This just in from a member of TTAG’s Armed Intelligentsia:
“As I begin to write this, not 20 minutes beforehand, I pulled my gun in self defense. For the second time in 4 months. In the gun free city of Chicago. I already know what you’re thinking, I’m not allowed to carry a gun in Chicago. Let’s get this out of the way, I have made the decision to conceal carry in Chicago. Yes this is stupid, but it has already been beneficial for me. Not once but twice.
A little background, I’m a FF/Paramedic that lives in the downtown Chicago area and works in the near suburbs. I work for a municipality on a paid department that I commute to using the CTA. I am a transplant from South Florida that is only here temporarily while my wife finishes school.
I’m not a large guy, but I’m not what would be considered a soft target. I participate in Crossfit and swim for health and strength. I’ve taken some force on force training and have taken self defense classes with my wife.
As most emergency service providers, I’ve learned to always be aware of my surroundings and situations that I’m entering. I’ve been first on scene for shootings, highway accidents, domestic disputes, drug overdoses and other terrible incidents. My main focus is the safety of myself and my partner first, above and before everyone else. We are trained this way.
All this being said, I have been part of many situations that have been defused with nothing more than words.
This morning I was running late to the “L” and ran the 1/4 mile to the station. Just as I made the platform, the train left. No big deal, I give myself leeway for this very reason. As I’m waiting for the next train, three men step on to the platform on the opposite side of the tracks. They say some words to each other that I’m way too far away to hear and step off the platform and out of sight.
Not a minute later these three same men step onto my side of the platform from the near by staircase. They quickly look around and start walking toward me with fists clenched, I scan around me and I’m the only one on the platform except them. I’m standing about half way down the platform, with both staircases behind these guys.
The man closest to me asked me for a smoke, he was standing still about 5 feet from me. I told him I don’t smoke with a firm voice well above normal volume but not a yell while making eye contact with him.
He then said, “I’ll take your fucking wallet then dick” while reaching out to me.
I smacked his forearm away with my left hand as I took 3 steps farther down the platform and drew my gun from its five o’clock spot on the right side of my body. As I drew I yelled ‘back off’ very loudly. They all turned tail and ran while cursing their lungs off after giving me saucer eyed unbelieving looks. I thank God that they had the sense to not even move in my direction.
If they had, there’s no question I wouldn’t be typing this right now. It felt like I stood there for a solid 10 minutes before the train arrived but it couldn’t have been more than 2-3. I re-holstered just before the train pulled into the station.
I boarded and spent the ride attempting to calm down. I’m writing this as a way to vent and direct my anger in a positive way. I’m hoping for some sort of an assessment or some feedback from someone. I hope I can get it from you guys here, as I will not be telling anyone around Chicago about this for obvious reasons.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.”
[Click here to read an off-the-record response from a Chicago cop]
A very similar incident happened to me at the Belmont El station over 20 years ago. Three potential BGs crossed over to my side of the divided platform while I was waiting for a train late at night. No one else around, no reason for them to come to my side of the station unless they were waiting for the Ravenswood shuttle, and their body language did not agree with that peaceful CTA customers. Major difference: I wasn’t carrying. As they approached, I put my briefcase down at my feet, assumed the basics of a Weaver stance, opened my coat and put my hand in my right armpit. And smiled. Luckily, they decided to go down the stairs and out of the station. All I had to face them with was a bluff, and failing that, harsh language. My major tactical mistake was to allow myself to be cut off from the exit routes, and I have never repeated that mistake
I’m sure you are not the only who carries in Chicago. People are scared they would rather risk being caught by Police with a weapon than caught by thieves without a weapon.
You might be surprised…..head on over to “Second City Cop” blogsite and read what they have to say about illegal carry…….they are HAPPY that the Chicago people are starting to carry because they know that CPD is woefully inadequate because they don’t have enough cops on the street
You, my friend, are the very type of racist that Eric Holder hates.
I am a telecommunications technician by trade, have worked in the gun-free Utopia of the People’s Democratic Republic of Chitcago more times than I care to count, AND HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED there (and elsewhere). I was waiting to start work at the Wabash Main central office one night, sitting in my car behind the building with another installer, when a dude who looked like Huggy Bear from Starsky & Hutch pulled my door open.
