You are in line at a drugstore - only one person visibly working

[salin]

and a person walks into the store and appears to be holding a gun in their pants waist/partially hidden. No one else seems to notice. Person goes towards the back of the store. You aren't sure what you saw - but the impression is pretty strong. What do you do?

[Deja Q]

1. Hmmm...

Ask him if he's holding a gun or if he's just happy to see the pharmacist...

In seriousness, I'd find a Manager on Duty or somebody of semi-authority and voice your concern.

[salin]

3. scenario - no one visibly available

but the slow moving person at the checkout counter up front.

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. Discretely (without leaning over or looking suspicious) inform the clerk.

Then walk calmly outside. The clerk can call the police or just be on alert, watching the suspect on the in-store camera.

[flvegan]

4. Get my camera phone out, first

tell the clerk I forgot something. Walk to the back, pretending I'm on the phone. Take actual color pic of potential perp (what is it with the bullshit grainy b/w security videos, anyway?).

Dial 911, make report, keep 911 on the phone, tell original clerk what I'm doing and why. Step outside and unlock car, staying on the phone. Take Colt Compact Officer's Model .45 out of case and put in lap, sitting in car, door open. 6 in the clip, not cocked and locked, just in case. Tell 911 that's what I've done.

Wait...

[salin]

6. this is the

first good reason that as ever resonated for me, for having a camera feature on the cell phone.

[flvegan]

10. No matter what goes down, I've got a few good color picture

and that's what the cops will need.

I've sorta been in a situation like this before, and this is what I did (with the phone/camera).

[salin]

20. have to replace the phone, soon;

won't "pooh, pooh" the feature (as I would have done, as a bell and whistle that I don't need).

[LeftyMom]

7. The let people keep guns in the car in Florida?

:wtf:

[flvegan]

15. Oh, my dear...

Florida has funny gun rules. Rifles can be bought at 18, handguns at 21. Any gun can be kept in a car as it's being "transported" from home to wherever. So long as it's "2 moves" to get to said pistol, it can be legally kept in a car. 2 moves, meaning basically, 1 move to open the glove compartment, 1 move to cock the hammer/slide.

[LeftyMom]

18. Ah, California's a bit different

it has to be unloaded where nobody can reach (ie the trunk) and the ammunition has to be somewhere in another zip code or something.

California. :eyes:

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. That's likely true in most states

though i think if a person has a conceal carry permit, they can have a loaded gun in the car.

But I think pretty much every state, excepting maybe alaska or montana, etc., the guns have to be unloaded.

[flvegan]

37. Nope. Florida, anyway

you can be fully strapped.

Example: some time ago, I was pulled over. I had my aforementioned .45, cocked and locked, safety on, 6 Black Talons in the clip, 1 in the chamber (which I don't do anymore, ever). The gun was in a zipper case, under the passenger seat.

When I saw the lights, I pulled over, put my hands up on the wheel and my window down. I explained my situation, and he asked me out of the car and secured the weapon. He thanked me for letting him know in such a way.

Turns out, I was driving a car that resembled one that had been recently stolen. I left after a brief conversation about the merits of said firearm.

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. They let people keep guns in cars in every state - how else do

you think hunters get their guns out to the fields and forests to hunt? Or the target shooters get to the range?

[LeftyMom]

28. I explained why I found that odd just upthread. nt

[GOPisEvil]

5. I'd let the clerk know.

Perhaps they could contact another employee who could check things out and/or call the police. I'd also consider leaving the store.

[salin]

9. Line - because there is only one person seeming to be working

how does one do this - without creating panic - esp if there is some doubt as to what was thought to have been 'maybe' seen?

[GOPisEvil]

13. Quietly say, "I think that person that came in had a gun."

"You might want to have someone check that out because I'm not sure, but it looked like a gun." I sure as hell wouldn't want to alarm anyone or freak out the guy with the gun.

[salin]

25. Sage advice

cut in line - as if with an 'urgent quick question' - to get the message to the check out person.

