• You are using the old High Contrast theme. We have installed a new dark theme for you, called UI.X. This will work better with the new upgrade of our software. You can select it at the bottom of any page.

Almost Jacked in J'ville?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Browns Fan

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2003
Messages
1,145
Location
North Carolina
I am tdy in Jacksonville, Fla, and staying in a hotel. After work I decided to walk down the road (4 lane road offf of a major hwy) .5 mile to taco bell. When I finish eating at TB, it's dark outside while I'm walking back to the hotel. I walk over this bridge and look down and see 4-5 men 17-mid 20's in age down by the river/creek. I reach into my pocket for my pepper spray. If they say anything to me I cannot hear it because of the traffic noise. After crossing the bridge ~50 yds I turn around and see 2 of them on the bridge and they freeze when I turned around. I then started walking real fast to a well lit plaza parking lot, turned around again and they were gone.

Do you think I was gonna get mugged and SA saved the day, or am I paranoid?
 
You did good. Not paranoid, just aware. You must have had "that feeling". I'm sure it got your blood pumping a bit and a little adrenalin rush too. Glad you are ok.
 
Being aware and prepared means that you don't have to be paranoid.

Today I was walking a property that my company is contemplating purchasing. The dog and I came across a homeless camp in a remote area.

Nobody was in the camp (unless they were in the zipped up one of the tents) and I had a 7 shot 686 in my holster. Finished surveying the property, no issues, no raised blood pressure.

Preparation makes for calmness.
 
I normally carry a glock 19 or keltec pf9. I am not able to do so because I am travelling to a military installation. CCW ist verbotten.
 
Browns

In your situation you were as prepared as you could be. Because of your situational awareness you might have avoided a problem.

My story was intended to also illustrate that like you, I was prepared. Also like you, even though there might not been a threat, I was ready.

Preparation is king.
 
That one is kind of iffy, 50 yds is a huge head start to give someone you plan on mugging. They may have stopped when you turned around due to your posture or something similar. Did you have your hand in your pocket or were you reaching for your pepperspray when you turned to face them?

I have to agree with the latter part of kgpcr's response.
If they were going to jump you they already would have.
Click to expand...

I don't think you were being paranoid, you were using SA in an out of town area at night while walking alone armed only with pepperspray. You were doing exactly what you should do.
 
My vote is "yep" you were getting cased and likely to be the victim of a crime. When you turned you confronted them and you went from 'soft target' (oblivious) to 'hard target' due to your actions. Well done for your situational awareness.

In the future, some forward planning should help you avoid that situation. Knowing that it would be dark while you were eating, why not think of alternatives. Maybe order food to your room? Or take a taxi?

Also, for what it's worth, a small personal sized OC spray may be ineffective on a bridge over a busy 4 lane highway. I would guess that it could be very windy and the range of OC is only a few feet. By the time they would be in range, you could easily get overpowered, tackled, stabbed, thrown off the bridge, or even shot. Florida reciprocated for CCW and you should consider getting your permit and carrying.

I'm guessing your DoD because you're TDY to Florida? What part? Melbourne? Fort Walton?
 
Jacksonville can be kinda sketchy at times.
I remember a while back we were driving by the homeless shelter a while back because it was the fastest way to the gunshow there.
Well, one of the guys near there decided that he really really wanted a hand out and wouldn't get out of the way of my car. /bump Over the sidewalk and all that jazz to get around him.

Paranoid?
Maybe, but I rather like coming home every day.
 
I live in Port Orange at the moment.
There's a thing called the Daytona challenge where you walk the area around the Ridgewood are at 0100 without getting shot.
Not tried it yet :p
 
Quote
"There's a thing called the Daytona challenge where you walk the area around the Ridgewood are at 0100 without getting shot.
Not tried it yet "

Sounds like an IDPA stage.;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

1
  • Locked
Assaulted twice on Midtown Greenway, pistol drawn
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
Oleg Volk
O
O
  • Locked
August 8, noon -- Cheatham County WMA range
Replies
2
Views
1K
Oleg Volk
O
G
  • Locked
Almost thought I was in yet another bad situation last night
2 3
Replies
73
Views
3K
Kleanbore
K
I
  • Locked
Not so hypothetical situation....
Replies
22
Views
1K
silverlance
S
D
  • Locked
Had an unusal incident this morning
Replies
6
Views
1K
MudPuppy
M
Back
Top