Craig Campbell

7 Most Common Places For Crime

October 11, 2018 By Craig Campbell Leave a Comment

The common human response to crime is usually something along the lines of: “I can’t believe that happened in this town.” Or, “why me?”

We see it all the time on the news. A journalist interviews a witness or local after any serious crime, and the answer is usually the same, or something very similar to what is typed above.

Of course, those of us who carry a self-defense tool, like a gun, don’t usually share that response. In fact, the main reason why most of us carry a gun is because we know that crime does happen and we want to be ready for it when it does.

More often than not, it usually happens when we are least expecting it. And that, my friends, is the main reason for being prepared and ready to defend yourself with your gun of choice.

Wherever you are, from your house to the grocery store, you need to be aware of your environment, able to recognize anything out of the ordinary. You also need to know where you should (or not) go, when you leave the house.

While crime can happen just about anywhere, there are some places more prone to it than others. I’ve attempted to compile a list of the most common places for crime based on some research I’ve conducted over the years, and patterns I’ve seen in defensive gun uses.

The following is by no means an exhaustive list and you should remain alert all the time –

Gas Stations:

Okay, so you can’t avoid a gas station unless you ride a bike to get around. Nothing wrong with that if you do, but chances are good that this isn’t the case. Many different types of crime come in the form of gas station robberies.

One type of robbery happens inside the store part of the station, where a convict holds up the people working at the register. This is common for many other convenience stores, as well, so I guess I’m going to lump them in here.

To combat this, I limit the amount of time spent in these places as much as possible. I almost always pay at the pump, unless I need something from inside. If that’s the case, I move as quickly as possible, paying attention to as much as I can, while I shop and pay.

Another form of robbery, happens when mindless folks are pumping their gas, or go into the store. Some people tend to leave their cars unlocked with their backs turned, and never even see it coming. This type of robbery is usually non-confrontational unless the victim happens to turn around at the right moment.

To combat this, remove your keys from the ignition and lock the door behind you when it’s your turn at the pump.

Then again, sometimes something like what happens this next video breaks out:

Jewelry Stores:

There is something about shiny stuff that makes criminals want to steal it. Now, I’m not talking about the jewelry stores inside a large mall. Criminals usually target jewelry stores that are a small, stand alone buildings or in a strip mall.

The main reason for this, is because it’s hard to rob a store in a mall, and make a getaway on foot. Everyone sees the criminal and there are that many more instances that can go wrong for the robber.

Then again, as we’ll see in a few minutes, criminals aren’t the smartest bunch, and you can’t rule anything out. The nice young gentlemen in this next video picked the wrong shop:

The thing to remember, however, is that a key ingredient to *most* robberies is access to a quick getaway, and that’s hard in a mall. When you’re buying your sweetie something precious, try to pay attention to your surroundings or just avoid jewelry stores in strip malls altogether.

Pizza Shops:

I’m not sure what it is, but people love to rob pizzerias and pizza delivery drivers. At the last site I managed, my good friend and freelance gun writer, Eve, spoke about pizza places getting robbed in great detail.

First, if you deliver pizza for a living, I cannot tell you that you should carry a gun while you work if your employer tells you that you cannot.

What I can do, however, is tell you that they wouldn’t be able to stop me from carrying my gun at work if I delivered pizza for a living. I value my life to much to be killed for some tip money. That decision, however, is up to you.

Here is a video of a robbery taking place in a Pizza Hut, of all places:

Now, if you find yourself in a Pizza Hut that is being robbed, there are some things you should know. Always know your surroundings. When you walk into any food establishment, take your surroundings in. Look for anything out of the ordinary and make a mental note of it.

When you sit, request to be sat as close to the corner or wall as possible so you can monitor anyone who may be looking to rob the place. Whenever we go out to eat, my wife knows that I have to take the seat that looks upon the entrance and most of the floor to see if anyone begins to hurt people. Then, I can act appropriately.

Gun Shops:

You’d think that going into a business that sells guns would be a red flag to a robber that, gee, I don’t know, the people who work there might have guns. Oh, and so might the people inside who don’t work there …

Then again, criminals aren’t the smartest bunch of people.

