tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post4048629635799968889..comments2023-12-27T22:27:56.989-08:00Comments on A Girl and Her Gun: A Stranger, Me and an ATMagirlandhergunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-76533179890051521482012-03-08T12:35:00.893-08:002012-03-08T12:35:00.893-08:00That's a great story! I can relate. I do the...That's a great story! I can relate. I do the same kind of thing now.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-7362384834397218722012-03-08T09:16:53.230-08:002012-03-08T09:16:53.230-08:00The other day I realized just how *much* I have ta...The other day I realized just how *much* I have taken the idea of "situational awareness" and "living a defensive lifestyle" to heart. I had hockey tickets I couldn't use, and was giving them to my niece and her fiance. Since we live quite far apart, we agreed to meet up that afternoon at a rest area about halfway between our homes. I got there early (as usual), but that was ok, because (as usual) I'd brought a book to read to pass the time. <br /><br />Except that I couldn't read it. <br /><br />First off, the parking was angled so that cars pulling in were facing the left rear quarterpanel of my car, so I had to keep turning around to see if any vehicles were approaching mine. Those that did, I couldn't just read my book and ignore them, I had to watch where they parked and then watch the people get out, walk into the rest rooms, walk their dogs or whatever, because if I'd had my nose buried in my book they could have walked up to my car without my being aware of them. <br /><br />It was not so very long ago that I would have sat there and read continuously; completely oblivious of my surroundings; until my niece probably startled me by tapping on my car window. I know that by being conciously aware of everything, I'm not only keeping *myself* safer, but also possibly another innocent person, as AGirl did for the woman at the ATM. But man does it make waiting around nerve-wracking and boring! :)EMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10240211765239984076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-73113277951327091282012-03-07T16:52:24.505-08:002012-03-07T16:52:24.505-08:00Not fun! We sure learned a sucky lesson didn't...Not fun! We sure learned a sucky lesson didn't we? It's good to know now!agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-61330580106075863942012-03-07T15:00:48.054-08:002012-03-07T15:00:48.054-08:00It is a real shame that more people do not pay att...It is a real shame that more people do not pay attention to what goes on around them. When I was mugged, it was painful, and scared the you know what out of me. Since then, it is like my head is on a swivel. <br />Maybe the lady had some mental problems of some type. My son, who is 23, and special needs, takes about 5 to 7 minutes, to use the ATM. But he always has his Mom or step Dad or me along. He wants to be able to do things on his own, and has come along quite a way.Flier389https://www.blogger.com/profile/17000853030589477067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-43396525693743551022012-03-06T20:12:39.288-08:002012-03-06T20:12:39.288-08:00Not bright on situational awareness OR operating a...Not bright on situational awareness OR operating an ATM, apparently. Almost 20 minutes at an ATM? Yikes.45erhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397455410329074837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-20871903086948147692012-03-06T17:04:50.179-08:002012-03-06T17:04:50.179-08:00I wonder if Michael can make me a holster for that...I wonder if Michael can make me a holster for that...agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-6039307685239860982012-03-06T17:04:17.335-08:002012-03-06T17:04:17.335-08:00That makes sense. Thanks to both of you.That makes sense. Thanks to both of you.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-40624301454321009132012-03-06T17:03:37.098-08:002012-03-06T17:03:37.098-08:00It's true, but honestly my town is getting ver...It's true, but honestly my town is getting very dangerous.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-26671976364250298552012-03-06T16:50:37.328-08:002012-03-06T16:50:37.328-08:00I carry a can of Silly String and blast unaware fo...I carry a can of Silly String and blast unaware folks. <br /><br />No, not really, but it'd be fun I think. :)Tango Juliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07593296126387219845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-123150677936007982012-03-06T13:36:51.257-08:002012-03-06T13:36:51.257-08:00North has a point. By carrying, you're not on...North has a point. By carrying, you're not only protecting yourself, but, to a certain extent, protecting those around you, whether they know it or not. Whether the van was occupied or empty, your brain immediately assessed the situation, thought up a scenario, and planned for it. That is what I would call "situational awareness" and being ready. As stated above, you were that lady's angel for those 17 minutes. <br /><br />As for what to do at an ATM for 17 minutes, my guess is she was trying to figure out how to send a text message or check her email, or change the channel...RabidAlienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07035887632706442114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-59768144750057501522012-03-06T13:31:46.624-08:002012-03-06T13:31:46.624-08:00Change it to "ONTO your purse." That wa...Change it to "ONTO your purse." That way you're just dropping it on top, rather than putting your hand in.Erin Palettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984632637166408245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-57038619094498607352012-03-06T13:01:32.926-08:002012-03-06T13:01:32.926-08:00You are too kind.You are too kind.