I experienced an incident at a business this week that put me very close to a dangerous situation. Without revealing the time or location, I was at a local business this week, in the lobby, waiting for someone when I spot 2 security guards attempting to escort a man from the building. From the look of him, he was most likely homeless. He had been found deep inside the business in a secured office space. As they were escorting him out, they weren't touching him, just telling him repeatedly that it was time for him to leave. The closer they got to the door, the more agitated he became.
As it started to escalate, I moved to a more concealed position and nearer to a spot where I could keep an eye on what was going on. He was refusing to leave and it was clear he wasn't going to go easily. About that time, my appointment showed up and we were greeting each other - which got my attention temporarily away from this guy. Well, in that very short time, it escalated very quickly and we were suddenly all escorted out of the lobby into a side office and locked in as we see more security guards running to the scene very quickly.
As it turned out, he had a weapon. I don't know what kind, but the response was very quick. As we're in this room, I'm looking around. There is a large window and a door that wouldn't take much to get through. As this new location took us out of eyesight and earshot of the situation, we had no idea what was going on once they closed the door. Just a lot of commotion.
The place they put us, unfortunately, did not have another exit. Not so brilliant thinking on their part if you ask me - they just locked us in a confined location with no other means of escape. What would have happened if he had a gun and came our way? I have to say that the idea of fish in a barrel crossed my mind.
Thankfully it was over fairly quickly and the police arrived to take the man away. Bonus points to the security guards that got this guy taken down before the police arrived.
I was carrying that day, and glad that I was. I never put my hand to my gun, there was no reason to. But while others were just milling about wondering what to do, I was planning ahead should the worst happen. In the end, I was happy to know I had that option should it come down to it, and that helped me to feel a bit safer and a bit more in control of my own personal safety.
How about you folks? I know we occasionally discuss this, but how close have you come to a situation like this where you were in close proximity to someone wielding a weapon?
As it started to escalate, I moved to a more concealed position and nearer to a spot where I could keep an eye on what was going on. He was refusing to leave and it was clear he wasn't going to go easily. About that time, my appointment showed up and we were greeting each other - which got my attention temporarily away from this guy. Well, in that very short time, it escalated very quickly and we were suddenly all escorted out of the lobby into a side office and locked in as we see more security guards running to the scene very quickly.
As it turned out, he had a weapon. I don't know what kind, but the response was very quick. As we're in this room, I'm looking around. There is a large window and a door that wouldn't take much to get through. As this new location took us out of eyesight and earshot of the situation, we had no idea what was going on once they closed the door. Just a lot of commotion.
The place they put us, unfortunately, did not have another exit. Not so brilliant thinking on their part if you ask me - they just locked us in a confined location with no other means of escape. What would have happened if he had a gun and came our way? I have to say that the idea of fish in a barrel crossed my mind.
Thankfully it was over fairly quickly and the police arrived to take the man away. Bonus points to the security guards that got this guy taken down before the police arrived.
I was carrying that day, and glad that I was. I never put my hand to my gun, there was no reason to. But while others were just milling about wondering what to do, I was planning ahead should the worst happen. In the end, I was happy to know I had that option should it come down to it, and that helped me to feel a bit safer and a bit more in control of my own personal safety.
How about you folks? I know we occasionally discuss this, but how close have you come to a situation like this where you were in close proximity to someone wielding a weapon?