Close-Call!

22 Aug 08

Near-incident, from a friend and Instructor in the Midwest:

"Last week, I pulled into our Gun-Club Range entrance in order to unlock the gate. It's a remote gun-range, with only one road leading to it. There is a farmhouse nearby, but, unless you're going to the range, or to the farmhouse, or are lost, there's no reason to be on that road.

I was meeting a student there, but she hadn't arrived yet. Suddenly a red sports-car appeared on the road and drove past me. As it did, the driver looked over and gave me what I can only describe as a 'dirty-look,' as if he knew me. But, he was a complete stranger to me, and I surely didn't recognize him.

I went over to the gate to unlock it. The red sports-car, instead of driving on down the road, stopped, turned around, and pulled up to my car, bumper to bumper. The driver got out and faced me. He was a white male, wearing a T-shirt that had a what looked like a badge pinned to it. He immediately started talking, saying his 'uncle' was meeting him at the range. I asked what his uncle's name was, as, if he is a member, I probably know him.

He abruptly changed the subject, saying that, since he was 'military and law-enforcement,' he didn't think anyone would mind if he used the range. I didn 't see a gun on him, nor could I see one in his car, but his sleazy appearance and disquieting demeanor put me on alert. Assuming an interview-stance, I said, 'What police department are you with, Bud?' Not answering, he looked around nervously, then hurriedly returned to his car and drove off!

A half-hour later, the people who live at the farmhouse, whom I've met and recognized, ran over in a panic, saying that someone had just shot one of their horses! Police were soon there, and I gave them a description of the red sports-car and driver, who was, as it turns out, the chief suspect.

Monday, the driver I had encountered was confronted and arrested by our SO's Tactical Team. He confessed to shooting the horse and a number of other misdeeds. As it turns out, he was not (and had never been) a police officer. Quite the contrary! He has an extensive, violent, criminal record and, in fact, had several active, felony warrants when he was taken into custody. Wanted posters described him as 'armed and extremely dangerous.'

He had attempted to extort money from the farming family who lived near the range, and had apparently shot their horse in order to punctuate his demands for cash!

Of course, I knew nothing of this when I confronted him that evening on the range road. However, his behavior did set off my internal alarm. At the time, I was carrying my SA/XD (concealed) in my lightening-fast Kytac/BraveHeart holster. Being one of your students, I practice with both regularly. Had he tried to harm me, he would have found himself in the fight of his life!

I never go unarmed, but this incident reminded my of why. If this person had produced a gun or knife in a threatening manner, a gun in my car, evenas close as five feet, would not have been in a high-enough state of readiness to save my life!"

Lesson: Yet another excellent illustration of the tactical principle:

There will be no time to "get ready."

You have to "be ready," or be prepared to accept murder/mayhem at the hands of VCAs who will sometimes cross paths with you, no matter how careful and foresighted you try to be!

/John