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Oldgringo raised an interesting question in the thread about the woman robbed at gunpoint in Wal Mart parking lot in Pearland. I posted my answer, but then decided this might make a good thread of its own. So here are the questions:

1. In your normal daily, weekly, monthly routine, where are you most vulnerable to crime (typically meaning unarmed) and why?
2. In a perfect world, what could be done about this to make you less vulnerable (change a law, change something physically about a location, other?)
3. In the real world, what could be done to make you less vulnerable?

I'll start with the copy of what I posted in the other forum as answer to question 1, then move on to the other two.

Oldgringo wrote:Regardless of how many guns you may be totin', can you think of anyplace or anytime that you're more vulenerable to evil than when you're stashin' your goodies in your vehicle. Think hard now.

Yes, when I'm buckling my very young children into their child safety seats.

This is why the ban on CHL at any school (not just a university) infuriates me. I walk out of that pre-school/private kindergarden, this time of year often after dark, and I am completely defenseless, thus my children are completely defenseless. I've tried reaching into the console to get my gun, put it back into my holster without anyone seeing, first thing once I'm outside the school. But I've got a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. There are other cars in the parking lot coming and going. I can't let go of their hands until they're safely strapped into their seats or run the risk of one of them darting into the parking lot. They know better, we've told them not to, and scolded them severely when they've looked like they're even thinking of running out ito a parking lot. But they're kids, they're curious, they don't always listen, nor remember our warnings. Better to keep one in my arms and the other in a tight grip. Thus I am unarmed until both are strapped in and I'm back in the driver' seat.

Picking up my children from the gun-free "safety" of their school is hands down the most dangerous and vulnerable part of my day.

Q2: In a perfect world, TPC 46.03 (1), TPC 46.035 (2), and all Federal laws prohibiting legal carry of firearms on school property would be rendered null and void.

Q3: In the real world, I suppose I could ask the preschool's owners for permission (in writing of course) to carry on their property, but then I run the risk of not just being banned by law from possessing a gun in the school premises but also from even having one in my truck in their parking lot if they tell my orally "no guns of any kind on our property" - thus valid 30.06 notice for the entire property, not just the premises of the school as defined by law.

I could keep a can of pepper spray on my belt when I go in/out of the school, but I don't think this is much of a help if someone tries to rob me or kidnap my children at gunpoint in the parking lot.

I could ALWAYS pick up the kids with my wife, have her go into school to get them while I sit in the car and watch the parking lot (this is actually what we do when possible, but we can't always both be there to pick up the kids).

I dunno, any other suggestions?

austinrealtor wrote:
1. In your normal daily, weekly, monthly routine, where are you most vulnerable to crime (typically meaning unarmed) and why?

My wife and I regularly go to play Pool/Billiards. Since most of these establishments also serve alcohol, I must leave my gun(s) locked in the car. Ironically, there are sometimes some unsavory characters also frequenting the establishment. We try to pick the nicer places to play, but things can happen anywhere...especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

I usually do not drink alcohol since I am the designated driver so it would be nice if the law allowed me to stay armed as long as I'm not consuming alcohol.

We are probably the most vulnerable in the same situation as the lady in the subject video. It is something that I've become more concerned about in our area in recent years, though we have not had the similar incidents here - yet.

The perfect world solution would be for our justice system to deal correctly with recidivists. That would, in my estimation reduce, our chances of dealing with a career criminal significantly. While the amateurs are unpredictable in their behavior, they lack the training and practice afforded by our prison system. It seems ironic that the prisons have degenerated into a university for crime but I digress.

In the real world, I'm not sure that there is a change to the laws that would help. I work out of our house so the parking lot bill would be helpful for the couple of times that I have to visit one of our formal offices. I occasionally have to pick up our granddaughter at school but that setup is far from the most vulnerable circumstances that we face. I seldom go to the post office building. Having the Corp of Engineers recognize the National park policy towards CC would help a lot when we are camping but that is a policy change, not a legal one.

I feel most vunerable going somewhere, instead of straight home, after work. I cannot carry at work (company policy, etc) so i leave it in the car in a case. I dont carry my supertuck either just because it does take a little time putting on. This morning i did throw in an IWB holster that i can clip on quickly and easily for these types of situations.

In the perfect world, it would be nice if having a CHL allowed you to be exempt from corportate gun policies.

In the real world, i will be packing my keltec p3at in my car console as well to carry when i do go to a store after work. I can just put it in my pocket and go. The only reason i have not done so already is because i havent shot it enough to be comfortable in saying it is reliable.

1. In your normal daily, weekly, monthly routine, where are you most vulnerable to crime (typically meaning unarmed) and why?

