I would never ever ever shoot at someone that is retreating, or someone wants my cash. Heck I would give it to him and ask if he was hungrey lets go get a bite. Maybe all he needs is a helping hand up. Hopefully that is, if not well then take the cash and go have a good time.
This is not a reply specifically to the person who wrote the above. This is a reply to all of you who are essentially of the same mindset, I just used the quote as an example. Here is my opinion of that mindset and my opinion about what I would do and how well it would work.
Remember, we are talking about an armed robber in this thread, someone already threatening your life or limb. After he takes your cash, you are going to ask him if he wants to go have a bite? Where would that be - at your house? Not only do criminals take your cash they usually take your wallet too, so my guess is you are inviting him to your house instead of a restaurant because it would be doubtful he would pay for you. What about his accomplices, are they coming along. Most robbers are not lone wolves but have criminal accomplices. I am not being facetious here, this is serious stuff. Would you invite a robber to a meal, even at a restaurant then expect to be on good terms with him? What prevents him from, after finishing the meal, to force you at gunpoint to go to your home for more valuables? Will it be the gun you are still carrying? Are you so sure you will still be armed at this point?
As for being of the mindset that you would never shoot someone who wants your money: what happens when you reach for the cash, or maybe he or his accomplice reaches for it, and they realize you are carrying more than cash? Now what? You have already put yourself in the submissive state and they have found your firearm. What is important now is not what you do because you are then already at their mercy. What is important is what they do next. Do they kill you? Do they kill your family? Heck they do not even have to find your gun, they may just think killing you means one less witness. It happens all to often.
Yes, many times an armed bad guy just will take your money and go. The truth is though that all to many times they will also take your jewelry, and your cell phone and any other valuables you have. Guess what else the bad guys are going to want. Are you also willing to give the bad guys your firearm when they finds it? If you are willing to give your cash, then why not your gun? Is it time to try to use deadly force yet?
Do you really want to place yourself at the mercy of someone who is committing an ARMED robbery? They are already threatening your life with a weapon. The line of reasoning, used by the great majority of people who say they would not shoot or that you should not shoot is truly very shallow. You (all of you on the whole who think that way) fail to consider the complexity of the situation. There are too many what ifs that are putting your life at risk, you seem to think if you give up your cash it will all be over. The thing is that the next thing you know is that the bad guy is forcing you to drive to, or they are driving you to, an AT to get more cash. Then they want to force you to go home to get more valuables. Are your wife and kids at home? Are you still being submissive? Where is your gun now? Oh that's right, you submitted and they found it and took it from you. You are unarmed now, do you fight now?
When were your chances the best? Think about that because things like this happen all the time, they are often in the news.
I am pretty certain that if confronted by an armed robber, or anyone threatening my life or limb, while I am armed, I would fight back or try at least to escape under almost every circumstance; for that matter even if unarmed I would quite possibly try to fight my way out or escape. I have that mindset, to overcome my own reactions quickly by taking control of the action and thus to make the bad guy have to react. I am not about to place myself at the mercy of a potential killer who is pointing a knife or gun at me if I think I have a chance. That is what I plan and practice for. It is my mindset.
What are the odds that I would survive an armed encounter against someone already set on killing me from the outset? I think, certainly better if I fight back or escape than if I become submissive. What are the odds I will survive an armed encounter with someone who had just wanted my money but also pointed a gun at me? Well if something makes him change his mind, like he sees my gun, then I think I probably would have been very lucky to have fought back because I think chances are increased, once he sees my gun, that he kills me.
I am fairly certain I would fight back or try to escape in the great majority of such situations. I am hopeful I will never be like those who think they should submit or worse yet who think it righteous to invite a dirtbag, who is robbing them, to break bread with them. Want a helping hand up, then don't try robbing me by way of a threat of deadly force to get it or the hand extended toward you will likely be shooting a gun. On the other hand, if you just ask politely for it, you will probably get at least some of the help you were seeking.
All the best,
Glenn B
