How would you react to this situation if you carried?

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turbohardtop

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A friend's friend was robbed and shot in the head this past weekend in Houston while pumping gas. I am not clear how the scenario played out but how can we best defend ourselves if someone was to come up and try to rob us at gun point while pumping gas? This story is more common in Houston these days since Katrina.
 
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keep one hand in the pocket, holding your life insurance 'policy'. dont make eye contact if anyone suspicious is walking around, but know what he's up to. just be calm about things, and if needed, be quick and brutal about defending yourself. in this case, YOU have the element of surprise.

i wouldnt worry about gun shots setting off the gas, but that's a different topic i suppose.

there's also a difference between 1) robbed and shot in the head, and 2)shot in the head then robbed. not much you can do about the latter if you dont see it coming.

ETA: dont get gas in shady parts of town, and fill up during the day to avoid it. THAT's your best bet
 
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There are about a million variables that make it impossible to give an answer.
If someone is standing right in front of me with gun pointed I would hand over my wallet and hope that ended it. If he told me to get in the car I would probably try to draw and shoot.
There are all kinds of things that will go into making a decision at that moment that are too numerous to mention.
 
My assailant gets a generous high octane "sheep dip". If he wants to pull the trigger after that, more power to him. Besides, i think that gasoline in the eyes stings a bit. I'm betting it could affect his aim.
 
ETA: dont get gas in shady parts of town, and fill up during the day to avoid it. THAT's your best bet
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EVERY one of my relatives in Chicago lives in "shady parts of town". I'm the one who gets drafted to take them home Christmas night. It's a chance I grudgingly take once a year. Besides, I'm perfectly willing to drench somebody in gasoline for pointing a gun at me.
 
ooo, never thought of hitting him with some gas. niiiiice.

would give you some time to draw too, make him think extra-hard about where he is in his life at the moment
 
"Riding shotgun" is a figure of speech for sitting in the front passenger seat. Make it literal, have a friend or spouse sit in the front seat and cover you while you are outside of the vehicle. Well, maybe don't use a shotgun, a handgun would be more appropriate.
 
I'd suggest a gas station on the other side of town.
Best to avoid the situation all together.

I mean, where the hell are these places anyways? I've walked around the South Bronx at 2:00am on a weekend, and never even been that afraid of something happening.
 
Situational awareness. I've been in a rough situation with a thug at a gas station. Situational awareness got me out of it in one piece. So did having a gun.

The best way to survive a gunfight is to not be there in the first place, or at least leave before it happens. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Gas stations can be dangerous places.
 
ooo, never thought of hitting him with some gas. niiiiice.

would give you some time to draw too, make him think extra-hard about where he is in his life at the moment
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Unfortunately, when I'm in Chicago, the gas is all I have. Here, he gets the gas and then I draw down on him with whatever I happen to be carrying that day. It'd almost be worth it to just move behind cover and DARE him to shoot. :D
 
Watch your six and get gas in a busy place with good lighting. Also people from outside bad areas stick out to those inside them usually by the fact they look scared. It's also different depending on what your physical build is. I'm a big guy so people tend to leave me alone most of the time. If you are a small woman you are perceived as more of a target than I am. Either way always be aware of your surroundings.
 
Also people from outside bad areas stick out to those inside them usually by the fact they look scared.
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+100000000

Can't stress that enough.
How you carry yourself, your attitude, your actions - speak VOLUMES about who are you, and whether or not you're prepared to defend yourself. Being able to actually defend yourself goes a long way too, but clearly being nervous or anxious right off the bat makes someone wonder what you have to be nervous or anxious about.

Lookin around acting sketchy, nervous somebody's going to rob you? Well then that means you must have somethin worth robbin' in the first place....
 
I grew up pumping gas. My dad ran a country store with a couple of gas pumps out front. One fine day a regular customer came by with his grandson, about seven years old or so at the time. The youngster wanted to pump the gas, and gramps started helping him by taking of the gas cap, getting the nozzle down, turning on the pump, etc.

Only problem was, as soon as the tyke got the nozzle in his hands, he squeezed the handle.

Gramps got a gasoline car wash. Fortunately there was no open flame about, and we got eveything hosed down and soaped off quickly before any further hilarity ensued. But for a second, there was about a sixty caliber stream of gasoline that went better than twenty feet.

Gonna stick me up while I'm pumping gas? Riiiiiight. Bright idea.

lpl
 
Well, since people don't suddenly appear out of thin air, situational awareness is key.

1. Minimize your exposure in "the *ghetto*".

2. Maintain situational awareness and be suspicious of strange males, especially in "the ghetto". More often than not, you can read their intent in their eyes / body language, and those meaning no harm will listen to verbal commands to keep their distance. Those that don't...

