greengum
Regular Member
I wanted to share a story from a few weeks ago in downtown Henderson at the El dorado casino. Back story first. I OC a .40 hi-point (haters gonna hate but you guys can't make fun of my wheel gun anymore!) When I am running around town and end up at a casino I keep it in the truck for a few reasons. First I would be asked to leave right away before I got a football bet in and second on the occasion that I enjoy to many libations. .10 can sneak up on you. Agree with them or not this is how I usually go about things. Reflecting on what happened I would have done things very differently. Now off to the story.
It was a Sunday evening and I was running errands with my father when he suggested we run into the El-Do casino to get a bet in on the bronco colts game. On this occasion I did not take my holster off my belt, but simply put the firearm in its special place in the truck. I then covered my now empty holster with my T-shirt. The game had already started so we decided to belly up to the bar for a refreshing beverage till half time so we could bet the 2nd half of the game. We sat next to a couple we will call "jack" and "Jill". We have chatted with them before and were nice enough people. They are huge Denver fans and I was trying to make conversation about the 2nd half bet with them. Well that turned into my father betting Jill 5 bucks no line to make the game interesting to us at least. Seemed innocent enough. She was in good spirits. Then the beer kicked in and Jack now became pugnacious.
Seems he was insulted that a man would make a wager with his wife without his say so. At first I thought he was joking and so did everyone else including his wife. That was until he accused me of an incestuous act with my father. Then came the insults like rapid fire. I initially tried to calm him down a reason with him but that seem to make him more upset. I can be a contrarian from time to time especially after 2 beers and put on the defensive. My mode of defense for this evening would be to not get upset and ask him why he was so mad, basic troll in other words. After 5 minutes or so of non-stop verbal jabs from him that were met with a reply of "you mad?" along with other variations of the phrase including asking him if he was born in MADhatten New York, he became solipsistic. His wife was mouthing "I'm so sorry" to me by this point. Well time to finish the last half of my 2nd beer and leave this now uncomfortable and awkward colorful discussion. I recognized he was, for lack of a better term "on one" and very drunk.
I was now ignoring him for the final couple of minutes before we left. I should have just went but I was waiting for my father to cash out. It is at this point it got serious. He started taking my picture with his cell phone then started to text. He followed that up with a threat that his brothers were on their way down there and they were going to kick my a$$ in the parking lot. Once again I should have left earlier. The hairs stand up while thinking, seriously guy? Time to go. I tell my father who was kinda of out of earshot that we need to leave now, not when you can cash out an even 20, but now. I get up and make my way to him and Jack stands up. I have had enough of his antics and drunken rage and did not want this to escalate any more. Once again why didn't I leave earlier? We make eye contact and I wanted to convey to him that I did not want him to follow me and my father outside. So I bluffed. In hind site an awful decision and one I hope others learn from. I put on my "i'm serious as a heart attack face" and lifted my shirt a little to reveal the bottom of my holster which was empty but he did not know that. I told him to stay put and don't follow me and if he plans to jump me with his brothers still he better have more then 8 of them. It wasn't ment just to be clever or to come off as a tough guy, but I would not want to shoot anyone if I made it to my car and was attacked. Dad has a Handicap sticker and I was parked 2 feet from the door. Exit stage left.
He had a moment of clarity and chose to stay put but then freaked out and started screaming that I was waving a gun around and how illegal it was. As I made it outside after a brief walk from the bar I could still hear him now calling for security. So many things could have gone wrong. I was lucky it worked out and made for a funny anecdote. I returned to the same casino a week or so later and was informed that I was not welcome because the bar back made a report of me waving and threatening a loyal patron. I then spoke to the head honcho of the night and she said I was more then welcome and that they reviewed the tapes and I was not seen with a firearm at all, let alone waving one around like a loon.
Interesting tidbit, I found out from a friend who works security at a casino next door that the El Do called the other 2 casinos and informed then that a mad MWAG is on the prowl and to approach and confront me if I should be seen entering. He was laughing when he learned it was me and was thinking why would he confront someone armed when he only has a walkie talkie. I'm sure HPD was also called and thoughts of a swat team in a tank pulling me over at the barrel of 120 mm for something so stupid.
The interesting thing is if I was concealed I would have left instantly. Maybe it is just me but I act a little differently when I am armed. Last thing I want is confrontation. The lesson here is do not be a simpleton like I was that evening and provoke a lunatic out of pure ego and well fun to be honest. My distrust for authority figures and ego prevented me from simply asking for help from the staff and handled it like a rational and reasonable person. 1 lamentable choice can cause a chain reaction of regret.
