First time "using" my CCW Permit :(

[Spreedizzle 1]

As an American, avid hunter, shooter and handloader......I have had my CCW (concealed carry permit) for over 6 years now.....and tonight was the first time that I exercised that priviledge. Don't get me wrong, I carry on a routine basis but always concealed and you would never guess that I had a handgun on me.

Touch of background, my company recently transferred me to Baton Rouge LA for an excellent career opportunity, which naturally....I took. Issue being that this city and many of its surroundings are still ravaged with destruction and not the greatest of people lingering around. So I went to Walmart tonight to pick up a few groceries and completely forgot about the potential pandemonium that ensues in a city such as this when the hint of hurricane arises. So I parked my brand new $35,000 Tundra at the back of the lot (like I always do....less dents and scratches) and do my shopping amongst what felt like 3,000 other shoppers, pay and begin pushing my cart to my truck. When I get within 30 yards of my truck I see 3 black guys hanging around my truck, one infront of it and 2 by my passenger door. Not doing anything, but just lingering. So I push the lock button on my key fob to let them know that the owner is returning and at this point the two guys from the side walk towards the front of the truck with the other one. As I get nearer one of the guys asks me "whatca got in the cart". I told him that he didn't need to know. So he says..."yo cracker....I axed you what you got in the cart". I pushed the cart to my left, faced my right shoulder towards him and raised my right hand to expose my Springfield XD .40cal on my hip and told him "you really don't need to ask me that again". He simply turned to his buddies and said "lets leave the effin' cracker fool be....he seems all crazy and ????". So they walked away and I quickly loaded my truck and left.

A little shaken from it as I have been shooting for over 2 decades, but never at someone.....or even thought of the potential of having to use my CCW to my instinct of survival in a personal defense situation. I figured that with all of the talks of NRA and personal responsibility and rights of owning a firearm that this post belonged here. I have no doubt in my mind that had I not had my weapon that things could of gone in potentially hazardous situation for myself and I am truly thankful that I have been given the right and priviledge of a CCW. I currently have many mixed emotions of fear, regret, elation and self pride....just a constant battle in my head of which one is prevailing.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Glad to hear you are alright Spree. That kind of stuff scares that shit out of me. Glad you used the permit towards your advantage.

[Monty22 833]

It looks like your response was appropriate, and sounds like the best possible ending for all involved. Glad you're all right. Most people tend to be oblivious to things like that developing until it's too late. Situational awareness can save your ass.

[Spreedizzle 1]

It did. And I have zero doubt in my mind that if I wasn't carrying as I just about always do that the situation would of quickly escalated in a non-favorable direction for myself.

[gxc999 7]

I'm glad you're ok, pal. It really sucks but Baton Rouge (and NO) is an extremely violent city, except for the wealthy suburbs. If I ever end up moving back there, bet your ass I'll have a concealed permit and a .45 on me at all times.

[Spreedizzle 1]

Luckily I close on my new house in a fully gated and armed guard secured and very upscale neighborhood of 600 homes each on at least an acre in 4 weeks. Looking forward to that a lot, especially after this evening.

[li7039 0]

bigger stick room huh?

[Spreedizzle 1]

i have 4 bedrooms, a game room, media room, study and a 12x9 utility/hockey equip room. :)

[kilner 0]

Glad you used the permit towards your advantage.

Not being an American and not having a clue what the details of a CCW are, but i'd be very suprised if it allows you to use it again for protection against humans

[Monty22 833]

I'm glad you're ok, pal. It really sucks but Baton Rouge (and NO) is an extremely violent city, except for the wealthy suburbs. If I ever end up moving back there, bet your ass I'll have a concealed permit and a .45 on me at all times.

So you're impervious to crime in Florida? Most people that carry think of it as an insurance policy that they never know when or where they will need. It's less of an " I'm going to a high crime area, better pack heat" than an awareness that crap like what Spree described can happen anywhere, to anyone.

[chippa13 1844]

Or he just doesn't park in the east BF part of the parking lot.

[Chadd 916]

Glad you used the permit towards your advantage.

Not being an American and not having a clue what the details of a CCW are, but i'd be very suprised if it allows you to use it again for protection against humans

Permit or not, you are allowed to defend yourself when you are threatened.

