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Had an interesting situation play out last week and looking for feedback.
I was away in Columbus, OH on business. I was there with 2 executives from our company. My boss rode with me and our SVP of Sales drove separately. We had dinner and they wanted to watch the hockey game. They kept ordering beers and I kept drinking. I'd say we each had about 6. Afterward, we went back to the hotel. It was about 11 at this point.
After we got back to the hotel, I went to my car to grab something. As I was walking back to the hotel, someone called out to me. I turned around to see a young black man walking toward me. He was around my age and size. Late 20s, 6'2", 210-220 with a pretty muscular/fit build. He said he ran out of gas on the freeway and was wondering if I knew where there was a gas station. I said I wasn't from the area but I'd let him in the hotel to ask (we were at the side entrance). He was reluctant and we went back and forth for a bit. Finally, I said fuck it, I'll help you out.
Here is the part that makes me question my actions. I asked him to stop, lift up his shirt, and turn around to see if he was carrying. He was not. Then I told him to wait there for a second as I got in my car, opened up my glove compartment, pulled out my Kimber 9mm, showed it to him, informed him it was loaded (one in the chamber, full clip, hammer down, safety on), that I was happy to help out but don't do anything stupid. I kept it in my pocket until I got back into my room later. We got in the car bullshitting as I found him a gas station. He got a gas can and filled it, I bought some Nugget Nectar for the room, and we went back. He was an amateur boxer in the area and a pretty decent guy. Talked a little about MMA as well. Shook my hand and we went our separate ways.
So was I wrong to inspect this guy before offering to help out? Was I out of line to show him my gun preemptively in case he had ideas? It was definitely a risky thing to do all around but I didn't want to turn away from someone in need. But at the same time, I feel like I assumed the worst in him as he was walking up to me.
I was away in Columbus, OH on business. I was there with 2 executives from our company. My boss rode with me and our SVP of Sales drove separately. We had dinner and they wanted to watch the hockey game. They kept ordering beers and I kept drinking. I'd say we each had about 6. Afterward, we went back to the hotel. It was about 11 at this point.
After we got back to the hotel, I went to my car to grab something. As I was walking back to the hotel, someone called out to me. I turned around to see a young black man walking toward me. He was around my age and size. Late 20s, 6'2", 210-220 with a pretty muscular/fit build. He said he ran out of gas on the freeway and was wondering if I knew where there was a gas station. I said I wasn't from the area but I'd let him in the hotel to ask (we were at the side entrance). He was reluctant and we went back and forth for a bit. Finally, I said fuck it, I'll help you out.
Here is the part that makes me question my actions. I asked him to stop, lift up his shirt, and turn around to see if he was carrying. He was not. Then I told him to wait there for a second as I got in my car, opened up my glove compartment, pulled out my Kimber 9mm, showed it to him, informed him it was loaded (one in the chamber, full clip, hammer down, safety on), that I was happy to help out but don't do anything stupid. I kept it in my pocket until I got back into my room later. We got in the car bullshitting as I found him a gas station. He got a gas can and filled it, I bought some Nugget Nectar for the room, and we went back. He was an amateur boxer in the area and a pretty decent guy. Talked a little about MMA as well. Shook my hand and we went our separate ways.
So was I wrong to inspect this guy before offering to help out? Was I out of line to show him my gun preemptively in case he had ideas? It was definitely a risky thing to do all around but I didn't want to turn away from someone in need. But at the same time, I feel like I assumed the worst in him as he was walking up to me.
