Almost had to draw my gun

[knkali]

Christmas eve I was walking out of the gym about 3:30 in the afternoon since work ended early that day. On my way out a woman ran in saying that there is a guy out there with a knife. I didn't think much of it. I thought that she is probably over exaggerating. The knife is probably a little pocket knife and he is probably a homeless dude across the street off in the corner of the parking lot talking to himself with a pocket knife.


I took a few steps forward and rounded the corner of the entrance of the gym and saw a 27- 34 yo white guy brandishing a sizeable butcher knife and yelling at the guy that just left the gym before me if he wants chaos for Christmas.


So there I am looking at this guy and thinking..... oh so this is how it goes? Middle of the day in front of a gym? Really? OK I have my 1911 with custom Bawanna grips at the ready, I can easily get to it. I have plenty of working room so I have plenty of time to deploy. I have rehearsed this scenario 10,000 times. If needed, I can do this. I also can back away too. Hell he is right next to my car. Is he f'n up my car with that knife? Hmmm. Forget the car. If he comes at me or the other guy, things could get ugly quick.


Just then the other guy sees me and says to the BG that he doesn't want chaos for Christmas and nobody wants chaos for Christmas. I just stood there looking at the BG guy with 1000% intensity. The BG looks at me and hides the knife and walks away. The other guy from the gym asks if he could use my phone because he left his at home. I dialed 911 for him and he gave a description of the BG and location. During the conversation with 911, he reveals he is a retired LEO. After the phone call, I turned to him and asked him WTF was he doing without his gun? He gave me the line that he usually carries it but since he lives so close he left it at home. I told him I am armed and I expect him to be too. He said that if he had it, there would have been a good chance that the BG would have been shot, He felt that the situation was getting that close.


Could you imagine? Shooting this dude in front of a retired LEO?


OK things I learned:
1) always be armed.
2) always carry a cell phone
3) always try to deescalate if possible. The ret LEO did that and it worked well.
4) the adage when seconds count, the police are minutes away is true.
5) I could have taken a few steps back into the gym and waited for the coast to clear when the woman reported the BG to me, but I didn't. I always tried to have the mental condition that I would only draw my gun to protect me and mine. Clearly, the thought of someone getting stabbed to death in the parking lot on Xmas eve and not doing something about it when I could have didn't settle well with me. This is a very dangerous mind set and one I need to meditate on much more.

BTW I stuck around for another 10 minutes and no police showed up anywhere around there.

[jsavik]

Good write up. Good rules. Who the heck would want to spend Christmas day thinking about the family of the loony dude they just put down... Good judgement & thanks for sharing.

[Bawanna]

Being in front of a retired LEO would be great especially if he's retired from the local force. He could back up your rightful actions and be an almost assured reliable witness.

I'm glad the super thins were there for you. I guess the only downfall is the Christmas Chaos clown didn't go away on a board or in bracelets. He's able to go someplace else and torment people. You must look like Clint Eastwood if he wet himself and bailed just looking at you. That's a good thing.

You done good in my opinion. Hope he didn't mess up your car too bad.

Reading again I do disagree with your last line. Only helping you and yours and rethinking the damsel in distress or anybody else in distress when you obviously are a warrior. It's your human duty to do what you can to protect the sheep. You had the power, the tools and the proper mindset. Roll with it.

You did use excellent restraint. I almost assuredly wouldn't have done nearly so well.

[knkali]

Car looks good.


Bawanna, you would have ventilated his face for him.


Merry Xmas guys.

[Bawanna]

Your a better man than I, that is a sure thing.

His face would have definitely been at risk for sure. I'm a sick bastard I guess. At least there's no sheep in my life.

[jocko]

lesson #6

always have a spare pair of DEPENDS with y to.

U did well, u used ur head. Sheet metal is replaceable, ur life is not. even though u had a fokking 45 on u, that fella could have been on top of u in a second.

I do agree with Bawanna, u have to protect the SHEEP.

[bob98366]

Thanks for the good write up and very glad it worked out so well.

[knkali]

Thanks guys.


I train a lot with timers and other methods to add stress in the mix but to also get a good feel for how far a BG has to be away from me to get a clean deployment and shot off( it is quite far BTW at least for me) . This training definitely helped me to remain more calm under the circumstances. That, or the depletion from the just finished workout could have helped too. I feel that if the BG charged me, I would have been cut but he would be ventilated in the process.

[Tinman507]

Thank God you're ok, the Ret LEO is ok and yeah, even the nutburger is ok. In the same breath, thank God you were there and prepared. Never been there but I often run scenarios in my head on what would I do etc. I suppose until it happens, we don't know how we'll react.

It is a Merry Christmas if everyone gets to go home in one piece.

[Captquest]

Thanks for sharing that story. Good job handling it. That's why we carry.

[wyntrout]

knkali, you did GOOD... exactly as you should. Displaying a weapon could have escalated things quickly and the outcome could have been tragic in so many ways. Thanks for the post!

I wonder if you noticed any FOF "symptoms"... I have experienced them all several times and talk about what happens in Fight or Flight scenarios now and then.

Wynn:)

[Harrylee]

knkali you did good, you had the tools and the judgement and used them both wisely.The world we live in now is a different place and need to be prepared. Once again you did GREAT!

[xsailer]

Thank you for the report knkali, It's valuable these episodes be told because it reminds us that BG can show up anytime, anywhere and we need to be ready. Like the man said earlier about your fear factor seen by the BG. Tell us what that is and how it can be passed on to others, namely me.

[GROTMAN]

"Just then the other guy sees me and says to the BG that he doesn't want chaos for Christmas and nobody wants chaos for Christmas. I just stood there looking at the BG guy with 1000% intensity. The BG looks at me and hides the knife and walks away."

