You come out of a WalMart and .........

"how about you all?"

This might sound odd, but I'm just careful when, where and how I shop. Now, that might not seem as odd as you might first think.

Look at the worst case you can think of for this debate. You get the jones for a big bottle of cheap rot-gut about zero-three-thirty in the morning. Slipping on only shower flip-flops, you stumble bleary-eyed into the nearest ghetto liquor store and dump a fistful of twenties onto the counter. My guess would be that your life could now be measured in seconds.

If you don't want to get hit by the train, then stay off the tracks.

Lots of stores in my area have security cams and bright lights in their parking lots. I patronize those stores.

I dress conservatively. I shop with a purpose. I know what I want, where it is and how much money I need to carry. I encourage my wife to shop with a friend. I make sure she has gas money, a charged cell phone and keys.

Predators look for the weak.
 
This might sound odd, but I'm just careful when, where and how I shop. Now, that might not seem as odd as you might first think.

Look at the worst case you can think of for this debate. You get the jones for a big bottle of cheap rot-gut about zero-three-thirty in the morning. Slipping on only shower flip-flops, you stumble bleary-eyed into the nearest ghetto liquor store and dump a fistful of twenties onto the counter. My guess would be that your life could now be measured in seconds.

If you don't want to get hit by the train, then stay off the tracks.

Lots of stores in my area have security cams and bright lights in their parking lots. I patronize those stores.

I dress conservatively. I shop with a purpose. I know what I want, where it is and how much money I need to carry. I encourage my wife to shop with a friend. I make sure she has gas money, a charged cell phone and keys.

Predators look for the weak.
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This was Walmart in the middle of the afternoon. :D

If you avoid this type of "situation", then you must be feeling threatened all the time.
 
This was Walmart in the middle of the afternoon.

If you avoid this type of "situation", then you must be feeling threatened all the time.
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Man, I was kinda thinking the same thing here. What the hell was that post all about?:confused:
 
Once over the initial shock, I probably would have found SOME sort of cover/concealment with gun drawn but not aimed yet. Doesn't sound like a SD situation on the shooter's part.

Otherwise be a good witness like he was.
 
defiantly don't shoot back. get to a safe vantage point and get a best description of the perp, to include a license plate number. shooting back could endanger even more lives than what are already threatened.

now if i was within ten feet of the guy that's a completely different story. draw down on the sob, order him to drop his weapon and then order him onto the ground until the proper authorities arrive. if he turns to fire, one carefully, non-lethal shot. that of course being in self defense.

or you could try the charging route if your not comfortable drawing down on him. tackle him. disarm and then detain.
 
+1 for going back into Wally World.

While you are in there, . . . might get a sympathy card and some flowers for the survivors of anyone foolish enough to try to take on an armed man by charging him barehanded, . . . disarming him and holding him for the authorities.

This guy has already demonstrated his willingness to shoot, . . . he has a weapon, . . . you are just another target.

The same goes for the mindset that is willing to put the whole neighborhood in jeapordy by firing a "non lethal" shot. The only way to do that, . . . is carry a "non lethal" gun, . . . you know, . . . shoots water or a flag that says bang.

Non lethal shots are for Gunsmoke, Wyatt Erp, the Lone Ranger and the Ponderosa. Real life guns are for shooting to stop, . . . and that usually means dead. If you are not willing to use it that way, . . . sell the gun and quit putting me and my life in jeapordy by your foolishness.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
I've often thought about this scenario...especially while CC'ing. If me or my family were being directly threatened...no brainer, I would draw and fire if possible. If I were a distant witness, I'm am not sure I would intervene. I have heard tons of "hero" stories that backfired and make the good Samaritan the bad guy.
 
The article doesn't say who he was shooting at or if anyone got hurt. The slight bit of humor is between two of the witnesses they can give you a complete description of the car and hazard a guess at the caliber based on sound, but no one knows what the guy looked like.

Are shootings becoming more common or are we just hearing more about them due to media?

[edit: I just realized maybe I'm hearing more about them because I'm a newer firearms enthusiast]
 
"you must be feeling threatened all the time."

That's not exactly correct, but I do deliberately concentrate on being in 'condition yellow' more of the time recently.

Madison, Wisconsin has had a spurt in late night muggings and fights near our student bar area. Our hip-hop clubs have always had trouble. This is significant because we have always been a safe town. We prided ourselves on the situation where we could walk anywhere at just about any time of day.

However, it appears that when one area spikes in crime, all other areas seem to change as well.

As this is written, the authorities are investigating a CSI style murder and body dump. That's a long way from a happy hour shoving contest.

My own little nearby community had it's first murder in 17 years. 'Tagging' has increased with the emblems of Chicago gangs. My wife reports that there are more weapons seizures at our high school than ever before.

In short, the conditions that many of you have tolerated in larger urban areas are booming here in Madison within a very short time.

As for daylight hours in Wally World type stores, yes, we even now have a history of attacks and child snatches.

Clearly, I believe that if you hide in your home you are surrendering to that element. But this is not the happy-go-lucky suburban climate of "Leave It To Beaver" anymore. Many people still act like it is. It has been harder than hell to first get my wife to carry pepper-spray even after a rifle was found at her school. We're going to have to make some adjustments.
 
I think I would have just laughed it off. But if he ever came remotely close to pointing his gun in my direction I would blast him.
 
Turn around, go back to the sporting goods area, and pick up some more ammo. :D
Taking cover would be the best action based on the info at hand. There just wasn't enough info to go be to decide if this guy was good guy/bad guy, victim or perp. Whatever you do, just make sure you and yours are safe first!
 
My thoughts would have been, 1 try to be invisible. 2 use my cell phone camera / have walmart print them out on the spot and give them to leo's. No other action by me unless the shooter turned in our direction.
 
I think I would have just laughed it off. But if he ever came remotely close to pointing his gun in my direction I would blast him.
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wHAT IF HE WAS AN UNDECOVER OFFICER engaging a target, and then he turns in your direction to engage another target you cant see.

WildstopwiththemachosillinessAlaska
 
Pull back, observe, report.

Keep others from exiting into the parking lot (if possible, some people are just too stupid to save).
 
Well I'm not going to stand there and get shot. Also if he's shooting then his cover is probably blown and he will identify himself. Who knows how one will react in this situation, I realy would find cover behind a car. Now back to the point if the guy is a bad guy and not a cop and he is pointing a gun at me the lead is going to fly.
 
observer only

Clearly not enough info to make a call however based on the very basic info:
-1st get to cover
-2nd take down shooters and cars description & license plate
-cell phone photos would be helpful to LEO (& possibly profitable as mentioned above by WA:p)
-Call 911
-Would not follow shooters car or engage shooter in any way
Thats it, shooter has not fired in observers direction, heck they did not even know what the hell he was shooting at.
 
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