How have you guys handled people who harass you in public? Did you act different if you were armed? I'm curious of others who have encountered drunks and how you handles it. thanks for listening and hopefully you were entertained.
Signed,
With a rueful smile Greengum.
It was a Sunday evening and I was running errands with my father when he suggested we run into the El-Do casino to get a bet in on the bronco colts game. On this occasion I did not take my holster off my belt, but simply put the firearm in its special place in the truck. I then covered my now empty holster with my T-shirt. The game had already started so we decided to belly up to the bar for a refreshing beverage till half time so we could bet the 2nd half of the game. We sat next to a couple we will call "jack" and "Jill". We have chatted with them before and were nice enough people. They are huge Denver fans and I was trying to make conversation about the 2nd half bet with them. Well that turned into my father betting Jill 5 bucks no line to make the game interesting to us at least. Seemed innocent enough. She was in good spirits. Then the beer kicked in and Jack now became pugnacious.
Seems he was insulted that a man would make a wager with his wife without his say so. At first I thought he was joking and so did everyone else including his wife. That was until he accused me of an incestuous act with my father. Then came the insults like rapid fire. I initially tried to calm him down a reason with him but that seem to make him more upset. I can be a contrarian from time to time especially after 2 beers and put on the defensive. My mode of defense for this evening would be to not get upset and ask him why he was so mad, basic troll in other words. After 5 minutes or so of non-stop verbal jabs from him that were met with a reply of "you mad?" along with other variations of the phrase including asking him if he was born in MADhatten New York, he became solipsistic. His wife was mouthing "I'm so sorry" to me by this point. Well time to finish the last half of my 2nd beer and leave this now uncomfortable and awkward colorful discussion. I recognized he was, for lack of a better term "on one" and very drunk.
I was now ignoring him for the final couple of minutes before we left. I should have just went but I was waiting for my father to cash out. It is at this point it got serious. He started taking my picture with his cell phone then started to text. He followed that up with a threat that his brothers were on their way down there and they were going to kick my a$$ in the parking lot. Once again I should have left earlier. The hairs stand up while thinking, seriously guy? Time to go. I tell my father who was kinda of out of earshot that we need to leave now, not when you can cash out an even 20, but now. I get up and make my way to him and Jack stands up. I have had enough of his antics and drunken rage and did not want this to escalate any more. Once again why didn't I leave earlier? We make eye contact and I wanted to convey to him that I did not want him to follow me and my father outside. So I bluffed. In hind site an awful decision and one I hope others learn from. I put on my "i'm serious as a heart attack face" and lifted my shirt a little to reveal the bottom of my holster which was empty but he did not know that. I told him to stay put and don't follow me and if he plans to jump me with his brothers still he better have more then 8 of them. It wasn't ment just to be clever or to come off as a tough guy, but I would not want to shoot anyone if I made it to my car and was attacked. Dad has a Handicap sticker and I was parked 2 feet from the door. Exit stage left.
He had a moment of clarity and chose to stay put but then freaked out and started screaming that I was waving a gun around and how illegal it was. As I made it outside after a brief walk from the bar I could still hear him now calling for security. So many things could have gone wrong. I was lucky it worked out and made for a funny anecdote. I returned to the same casino a week or so later and was informed that I was not welcome because the bar back made a report of me waving and threatening a loyal patron. I then spoke to the head honcho of the night and she said I was more then welcome and that they reviewed the tapes and I was not seen with a firearm at all, let alone waving one around like a loon.
Interesting tidbit, I found out from a friend who works security at a casino next door that the El Do called the other 2 casinos and informed then that a mad MWAG is on the prowl and to approach and confront me if I should be seen entering. He was laughing when he learned it was me and was thinking why would he confront someone armed when he only has a walkie talkie. I'm sure HPD was also called and thoughts of a swat team in a tank pulling me over at the barrel of 120 mm for something so stupid.
The interesting thing is if I was concealed I would have left instantly. Maybe it is just me but I act a little differently when I am armed. Last thing I want is confrontation. The lesson here is do not be a simpleton like I was that evening and provoke a lunatic out of pure ego and well fun to be honest. My distrust for authority figures and ego prevented me from simply asking for help from the staff and handled it like a rational and reasonable person. 1 lamentable choice can cause a chain reaction of regret.
How have you guys handled people who harass you in public? Did you act different if you were armed? I'm curious of others who have encountered drunks and how you handles it. thanks for listening and hopefully you were entertained.
Signed,
With a rueful smile Greengum.