I was robbed at gunpoint twice in eight days

[SnikPlosskin]

OK, here's why I carry. And all you cry baby, anti-gun nuts pay attention.

25 years ago, I worked at a bank in Milwaukee. This bank was in a fairly shitty part of town (I didn't live in the neighborhood - got transferred there.)

Incident One:
I was sitting at my desk one day when a group of four men burst through the door two with handguns, one with a sawed off shotgun and one with an assault rifle.

These fine citizens were jack up on cloud 10 on some sort of stimulants. They were sweating profusely, shaking and yelling commands at us punctuated by "I'm going to fu**ing kill you mother fu**er". And "Shut the f**k up and give me the money or I'll blow your fu**ing head off" etc.

They ordered everyone to lay on the ground and if anyone looked up, they said they would shoot us. They emptied the drawers (including dye packs) and took off. They were caught about 10 minutes later.

Incident Two:
Seven days later another group of scum burst into the bank. But this time, they had been watching too many movies and two of the three jumped over the counter, hit a young, 105lb female teller with the butt of the rifle (knocking her unconscious and causing a seizure).

They emptied the teller drawers and then headed for the safe - only to find out it required two keys to open. All the tellers had one key. I had the other.

They quickly got the first key. When they demanded the second, nobody said anything. Then one shot the security guard in the abdomen.

I gave him the key. But that wasn't good enough for this piece of shit. He took me and one of the managers (a very sweet girl) at gunpoint to the vault to open it.

One POS pressed his handgun so hard into my neck, it made a bruise shaped like the muzzle for weeks. Once we opened the safe, they pushed us in, hit me in the face with something (not sure what) and took over $70K.

Finally, they locked me and the manager in the safe - but not after pointing the gun at her head and telling her she was going to die.

The security guard recovered. I quit. The perps went to federal ass pounding prison.

So Here's the Deal
I carry a weapon everyday, everywhere I go. I swore 25 years ago I would never be in a helpless position again. Nor will I ever be in a situation where I could not help someone else.

My friend, the security guard, was bleeding out while I could do nothing but stand there and try not to piss myself.

I have trained extensively to be proficient and I continue to train regularly in formal classes.

You can believe anything you want. You can build a fantasy world around you where everyone is kind, lollipops are free and bad things never happen to good people. That's your business.

Me, I'll be prepared to even the playing field. And if you are lucky, when you are on your knees begging for your life, an American who exercises their 2nd amendment rights will be there to ensure you live long enough to exercise yours.



No cliff notes. Too important. Read it.

[kingpin]

Sorry to hear about what happened to you. I've been gun whipped. and had had a gun held against my forehead in between my eyes.
Scared the crap out of me but we aren't raised here with guns on the mind.

To me guns are like religion, if it helps you move forward in life, all the power to you. Just don't preach or put down others that don't follow what you believe.

That's about all you will ever hear from me about guns.

[Blademaker]

Thanks for sharing.

Its something you never forget.

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by kingpin

Sorry to hear about what happened to you. I've been gun whipped. and had had a gun held against my forehead in between my eyes.
Scared the crap out of me but we aren't raised here with guns on the mind.

To me guns are like religion, if it helps you move forward in life, all the power to you. Just don't preach or put down others that don't follow what you believe.

That's about all you will ever hear from me about guns.

Hope I didn't sound preachy or putting anyone down. I'm mostly referring to some of the clearly condescending remarks in a different thread on this subject by people who clearly are anti-gun.

My point is: unless you've walked in my shoes, you can't understand why I make the choice.

[kingpin]

Originally Posted by Thrakk

Hope I didn't sound preachy or putting anyone down. I'm mostly referring to some of the clearly condescending remarks in a different thread on this subject by people who clearly are anti-gun.

My point is: unless you've walked in my shoes, you can't understand why I make the choice.

I hear ya.
I know what you are talking about.

I took this part "You can believe anything you want. You can build a fantasy world around you where everyone is kind, lollipops are free and bad things never happen to good people. That's your business. " a little personally.

