David Armstrong said:
To paraphrase from another thread, that is one of those perception versus reality issues. They very rarely turn deadly, and when they do it is usually because the victim has done something to set off the BG. Robbers are there to rob, not kill, and virtually every study out there indicates the reason robberies turn into killings is almost always the result of non-compliance. Sure, there are some that just go bad. But they are the exception, and we need to realize that and build a plan around that idea.
Only if that were so...
There is a liquor store and 7-11 store within about 1.5 blocks of me. In October of '97, the proprietor was robbed at gunpoint. The robber demanded the money and got it in a paper sack. Seemingly at the last moment, he asked for a pack of Zig-Zag papers on the shelf behind the counter. When the owner turned to reach for them, he opened fire. First round went through the owner's left arm and into his left lung. Second round entered just above the left kidney. The next two rounds missed, shattering liquor bottles. A fifth round splattered on the hard floor and bounced into the owner's left calf as the robber fled the store. Zero resistance, planned "execution" of the owner/clerk. Robber was never caught.
In 2000, a guy held up the night clerk at the 7-11. Mr. Singh is a Sikh Indian who does not wear a turban at work. Just after 1 AM a 22 y/o loser comes in, brandishes a pistol and demands money and a carton of cigarettes. Clerk complies. Robber demand the "rest of the money" and Mr. Singh removes the till drawer, shows him it's empty and so is the drawer underneath it. The robber fires one shot, catching Mr. Singh in the side, just above the belt line. He flings the till drawer up, spinning and it catches the robber in the face. He fires two shots wildly and Mr. Singh ducks behind the counter. A second later he comes up with a stubby baseball bat and knocks the gun out of the robber's hand, secures it and steps back. The robber starts to leap the counter and blocks two shots from the 9mm pistol. One fractures the left collar bone and the other shatters his knee. He left his gun and money behind but was picked up 30 minutes later at a hospital.
Aug '07, at a fast-food restraurant, just before 10pm closing, a man produces a small pistol. He tells the 17 y/o girl to bag the money from all three registers. When told that the manager has one of them is "locked up" he points the gun at her head and she moves just as he fires. The bullet cuts her ear almost in half and deafens her in that ear, plus powder burns to her face and eye. He vaults the counter and shoots a cook in the stomach and the 21 y/o night manager in the chest. After grabbing the money from the 2nd register, he pauses and shoots the young girl crying on the floor three more times before leaving. All of the staff survived.
In all three of these cases, the victims cooperated. In two of the cases, the robber appears to be "set off" when he thinks he can't get
all the money. In the first case, why he started shooting is unknown.
The problem with blind cooperation is that you are relying on the mercy of a felon -
who may not have any mercy in his soul.
In certain neighborhoods, if you are not of the same ethnic group as the robber, your chances for being shot during a robbery double or triple.
The other problem is you have no way of knowing what might "trigger" the robber. Telling him the other register is locked might do it. Asking him if he wants a paper or plastic bag for the loot might do it. Just saying "Yes sir" might anger him. So could not talking at all.
I'd rather have a chance, than none at all.
