What would you do if restaurant you are dining in is being held up

[turbohardtop]

There has been a string of hold ups/robbery at crowded restaurants in Houston recently. These robberies/gangs targeted Asian restaurants during fairly busy hours. They would force people including customers to remove all their valuable belongings before making a getaway. What would you do if you were carried and are faced with this situation?

 

[Claude Clay]

when 'he' got near to me i would whip out my littlest NAA 22lr and screw it in his ear and yell gibberish at him and his friends causing them great consternation and to run away

there are so many variables but in CT once you get involved they are now reacting to you and legally you are now responsible for their actions. big can of worms. id like to protect/ be able to aid others but i think first of me & mine.

 

[f4t9r]

I would defend myself if I thought that was the only way out.
If it was just a everybody down rob and dash I would do nothing to create more problems.

 

[rondog]

JMHO, but at long as it appears nobody is going to get hurt, I think I would try to fade to the background as much as possible. Businesses are insured against robberies (or at least they should be), so if I'm not directly threatened or nobody's gotten hurt, or they don't act like they're really capable of shooting/hurting someone, I plan to lay low. I'd seriously consider drawing and being ready though, if possible (holding my pistol next to my leg, slowly easing behind cover, etc.). But I'm not a cop or a hero, just a fat old man with a CCW permit and bad knees.

 

[misANTHrope]

Memorize the final scene of Pulp Fiction.

 

[Sam Adams]

If they are coming into a restaurant in a state which issues carry licenses, one would have to presume that they are willing to off you or anyone else. You do not know the state of mind of such a person, but I think it far, far healthier to act as if your life is in danger from the moment that the robbery is announced.

Laying down on the floor, hoping that the guy won't pop you in the head just for fun, isn't exactly the reason why I got a carry license or why I carry. I would like to hope that if I could resist, I would do so. I've never "been there, done that" and I hope to never be in that situation, but I intend to die of old age.

 

[Sam Adams]

But I'm not a cop or a hero, just a fat old man with a CCW permit and bad knees.

The bad knees don't, for once, matter - the bullets are a lot faster.

***EDIT*** 2,000th post!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Can't say - just depends upon too many variable facts & circumstances; principally, whether or not I think I can draw & fire without being seen taking this action. That in turn depends on distance to the BG, overall awareness level of the BG, general perceived disposition of the BG, how many BGs, etc. Also depends on which gun I'm carrying at the time. I feel comfortable making a 15 yard head shot with my Taurus 24/7 OSS or my CZ 75 SP01 or my SigArms 1911 compact, but I do NOT feel comfortable taking a 15 yard head shot with my Kahr MK9 or Taurus 85 snubbie. If the BG is not alone, then I ain't gonna shoot at him unless it's a head shot to incapacitate instantly, but I would if he's alone (shoot multiple COM shots). Unless BG#1 has a gun and BG#2 and #3 don't; they have knives or are unarmed, let's say. Depends on customers and their locations behind the BG(s). How am I feeling physically and mentally at the time - feeling sharp or dull? There are just dozens and dozens of factors; no way to say, other than to say, GENERALLY, they're threatening deadly force, I'll TRY to put a cap in 'em if I can.

 

[stonecutter2]

If this happened to me, I would hand over all of my belongings and hope I don't get hurt, because I live in Illinois.

But, if I lived where i could carry, and faced this situation, i would comply with the criminals' requests so long as violence didn't seem imminent. No material possession is worth my life, unless it were my Grandpa's crucifix they were after...

If the situation escalates, someone gets shot, or shots are fired, I think that's the time to do what i can to eliminate the threat - or decide not to act, depending on what my instincts tell me.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

I'd try to fade to the back as well, then slip out the fire exit or even through the kitchen. Unlike the hostage scenes you see in soap operas and police dramas, robbers rarely seem to notice the guy who slips out the back and calls the cops. Or, it could be that unobservant robbers tend to get caught more; my interaction with them is somewhat selective for incompetence.

But if I couldn't get out, I'd fight. And if I couldn't fight with a pistol because it's a bar and I had a beer and so left the gun in the car, I'd jam a fork into his eye. I might get my card pulled and draw a one-way to Fiddler's Green, but I'm not getting down on the floor and dying there. Not going to happen.

 

[sm]

I just eased out the side door and called police direct one time.
This was back in the day before 911, and exit doors were not required to have alarms on them.

Oh, the nice policeman gave me my dime back too. I was so nervous, I forgot I could call "O" for Operator and she would give my dime back.
I did what I was supposed to , and stayed hid until police came and then I just pointed at a car like the one they left in, but it was a different color...

 

[Sam Adams]

Its nice to say "I'll slip out the back, etc." However, if I'm in an eatery it is likely with my family. I'm not abandoning SWMBO (even if it is tempting at times, just for a while and for the sake of quiet), and I'm certainly not leaving my 4- and 7-year-old at the mercy of some 'hole who's robbing a bunch of people at gunpoint. Nope, if I'm able to, he's going down. Sorry, but that is a situation where retreat is impossible for me, as there are 3 other of "me" that need to get out at the same time.