Like I said Thrakk...if it helps you go for it man. I'm not here to judge people.


edit: damnit I responded.

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by kingpin

I hear ya.
I know what you are talking about.

I took this part "You can believe anything you want. You can build a fantasy world around you where everyone is kind, lollipops are free and bad things never happen to good people. That's your business. " a little personally.

Not sure why you took it personally. I don't even remember who said what before and I didn't bother to look.

"You" is being used figuratively. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Your mileage may vary.

[themonk]

If someone stuck you up you'd sooner pull out your gun than hand them your wallet........you're asking for trouble if that's the case.

[carlton_fritz]

Originally Posted by themonk

If someone stuck you up you'd sooner pull out your gun than hand them your wallet........you're asking for trouble if that's the case.

YouTube - ‪Denny Crane gets robbed‬‏

[Y2Kvert4me]

Other than the lakefront, where is there not a shitty part of Milwaukee?

Had a house near 76th/Oklahoma about 20 years ago...Bordered Greenfield/West Allis, but address was technically City of Milwaukee.
It wasn't a bad area crime-wise, enjoyed living there when I did.

I'm all suburban now, don't really miss the city life. But I do miss the old days of cruising Hwy 100 before the cops went all nazi on it (late 80s/early 90s) Were you part of that scene? Or maybe the Tower Ave dragstrip?

[OddBall]

word.

[Sushi Dave]

I see you dead along with others , if you played gun hero in your story.
Well trained Police officer would not have taken on group in your story.
Your post proves why guns should only be carried by well trained professionals.

[JRD77VET]

