Gun Store Nut

[Bakerloo]

9:30...4.5 hrs after closing... Today's gun climate where people are paying a small fortune for AR parts... I side with Spencer on this one. He was in a vulnerable position.

[Guntech]

Buddy, you're not doing anyone favors by pulling a gun because you think a car coming in after hours is a threat, especially when you have your lights on, as the OP claims. If anyone was to rob a gun store, they'd show up in more than an FJ Cruiser and not with a family. Also, they wouldn't do it with the guy standing in front with a freaking gun.

This is the kind of act that gives gun owners and gun shops a bad reputation. Imagine if this had hit national news, think about what would have happened and how this one act would have caused everyone a lot of grief. You need to seriously re-evaluate how you assess what you deem to be threats.

Lol. Didn't realize gang bangers were picky when it comes to stealing cars to rob stores with. I have seen 5 gang bangers drive up in a 1990s Ford Aerostar and pile out in broad daylight and run into a shop, come see me after you have been in that scenario.

[skyscraper]

Imagine for a minute that the owner of Spencer Firearms had assessed the situation correctly and invited the family inside for a look see. Make a friend and a life long customer only takes a couple of minutes.

JMO

I'd rather play it safe. Criminals/attackers come in all shapes and sizes. I still think any gun store owner would be on the offensive, as they should be.

[Oceanbob]

Don't know if any of y'all have been to the Fresno/Madera area, but I have and my cousin lives there. Let me tell you there are some shady Mfers and a boatload of gangbangers so I wouldn't be surprised if someone was jumpy having a car roll up on them in an empty parking lot at 9:45 PM, especially at a gun shop. Also I have never been to a gun shop that was open past 6:00pm. I have been in a situation like that and let me tell you, until you have been there you don't know how you react. Wasn't there so I can't say whether he was justified or wasn't.

Assuming you're correct....still, the follow up failed. Much could have been done by Spencers to clarify this situation in the minutes after the family rolled up. The OP left the scene with the impression that the owner of Spencers was out of line. A normal businessman would have done some explaining, introduced himself to the family in the car, shaken hands with the OP and perhaps invited them over for a future visit. Made a friend, made a new customer. etc...just the basics folks.

[welchy]

Shhhhhhh....

Don't look 2 posts before yours...

Should have refreshed before posting. Stupid phone!

[audihenry]

Lol. Didn't realize gang bangers were picky when it comes to stealing cars to rob stores with. I have seen 5 gang bangers drive up in a 1990s Ford Aerostar and pile out in broad daylight and run into a shop, come see me after you have been in that scenario.

Great, so let's pull out guns on every person we deem to be suspicious, that will do everyone a whole lot of good.

[Guntech]

Great, so let's pull out guns on every person we deem to be suspicious, that will do everyone a whole lot of good.

Didn't say that, all I am saying is that after you have been in those situations you recognize the signs before it happens usually.

[Divernhunter]

I have not been there myself. From what has been said it sounds like there is a fence and gate around the parking lot enterence. Maybe the best thing to do after closing and the last customer is gone is to close the gate then do anything you need to do at the store. Just a suggestion that might avoid this from happening again or for the owner to be as jumpy as it sounds. Oh I lived in Fresno for awhile while going to college and I do understand the problems with undesirables. Just another reason to close the gate IF there is one.
My 2 Cents

[audihenry]

I have not been there myself. From what has been said it sounds like there is a fence and gate around the parking lot enterence. Maybe the best thing to do after closing and the last customer is gone is to close the gate then do anything you need to do at the store. Just a suggestion that might avoid this from happening again or for the owner to be as jumpy as it sounds. Oh I lived in Fresno for awhile while going to college and I do understand the problems with undesirables. Just another reason to close the gate IF there is one.
My 2 Cents

It does look like there's a fence, at least according to this Google Street View:

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&ie=UTF-8&q=spencer+guns+fresno&fb=1&gl=us&hq=spencer+guns&hnear=0x80945de1549e4e9d:0x7b12406449a3b811,Fresno,+CA&cid=0,0,11297131147273717657&ei=4m7XUI-QDOXDigL-_YGYAw&ved=0CIABEPwSMAA

[Fishslayer]

Time was ~9:30 to 9:45, we close at 5:00 on Saturdays, I understand he did not know our hours. No other cars were in the parking lot. My truck was parked sideways in front of the store, running with lights on to cover the store exit while we loaded money and guns to leave. A vehicle I've never seen pulls up at a rate I feel was a little fast.

That woulda freaked me out more than a little bit.

Glad all ended well.

[Scuba Steve33]

I didn't realize you can brandish a weapon that easily. Getting in a defensive stance and placing your hand on your weapon is one thing but to actually draw and point (disputed) is definitely taking it too far.

As others have stated, you have a gate, use it.

[Moon Glorious]

He was caught off guard and overreacted. Overreact=Survive, Underreact=Bad things happen at bad guys discretion. If you wait for a bad guy to get out of his car and pull his gun you lose the fight. He responded to your email to apologize. He is not going to wash your car and mow your lawn to make ammends.

[Tubbie]

Tough call on this one as I can see points from both sides. I'm in agreement with Scuba Steve about going into defensive stance with hand on weapon during threat assessment ad should never have been drawn unless the threat is imminent. Fresno is New Jack City with gangs roaming freely so I can see why it was done. I'm glad no one gets hurt from this incident.

[nickel plate]

He was unloading FIREARMS. You drove up way past closing time. I dont blame him one bit.

Had Mr. Spencer practiced safe lock down proceedures by prelocking the main gate on Hwy 41 while loading his truck with cash and firearms from his store, this particular incident would have never happened.

[bigmike82]

Overreact=Survive, Underreact=Bad things happen at bad guys discretion.

Horsecrap. Not everyone is a bad guy, and drawing your weapon at anything in sight is not only unjustified but illegal.

The OP would have been perfectly justified in filing a police report. How do you think the ATF will look on an FFL that pulls their gun on potential customers simply pulling into the driveway?

This is nonsense. Situational awareness doesn't call for drawing down on any car you may find suspicious.

Jesus. This is exactly the kind of crap the anti-gunnies use against us.

*shakes head*