Besides, my 4 y.o. won't follow directions to lay down and shut up, he will be jumping around like crazy, yelling "Daddy, Daddy, look, he's got a GUN, just like you!" I'll probably be made like that before I can even get off a shot - I just hope the SOB is more surprised than me.

 

[Sam Adams]

Oh, the nice policeman gave me my dime back too.

A dime? Sheesh! Did you also get a personal invitation to the State of the Union from President McKinley? :>)

 

[JT1JT1]

I think it would be unwise to initiate shooting in this scenario, even if you think you had a fair to good chance to make a kill shot.

The difference in a restaurant invasion vs. a robbery on the street or a home invasion is the likelihood that the BGs have NOT targeted YOU specifically. So, the strategy of remaining as anonymous as possible seems the best course of action.

Now, if they BGs start executing people systematically (as opposed, say, to popping some loudmouth who pops off to them), then anyone who's carrying probably ought to reconsider. There have also been a string of restaurant invasions in my neck of the woods too. There were always multiple BGs and they always were just interested in getting the goods and getting out.

In any case, I advise against saying what a pal of mine said back in the day, when a BG with a gun held up his quick-service restaurant: "You want fries with that????"

 

[bikerdoc]

Oh boy, we dont get out much since the grand kids 2 and 3 y/o came to live with us but when we do my wife enjoys it.
Pity the fool who spoils her night out.
Too gruesome to think about.

Serioulsy, As long as they dont point a gun or fire at me or mine, They get a few bucks and a cheap watch and we eyeball them real good for the report takers.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Sam Adams.... THANK you for a heartfelt post. THANK YOU!!!!! YOU have brought such delite to my day based on my understanding of people and children from life experiences.

We make it a point not to eat out when busy.

Like to eat alone in a corner table back to wall with eye on doorway always have done that in truckstops and always will. Oh, there is a exit door not too far away. Two steps I think and Im out of there, and I aint looking back.

Once or twice I had to resort to a bit of becoming a mental nut case by sprouting butchered klingonese and jabbering combined with a tic or two. That causes agressor to freeze a bit and process me in his mind for a few seconds... sometimes long enough and close enough for my blade at the belt.

Tempting. Very tempting. But got shoved and kicked out of the way as worthless trash while they advanced on the rest of the... plumper pickings... uhh.. other customers fat and laid for sacrifice.

First out the door and scream HOLDUP!!! They come running. Particularly in very small western and southwestern towns.

Then when it's all over, I puke all day, drink like fish all night and rest a week. Im such a coward.

 

[Pilot]

Eat more quickly.

 

[Texian]

I have to agree with others about not adding to the drama of a robbery with gun play. unless things start to get violent, I don't think it is the correct place to starting shooting.

 

[James T Thomas]

a la carte

If they came over to my table, I would give them my wallet. I do not have a wristwatch, nor does my wife drip with jewelry.

If, at that time, I could determine that the robbers were upset at my meager stash, and were comtemplating punishing me or mine...

I would fire my old revolver that I had placed under the table, in my lap, beforehand! Just like Lee Van Cleef did. -Right up through the table.
You know him: "The Bad."
I can't get my revolver or the ammo to squeek like Cleef's does, but I bet the table cloth and glassware flying would be dramatic.

You know, maybe firing under the table at groin or kneecap height might work well too.

Other than such dramatics, I would be observant to see how things might transpire.

And hope the situation would not degenerate into some Lubby's masacre.

 

[CWL]

...crowded restaurants...

That says enough right there.

Unless there is real threat of death & injury, pulling another gun in a crowded establishment is only going to contribute to the mayhem and could get a lot of innocent people hurt.

I know everybody here is a fast-draw bullseye shooter, but reality throws lots of curve balls. Unless it is a real 'kill or be killed situation" where I may as well take a few of them with me since they plan on executing everyone, nothing I carry on my body is worth dying over.

If you know the type of restaurant (Asian) that is being hit, my advice is to skip those restaurants and start brown-bagging it.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

CWL: "If you know the type of restaurant (Asian) that is being hit, my advice is to skip those restaurants and start brown-bagging it."

Or call out General Tso from the kitchen.

 

[adorable_harree]

If there are just robbing everyone and not frisking them. I'll be a good witness, I'll try my best to memorize what I can about the BG's-faces, clothing, weapons, vehicles. I carry two phones so If they steal one I'll try my best to use the other one discreetly to document the proceedings.
If they start roughing up someone or tying people I'd probably be holding on to my ankle gun by this time and drawing it out.
If they start shooting/stabbing someone I'd probably be firing out the ankle gun into the nearest BG and when that goes empty I'd be drawing my primary and It will start firing as well...until God decides who wins and stays alive.

 

[fd62]

"Or call out General Tso from the kitchen." ...haha I still can't stop laughing! The general ought to be able to handle anything.

good one duke! lol

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Oh the ASIAN Restraunts. Those are tough.

Be chopped up and served for seafood.

 

[AKElroy]

I have to agree with others about not adding to the drama of a robbery with gun play. unless things start to get violent, I don't think it is the correct place to starting shooting.

I hate agreeing with this post, but with the bad guys track record of hold-ups with no shots fired, I would wait for them to turn violent as well. However, assuming I am the only one carrying in the joint, it would really suck for everyone if they start with me---