Don't feed the troll above my post

~~~~~~~~~~~

Originally Posted by Thrakk

OK, here's why I carry. And all you cry baby, anti-gun nuts pay attention.

....................

Me, I'll be prepared to even the playing field. And if you are lucky, when you are on your knees begging for your life, an American who exercises their 2nd amendment rights will be there to ensure you live long enough to exercise yours.



No cliff notes. Too important. Read it.

Glad you survived both encounters. One never knows when something may happen.

[snide]

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

YouTube - ‪Denny Crane gets robbed‬‏

"Denny Crane" is a Canadian.

[Fastguy]

Originally Posted by Sushi Dave

I see you dead along with others , if you played gun hero in your story.
Well trained Police officer would not have taken on group in your story.
Your post proves why guns should only be carried by well trained professionals.

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by themonk

If someone stuck you up you'd sooner pull out your gun than hand them your wallet........you're asking for trouble if that's the case.

If they just want my wallet, it's theirs. If they want my life, then I'm betting I'm better trained.

Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me

Other than the lakefront, where is there not a shitty part of Milwaukee?

Had a house near 76th/Oklahoma about 20 years ago...Bordered Greenfield/West Allis, but address was technically City of Milwaukee.
It wasn't a bad area crime-wise, enjoyed living there when I did.

I'm all suburban now, don't really miss the city life. But I do miss the old days of cruising Hwy 100 before the cops went all nazi on it (late 80s/early 90s) Were you part of that scene? Or maybe the Tower Ave dragstrip?

Never much of a cruiser. I was heavily involved in the blues scene as a performer.

Originally Posted by Sushi Dave

I see you dead along with others , if you played gun hero in your story.
Well trained Police officer would not have taken on group in your story.

Ah, the N00b.

I somehow knew you'd chime in saying "a gun wouldn't have helped you in a bank robbery" and you'd be right. That's not the point.

The point is helpless vs. at least having a chance.

Originally Posted by Sushi Dave

Your post proves why guns should only be carried by well trained professionals.

First RIF. But, once again, we agree- sort of. I am extremely well trained. I've done more training than most cops are required to do.

However, your assertion that only "professionals" should have guns (assuming police/military) is misguided.

Why do you suppose the founding fathers included the right to bear arms?

It wasn't to defend yourself against crack-heads - that's a handy benefit. It was to protect against "professionals".

My suggestion is that you read some history books. Then dig up a few studies with regard to CCW holders.

I'll save you some time:

The Texas Department of Public Safety released a study in May of 1999 that showed that permit holders in Texas accounted for 0.246 percent of all aggravated assault crimes that involved a deadly weapon, four out of 1,629 convictions. It also shows that there were 3,303 convictions for people unlawfully carrying a weapon: One percent of these were permit holders. In the year 1999 the rate of murder convictions for permit holders in Texas was zero percent. There were none.

Study by John Lott - Allowing citizens without criminal records or histories of significant mental illness to carry concealed handguns deters violent crimes and ap- pears to produce an extremely small and statistically insignificant change in accidental deaths. If the rest of the country had adopted right-to-carry con- cealed handgun provisions in 1992, at least 1,414 murders and over 4,177 rapes would have been avoided.

According to the International Crime Victimization Surveys of 1992 and 2000. Here are some crime trends collected from UK police crime data for the period of 1995 to 2003. (10)

• Homicide rose 41%.
• Attempted murder rose 29%
• Total Violent Crime rose 219%.

What caused this? Banning handguns.

Have you ever fired a gun? Have you ever had any tactical training? Please share with us your experiences upon which you have based your position.

"Feelings" don't count.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by themonk

If someone stuck you up you'd sooner pull out your gun than hand them your wallet........you're asking for trouble if that's the case.

UHHH< NO, It's THEM that sent the request.....

and ME/Pete that honors said request.....



Oh, edit, my daughter worked as a teller at a bank in the DC region, don't think that thought didn't cross my mind either, but nothing happened.....

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by mrvette

UHHH< NO, It's THEM that sent the request.....

and ME/Pete that honors said request.....



Oh, edit, my daughter worked as a teller at a bank in the DC region, don't think that thought didn't cross my mind either, but nothing happened.....

People who have not been through the training don't really get this "Gimme your wallet" scenario.

First, training teaches you to avoid situations where this is a possibility. It teaches you to "read" people to determine if they are a threat. We are taught to avoid conflict.

If someone is threatening me or acting in a threatening manner they won't have a chance to ask me for my wallet or to take it. If they are advancing, they may get lucky and get a warning from me to keep their distance (as I clear my clothing and get a firm grip on the weapon - while leaving it holstered.) If they get within a certain distance or if I see a weapon of any kind, it's red zone all the way and someone will die.

If this happens, I fully expect to have serious legal problems and probably civil suit. But I will be alive.

What makes you think they won't kill you after you've given them your wallet? It has nothing to do with the wallet or its contents.

It has everything to do with the fact that if someone is willing to jack you for your wallet, they are willing to take your life to do so.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Thrakk

People who have not been through the training don't really get this "Gimme your wallet" scenario.

First, training teaches you to avoid situations where this is a possibility. It teaches you to "read" people to determine if they are a threat. We are taught to avoid conflict.

If someone is threatening me or acting in a threatening manner they won't have a chance to ask me for my wallet or to take it. If they are advancing, they may get lucky and get a warning from me to keep their distance (as I clear my clothing and get a firm grip on the weapon - while leaving it holstered.) If they get within a certain distance or if I see a weapon of any kind, it's red zone all the way and someone will die.

If this happens, I fully expect to have serious legal problems and probably civil suit. But I will be alive.

What makes you think they won't kill you after you've given them your wallet? It has nothing to do with the wallet or its contents.

It has everything to do with the fact that if someone is willing to jack you for your wallet, they are willing to take your life to do so.

NO, man, I said that "honor' would be done with LEAD.....not money....

guess it wuz open to interpretation.....I"m on your side man...

and BTW, that is a GOOD CD you have there....

[SnikPlosskin]

Originally Posted by mrvette

NO, man, I said that "honor' would be done with LEAD.....not money....

guess it wuz open to interpretation.....I"m on your side man...

and BTW, that is a GOOD CD you have there....

Not referencing your post, Gene. Just prompted more ranting

If I ever release another CD, you get one for free. PM sent.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Sushi Dave

I see you dead along with others , if you played gun hero in your story.
Well trained Police officer would not have taken on group in your story.
Your post proves why guns should only be carried by well trained professionals.

READ ME