Listening to your podcast brought up a couple of incidents I was involved in. So I will share with everyone to help get your point across.
A little intro for those not familiar with me. I'm an LEO with over 20 years of experience. I'm 6 feet tall, 210lbs, workout 5 days a week and bench press over 300lbs on a bad day
. So with that in mind here goes.
1994- I had been an LEO for 5 years and was still very proactive and aggressive. My heightened patrol awareness was way up there since we had just recently had 2 of our officers killed in the line of duty.
It was dark and around 10pm. I exited my townhouse out the rear to the dumpster out back to empty my trash. I had no shirt on, just shorts and flip flops. As I was carrying the trash I looked to my right and a saw a subject looking into my neighbors ground floor window. I yelled at him and he turned around and pulled out a gun from his jacket. He said something to the effect that he had a gun and he would shoot me. I felt the adrenaline dump and now I was pissed. This jerk thinks he is going to shoot me? I started talking trash to him and at the same time walking towards the dumpster for cover. I guess he wasn't expecting the response I gave him and put him into problem solving mode. He then turned and ran. I ran back to my place, grabbed my gun, radio, vest, and something that said "police" on it. I ran towards the subjects last direction of travel as I called for assistance. We were never able to locate him. I would have never thought I would have to go armed to take out my trash, but from then on I did.
2008- It was the Christmas holiday and I was traveling back home on the interstate. It was dark and around 10 or 11pm. I pulled into a rest area so I could take a bathroom break. I had my German Shepard dog in the front seat next to me. I had my service pistol with me which is a full sized 40cal. (My smaller off duty/back up gun qualification had expired so I couldnt carry it). It was in the side pocket of my drivers door. I jumped out and didn't grab my pistol. I was in and out of the bathroom in a matter of minutes and walking back to my vehicle. I see a hoopty vehicle pull in and park several spaces away. The driver stays in and the passenger gets out. There are no other cars or people out here at the present. My police thinking kicks in and I wonder why the vehicle didn't pull right up the the bathrooms. The passenger starts coming towards me. The scenarios start to play in my mind of what could possibly take place. My gun is in my vehicle and the door is locked. I have my pocket knife with me in my right pocket. I put my right hand into my pocket and grip the knife ready to whip it out in an instant and stab this subject if need be. As he walks towards me I eye him real hard making mental notes and to let him know I am confident and ready to go to battle. He stops a few feet away from me and ask "Do you have any money were are almost out of gas". In a defensive tone of voice I said "Are you kidding me" " No I don't. I don't carry cash". (I lied). He was short and thin and I stood my ground over him. He looks over at my truck and sees my German Shepard and says " You got a pretty big dog there". I don't remember my answer, as I started to make my way over to my truck. I figured he we go and I was waiting for the subject to whip out a weapon and try to rob me. I was mentally prepared so going through the motions to defend myself was secondary. If his intentions were robbery he changed his mind and turned and walked off towards the vehicle he got out of. I then got the door open of my truck and stood there pistol in hand until they drove off.
So yeah carry that gun on you. I do now, always.
