In A Medical Office Waiting Room...

[luzyfuerza]

My wife and I were recently in a waiting room before being called back for a medical exam. I was the patient. I generally carry whenever I'm out in public. But for this exam, I left the tools (gun, pepper spray, knife, etc.) outside.

My wife is a trained shooter, and has good EDC kit, but chose not to carry that day. Frankly, she depends on my tools more than I would like.

An individual walks into the waiting room. Probably 35 YO male. T-shirt, knee-length, unhemmed, cutoff jeans. His dress, gait, movements are just off, somehow. I feel my mind shift to orange, and focus on him.

He approaches the receptionists, and loudly asks when he can have his next shot. He says he's in pain. Funny, but he doesn't move like he's in pain. They are apparently familiar with him; "I'm sorry, you've got to wait at least another week." His response ramps up in sound level. He paces back and forth. Waves his arms. Demands. Shouts. Leans over the counter. Finally threatens: "somebody is going to die here!". But he didn't produce any weapons that I could see.

I'm in red, but damn! I wish I had my tools with me!

From my seat, I can see the whole waiting room, but we can't get out without passing too close to the loud intruder.

Those were tough moments. Can't really fight effectively, and can't escape. I felt pretty helpless. Something that I don't enjoy, and don't feel very often.

He finally steps outside. Staff calls 911. I stand and watch him wander around in the parking lot until I'm called back for my exam. Wife says that police were there in about ten minutes.

Lots of lessons here for my wife and me.


But what lessons can you pull out of this event that apply to you in your daily life?

 

[.38 Special]

Unarmed training is helpful. Otherwise you can try to find a doctor who doesn't mind you showing up with a gun - and good luck with that.

 

[troy fairweather]

Seems pretty mild to me, grew up having to go to the doctors in the bigger city and every visit was like going to a inner city dmv but with people wanting drugs. Sometimes the best thing maybe just to mind your own business.

 

[Jeff White]

I wasn’t there so I don’t know what kind of vibe you were getting from him but I think I would have just moved past him and as soon as I was out the door called 911. I’m guessing he was addicted to some type of pain killer or maybe on a methadone maintenance program and was trying to avoid “getting sick” as the addicts refer to it. His attention was most likely focused on the poor receptionist and not on the patients in the waiting room. The addicts I’ve dealt with who were trying to avoid getting sick were singularly focused on getting what they needed to avoid withdrawal sickness and the unfortunate receptionist would be the person he thought could help him, not another patient.

 

[Balrog]

Seems pretty mild to me, grew up having to go to the doctors in the bigger city and every visit was like going to a inner city dmv but with people wanting drugs. Sometimes the best thing maybe just to mind your own business.

Sounds like he did mind his own business. But with the increase we have seen recently in violence including murder in healthcare setting, I think it would be dumb to be unobservant of an individual acting like that.

 

[CopperClad]

Honestly, always carry a pocket knife, and you should have transferred the pepper spray and firearm to your wife's purse til you were out of the office.

Also the end of your post sounds like panic, not action ready, have a plan 'red'. I would imagine there were plenty of items in the waiting room that could be weaponized.

 

[Armored farmer]

Whenever someone says anything about "kill" or "die" or words to that effect....they get my attention.
I think I would at least have gotten mamma out of there and called 911 for the receptionist...and given the cops a few minutes head start.
As for the tools. I always have a knife unless I have to pass through a metal detector. I have made a few trips back to the car because of it.....but I intend to have a knife.
Like @luzyfuerza ...my Mrs relies on me too much for defense. I gave her a Boker AK47 automatic knife a few years ago. She is pretty faithful about carrying it. At least she has something to fight with when I'm not with her. She has pepper spray in her purse also.
In the end...everything worked out @luzyfuerza ....no scars, no warrants, and everyone went home.
Well done.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I’m guessing he was addicted to some type of pain killer or maybe on a methadone maintenance

That was my guess, too.

 

[GHinNH]

Big sign on the Dr's office door says no weapons of any kind....

Never have unclipped my knife from my pocket, 1) It's a pocket knife primarily, and honestly slips my mind. 2) No one has said anything about it. 3) I don't want to be totally defenseless.

If I bring someone else to the Dr's, ...well... it's called concealed for a reason.

I used to see a provider at the hospital regularly for a while. He was cool, retired military and we had a lot in common.
One day I realize I had made my way through the hospital to his office with my pistol still tucked inside my waistband.

I asked him to excuse me a minute while I go back to my truck so he inquired why, he then points to the top left drawer of his desk and said, "it happens".

 

[GHinNH]

Whenever someone says anything about "kill" or "die" or words to that effect....they get my attention.
I think I would at least have gotten mamma out of there and called 911 for the receptionist...and given the cops a few minutes head start.
As for the tools. I always have a knife unless I have to pass through a metal detector. I have made a few trips back to the car because of it.....but I intend to have a knife.
Like @luzyfuerza ...my Mrs relies on me too much for defense. I gave her a Boker AK47 automatic knife a few years ago. She is pretty faithful about carrying it. At least she has something to fight with when I'm not with her. She has pepper spray in her purse also.
In the end...everything worked out @luzyfuerza ....no scars, no warrants, and everyone went home.
Well done.

