Parking lots?

[Ozarker]

All this talk about open carry, ammo shortages, FL guide rods, weirdos at your door in the middle of the night that you just have to investigate (@NMEDGE ), living on the edge of civilization (@The Night Rider ) got me thinking about a pet peeve.....

Parking lots.

I hate the darn things, but I can't not use 'em. Big or small, can't avoid them.

Drives my wife crazy, but I drive around them, as in all the way around them, to recon before I pick what I think is the best spot. Sometimes that spot is the best defensible spot, sometimes it is the furthest away (not just to avoid the shopping cart, mind you!), just depends on the AO and destination. Layout also plays a huge part in selecting.

I do always park so I am in line of sight to the door of where I plan to go. I also just about always back in, if possible, and with a solid backdrop like a building, not another car, but I drive an F150, so I always scan the truck bed (that I keep empty) to make sure I have no uninvited stowaways.

If I can park parallel, then I will usually do so, giving myself enough room to skedaddle, and that usually means the end space.

Anyone else treat parking lots as hostile environments?

I think I may need therapy.

The only time I recon parking lots is when I go to my Doctor's appointment, his office is across the parking lot from the psych ward. I'm always suspicious of the paranoid.

 

[Anchorite]

The only time I recon parking lots is when I go to my Doctor's appointment, his office is across the parking lot from the psych ward. I'm always suspicious of the paranoid.

Rightfully so!

 

[Talyn]

Do you have that number handy?

1-800-us.gov

 

[Retired Bum]

The only time I recon parking lots is when I go to my Doctor's appointment, his office is across the parking lot from the psych ward. I'm always suspicious of the paranoid.

That's a lot that I wouldn't worry much about. The folks are going to the doctor. It's the ones that don't see the doc that I really get worried about

 

[HayesGreener]

I rarely stop at a WalMart but whenever I go to any parking lot I like to cruise around the lot first to see what's out there. Car burglars like to hang out looking for prospects and bums like to panhandle.

When I was still doing basic and intermediate firearm courses I used WalMart parking lots as scenario settings. All my students could relate.

One of the drills I use I call The Carjacker. It is shot one handed from the hip at one yard, two to center mass and one to the head then move back or to the side a step and re-engage if needed.. If you are going to get carjacked, that is most likely the distance. We also have run the same drill from a seated position as if in the driver seat. The drill brings the gravity of the situation home

 

[Retired Bum]

Last week we went to the grocery store, and had a female awaiting males for targets. Spouse exited the vehicle while male exited a moment or two after. Female hustler beelines for husband and wife sees this, she turned on the hustler and shouts, "he's my man, you go near him and we're gonna have a big problem". I thought we were gonna have a smackdown in the parking lot... I was ready with the cellphone camera!