Last night, on my way home from work, I stopped at a local convenience store to get some smokes. I was in uniform. After I got out of the car I saw a group of 5 guys walk out of the narrow alley next to the store. One of them calls out to me and says," Hey C/O (garryc), you all big and bad out on the street <epithet>! I recognized the one talking as a former inmate.
I was closer to the door at that point so I went inside. I pulled out my cell and called the cops. They showed up 5 minutes later. The guys saw them coming and split back into the alley. Had the guys intercepted me before I got into the store, or followed me in, I would have been in for a fight. I was unarmed.
The problem is that I cannot be armed when going to or from work. Having a firearm on the grounds of a state correctional facility is a felony in Ohio. Even if it is locked in your car. This is the third time I've had a confrontation off duty. On one occasion I was driving home from work. A white car started pacing me in the other lane. When we stopped at a light they flashed a pistol at me. I've been told that certain higher up people have permission to keep a locked weapon in there cars for just this kind of thing, of course those are all high administration people like Deputy Wardens and department heads. The people that count.
I was closer to the door at that point so I went inside. I pulled out my cell and called the cops. They showed up 5 minutes later. The guys saw them coming and split back into the alley. Had the guys intercepted me before I got into the store, or followed me in, I would have been in for a fight. I was unarmed.
The problem is that I cannot be armed when going to or from work. Having a firearm on the grounds of a state correctional facility is a felony in Ohio. Even if it is locked in your car. This is the third time I've had a confrontation off duty. On one occasion I was driving home from work. A white car started pacing me in the other lane. When we stopped at a light they flashed a pistol at me. I've been told that certain higher up people have permission to keep a locked weapon in there cars for just this kind of thing, of course those are all high administration people like Deputy Wardens and department heads. The people that count.