[LisaL]

8. One thing for sure-you should get the hell out. You don't want

to be in a store during a hold up. Then you could call 911 and tell them your suspicions.
Better they go in and check it.

[DanCa]

11. Hit em with my walker - see that self deffense course at the y paid off.

[Squatch]

12. What state are you in...

is concealed carry legal there?

[salin]

16. Not being a gun owner, I have no idea.

think one has to have a license to do so.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. I would do nothing

COuld be a cop in civies; could be someone who's allowed to conceal carry; might not even be a gun - might be an insulin thingy, might be a cell phone, might be part of a colostomy bag, might be practically anything.

No need for paranoia, IMO.

[LisaL]

17. Or could be someone planning a robbery.

And then it might be too late to do anything.
When I worked at the gas station, we have been robbed over and over again.
Happens all the time.

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. Yeah, sure. But why worry about it? The chances of it happening are very

small, and lots of people walk around with stuff in their pants.

All you can really do in that situation is stay alert; but I surely wouldn't say anything to anyone.

Fuck, if I said "He's got a gun!!!!!!!" every time I felt someone MIGHT be a threat, I would have sent the whole world into a panic by this point.

[LisaL]

24. If you want to live, then you should worry about it.

Going over there and investigating, etc, could get you killed. Staying there in line could get you killed. Getting the hell out should keep you alive.
People do go to the stores and rob them. Since they are nervous, it's hard to predict what they are going to do if they are armed. And the OP states he/she would be reasonably sure the person had a gun, it's just that no one else noticed it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

29. I would stay alert; but I would not run around like chicken little.

screaming like a girl that "Oh my god oh my god oh my god he's got a gun!!!! he's got a gunnnnn!"

I think the most accurate assumption is that he does not, or that if he does, he has a legitimate reason for it.

On the off chance the dude really is a robber, then by staying alert I will notice it.

Maybe I just lived in NYC too long, in a neighborhood that seemed to enjoy street murder, that I don't worry about the small stuff.

[LisaL]

31. I am not saying you should run and scream.

Just quietly put your stuff on the counter and get out.
Even if the guy doesn't have a gun, you can always buy whatever it is you need later.

[Rabrrrrrr]

36. I guess I'm just not willing to let the fear of potential problems

rule my life.

If I left a store or subway car or bus or sidewalk every time I saw something potentially dangerous, I'd never get any shopping done.

But, other people are willing, and that's okay.

[flvegan]

22. A cop in civies isn't packing in his waistband.

If it's holstered, it's hidden, and likely outside the waistband. I (like to) think they know better.

Your other suggestions are valid, though. Could be anything.

[salin]

27. hand on the item that looks like a gun

if it is a gun, isn't likely to be law enforcement. However it also isn't necessarily a gun, nor is it a certainty that it is a robbery. But it is possibly an unfolding dangerous situation.

[k_jerome]

21. pull a costanza and trample women and children in a rush to get out. nt.

[buddhamama]

23. first question: does Indiana allow concealed carry?

hi salin :hi: how are you?

[salin]

32. I have no idea

to some degree yes (that is, don't know if it is only with licsence or not) - there was a local perpetual libertarian candidate who made a point of walking around with his gun visible to make a point, and - in his thinking - to make folks more comfortable around folks 'packing.' What was seen, however, was attempted to be hidden by the hand in the waist band - didn't conjour the image of legal concealed weapon.

Doing pretty well - and how are you these days? :hi:

[datasuspect]

30. get the fuck out

fast.

[DS1]

33. :Leave

call the cops from a payphone or cell

[LeftyMom]

34. I'd leave first, then call the cops from my cell

and the store after that if I couldn't get the clerk's attention on the way out.

Leaving would be my first priority though, because I'm a single mother and even if LeftyKid isn't with me I have to think of him.

[gardenista]

38. I'd get the hell out of there.

Neither I nor the clerk are equipped to handle the situation. That is, unless we are concealing weapons ourselves, and even then, this is not a situation for one or even two untrained people to handle.

I would go to my car, and call 911.