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-86670526266774175732012-03-06T13:01:13.163-08:002012-03-06T13:01:13.163-08:00Yes, I kind of wondered that myself. The machine ...Yes, I kind of wondered that myself. The machine was slow, but not that slow.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-71715158271686743332012-03-06T11:56:03.304-08:002012-03-06T11:56:03.304-08:00What can you DO at an ATM for 17 min? Crazysauce....What can you DO at an ATM for 17 min? Crazysauce.The Lost Goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00047062069421428331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-58797357871801791592012-03-06T11:24:46.600-08:002012-03-06T11:24:46.600-08:00Doesn't matter. Thousands of people with (and ...Doesn't matter. Thousands of people with (and without) concealed weapons are out there being vigilant. <br /><br />You extended yourself to protect an innocent person that you don't even know. That rates pretty high in my book, and in the Good Book. <br /><br />You are a protector.Northhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778737553770514684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-48258040151138396452012-03-06T11:13:23.372-08:002012-03-06T11:13:23.372-08:00I might not have been clear. There was no danger....I might not have been clear. There was no danger. The white van wasn't creepy. There wasn't even any one in it. It never moved and the woman was in no danger. I just was projecting my own desire for her to be aware and my mind kind of went out on a wild limb when I saw the van. Sorry if it sounded like I did anything. I didn't:)agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-81453492354809900242012-03-06T11:03:44.345-08:002012-03-06T11:03:44.345-08:00Thank God you were there!Thank God you were there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-49175799770596456652012-03-06T10:29:22.624-08:002012-03-06T10:29:22.624-08:00This speaks volumes about how safe and secure our ...This speaks volumes about how safe and secure our society is as a whole. And that's precicely why, when things go sideways, how terrified folks are. It "just never occured to them" that they could be attacked. It's nice to see one of the newest "sheep dogs" was on duty and staying aware.eiaftinfohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13595068743383767561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-88517008594463629522012-03-06T10:14:45.141-08:002012-03-06T10:14:45.141-08:00When I go grocery shopping many women leave their ...When I go grocery shopping many women leave their purses in the shopping cart open to the world and walk far away from the cart. I've mentioned to my wife that I need to have some business-card-size cards printed up that say "If I can get this into your purse so easily, no doubt a thief can take your money." I would probably get arrested for putting them in the purses, though. But I'm sure I would "plant" 5 a week.<br /><br />Situational awareness works only if you have more than 3 brain cells.Northhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778737553770514684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-84930336643902538462012-03-06T10:09:02.332-08:002012-03-06T10:09:02.332-08:00Yeah, she just hasn't had a reason to be "...Yeah, she just hasn't had a reason to be "smart" and hopefully she never will.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-6894724166721055092012-03-06T10:08:13.315-08:002012-03-06T10:08:13.315-08:00I never think like that...thank you for being swee...I never think like that...thank you for being sweet to me.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-20807936163286559792012-03-06T10:07:09.372-08:002012-03-06T10:07:09.372-08:00Me too! I make it game too. I always looked arou...Me too! I make it game too. I always looked around at ATM's, but I was the poster child for easy target.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-39558976250476802092012-03-06T10:05:53.381-08:002012-03-06T10:05:53.381-08:00I know, that's why I didn't say anything. ...I know, that's why I didn't say anything. I will.agirlandhergunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369419666474343639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-82306584980637261062012-03-06T09:33:14.095-08:002012-03-06T09:33:14.095-08:00Lots of brain dead folks out there, just remember ...Lots of brain dead folks out there, just remember you CAN'T be the sheepdog for them all... Maintain YOUR SA, and go on about your business!Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577008135895208329.post-82782402419555272242012-03-06T08:54:46.397-08:002012-03-06T08:54:46.397-08:00I won't even walk up to a ATM unless someone I...I won't even walk up to a ATM unless someone I know is with me! When I go through the drive threw ATMs I am as fast as possible and I try not to put the car in park if I can avoid it.poniegirl004https://www.blogger.com/profile/17787913693652895161noreply@blogger.com