Why we should all carry.

[Redlinerobert]

I am going to keep this brief as I do not know what is to come.

Today I drew my gun and fired it 7 times (only had 10 on me - now I know why I should carry a flippin spare mag - lesson learned!)

Here is the story pretty quick. I am not going to say where this occurred or anything identifying yet - but I can say that this did not happen in Texas.

I have been filling in for a certain company thats in need of pharmacist coverage pretty bad. They flew me to a store and I am here for the next 4 days.....which could change now.

I show up to work today and everything is cool. The other fill-in pharmacist and two technicians show up to work. Everything is smooth, yet slow. I volunteer to go get some breakfast and leave.

My return to the store is one I will never forget.

I come around the corner to where the pharmacy counter is and I notice one 'gentleman' at the counter. I walk maybe 10 more feet and look up hoping that one of technicians notice me with 4 drinks and 3 bags of food and come to help. I am now about 5 feet from the pharmacy door at the front counter, 3 feet from the 'gentlemen' at the counter - and ultimately involved in the situation.

Thats when it all comes down - and it wasn't good.

As I am looking up I realize the situation. The lovely old lady (pretty much the only reason I went to get breakfast) was arguing with another 'gentlemen' in the pharmacy. Not even a second after that a shot is fire and we are now less one technician.

I am out in the open and not a thing close for cover. Running is out of the option as I notice that the gentleman at the counter isn't so.

The 'gentleman' at the counter also has a gun - his reaction was delayed (THANK YOU GOD) - but as soon as I dropped the drinks/bags and drew my weapon he was turning to aim on me. Those were my first 3 rounds.

I am now turning to the 'gentleman' who shot the technician who reminded me of my grandma. As to my surprise he isn't now yelling at the other pharmacist. THANK YOU GOD #2. This was the most strange second of my life. I stood there, took aim at the him, thinking that pharmacist is next. Then the 'gentleman' begins raises his firearm yet again and I fire 2 more rounds. Keeping the details brief - the 2nd shot clearly ended any chance of survival as the filling counter is my shoulder height. Hopefully that sets the picture....not a pretty one.

For those keeping count...thats 5 rounds fired. I thought it was over. The pharmacist and I just stand there looking at each other with 'that look'. Thats when I tune in to more arguing in the back. The second technician was helping a 3rd 'gentleman' load up on some medications. He comes running out of the back down the main aisle of the pharmacy shooting his gun in the air. At first I thought he was just making the escape as he heard my shots and wanted to bolt. I was wrong. As he was firing, I was backing around the shelf to my back with the pharmacist right behind me. The lady technician is still at the back of the pharmacy.

He leaves the counting area of the pharmacy and is standing near the registers. He is yelling, cussing, ect. at me trying move his bag of newly acquired meds. I just kept low praying he would leave after seeing his buddies.

Thats when 4 shots come in quite a bit over my head into the side wall. I move behind the shelf out of his sight. It was my only option as he knew that was my last location. I move to the center aisle and here is my IDPA lesson used. I aim up, and walk sideways to 'clear' the front of the pharmacy. He has moved to the middle of the counting counter and center aisle about 6 feet in front of me. As I step sideways, I move in direct path of him, but he was going to where I last was when he fired the shots into the wall.

He never saw me. My last two shots were strangely enough the best. It was such a relieve after he went down. The pharmacy was now empty of all trash trying to cause harm over a cheap amount of medication.

I am sad to say that 4 lives were lost that day - but only one mattered. Her name was Winifred and the sweetest old lady you could ever meet. During our early morning conversation she stated how her and her late husband would get coffee before he dropped her off at work. I went to the exact place where they got coffee and breakfast = McDonald's.

The three 'gentlemen' who came to the pharmacy for pain and depression meds did not leave. They all went 'home' in body bags.

For those wondering, I carry a Kimber Pro TLE/RL loaded with Federal HST +P 230g in a Milt Sparks VMII.

From today on, I will carry a spare mag if not two.

Today has been quite a day and I need to go back to work to account for what was bagged up.

Please pray for Winifred and her family. I have no last name or any other info on her yet.

I will keep this thread updated to the best of my ability with the facts I can share.

Rest of the info here:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_Forum/viewtopic.php?t=11850

[Glenn]

Ok, so if I'm reading this right, this isn't what happened to YOU, Robert.  You copied it from another forum, correct?

Just wanted clarify that.

What a horrible story. I'd hate to be that guy.  And what a trajedy for her family.

Members - please refrain from turning this thread into a guns rights thread.  We've had that conversation many times already with heated results.  Let's not go down that path again.

