowded grocery-store the mano y mano mentality doesn't help a whole lot.

Be aware. Be careful. Don't have an itchy trigger-finger.

[C-dub]

I/we carry one to protect ourselves and our family first and foremost.

I carry a fire extinguisher to protect myself, my family and my vehicle. That doesn't mean I'm going to stand by and be a good witness while somebody else burns to death just because I'd be taking a risk by using my fire extinguisher to help them.

Maybe all the "my gun is for my protection only" folks need to decide on a particular identifying piece of clothing so the rest of us will know never to put ourselves in any (real or perceived) danger to help them, no matter how dire the circumstances.

I didn't intend to give the impression that myself and my family were the only reason I carry. My family and myself, however, were the reason I went through the process in the first place. Of course, if I were to ever find myself in a position to help someone else I would. In making the decision to go through the process I just wasn't thinking that if I had a CHL I could help protect strangers. It was something I thought could be a possibility while going through it and accepted that possibility.

[KD5NRH]

I didn't intend to give the impression that myself and my family were the only reason I carry.

I didn't intend to direct that at you; you were just the easiest to quote for it. There are certainly plenty on here who regularly make statements amounting to "To heck with 'em. He ain't threatening me yet, so they shoulda got their own CHL and gun if they wanted to survive."

[C-dub]

All's good. Thanks for clarifying. And I agree that there will be people like that. However, isn't that their choice? I mean, they're not LE and we can't be prosecuted for not acting, right? Not everyone has it in them to risk their life to safe someone else.

[fickman]

I'm glad that my CHL course had two instructors who would disagree on the answer to this scenario. I learned a lot by watching their disagreement.

They gave a similar situation, only I think the gunman was pointing at the cashier in a fast food restaurant and you were just around the corner with your family.

Instructor 1 felt a moral obligation to intervene and try to stop the threat. He was a former LEO and said that IF the BG shot and killed anybody in that store and he had failed to act, he would've never forgiven himself.

Instructor 2 felt no such moral obligation. (He's a retired Marine, so similar training and demonstration of bravery.) He said he'd be taking advantage of the distracted BG (focusing on the clerks) to sneak his family out the back door. He'd walk backwards with his gun drawn in case the BG's attention turned toward them. He felt that if the other people wanted somebody to defend them, they should have gotten their own CHL. He got his for himself, his family, and his loved ones.

The interesting thing is, neither of them were wrong. It's a personal choice. Few of us have the training of a Marine or a LEO. How we respond will be somewhat unpredictable, but working through these scenarios is still a worthwhile exercise. If you make your moral decisions now and train accordingly, hopefully in the moment you can react with muscle memory instead of waging this internal war in your head.

[Slice]

Fickman, EXACLTY what i was trying to say Thank you

[Purplehood]

I'm glad that my CHL course had two instructors who would disagree on the answer to this scenario. I learned a lot by watching their disagreement.

They gave a similar situation, only I think the gunman was pointing at the cashier in a fast food restaurant and you were just around the corner with your family.

Instructor 1 felt a moral obligation to intervene and try to stop the threat. He was a former LEO and said that IF the BG shot and killed anybody in that store and he had failed to act, he would've never forgiven himself.

Instructor 2 felt no such moral obligation. (He's a retired Marine, so similar training and demonstration of bravery.) He said he'd be taking advantage of the distracted BG (focusing on the clerks) to sneak his family out the back door. He'd walk backwards with his gun drawn in case the BG's attention turned toward them. He felt that if the other people wanted somebody to defend them, they should have gotten their own CHL. He got his for himself, his family, and his loved ones.

The interesting thing is, neither of them were wrong. It's a personal choice. Few of us have the training of a Marine or a LEO. How we respond will be somewhat unpredictable, but working through these scenarios is still a worthwhile exercise. If you make your moral decisions now and train accordingly, hopefully in the moment you can react with muscle memory instead of waging this internal war in your head.

It is all based on how the person actually in the situation reads that situation...my guess is that I would try to go with the former Marine option shown here.

[Oldgringo]

You just never know...until it happens to YOU.

[Purplehood]

Ain't that the truth?

[priusron]

My bank is over at the side by the pharmacy. If I were in the area and I felt endangered, I would take them out to ensure my safety. If I were elsewhere in the store and my wife or other family member were in the area, I would make my way to the area and ensure their safety. If I were elsewhere in the store and my family was with me, I would make my way to the sock room and hide. Let the store employees and security cameras be the good witness.

Ron

[.45mac.40]

Me ????
Whats he wearing ??? Duck down behind the register/check out counter ... AND ... call 911.
I'll stay outta' tha' fire fight !
Let him go/get out side and handle his issues with tha' Police !!! : D
Mac .45 >>>>>>>>>>> @ %%%%% @

[texas1234]

We keep having these hyphotheticals because the number of people who actually carry is really small!

[92f-fan]

Interesting - One of my first carrys was in a Kroger - the sign at the door that say unlicensed carry is at the EXIT door. Interesting ...

[Morgan]

Doesn't much matter......... People who are unlicensed and carrying aren't going to stop and go back out to their car just because they read a sign...

[Fangs]

My heart says I should fear the indifference of good men, my head says I better have a very good shot on the guy. Also, failure to stop him now will almost certainly lead to worse events later. I wouldn't go looking for trouble, but if I'm there and able to stop it I'd feel a moral obligation to... unless I'm wetting my pants.