I put the muzzle of my 1911A1 .45 ACP on his nose, told him to get F@#k out of here, and he was gone before his shadow. Had he not backed off, I would have ventilated his brainpan. My poor friend in the passenger seat, who didn’t know until then that I carried, literally crapped his pants. He thought he was going to see a killing. But we both went home after work.
things like those incidents are the reason i moved to vermont many years ago from new york city, with a temporary stop in massachusetts to meet and marry the prettiest girl in the world. one of the first things i bought for her when we settled down here was a pistol. 45 years later and we’re still here, and she still has that pistol.
Right on buddy! As a law student down in Hyde Park, I literally cannot afford to get caught with an illegal firearm (over 200K in debt and a guaranteed loss of my license if I get caught), but every frickin day that I walk through campus I find myself wishing to god that I had my 9mm at my side.
Are you me? This must be the sentiment of a lot of people. BTW, congrats on U of C, great school. And it would be a shame if you had to report that on your bar app; I just turned mine in.
Foumd this on anothre website with a link to this article: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1285487_Street_robberies_and_you___The_Basics.html
From what this article says, the OP done good.
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Now that you published the incident, CTA and the Mass Transit Unit will review the video. If you use the same station they will be able to identify you. Board and exit at a different station for the remainder of your stay in Chicago. Too bad you didn’t shoot the bastards, now someone else will be victimized. Also, why not give their race? Are you afraid of offending a minority? Judging from their approach, those of us who ride the system know they were black. Working blacks who also use the System and are also victimized by these pigs will not feel insulted by identifying the miscreants amongst them.
“Also, why not give their race”
Why give their race? It is irrelevant to the encounter described.
Sorry but race is relevant. Only white people feel guilty about giving the race of an offender. Shit, I hear 911 calls that the victim or witness won’t give the race of the offender. I’m sorry to tell you this but it is more likely to be robbed by a young male black than any other demographic.
Hay Baby G
Was dat you I saw riding the el with your stuff on your hip and little homies wanting be me ? Just asking !
It be me; da Baby “G”, wit my s%%t on my hip & da city paying me!
Bravo on happy ending.
Almost perfect, in fact.
Race, age and clothing description are imperative to identify and make potential victims aware of what they should be most concerned of. To avoid giving race and approximate age descriptions is the nonsense that Liberal/Progressives want us to do, as if the actions of a few is a reflection on all members of that race. This paternalistic, White Plantation mentality is common among white Liberal/Progressives who have spent most of their lives and money living away from minorities; but I am sure you’ll feel better when you vote for Obama. But remember, your “Black Super Hero” is half white.
Yeah, that way you can spend your attention scoping out the black high school student in baggy jeans, while the white crackhead gets the jump on you. Real smart.
You might as well have said leprechaun riding a unicorn for relative chances. If you separated chicago from the rest of the state you would have a state with the same murder rate as Finland, and an island that belongs near africa using INTERPOL’s data.
I love the way some of these people think. Pure ignorance dont always bet on black. You spend your time watching us instead of paying attention to everyone. Crime is not a racial issue as well as drugs either. Just as many crackheads and criminals in all races. I pay attention to all people in general. It’s 2012 I don’t put nothing past anyone of any race.
I’m white, my wife isn’t. And I live in a state that has the largest membership in the Klan (Pennsylvania believe it or not). So I look at EVERYONE, because my potential attacker can be a drug addict, a gang member or a Klan member.
You should be suspiscious of everyone regardless of race. That would be very smart. But it would be even SMARTER to understand statistics and odds. Much like the TSA shouldn’t be wasting a lot of time molesting grandmoms and little girls most of your attention shouldn’t be diverted away from high risk subjects to low risk subjects. The fact is, no matter how PC or hold hands and drink Coca Colas you want to be……there ARE different types of people who you are MUCH more likely to commit a crime against you than others. It is SMART from a self defense standpoint to be able to realize who/what the high risk subjects are and address them accordingly.
The problem is blacks committed 52% of the murders in 2010 (most recent avialible) but are only 13% of the US population. So committing about 1/2 of the murders doesnt make the 13% equal to the 87% of whites, hispanics ,asians, and native americans combined. How is it that asians are a minority but excel in everything but crime? http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl03.xls