[kilner 0]

So if someone threatens you with a stick saying you can shoot them in the face with a shotgun?

[lampliter87 8]

Glad to hear you and those you encountered all ended up walking away no worse than they arrived. That's what the CCW is for, and it did it's job.

[Remman 0]

Glad to hear a permit being put to good use.

[Fletch 219]

Good job, Spree....glad to hear it didn't escalate any further and that you're ok. That must have been intense.

[chippa13 1844]

I guess noone wants to consider the what-if that perhaps the hooligans also could have been carrying guns. This situation could easily have turned into the OK Corral. This situation could just have easily have been solved by backing up while dialing the cops on a cell phone.

[Jeff 0]

I guess noone wants to consider the what-if that perhaps the hooligans also could have been carrying guns. This situation could easily have turned into the OK Corral. This situation could just have easily have been solved by backing up while dialing the cops on a cell phone.

Yea, I am sure that would have worked well for him. "Excuse me fellas, would you let me get my stuff in the car and back up, while dialing the police to come help me out?" And what if they had guns, and he didn't do anything? Then he would have just gotten jacked at gun point.

Glad nothing else came of this, Spree. Thank goodness some people still have the common sense to choose to defend themselves instead of relying on others, or sticking their heads in the sand.

And fyi, bad stuff happens everywhere, not only in the hood, or in the remote areas of parking lots. The last time I had a gun shoved in my face was the 1000 block of Rexford, in Beverly Hills above Sunset Blvd, among $10M homes.

[Chadd 916]

So if someone threatens you with a stick saying you can shoot them in the face with a shotgun?

If it's someone as annoying as you, no jury in the world would convict them.

Obviously you don't want to have a discussion if you're just making asinine comparisons like that.

I guess noone wants to consider the what-if that perhaps the hooligans also could have been carrying guns. This situation could easily have turned into the OK Corral. This situation could just have easily have been solved by backing up while dialing the cops on a cell phone.

Short of running back into the store and hiding, the situation wasn't going to resolve itself favorably without a weapon.

[Remman 0]

It's a good thing they backed up. If they didn't and Spree would have utilized the weapon and they didn't have any weapons, he could of been in lot of trouble. Usually, being attacked with fists does not constitute the use of a gun as protection. But everything worked out for him and I am glad. But as said, calling the police would have been the best bet if it escalated further.

And I have a feeling that what I just wrote is going to start a self-defense debate...

[Monty22 833]

It's a good thing they backed up. If they didn't and Spree would have utilized the weapon and they didn't have any weapons, he could of been in lot of trouble. Usually, being attacked with fists does not constitute the use of a gun as protection. But everything worked out for him and I am glad. But as said, calling the police would have been the best bet if it escalated further.

And I have a feeling that what I just wrote is going to start a self-defense debate...

If it were just one person doing the threatening there would be an issue, but three against one constitutes a genuine threat for one's life and in many states would be a justifiable use of force.

[Spreedizzle 1]

I"m not necessarily proud of my actions the other night. More relieved that I had the proper level of personal protection at hand and was able to dissolve the situation without any further altercations.

The only person that knows all the details in this situation is myself obviously, and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that I would not be typing on my computer currently if I hadn't been able to deflect the altercation at hand. These guys were certainly not rational and were definitely in the mindset of making trouble for a "cracker" that happened to be walking back to a brand new truck that they were not so casually eye-balling. Judge me if you please, but I stand 100% behind both my actions, and my LACK of definitive actions from last night. My ability to simply show that I was not a pushover in the presence of 3 people with ZERO reasonable intentions last night I am certain allowed me to leave that parking lot unharmed, and without the loss of any personal possessions.

[legiahockey 3]

you did good. the only people who are gunna doubt you and complain are people like kilner who think all guns are bad.

showing your gun was the right thing to do. they threatened you and you just showed that they should go somewere else.

i personaly think they shouldve atleast gotten one in the leg to learn a lesson....but thats just me :)

[Cheesehead 0]

I think you did exactly what I think would have been the best possible thing to do in the situation. I'm glad that you got out safe and no harm was done.

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

It sounds to me like you did the right thing, and I'm glad you came out of this okay. I wish I could get a CCW permit myself, but I live in California.