3. Defend yourself accordingly when life and limb are at stake.


*ghetto: any high crime area
 
It's all about situational awareness. It won't matter if you have the ability to defend yourself if you're caught of guard and don't have a chance to employ it.
 
I have to gas up in lots of places, and I've gotten in the habit of keeping my back to the vehicle, pump, column, whatever....and always scanning around, just keeping an eye on things. I'm too old and fat, with too many bad knees to try running or fighting.
 
Situational awareness, keep up with your surroundings. Condition Yellow.

Generally there is no reason someone should be walking into my comfort area, when they do awareness elevates to condition orange until resolution.

I'm not sure I like the gas pump idea if you are armed. IMO, there is less chance of my survival if I'm spraying gas on a crazy with a gun opposed to using my gun. If there is no gun......well, it's an option but be prepared to run.
 
I agree with you BBQ. When the BG has a gun in your face I don't think that there is enough time to take the pump out and spray onto the BG. Besides. the BG is not logical enough to know that the spark from his gun would ignite the gasoline. He might be just so pissed that he just shoot first and rob later.
 
dont make eye contact if anyone suspicious is walking around, but know what he's up to.
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I would respectfully disagree. I would make eye contact and let them know, "you see them and you are watching them." While some criminals may take it as a provocation of some kind, most will understand this probably isn't the lowest hanging fruit.

There have been a couple of times I have had random interactions with people that were very hinky. Both times I literally stopped what I was doing, made eye contact with them, and then watched them till they finished whatever they were doing.

Stay alert is the best defense, followed by being equipped with the proper mindset, training, and equipment.
 
But for a second, there was about a sixty caliber stream of gasoline that went better than twenty feet.
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This does work btw.
It has worked more than once.

One of the things we forget sitting behind our monitors, in our town, where we know people , places and things, is we or those we care about are going to be in environments where they do not know people, places and things.

These include persons under the legal age to carry a firearm, and NPEs (non permissive environments).

Your HS daughter cannot carry a knife, much less a gun to school. She takes a vehicle to and from school, and to her part time job, or runs by to check on grandma.

Sure the gas tank is filled, then what if she hears a funky noise and the car is acting up, , or a radiator hose plays out, or just maybe a flat tire and the first place "safe" to pull over is a gas station.

"Safe" meaning "taking prudent steps as to not cause a unsafe condition for the public flow of traffic , and to protect the vehicle as best as can".
Simple traffic code and insurance company requests.


Taking a trip to see Grandma, or old college buddy or soon to be in-laws.

You can pull into the nicest, cleanest, gas station, at high noon, in a state that allows open carry and be taken down.

You are advertising you are from out of state.
There is a reason some traveling sales reps, do not use personal vehicles, or company vehicles for some travel. The license plate advertises.
Instead they fly in, and rent a car with local tags.
Or.
They have a company car pool with local vehicles , licensed in that state.

I am going back 50 years with knowing about this traveling and staying safe.
Gas stations are one huge security risk.

If I want to take you down, while you are looking for gang bangers and seedy looking folks. I might be dressed to look like clergy, or wear surgical scrubs and appear to a surgeon, rad tech, scrub tech...etc.
My partner would be a lady, and she would be a "preacher's wife, or medical person herself...

We might just want your daughter, that is tossing trash into the trash can at the end of the pumps.
WE snag and grab and are gone.

WE might cell phone another one of our team, about that good looking college age daughter, and they have a fake blue light, in/on a Crown Vic and in broad daylight, college age daughter thinks unmarked police , and "Ma'am you left your gas cap back at the station", or, I noticed a brake/turn signal light out".


I am just asking folks to think out of the box.
It is too easy to become confident and complacent, sitting behind the monitor at home.
 
I would respectfully disagree. I would make eye contact and let them know, "you see them and you are watching them." While some criminals may take it as a provocation of some kind, most will understand this probably isn't the lowest hanging fruit.

There have been a couple of times I have had random interactions with people that were very hinky. Both times I literally stopped what I was doing, made eye contact with them, and then watched them till they finished whatever they were doing.

Stay alert is the best defense, followed by being equipped with the proper mindset, training, and equipment.
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Good point, and I agree. However, don't focus so sharply on the ONE you can see, that you don't see the OTHER one sneaking up behind you. Especially if he engages you in a staring contest, that might be to distract you so his homie can come in from the other direction.
 
Don't get yourself stuck between the pump & the car. I usually plug the pump in & head to the rear of my truck. I have a lot more room to maneuver & a much better view of the surroundings.

Think to yourself "What gives me the most options?"
 
Good point, and I agree. However, don't focus so sharply on the ONE you can see, that you don't see the OTHER one sneaking up behind you. Especially if he engages you in a staring contest, that might be to distract you so his homie can come in from the other direction.
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Most of the situations i've been in - that's exactly what happened. It's like a pack of wolves. It's not the one you see you gotta worry about.
 
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