greengum
Regular Member
Well it has been a couple months of not being able to log into my account here at OC.org. My passwords were lost when upgrading my OS to mountain lion. Yes it took me 2 months or so to realize my password app was on my external HD! Anyways here is my latest encounter while OC'ing here in Henderson.
December 23rd I went to Best Buy to get my sister a laptop she had picked out. I have not been to Best Buy in years. I did not know that they had a policy of checking receipts and bags at the door when trying to leave. Before we get into what happened let me provide a little background. I have a problem being treated like a criminal and having to prove I own something to random workers after I buy something. I avoid stores that do this like fry's, walmart, sams club etc. There are many many reasons why I hate these actions. I know many here would rather just comply and stand in line to leave a store just to get "checked" and that is all good. Just not for me which instead of trying to make a scene I just avoid their stores. Well not knowing their policy I guess a scene was made. Back to my story.
Grabbed my wallet, .40 cal, keys, and my Santa hat to get my sisters gift. I was there about 30-45 minutes just trying to get help to get the right laptop. They keep them in the back for security reasons. So another 15-20 minutes goes by and the salesman brings the computer to the check out. I hand over cash. I put the receipt in my wallet and I was handed the laptop which came in a cardboard container much like a briefcase with a plastic handle on the top. I make my way to the double doors and there is a back up of people waiting to be screened for clearance to leave the store. I make the choice of by-passing this line and make my way to my car and go home. A store rep would not have anything other then complete compliance. He asked me for my receipt, I told him I just paid for it and I'm leaving. I guess that was the wrong answer. The guy reached around my back and grabbed the laptop, ripped it out of my hands leaving only a ripped off broken plastic handle in my hand. He then ran the computer around some registers and hid it. I was flabbergasted to say the least.
He came back to the door where I was still standing. I asked him if he was insane. He didn't answer. He then informed me that they will call the cops. Well shades of costco ran through my head and decided I should call them first. I accused the guy of robbery which in my mind is what had happened. I'm very calm, I do not raise my voice. I called 911 and they said to remain there and a deputy would arrive shortly. The 911 operator asked if any alarms were set off while trying to leave that would induce such rash actions by the store employee. I told her no. Now here is where I did something that I have been second guessing. After the call was made the employee who was at least 6-7 grabbed a fistful of my shirt and informed me I was not to stand next to the security panels next to the exit doors. My adrenaline shot up. A million different things went through my mind. As he started to pull my shirt to force me to move I pulled away got some distance put my hand on my firearm and told him to please refrain from assaulting me or I will defend myself. I remember for some reason making sure I did not say shoot, or kill or anything to that effect. Don't know why. I think that was the first time he noticed I was armed because his demeanor changed rather fast. He backed off and had a football style huddle with the store managers. ( for the record I could not imagine shooting somebody unless I pretty much had 0 choice and I was in fear of my life) He came back after the meeting and said if I was to just show my receipt I can have my things and leave. That there was no need to get the police involved.
Henderson PD gets arrives. I tell him what happened and the whole time he keeps staring at my gun. He basically wants nothing to do with anything and tells me to just show my receipt to the pugnacious mongoloid who oversees the pearly gates of the all mighty Best Buy. I pretty pissed off at this point and I tell the cop I'm drawing a line in the sand and I will not be showing anything to anyone. He asked me how he wanted to resolve this matter and I suggested he arrest the store employee for robbery. He declined. The managers came out and told the cops that they scanned the barcode on the laptop and it was in fact paid for in cash moments before I tried to leave. They handed me my computer and informed me that I should not try and be a hero and to just comply with any searches they want to do in their store. I told them to f@#$ off.
A couple of things I found very interesting. HPD never asked me for any I.D. or even my name. He also never made any mention of my firearm. I have had a few days to think about it and some parts of me are thinking I just should have been a good little boy and complied right off the bat and by not doing so put me in a position that could have escalated into something much much worse. The other half is of the thinking that sometimes you do what you think is right for the sake of standing up for what you believe. I guess the main reason of posting this story is even though I have had many many many encounters with people, store clerks, police, random drunk guys, and neo anti-gun people is I have never had that adrenaline rush hit me like it did that day. My first instinct was to slug the guy but for some reason I managed to remain calm and rational. I think that maybe a lot of that reason is because of this website and the many stories that people tell. The things they feel they did right and the things they feel they did wrong. So for that I want to thank everyone here and to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.
