rscottie
Regular Member
Many years ago I was driving through Virginia at night and needed to stop at a Rest Area. I had not really planned on stopping at a Rest Area but as I was heading east on I64 and coming in to Richmond I decided to stay on I64 in hopes of finding a populated area or open gas station. Not seeing anything that looked good, I made it to the far side of Richmond and came upon a Rest Area.
As I had needed to go when I reached Richmond, by the time I had gotten to the Rest Area, I was really needing to go. As I pulled in I noticed two "gentlemen". One was on the payphone and the other was sitting on a park bench. There was only one car parked all the way past the building and it appeared to be a beat up AMC Gremlin.
I stopped and parked before the main building, jumping out and running in quickly.
I finished my business and started to come out of the restroom in to the lobby, I could see that the two "gentlemen" had moved, well, at least one had. The one that had been on the phone was now leaning on my truck against the drivers side door smoking a cigarette. I immediately backed back in to the restroom as my spidey senses started to go haywire. Why was he leaning on my truck, was he up to no good, was he just wanting to chat or need a ride? I did not know but knew that I was at a very severe disadvantage. I did not have any weapon on me as my pistol was in the truck.
Now this was prior to cell phones for anyone but the extremely wealthy and even then, it probably would have been mounted in the vehicle too.
So, I decided to sneak out the side door that went directly out to the side of the building. From there I went down the sidewalk to where everyone walked their dogs. I went through the grass not worrying about that though. I circled far enough to come around to the passenger door of my truck. I had pulled my keys out and had them ready to open the door.
I reached the door, jumping in quickly and locking the door behind me.
The "gentleman" that had been leaning on my door was startled and stepped away as he turned to see what had just happened.
What happened next erased any thoughts that this man was not a danger. He spun around and grabbed the door handle, which was locked thank God, and tried to open the door. He said a cuss word and his buddy sitting on the bench was laughing hysterically.
I, in the mean time, was trying to slide over the seats and get behind the wheel. Unfortunately I had a bunch of crap sitting in my way and had to bulldoze through that. At this point I was just wanting to get away and leave.
This gentleman that was now yelling at me. Ya know, the funny thing is that with all the adrenaline I had going, I was only hearing some of it. (This worries me as it could have a bad effect if it was a police officer yelling at me) Anyway, I digress.
The "gentleman" slammed his fist/hand in to my side window and miraculously it did not break. I realized that getting away may not be an option and decided to up the ante in my favor.
So, I reached under my front seat and pulled out my Model 65 4 inch .357 Magnum. Now, before you guys slam me, I was young and dumb and had never been warned about keeping a firearm there. Of course that night I learned the hard way that under the front seat is a poor place to keep a firearm. Not only can it slide out in a stop, which is what everyone warns about, but bringing it up and getting it pointed in the right direction without it hitting everything from the column shifter to the steering wheel is daggone near impossible.
Fortunately, the "gentleman" outside saw my struggle and what I was struggling to point at him and as his eyes got big as saucers, he uttered "Oh $%^T" or something like that. His buddy, believe it or not, was now rolling with laughter even though he could see what I was pointing at his friend. Some friend hey?
Anyway, I managed to get the key in the ignition and get the truck started. I threw it in reverse and backed out, almost hitting the smoking man. He was flipping me off and ranting in my rearview mirror as I continued eastward. I had managed to drive away without shooting anyone but I have a feeling that without my firearm, I would have been in deep doo doo.
I have reviewed this incident in my head many times and know that my reaction under pressure, while almost three stoogish, actually did keep me safe that night.
My biggest lesson is that you always hear of the effects of the massive adrenaline rush but think that it can't be that bad. Trust me, when it happens, it does have a major effect on your abilities.
I mean, I almost busted the window for the guy when I switched from weak hand to strong hand and the barrel hit the glass hard. That would have been very bad.
Anyway, anyone that doesn't believe "Guns Save Lives" have never had something like that happen to them!
As I had needed to go when I reached Richmond, by the time I had gotten to the Rest Area, I was really needing to go. As I pulled in I noticed two "gentlemen". One was on the payphone and the other was sitting on a park bench. There was only one car parked all the way past the building and it appeared to be a beat up AMC Gremlin.
I stopped and parked before the main building, jumping out and running in quickly.
I finished my business and started to come out of the restroom in to the lobby, I could see that the two "gentlemen" had moved, well, at least one had. The one that had been on the phone was now leaning on my truck against the drivers side door smoking a cigarette. I immediately backed back in to the restroom as my spidey senses started to go haywire. Why was he leaning on my truck, was he up to no good, was he just wanting to chat or need a ride? I did not know but knew that I was at a very severe disadvantage. I did not have any weapon on me as my pistol was in the truck.
Now this was prior to cell phones for anyone but the extremely wealthy and even then, it probably would have been mounted in the vehicle too.
So, I decided to sneak out the side door that went directly out to the side of the building. From there I went down the sidewalk to where everyone walked their dogs. I went through the grass not worrying about that though. I circled far enough to come around to the passenger door of my truck. I had pulled my keys out and had them ready to open the door.
I reached the door, jumping in quickly and locking the door behind me.
The "gentleman" that had been leaning on my door was startled and stepped away as he turned to see what had just happened.
What happened next erased any thoughts that this man was not a danger. He spun around and grabbed the door handle, which was locked thank God, and tried to open the door. He said a cuss word and his buddy sitting on the bench was laughing hysterically.
I, in the mean time, was trying to slide over the seats and get behind the wheel. Unfortunately I had a bunch of crap sitting in my way and had to bulldoze through that. At this point I was just wanting to get away and leave.
This gentleman that was now yelling at me. Ya know, the funny thing is that with all the adrenaline I had going, I was only hearing some of it. (This worries me as it could have a bad effect if it was a police officer yelling at me) Anyway, I digress.
The "gentleman" slammed his fist/hand in to my side window and miraculously it did not break. I realized that getting away may not be an option and decided to up the ante in my favor.
So, I reached under my front seat and pulled out my Model 65 4 inch .357 Magnum. Now, before you guys slam me, I was young and dumb and had never been warned about keeping a firearm there. Of course that night I learned the hard way that under the front seat is a poor place to keep a firearm. Not only can it slide out in a stop, which is what everyone warns about, but bringing it up and getting it pointed in the right direction without it hitting everything from the column shifter to the steering wheel is daggone near impossible.
Fortunately, the "gentleman" outside saw my struggle and what I was struggling to point at him and as his eyes got big as saucers, he uttered "Oh $%^T" or something like that. His buddy, believe it or not, was now rolling with laughter even though he could see what I was pointing at his friend. Some friend hey?
Anyway, I managed to get the key in the ignition and get the truck started. I threw it in reverse and backed out, almost hitting the smoking man. He was flipping me off and ranting in my rearview mirror as I continued eastward. I had managed to drive away without shooting anyone but I have a feeling that without my firearm, I would have been in deep doo doo.
I have reviewed this incident in my head many times and know that my reaction under pressure, while almost three stoogish, actually did keep me safe that night.
My biggest lesson is that you always hear of the effects of the massive adrenaline rush but think that it can't be that bad. Trust me, when it happens, it does have a major effect on your abilities.
I mean, I almost busted the window for the guy when I switched from weak hand to strong hand and the barrel hit the glass hard. That would have been very bad.
Anyway, anyone that doesn't believe "Guns Save Lives" have never had something like that happen to them!
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