A Headsup/Warning

[Paliden]

Hate to post anything based on feeling but my gut is just about always right!
Saturday I was at Chesterfield Courthouse area doing some shopping and had something very weird happen. I pulled into the parking lot and parked half way out away from the store front. When I pulled in the woman in front of me put her hand out the window and gave me the bird the whole time from when I parked til I walked away. At this point I brushed it off. When I came back she did it again so to test it I went back into the store and came back she did it again. So now I'm a little pissed. I expect this down in Petersburg but not here at the courthouse in Chesterfield. I was about to say something when a very old chill came across me, one had felt in Many many years. It's a trap I said to myself and after a quick scan I saw someone else across the row and down a couple of cars sitting low in the seat watching, you know how they do. So I quickly left and called the police. Of course they could do anything because NOTHING happened. I understand that.
So watch yourself and don't allow yourself to be drawn into a confrontation, you might be getting set up
Be safe and aware

[allingeneral]

hmmm...what a weird sequence of events. Maybe you're just paranoid?

I always think how nice it would be to just point at someone and laugh in their face when I get a dirty look or the bird or whatever - My better judgment usually helps me to just keep my mouth shut and move on.

[allingeneral]

maybe she liked your VGOF sticker and was asking for one!

[Reverenddel]

Yeah, I've been subjected to the "You think yer a real man cuz you carry a gun?!?" comments before, I just roll my eyes, and walk away... saying NOTHING!

Why respond to someone who is bias, hostile, and trying to start something?

Just...walk away. If they put their hands on you? That's another story. That's also YOUR choice on how to handle that...

[Paliden]

Actually she did try to draw me closer to her car without me saying anything to her. I was ignoring her and I displayed no weapon like I always do. She and her partner was trying to set a trap and I feel like I know what their motivation was.

[OakRidgeStars]

I think this incident is VA-ALERT (VCDL) worthy. Maybe you should put it in a email and send it to Philip Van Cleave?.

Let me know if you need the email address and I'll PM it to you.

[Reverenddel]

Then I would say that you would have been a HUGE surprise had you not been more alert!

"GIT'EM!" (click) "Nevermind.." (sounds of running)

[davasmith]

There are some reported gang related instances that go hand in hand with this. These scum bags are trying to get at anyone who is weak be it minded or values. You did the right thing by being alert and not playing into their trap they tried to set up. As for calling the police, you could have asked for a patrol car to come by and speak to you. You also could have called 911 on your cell and reported the supsicious activity. Most Chesterfield police will respond very positively if you get the dispatcher to put a sergeant online. No matter what a good walk away is better than a bad shooting! Good job, thanks for the head up.

[frankD]

you know how they do

Like who?

You did the right thing by walking away.

[Vahunter]

Well John you showed more restaint than I would have. But then again now that I have a handicap placard I don't need to walk across parking lot, it's front row parking now.

[Jakeiscrazy]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll pass it to the family. Excellent restraint and well as maintaining situational awareness. It always the fix step to preventing yourself from becoming a victim.

[arkypete]

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

Jim

[gunderwood]

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

Jim

+1

Always keep your cool and avoid any fight you can. However, if you can't avoid it, make sure you win it.

[Sensai]

Good situational awareness! I would like to think that I would have done the same, but I would probably have blown it. It would be neat to have pictures, even cell phone pictures, of her and her partner. In their cars, complete with license plate numbers, would be nice. Just food for thought if anyone else runs into these scumbags.

[zephyp]

I'm sometimes wary because of the stickers on my truck...there have been instances where evil minded individuals told cops the guy with the NRA sticker brandished a weapon...turns out some of those guys were carrying and you can guess the rest of the story...they may have seen something like that or could be some kind of gang initiation...one thing I learned --- no such thing as coincidence in situations like the one you describe...

[Paliden]

[quote="zephyp"]I'm sometimes wary because of the stickers on my truck

I've done a little talking around with some in the know circles and there have been some robbery setups like this, not a lot but some. I thought it was a racial setup myself.

As far as stickers, my opinion as always been "BLEND IN" I don't open carry, I have a USMC sticker and a NRA and I think the NRA is going. My training years ago was to be concealed. You don't know what’s there til it's to late!!!! I always wonder how much flack someone draws advertising on the vehicle. When I came home from nam I received a ration of s&*% for who I was and what they thought I did. Ever since then I don't want to stand out I just want to fade into the background

[scott9050]

Have a camcorder on your cell phone? Folks tend to get nervous when they are being videotaped for evidence. It also makes great Youtube material.

[Reverenddel]

THANK YOU ABOUT THE BUMPER STICKERS!

I have NOTHING on my vehicle, and only a Solomon Seal around the rearview mirror. I don't even keep items IN my car, except for a Lexis Nexis hat for a backup...

KEEP THE VEHICLE CLEAN! UNCLUTTERED! UNMARKED! Yer just about invisible. Make it a silver compact? You ARE invisible!

[DamianB]

I'm new but I thought I would chime in.

I have noticed that a lot of odd types are target people with hunting, firearms, tea party or other group stickers on their vehicles. I have seen a few people at a wally store actually hitting a vehicle with objects at times even to try to get an alarm to go off once. This was before I was in any other group than the NRA, but I learned then to not display any types of stickers other than an American Flag.

These stickers that we would so proudly display also allow others to track us to our homes and make them targets for robbery or other things. I really don't even like flying a flag anymore, I hate to say it, due to the amount of gun owners that do this and this making you a target too.

In the city I live in, there are not too many crimes in my little area but I am always on the lookout. I have seen a massive turn around this year in the amount of people that walk the busier streets with bags or even carts. Most are harmless but some of these type watch you and even sometimes use a cell phone to phone others before you get far away if you look as if you could be a target.

I use to like the place that I live but now I feel it is becoming unsafe with the gun fire I hear every few weeks to the odd types that are just coming up to me when out places either asking for handouts or looking me over to see if I might be a good target. I never use to see these types until I started becoming more aware and getting out more. I guess being disabled has be on guard even more too.

I believe that these times are changing to a time when gun owners are going to be the target for both anti-gun people wanting to make a big deal out of legal carry and to those that would make a big deal out of it to see what we carry and if they can then track us to our homes for other possibilities.

I was never paranoid but these things are starting to make me this way.

How many others have noticed this and how many have had their radar go off because of strange things that they witness?

With things going up in price and jobs getting even worse to try to get, I wonder how bad things are going to get especially for those with guns that might be sold for money on the streets.

Sorry for the length but I thought these things needed saying.

Take Care and Stay Safe, Everyone.

[zephyp]

Well, I also like to think that my stickers offer some warning to would be trouble makers...they scream --- mess with me and suffer the consequences -- course that cuts both ways....