How do you handle this?

[7idl]

what is "dial 911 and cower in a corner"?

[Batteriesnare]

and hope a jury agrees...

I don't think it matters, as long as he perceived it as a threat on his life and there is reasonable evidence to show it wasn't completely unfounded.

[sniper7]

Leave the immediate area for your own safety, and call 911 to report the drunken person brandishing a firearm at the convenience store.

Unless the drunk draws down on you, there's no reason to escalate by showing, or drawing your own piece, but good reason to report the implied threat.

I would lean toward this unless he grabbed the gun or pulled it out and I felt my life was in danger. at that point it may not be a shoot triggering in my mind but I would blade at a 45 and draw down.

[Irving]

If your family is present, does it change anything?

[Bailey Guns]

What I'd want to do, and I what I would do, are two different things.

In this scenario, once he's made the overt action of showing the gun after making the statement he did, it's felony menacing, IMHO.

Menacing is defined as any threat or physical action that knowingly places or attempts to place a person in fear of serious bodily injury. It's a misdemeanor unless comitted by use of a deadly weapon. A handgun is obviously a deadly weapon.

If I were placed into that situation, I'd still try to de-escalate, seek a position of cover/concealment, attempt to discreetly draw my gun and wait until the turds left. Or, if it was possible, I'd leave.

However, I do think a person would be legally justified in drawing on that person who displayed the gun. It would be dicey since in this case it's a 3 on 1 situation and that wouldn't be MY first choice.

Frankly, that punk's gonna try that crap on the wrong person some day...an off-duty cop or an armed civilian who's gonna be quick on the draw and might shoot. I think you could make a decent argument that you felt your life, not to mention the lives of others in the store, was in imminent danger and you reasonably believed a lesser degree of force was inadequate. After all, once he's displayed the weapon in a waistband, it only takes maybe 3/4 of a second to actually draw the gun. And by the act of lifting the shirt I think a reasonable person might conclude he was taking that action prior to drawing the gun. That sort of behavior is a good way to get yourself shot.

[spleify]

Leave the immediate area for your own safety, and call 911 to report the drunken person brandishing a firearm at the convenience store.

Unless the drunk draws down on you, there's no reason to escalate by showing, or drawing your own piece, but good reason to report the implied threat.

+1 especially if you are already on your way out, and even more so if your family was with you. After he asked what I was gonna do, I would say, "i'm not looking for any trouble" and walk out, and call 911. Now this is what I would do today. 20 years ago when I was in my 20's growing up in Chicago, I did things a little different.....

Quit frankly, the kid is already scared if he is showing you his weapon, and scared people do not make rash decisions. So, unless you are in immediate danger, or someone in the store is in direct immediate danger, and a gun is drawn and ponted at someone, I say stay calm, leave and let the authorities handle the situation.

JM2C

What did your friend do, please tell us.

[Dr_Fwd]

Man, even thinking about it makes me angry... I like the "I was scared for my life, so I shot him." version...

very good question! Thank you for it!

P.S. So, did it happened to you? When/where? what did YOU do?

P.P.S. I like your new avatar!

[Marlin]

"You going to pull that pistol? or, whistle Dixie?"




Oh, come on somebody had to say it...

[Colorado Luckydog]

Without being there, I couldn't answer. However, if he showed me his gun, and then showed even one ounce of aggression towards me, I'd smoke him like a big free bag of weed and then draw down on both of his buddies. Depending on their immediate reaction, I may or may not shoot them.

[Irving]

Buddy got into his car, reached under his seat, put his had under his shirt like he had his own gun, hopped out of his car and ran at them. They turned tail and ran.

Sounds like a good way to get shot to me, and not what I would have done. My friend has experience with worthless trash like this though, so he probably had a better feel for the situation than the patchy details version of the story he told me.

Once in the car I'd probably just leave. I'd be fucking pissed beyond belief though. Having someone use threat of force to try and elicit fear from me is a great way to put me in a foul mood in no time flat. Apparently my buddy doesn't like people trying to manipulate him either.

Save all the lecturing about how easy that situation could have gone sideways, we all know it already.