Been beating on my drop point, straight grind, Auto Boker Kalash daily for at least a couple years now, and love it. Gets used -a lot- every day. Had to re-spring it once and don't sharpen it nearly often enough. Once in a while I hit it with the garden hose and then a few drops of atf.

I really should get another one JIC they decide to discontinue them.

 

[CDW4ME]

Normally I have a pistol AIWB and a 2nd pistol in pocket, everywhere, when I'm dressed...
Exceptions:
Annual dermatologist visit, I'll be taking off my shirt, I go in with only the pistol in pocket.
Metal detectors , I avoid these unless it is just not possible.

I don't feel like carrying or I don't think I "need" to carry is not how I think.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Lessons we learned:

1) Even if a gun shouldn't come, my knife and pepper spray often can.

2) Afterward, wife says to me "I should carry my gun more. Especially when you can't carry yours." Yep.

3) My mindset and awareness were good, but geezerhood and not having tools limited my options. My wife? Well this event was enough to pull her out of white for a few minutes.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Exceptions:

...are very limited for me, too. In a medical setting:

1) When I have to wear a hospital gown with my tush hanging out (ankle shows, no pockets, and lousy concealment of a belt holster?!)

2) They're going to stuff me into an MRI machine.

3) When I'm on mind-altering medications like opioid pain killers.

 

[borrowedtime69]

When I go somewhere where weapons are usually not allowed (but not where I could get arrested) even with a metal detector, I carry the Zytel Delta dart from cold steel, or lansky boot knife deep concealed.

 

[armoredman]

I am in a Dr waiting room as I type this, not my appointment, and I am well enough armed. I won't go unarmed.

 

[FL-NC]

Be ready and willing to fight at any time and place, with whatever is available. Plan and train accordingly.

 

[MikeInOr]

I carry my Keltec P32 when I go to the doctor or dentist. I can take off my pants and the P32 remains in my pocket, in its holster and is never seen. It is small and light enough that I have never had an issue with it wanting to fall out of its pocket / holster.

 

[Jeff White]

This is a gun forum so it's not surprising that we have a lot of responses about guns. Let me ask the members who think a gun is the solution to this problem this question: Under what circumstances do you intend to use the gun? Are you thinking of protecting the receptionist? Are you intending to use it effect your escape? Mas Ayoob titled his book "In the Gravest Extreme" for a reason. You get a certain feeling of security from being armed but I can say that I only recall one time that I was ever in an off duty situation where I was glad that I was armed. Nothing happened but the vibe in the place we stopped for gas near Texarkana wasn't good at all, we fueled our two vehicles, used the rest rooms and got back on the road as quickly as possible. Maybe this guy gave off that vibe. I wasn't there. I still think that the best thing to do if you feel you are in immanent danger is to leave.

 

[Lo-Profile]

My medical appointments are at the local VA. "No weapons of any kind" allowed.
I still usually have at least one knife in my pocket, a "tactical" pen and a brass bottle opener

 

[citizenconn]

I am technically handicapped, with mobility issues that are taken care of generally by injections into my knee joints every 3 months. Eventually things will get bad enough that I'll be forced to get knee replacements, so I take a cane with me most places. A while back I switched from a regular cane to a couple with swords hidden in them, though one cannot tell the difference. I've never been stopped even at places that use metal detectors. So I always take one with me at places that ban firearms figuring that it will give me at least a fighting chance to defend myself.

 

[Kleanbore]

I carry my Keltec P32 when I go to the doctor or dentist.

Are you suggesting that you would have involved yourself in the situation descibed in the OP?

 

[Beck]

I could never leave someone behind (in this case the receptionist) to save myself. I never have, but I've never had to unholster a gun in the process either. It's never come to that as a civilian.

 

[Buzznrose]

Seems pretty mild to me, grew up having to go to the doctors in the bigger city and every visit was like going to an inner city dmv but with people wanting drugs. Sometimes the best thing maybe just to mind your own business.

Just because you are used to being around tweakers and ****birds doesn’t mean the rest of us are.

I’d have had concerns in that situation, and OP rightfully was aware and paying attention to a situation that could have easily gotten ugly!

 

[hutch51]

South central Kansas here. Local clinic has posted "Open Carry Prohibited". Concealed carry is allowed. My providers know I carry, sometimes ask questions.

Private hospitals are usually "No Firearms". I have carried in them at times. Their sole recourse is to ask me to leave. If I don't I can be trespassed.

Some merchants post "Weapons Authorized, please keep them holstered. If needed, marksmanship is appreciated" (or something to that effect).

Did walk into a medical facility in Wichita that had "No Weapons" posted. Back out, disarm, caught up with wife inside. My "shooting gallery sign posted" comment got me some dirty looks (grin).

 

[Kleanbore]

I could never leave someone behind (in this case the receptionist) to save myself.

Your alternative may well be to precipitate mayhem that would not have occurred but for your butting in. The man's priority was obviously to obtain a type of drug. His comments were intended to make that happen. it would not be prudent to make any assumptions about what he might do. The medical professionals are trained to handle such things. You are not.