2fast2curious
Believe me, I understand where you are coming from. Had I simply read the response as you did, I would honestly have felt as you feel. In this case, however, I have to plead "you had to have been there". I drive all over metro Atlanta every day and have dealt with literally thousands of panhandlers (ok, I ain't no spring chicken - I have been around a while) and this guy just did not fit. This location was the area I have lived in for nearly thirty years - this is not an intersection that anyone looking for a handout would use. This guy was just too intense. As you mentioned, panhandlers do usually have a "look" whether it be intoxicated, ragged, dirty or whatever you wish to call it. He did not "look" the part. He locked in on me and my wife before I reached for the console lid. If looking for a handout, why skip the two cars ahead of me, and why just quit and walk away - there were several more vehicles behind us? If you are wanting a handout, why are both of your hands stuffed into your pockets? Panhandlers know that is a threatening position and - in my experience - always have their hands in the open so that they don't pose a threat to the person they are approaching.
All these things add up to maybe nothing - until you add in what Dux called "gut feelings". Whether you call it situational awareness, discernment, gut feelings or whatever you wish, it has served me well for almost six decades and I intend to follow it whenever possible. All my instincts told me this guy was not a panhandler, and I have thought through the episode several times since it occurred. Each time I come to the same conclusion - something was wrong about this whole thing. You may think me paranoid, and that is ok. I have considered others to be paranoid at times, but they have to go with their feelings as I went with mine. To be perfectly candid, I probably would not have pulled the Bersa out if I had been alone in my truck. But with my family with me, I carry a much higher responsibility.
As I mentioned, I drive a great amount of the time. I see people with broken down cars all the time. Thirty years ago, I stopped to see if I could help them. I very seldom do that any more. Just three weeks ago, I stopped to see if I could help a lady whose car just quit at a red light. While other drivers were blowing horns and flipping me off, I pushed her car to the side. She was terrified of me and would not roll down her window. I don't blame her. I asked - through the window - if she wanted me to push her to the side and she shook her head "yes" so I did. The bottom line is this - I have taught my kids that you do not stop to help, you call the police on your cell phone for the people and go on your way. The reason is that they are probably afraid of you and you may need to fear them. I try to keep some change in my truck to give to panhandlers who look as if they are needy. But I tell my kids not to do that. Why??? Because - sadly - our society is devolving into a state where there are professional predators who disguise themselves as other things in order to victimize those who would help them. I had a good friend that - several years ago - opened his front door to a fellow claiming to need a phone. My friend and his family died that night, victims of a predator.
If the man really wanted just a hand-out, then I reacted wrong. But if he attempted it again the same way, I would do the same thing. I appreciate your position on this, so don't feel that I am flaming you on this. Just adding a bit of explanation.
Thanks for your input,
Dadx4