I needed to get some fuel last night, so I went onto Gas Buddy.com and I checked the prices. Just happened it was the cheapest right on the way to my job. Said it was $3.15/ gallon (big wow).
So I got off the freeway and took side streets through this town you could classify as a slum. I found the station and the price on the sign was $3.35/ gallon not what was stated on the website. So here I am bummed driving to the job through the ghetto and I pass a little station and the sign read #2 Diesel 2.99/ gallon naw, must be an old closed station so I went around the block and sure enough it was open. So I pulled in and reached into my pocket and got out a $50.00 bill.
I got out of my truck with money tight in one hand and stun-gun in the other to go and pay the 2 kids working behind the bulletproof window. As I was walking to the cashier I passed a pay telephone, the kind with the little metal enclosure on a short post maybe 5' tall and out from the shadows I saw this skinny ugly guy as he leans over the top of the phone booth with a straw in his nose and is snorting something off the top of the booth, right in front of me.
I quickly paid the money and walked real fast back to my truck and pumped the fuel. I am glad it took all of the $50.00 because I was not going to walk back across the parking lot to get my change.
Of course now I keep thinking to myself, I hope it was really diesel I pumped and not water
As I was leaving I went East down the main Blvd. and at the next block there were 4 police cars, 2 were unmarked and they had 3 gangbanger looking people laid out on the sidewalk and they all had their shotguns drawn on them.
The town was Pomona, Ca. for those who know where I mean.
I went past the same station today and the price was still $2.99/ gallon and it is a station called Petrolux (or Petromax) never heard of these out here but it is on the corner of Holt and Lorraine in the city of Pomona, Ca.
It is not so bad during the daylight and I have about a week of work out there to go so I will keep it topped off.
BTW I am installing video cameras at an apartment complex.

Driving through places like this never used to bother me before, I mean I was aware and careful but now they creep me out. Guess it had something to do with being robbed and shot in the back to make me not trust anybody. You think?
Jim

On the lighter side.. On my way home today, the price of #2 has actually dropped by $.10/ gallon at 4 stations.
Now it's only $3.25/ gallon

 

Welcome to my childhood , I grew up in the wonderful city of Detroit when all the tensions of the 70's were going on. While my neighborhood was decent, it was close enough to see the things your describing on practically a daily basis.

Heck, I remember taking driver's education offered by the public school system, driving the old Plymouth fury's and most of them had bullet holes in them .

I learned at a young age to "speak softly, but carry a big stick". Also to just be aware of your surroundings, and anticipate trouble. Another line I like to use is "be prepared". It has worked so far.

As I get older, I guess I am getting more naive. I like to give people the benifit of the doubt, and not judge by appearances, but still keep my gaurd up. Seems to be working OK. Most people are just trying to get by like you and me, and are decent people. Kevin

Glad it all worked out. Kevin

 

Yeah that might be it, I was robbed at gun point many years ago and it gave me a new perspective. Been carrying ever since.

 

ahh come on Jim...

Beautiful Pomona Ca.. That guys wasn't inhailing anything he was just blowing through the straw to clean off the top of the phone to keep his city beautiful...

And those other guys.. They Don't run with anyone.. their parents just buy them bigger clothes so they don't out grow them so soon...and the reason why they are wearing 3 set of clothes is in case they meet a lady they can pull the outside cloths off and be sharp..

And all those officers wern't pointing the shotguns at them.. they were just showing those nice law abiding youths how clean they keep their weapons.. True community based policing. Get all of the community involved...

 

A long time ago I used to have to get fuel for my work truck at a card lock in W. Sac. CA. It takes a while to pump 100 or so gals and this was always at night. No one ever seemed to be around but it was very creepy. I used to stand in one place and keep turning around and around slowly to keep an eye out 360*. I wished they had those old 150 GPM pumps there. It wasen't as bad as your experience but I guess I've led a sheltered life.

 

I unload my trailer in that type of area most nights. I carry, you get used to it. A few times when they give a bunch of trouble trying to get me to buy something stolen, a slam of the cheeter bar on the trailer and "get the h out of here" will generally do the trick. So far have not had to shoot one. Oh the red tape....

 

I would like to get my concealed weapon liscence when i get old enough. People out there now days are just crazy.You never know what is gonna happen. It would at least scare the crap outta someone if they were messing with you, and you pulled it out.

Eric

 

No, wrong attitude. You only pull it if you intend to use it now. They know you have it and you may get killed to get it. You never pull a gun to scare people, for one you may get shot.

 

I absolutely agree with Haulin here, NEVER draw down on somebody unless you are positive of 2 things. 1. Your life is in danger. 2. You are ready to end whoever's life it is that is threatening yours. 2nd rule of firearm safety, never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to destroy. Human beings included.

 

pointing a gun at someone really forces your hand.. had many people ask me what are you going to do shoot me.. Turn the laser on and answer "yes"

little red dot seems to calm them down and make them comply.. especially when it is pointed at their... Well never mind....

A few basic rules..
(1) all guns are loaded
(2) never point it at someone unless you intend to use it..

 

Not only that, but at least in WA, it's illegal. It's called 'Brandishing a firearm'. All the rules stated above are good ones to live by. I have a CCW, but I seldom carry as weapons are prohibited at my place of employment, and they even extend the rules to specifically include weapons stored in a vehicle that is parked on their property. I don't drive through any areas that are even remotely scary anyhow. I originally got it because when I was dating my now wife she lived south of Tacoma. There are some not so good places in Tacoma.

 

I could not agree more.

 

I for one would much rather spend a few cents more, even 35 cents more to fill up at a busy station with quality fuel in a decent part of town. I can't afford to have my truck be down due to lousy fuel, nor can my family afford to have me be dead.

 

in Oklahoma for those of us that have our concealed weapon liscense, pulling you gun (brandishing) is considered deadly force. So you can only do that if you are in fear of your life. So i say don't pull it out unless your going to shoot someone, and dont shoot someone unless your going to kill them.

 

Where I work it is grounds for fireing if caught with a firearm. I've been carrying one into work for most of the 22 plus years there because they do NOT have any security in the parking lot and if you're not being stupid and doing your part to carry concealed, then all is good. Pulling out a firearm or even pulling back a covering garmet is considering brandishing and at the very least, WILL get your firearm taken from you by the police. Best bet is to keep a calm head, plan for the worst and hope for the best.