Before reading on here, please check out part one of our bank robbery scenario.
What Would You Do: Bank Robbery Scenario (Part 2)
This is a tricky scenario that I put us in this time. There are a lot of different ways this could have ended, but I left it open because I wanted to hear how others would handle it. But, the first thing that I wanted to cover, was the poor sap who was executed early on in the story.
Though I'm allowed to open carry here in Pennsylvania, I don't—even though I do see that it has a purpose. The argument can be made that it makes you a target if you are ever in a situation where bad guys are taking over. Their first objective will likely be to disarm anyone who is perceived as a threat.
On the other hand, the argument could also be made that when bad guys see guns, it acts as a deterrent, thus forcing them to change their mind about actually going ahead with their plans.
Personally, I'd rather keep my tactical advantage. This is, however, just my two cents, and I'm not trying to dissuade you from open carrying if it's allowed where you live. In fact, I have tremendous respect for those of us in the gun community with brass balls big enough to open carry.
Now, what I'm about to say next is counter intuitive for me because, generally speaking, Marines are known to run towards gun fire, not away from it. But, I have to realize that a majority of the people reading this are not going to be Marines, nor will they ever run towards something deadly.
It is my opinion that our hero in this bank story should not reveal that he has a weapon because he cannot safely take all three bad guys out before they react negatively.
For example, let's say that our former police officer is gung-ho and decides to go against the grain to defend the people inside the bank. Let's say that he shoots at the bad guy closest in proximity, who ducks out of the way just in the nick of time, and, as he does, grabs another innocent person to use as a shield.
Bad move because he just put someone else in harms way, and lost a battle because he won't shoot at an innocent person. Plus, the other two guys likely have sights fixed on him by now. Our hero just rendered himself useless if a better opportunity to act ever presents itself. He now has to deal with three gunmen and a hostage situation. And, in all actuality, he is likely a dead man walking.
However, if he were to wait and see how things play out, he has a tactical advantage in that he is the only one who knows he is armed.
Furthermore, if the bad guys start executing the innocent, things change a bit. Our hero will need to actively find someone to give his back up pistol to, and devise a strategy to take out the bad guys while minimizing innocent casualties. But, that will be a story for another day.
Sound Off Gun Carriers! Do you agree with my assessment? Would you have done anything differently? The dynamics of this story make it hard to do anything. Let us know in the comments below. Also, let me know if you like these stories and want me to keep writing them.