December 23rd I went to Best Buy to get my sister a laptop she had picked out. I have not been to Best Buy in years. I did not know that they had a policy of checking receipts and bags at the door when trying to leave. Before we get into what happened let me provide a little background. I have a problem being treated like a criminal and having to prove I own something to random workers after I buy something. I avoid stores that do this like fry's, walmart, sams club etc. There are many many reasons why I hate these actions. I know many here would rather just comply and stand in line to leave a store just to get "checked" and that is all good. Just not for me which instead of trying to make a scene I just avoid their stores. Well not knowing their policy I guess a scene was made. Back to my story.
Grabbed my wallet, .40 cal, keys, and my Santa hat to get my sisters gift. I was there about 30-45 minutes just trying to get help to get the right laptop. They keep them in the back for security reasons. So another 15-20 minutes goes by and the salesman brings the computer to the check out. I hand over cash. I put the receipt in my wallet and I was handed the laptop which came in a cardboard container much like a briefcase with a plastic handle on the top. I make my way to the double doors and there is a back up of people waiting to be screened for clearance to leave the store. I make the choice of by-passing this line and make my way to my car and go home. A store rep would not have anything other then complete compliance. He asked me for my receipt, I told him I just paid for it and I'm leaving. I guess that was the wrong answer. The guy reached around my back and grabbed the laptop, ripped it out of my hands leaving only a ripped off broken plastic handle in my hand. He then ran the computer around some registers and hid it. I was flabbergasted to say the least.
He came back to the door where I was still standing. I asked him if he was insane. He didn't answer. He then informed me that they will call the cops. Well shades of costco ran through my head and decided I should call them first. I accused the guy of robbery which in my mind is what had happened. I'm very calm, I do not raise my voice. I called 911 and they said to remain there and a deputy would arrive shortly. The 911 operator asked if any alarms were set off while trying to leave that would induce such rash actions by the store employee. I told her no. Now here is where I did something that I have been second guessing. After the call was made the employee who was at least 6-7 grabbed a fistful of my shirt and informed me I was not to stand next to the security panels next to the exit doors. My adrenaline shot up. A million different things went through my mind. As he started to pull my shirt to force me to move I pulled away got some distance put my hand on my firearm and told him to please refrain from assaulting me or I will defend myself. I remember for some reason making sure I did not say shoot, or kill or anything to that effect. Don't know why. I think that was the first time he noticed I was armed because his demeanor changed rather fast. He backed off and had a football style huddle with the store managers. ( for the record I could not imagine shooting somebody unless I pretty much had 0 choice and I was in fear of my life) He came back after the meeting and said if I was to just show my receipt I can have my things and leave. That there was no need to get the police involved.
Henderson PD gets arrives. I tell him what happened and the whole time he keeps staring at my gun. He basically wants nothing to do with anything and tells me to just show my receipt to the pugnacious mongoloid who oversees the pearly gates of the all mighty Best Buy. I pretty pissed off at this point and I tell the cop I'm drawing a line in the sand and I will not be showing anything to anyone. He asked me how he wanted to resolve this matter and I suggested he arrest the store employee for robbery. He declined. The managers came out and told the cops that they scanned the barcode on the laptop and it was in fact paid for in cash moments before I tried to leave. They handed me my computer and informed me that I should not try and be a hero and to just comply with any searches they want to do in their store. I told them to f@#$ off.
A couple of things I found very interesting. HPD never asked me for any I.D. or even my name. He also never made any mention of my firearm. I have had a few days to think about it and some parts of me are thinking I just should have been a good little boy and complied right off the bat and by not doing so put me in a position that could have escalated into something much much worse. The other half is of the thinking that sometimes you do what you think is right for the sake of standing up for what you believe. I guess the main reason of posting this story is even though I have had many many many encounters with people, store clerks, police, random drunk guys, and neo anti-gun people is I have never had that adrenaline rush hit me like it did that day. My first instinct was to slug the guy but for some reason I managed to remain calm and rational. I think that maybe a lot of that reason is because of this website and the many stories that people tell. The things they feel they did right and the things they feel they did wrong. So for that I want to thank everyone here and to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.