Must have been one hell of a stare you gave him. Maybe you don't even need a gun ! :) Glad you are safe and it all turned out well.

[ltxi]

Your a better man than I, that is a sure thing.

His face would have definitely been at risk for sure. I'm a sick bastard I guess. At least there's no sheep in my life.

gots dat rite

[T0RMENT]

Great post. It's not just through our own experiences, but through others that we can learn as we move forward as law abiding citizens trying to defend ourselves and perhaps, even those around us.

Thanks for posting this.

[CJB]

Its a good day when the gravest extrene is not met, and everybody walks.

[kwh]

This story helps me decide if I leave my gun locked in the car while I go inside the gym, or not. Thanks for making the decision easier. Still not certain what to do when I go to the pool however.

[knkali]

This story helps me decide if I leave my gun locked in the car while I go inside the gym, or not. Thanks for making the decision easier. Still not certain what to do when I go to the pool however.

I understand completely about your apprehension to be armed while at the pool. Fortunately, there are zero kids at my gym but I have to admit that I am very reluctant to leave my gun in my gym bag while I work out. I always keep my gym bag in eye shot but it is still a heavy burden to have. I might ask the gym owner for a locker to lock it up. I could get an alarm that I can attach to the gym bag if it is opened ect.. I might explore that option. DONT GO ANYWHERE UNARMED. THAT IS THE IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY FROM MY EXPERIENCE

[knkali]

"Just then the other guy sees me and says to the BG that he doesn't want chaos for Christmas and nobody wants chaos for Christmas. I just stood there looking at the BG guy with 1000% intensity. The BG looks at me and hides the knife and walks away."

Must have been one hell of a stare you gave him. Maybe you don't even need a gun ! :) Glad you are safe and it all turned out well.



Thanks man. Thank you everyone for your support.

[knkali]

knkali, you did GOOD... exactly as you should. Displaying a weapon could have escalated things quickly and the outcome could have been tragic in so many ways. Thanks for the post!

I wonder if you noticed any FOF "symptoms"... I have experienced them all several times and talk about what happens in Fight or Flight scenarios now and then.

Wynn:)


Thanks for the post Wynn. Zero FOF. I zeroed in the BG 1000 % I heard the fart he laid three weeks ago. I cannot explain the level of intensity. Many guys here live and have experienced this more often than I did. We(many on this forum) spend a lot of time training for situations just like this scenario. This was a classic training scenario. Actually, I think this BG wanted someone to kill him because he could have owned me if he was just quiet and walked up and slit my throat.


Again, thank you for the kind words guys. I hope the main take away here is: BE ARMED AT ALL TIMES..... Please.

[DanTana]

That is being a true hero. Even though you didn't have to draw, thank god, you were prepared to help those people against this possible psycho. Good Job!!!

[The Faux King]

If you had been unarmed would have done anything different?

[jocko]

I bet that retired cop will think hard about goin out again unarmed. Just sayin

[OldLincoln]

I have a principle or philosophy, don't know what to call it, but it's "If others wanted to be protected they would be carrying." However like most principles or philosophies, while I lean that way, the situation at hand will dictate that action taken.

I like your statement that you carry and expect him to carry also. That's my point and I am unlikely to "protect and serve" those who prefer to be lambs and anti-gun, etc.

I have two carry guns with one kept on my outside levis, the other inside levis. They are on my side with only exceptions required by law.

[knkali]

If you had been unarmed would have done anything different?

GREAT question! Don't know since I carry all the time. Given that bit of info, I guess a better question would be: 'if the woman that ran into the gym said there is a guy out there waving a gun instead of a knife would I have done anything differently?'


That is what I am currently trying to get my head around. Great question. Help me answer it.

[knkali]

I have a principle or philosophy, don't know what to call it, but it's "If others wanted to be protected they would be carrying." However like most principles or philosophies, while I lean that way, the situation at hand will dictate that action taken





Fuukkn A right

[knkali]

I bet that retired cop will think hard about goin out again unarmed. Just sayin

Yeah I think he got the message very clearly. He said since he has been retired he never was in a situation that he felt he needed his gun. He made it very clear he wished it was with him. I am sure we will talk when we see one another again at the gym. I will ask him straight up.


AGAIN, TAKE HOME MESSAGE: PLEASE BE ARMED AT ALL TIMES. We seldom disc here % of carry. IMHO it should be...got my wallet, my keys, my phone, my sun glasses and....my gun. Nothing big, nothing supper dupper about it.

[berettabone]

.........................never leave home without it....................................

[olympicmotorcars]

Thanks KNkALI. everybody wins, no blood was spilled.

[b4uqzme]

DONT GO ANYWHERE UNARMED. THAT IS THE IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY FROM MY EXPERIENCE

Bears repeating. So very glad you are safe.

[dorangolv]

I can't help but wonder... what if said BG walks away from you and goes down the street and finds someone who does not have the clarity, focus and intensity you did? He might've carved 'em up like a Christmas Turkey dinner.
Evidently he didn't other wise you would've seen it on the news that night.
Can't believe the cops never showed after 10 minutes. psh. Guy with big knife threatening and brandishing in public... and no one shows?:confused::eek:

[muggsy]

I'm surprised that anyone with law enforcement experience would leave his home unarmed. I've never been in law enforcement and I don't leave home without it and I'm not talking about my cell phone.

[knkali]

I'm surprised that anyone with law enforcement experience would leave his home unarmed. I've never been in law enforcement and I don't leave home without it and I'm not talking about my cell phone.



Or the American express card