In the late 1970s, until the mid 1980s, I worked for a convenience store group as a 'supervisor' (meaning general flunky). I worked on the equipment, minor repairs to the buildings, kept the lawns mowed, etc. I also was in charge of some of the hiring and overseeing the employees. I also inventoried the stores often and made runs to the bank to deposit money. At that time I carried a little .25 ACP pistol. It wasn't much for fire-power; but would maybe deter someone. I practiced with it and could easily hit the vital spots at about 15 feet. In 1980, I began detecting. I carried the little .25 with me always unless I went into some building or area that was restricted. I did not have a ccw permit back then. My boss knew I carried, and several of the police in the city knew about it. I was told that if I did get picked up for carrying a gun to call my boss and let the lawyers take care of it. As was stated a few posts ago, I'd much rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Luckily, I never needed it. I was careful to use different routes when transporting money to the bank. I'm starting to detect again, and in a different state. I will carry my .380 when I go out; and yes, I have a ccw permit now. I'm too old to try to fight someone, try to run, or beat them with the detector, or stick 'em with the ice pick and knife that I dig with. So, I'll just hope that I never have a need for the .380.
I wasn't detecting, but was hammering-out a gasket for a pump cover once. Three men were sitting just across the alley behind the convenience drinking and talking. One of them started telling me that I was making too much noise and to stop the hammering. I just kept on, saying nothing. Two of them got up and started across the alley toward me cussing. I had the .25 in my back pocket and planned to wait until they were 10 to 15 feet from me before pulling it out. Yes, I would have used it if necessary. But, the police intervened. When the two men were just stepping onto the convenience store property, a police car drove down the alley and stopped behind them. When the car stopped, they did too. The officers said a person called and said they were seeing some men sitting out in public drinking. After some loud cussing and refusing to shut up, two of them was placed into the cop car and taken away!