I am fortunate that I cannot think of a time that I am more vulnerable than others on a regular basis. I gave up going to bars a long time ago, I do not have children and therefore no need to disarm when entering a school, and I carry to work every day. My gun stays in my truck, and my supertuck comes off and goes into my laptop bag until I am ready to leave. If I go out for lunch, I put my holster on first and re-arm before getting out of my truck. The only place I must disarm to go is if I get a traffic ticket or selected for jury duty. I guess there is a possibility that an employee at the shop I am at could "go postal", however, my office is in a trailer separate from the main offices where upper management, and other employees, are located. I dont doubt the mind of a madman, but I dont think anyone would be coming out to the client office to shoot someone. If they did, I suppose I'd be at their mercy.

2. In a perfect world, what could be done about this to make you less vulnerable (change a law, change something physically about a location, other?)

I reckon they could change the law about courthouses, exempting CHL and allowing them to carry, but unfortunately I just dont see that happening.

3. In the real world, what could be done to make you less vulnerable?

It doesnt seem like much could be done aside from employers allowing CHL holders to carry at work, or courts exempting CHL holders and allowing them to enter armed. I dont see the first option happening with the majority of employers, thanks in large part to our litigious society, and I dont see the second option happening at all. Most people in court are not there by choice, and not too happy about it, and I dont see judges allowing them to be armed, licensed or not.

austinrealtor wrote:1. In your normal daily, weekly, monthly routine, where are you most vulnerable to crime (typically meaning unarmed) and why?
2. In a perfect world, what could be done about this to make you less vulnerable (change a law, change something physically about a location, other?)
3. In the real world, what could be done to make you less vulnerable?

1) I'm a student, so I'm disarmed daily at school. Driving to school isn't an option, so I'm also disarmed on the way to and from school, on Houston public transportation.

2) Campus carry would be great, although the school is private and would likely prohibit carry if the law allowed it.

3) What I've done: situational awareness, pepper spray, knife, bright flashlight.
What could be done: School security is pretty good, but nothing that would stop a school shooting since students and faculty/staff can come in through doors that bypass security (and that's who always does the shooting). I'm of the opinion that no security can stop a school shooter short of armed guards and metal detectors at every entrance.

Two of our grandchildren live on Fort Hood. When we go get them for the day we are most vulnerable. Having to go on post to pick them up, requires us to be unarmed all day. Last time we had them for the day we convinced their mother to meet us at the gate to pick the up and drop them off.

When armed, the place I feel most vulnerable is the public restroom. Your back is normally to the door. You do not always have a free hand. Looking around at everyone coming in and out could cause other 'issues'.

At work and going to and from work I am unarmed due to company policy.

Good questions

1. In your normal daily, weekly, monthly routine, where are you most vulnerable to crime (typically meaning unarmed) and why

In the shower, and while I'm asleep. Seriously. All the rest of the time, I either have a gun on me, or I have one within reach, i.e., on my desk while I'm working, etc. I simply don't go places where I can't carry, and even when getting in/out of the car, or loading/unloading it, I am very vigilant about what is happening around me. It would be difficult to sneak up on me.

2. In a perfect world, what could be done about this to make you less vulnerable (change a law, change something physically about a location, other?)

I would like to see parking lot and campus carry laws passed to expand the places in which I can carry.

3. In the real world, what could be done to make you less vulnerable?

This is really part of number 2 for me, but it would be for me to lose weight, improve my cardiovascular conditioning, and get some additional tactical training. Given my current condition, that will have be taken in baby steps, but I'm working on it.

Many of us are most at risk when we turn off the alarm, open the front door, walk out to the curb in the dark past trees and shrubs, pick up the paper, and walk back toward the house. With the alarm off, it is relatively easy for a pair of intruders to march you in, hold a a weapon on you and yours, tape you up, maybe pistol whip you for good measure, search the house at their leisure because the alarm is off, and leave with whatever. Hopefully, the BG's will not worry about your identifying them later, in which case you may lose much more than things.

Camping is at the top of my list. I'm very vulnerable when I'm asleep in a tent. Sleeping at home, at least I have locked doors that will slow down an intruder and make lots of noise.

The other vulnerable time is swimming, although I don't have much to steal when I'm at the beach.

1. Stopping by the ATM/Store/ect while on my way to/from work (in the dark this time of year) where I'm not allowed to have a weapon on my person or even in my vehicle.

2. A country that actually honors the second amendment

3. Do what I can to help with the passage of the parking lot law.

In the armed criminals only zone AKA my Military Post, Fort Hood, as well as to and from home to work.

Thats pretty much it... I do not frequent other places that disallow CCW.