[fourbizz]

I know! When I first started reading that I was like "HOLY $#!^!" I thought it happened to you!

Horrible situation no doubt but it looks like two innocent lives were saved at least.

[Redlinerobert]

Not me Glenn.  If this post violates any board rules, let me know or please delete it.  

[grimlin]

Wow,what a tragic story!

[Catt]

Kind of a scary day at work myself, while I was mounting a scope I glanced up and noticed an older gentleman walking towards the reel. I looked back down at the gun I was working on when I caught out of my peripheral vision a flash of metal a the gentleman pulls a 45 colt from under his jacket. You'll be surprised what thoughts goes through your man but the old man say do you have a clip that will fit this? Uh it's possible I say as he drops a loaded clip from the gun asking where are they at. The associate who was behind the reel bar with me holds his hand out and the old man hands him the gun and the clip. Well after kick starting my heart I say you know it aint to smart coming in here with a loaded gun, he says I've got a conceal carry license then from behind him we hear so do I; it's a police officer standing there with weapon drown.

[edbassmaster]

I have to say I was reading this thinking...this guy is a pharmacist too :-? Then I stopped reading it, I was like cmon Robert, this is a fantasy ;D But then I saw Glenns post and it cleared all the dumb from my head On a serious note though...Philly's crime rate is super high, whenever I read a story in the paper about a robber getting shot and killed, I just think "Good riddins!!"

[roadwarrior]

Robert!

Man, we ALL thought it was you!

Wow!

I'm calmed down now.

[Guest avid]

Yes Robert.

Kindly modify your post.  Just put a disclaimer at the top saying something to the effect of "I read this on another forum" or something so we don't think it was you.

I wouldn't be saying this if I did think it was you, but it reeks of BS.

I know it could be true, and may very well be, but it sounds like a crock.

It totally reminds me of a hollywood B movie where the "good guy"  kills all the bad guys with his steel nerves and dead eye shooting.

I can hear Clint Eastwoods voice saying "I learned my lesson, next time I'll carry a spare mag".

Please...................

[Sam]

I am a proponet of carrying.

My wife is totally against it, espcially having a pistol in the house (rifle is OK) when the two boys (age 6 and 9) visit.

I am very close to taking the carrying course and getting my license and weapon.

What has always concerened me is that when we are on the water we have no protection from the crazies.

My friend in New Orleans had his pistol save his life when he was leaving his office arond 9 PM one night and a "gentleman" approached his car.  He drew his weapon and the "gentleman" said he meant no harm and he walked away.

My friend swears that if he had not had the weapon he would have been held-up.

When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.

[fishfordollars]

Robert I thought it was you. Man I was relieved when I got to Glenn's post. Just goes to show you that you never know though.

[Troutfisher]

That scared the CRAP out of me, I thought it was you Robert!!  

Just shows the importance of the 2nd amendment.

[Redlinerobert]

Sorry for the scare guys.  I thought it was pretty clear since the link to the other site was at the bottom.  Was not me, but it really put things into perspective for me that something like that could happen to anybody, anywhere.  I have a few handguns myself, and am grateful for the fact that I CAN have them.  

[llPa1nll]

Wow Robert, I nearly shat myself thinking you went through that. What a tragic story.

[Rattlinrogue]

You should be a writer.I thought the incident happened to you!Man,what a shame for the lady.I can't imagine what I'd do in that guy's place.I'd hope the right thing.

[Jake.]

When I was reading, I also thought that happened to you!

Sad story, though.  :-[

[flechero]

it really put things into perspective for me that something like that could happen to anybody, anywhere.  

So true.  Sadly, a great majority of people don't understand that.  You never hear the "good" stories in the media, but lawful carry has saved a lot of people, most w/o ever firing a shot.  The mere presence of a firearm will deter the statistical majority of aggressors.

I have a couple of new CC holsters being made for Christmas, customs of course!!  

[luckyinkentucky]

That just goes to show that conceal and carry permits are a good thing.   I have mine here in Kentucky and I carry a Glock G36 in 45 Auto.  Thank God I have never had to use it, but it's there if I need it.  

If the man in the story had never been there they could have lost every one of the customers.  When something like this goes down you don't have a lot of time to think.  Instinct takes over, and that is where a lot of practice pays off.  

[fisherdave]

Man I thought that was you also thats horrible tht the drugs were worth more than that ladies life to those guys.

[Bassn Blvd]

That post was well written.  Many of you probably would not know why but it sounds like the good guy was a cop or military person who has had extensive training. But if it is true then I would not advise posting any of the events (public or private) until after the investigation is over and all people cleared.