.455_Hunter
Member
My coworker is a double-tour Iraq War Combat Veteran (E6, US Army Field Artillery). He and his girlfriend live in the southeast Denver metro area, so they parked their car at the Arapahoe Rd / I-25 RTD Light Rail station and boarded the train for their night out in downtown Denver.
At approximately 0100 hours, they boarded a return train, heading for the “park-n-ride” to retrieve their car and head home. My coworker is very situationaly aware, and was disappointed when the fullness of the train necessitated them sitting with their “back to the crowd” instead of the preferred “back to wall” (just like Wild Bill Hickok
). After a few stops, the crowd thinned a bit, and seats began to open-up.
At this point, I should say that my coworker is NOT racist, and as an Army NCO has professionally worked with and led soldiers on all races. He himself has been a victim of gun shop disservice due his appearance and/or dress. However, the “character” that enters the storyline from this point on definitely attracted his attention.
At one of the later stops, a late teens/early 20’s black male boarded the train. As much as my co-worker hated to admit it (and I hate to write it), he was dressed in perfect “thug” garb- New Air Jordan’s, long shorts w/ white socks pulled-up to the knees, hoodie flipped over his head. That in itself would have normally merited just a glance from my coworker, but this case, the “gentlemen” took a seat immediately behind him and his girlfriend, even with many open seats available.
The sixth sense alarm claxon began sounding in my coworkers head! He watched the guy in the window reflection and saw that he was staring at them the whole time (not looking out the window or glancing around like most people would do). As they approached their station, my co-worker decided that probability of the SHTF was very high if their new found “friend” got off at the same station, since that facility services the Denver Tech Center, a professional business park with little commuter traffic, especially at 0100 hours.
At the stop, my co-worker and his girlfriend got off of the train. My co-worker implemented his quickly conceived plan- on the platform, he bent down to tie his shoe. He figured if the guy got off the train as well, walked past him and continued on his merry way, there may or may not be ill intent. However, if the guy got off and stayed behind him, they were just seconds away from an encounter.
In this case, the guy got off and walked a little bit ahead on the platform, waiting for my coworker and his girlfriend as the train pulled away.
Even with his real live combat experience, my coworker now experienced the classic adrenaline dump as the seriousness of the situation became apparent.
The “friend” continue to maliciously stare straight at the couple,
prompting my coworker to utter a very non-THR series of phrases that translate to “if you mess with me, you are going to get hurt really bad”.
As his apparent passive victim had suddenly turned aggressive, the “friend” quickly decided that he had somewhere else to be, and anxiously pressed the elevator button until he departed the platform. My coworker continued to overwatch the area until he deemed it was safe enough for them to make it back to their car.
I am sure to the probable aggressor, my coworker and his girlfriend perfectly fit the mold as potential targets- attractive, well-dressed late 20-somethings, probably carrying excess cash, and a little tipsy from a night “out-on-the-town”.
He this case, he was WRONG! Instead of a “please don’t hurt me” victim, he found himself face-to-face with a Bronze Star wearing recent Combat Veteran.
My coworker is very into RKBA, having purchased in just the past few months a LMT M-4 clone, a Walther P99, and a .22 MP-5 clone. Needless to say, he will turn-in his CCW application to Douglas County Sheriff this week and is actively seeking a good compact carry gun.
Please comment and critique!
Thanks,
Hunter
At approximately 0100 hours, they boarded a return train, heading for the “park-n-ride” to retrieve their car and head home. My coworker is very situationaly aware, and was disappointed when the fullness of the train necessitated them sitting with their “back to the crowd” instead of the preferred “back to wall” (just like Wild Bill Hickok
). After a few stops, the crowd thinned a bit, and seats began to open-up.At this point, I should say that my coworker is NOT racist, and as an Army NCO has professionally worked with and led soldiers on all races. He himself has been a victim of gun shop disservice due his appearance and/or dress. However, the “character” that enters the storyline from this point on definitely attracted his attention.
At one of the later stops, a late teens/early 20’s black male boarded the train. As much as my co-worker hated to admit it (and I hate to write it), he was dressed in perfect “thug” garb- New Air Jordan’s, long shorts w/ white socks pulled-up to the knees, hoodie flipped over his head. That in itself would have normally merited just a glance from my coworker, but this case, the “gentlemen” took a seat immediately behind him and his girlfriend, even with many open seats available.
The sixth sense alarm claxon began sounding in my coworkers head! He watched the guy in the window reflection and saw that he was staring at them the whole time (not looking out the window or glancing around like most people would do). As they approached their station, my co-worker decided that probability of the SHTF was very high if their new found “friend” got off at the same station, since that facility services the Denver Tech Center, a professional business park with little commuter traffic, especially at 0100 hours.
At the stop, my co-worker and his girlfriend got off of the train. My co-worker implemented his quickly conceived plan- on the platform, he bent down to tie his shoe. He figured if the guy got off the train as well, walked past him and continued on his merry way, there may or may not be ill intent. However, if the guy got off and stayed behind him, they were just seconds away from an encounter.
In this case, the guy got off and walked a little bit ahead on the platform, waiting for my coworker and his girlfriend as the train pulled away.
Even with his real live combat experience, my coworker now experienced the classic adrenaline dump as the seriousness of the situation became apparent.
The “friend” continue to maliciously stare straight at the couple,
prompting my coworker to utter a very non-THR series of phrases that translate to “if you mess with me, you are going to get hurt really bad”. As his apparent passive victim had suddenly turned aggressive, the “friend” quickly decided that he had somewhere else to be, and anxiously pressed the elevator button until he departed the platform. My coworker continued to overwatch the area until he deemed it was safe enough for them to make it back to their car.
I am sure to the probable aggressor, my coworker and his girlfriend perfectly fit the mold as potential targets- attractive, well-dressed late 20-somethings, probably carrying excess cash, and a little tipsy from a night “out-on-the-town”.
He this case, he was WRONG! Instead of a “please don’t hurt me” victim, he found himself face-to-face with a Bronze Star wearing recent Combat Veteran.
My coworker is very into RKBA, having purchased in just the past few months a LMT M-4 clone, a Walther P99, and a .22 MP-5 clone. Needless to say, he will turn-in his CCW application to Douglas County Sheriff this week and is actively seeking a good compact carry gun.
Please comment and critique!
Thanks,
Hunter