When people are desperate enough, though, they tend to do some stupid crap. Always remember that a desperate person is willing to do whatever they must to survive, to include, apparently, robbing a gun shop as well as making sure nobody is left to talk about it.

Most gun shops have an open floor plan so the people behind the counter can see what’s going on and act appropriately.

I know it’s hard when you’re drooling on the glass counter, but the main thing is trying to remain in a state of awareness that points out when something is wrong.

Banks:

There is actually a bank in my town that has been robbed at least three times that I can think of, maybe even more than that during the time I’ve lived here, and it’s only been 6 years. It’s not the only bank in town, but the others are literally right across the street from the police station, or one block away.

Remember that anywhere large amounts of money are stored can be enticing to criminals looking for the easy way out. Whenever you enter a bank, it’s a good idea to get a feel for what’s going on inside by glancing around. If people look uptight, or are rigid there might be something out of the ordinary taking place. If everything seems fine, take a mental note of those in the bank, and if anyone comes inside.

Whatever you do, though, try not to be like this guy if you ever find yourself staring down the barrel of a gun:

Your head should remain on a swivel. In fact, when I’m in a bank, I never face front. I always face to the side keeping my peripheral vision on the door and on the clerk in front of me. That way, I can still carry a conversation while keeping an eye on everyone who comes in.

The second a ski-mask wearing individual pulls a Tec-9 out of a trench coat I’ll be aware of it, and better able to put him down.

Then again, I rarely find myself in a bank, these days. Instead, all of my transactions take place at the ATM outside the building. Again, peripheral vision is key, and so is the little mirror in the upper corner of the machine, itself.

Your Home:

We all feel safe in our homes, but this should not be. In any area of the world, your house can be broken into whether you’re there or not. Your doors should remain locked, even if you’re inside, and you should carry a gun in your home.

The main reason for this, is because if a burglar comes into your home you have to assume that since he broke in, he is also willing to make sure there are no witnesses to turn him in. When someone breaks in, your life is on the line.

I carry at least a small handgun in my pocket that is designed to help me get to a bigger, more powerful gun. But, I can fight back instantly, even while wearing my sweatpants. And, if I need more than the five or six shots loaded into my gun, there’s an even bigger issue at hand, anyway.

It’s also important to note that whether you’re home or not, many break-ins occur during the day, as we can see from the following video:

Your Car:

This one is tricky, because when most people think about a car-involved crime, they think of a break-in or car jacking. However, if you haven’t noticed, people are nuts.

I mean, look at these idiots:

To make matters worse, most people (except me) cannot even drive causing them to be road ragers. I think most of us have been on the receiving end of some road rage at least once in our lives. I know I’ve been numerous times.

In fact, just the other day after dropping my kids off at school some nut-job slowed way down and prevented me from passing him. Each time I tried to go around him he maniacally swerved to prevent it, but would let others pass without pause.

He eventually turned, but that’s a recipe for disaster. I don’t even know what I did wrong, because I drive like Miss Daisy.

If matters took a turn for the worse, and he approached me at the stop light instead of glaring at me in the rear view mirror, it would not have ended well.

Conclusion:

The problem, is that people are unpredictable and are capable of doing any despicable thing at any time. I’ve witnessed a road rage encounter before in the quaint little town of East Orange, NJ where two men were about to duke it out with fists when one of them pulled a gun causing the other to (smartly) flee.

I’ve heard of break-ins where people are home, gas stations, jewelry stores, banks, gun stores, pizzerias, etc., all getting robbed with a weapon (either perceived like a finger in a jacket pocket, or real like a gun or knife).

Your state of mind, abilities, and access to your own weapon will determine the outcome if you ever need to defend yourself with your gun. It’s important to remain in a constant state of awareness so you can combat crime as it begins to happen. Otherwise, you won’t stand a chance.

Do you have anything to add to this list of most common places for crime? Have you witnessed crime anywhere? Let us know in the comment section, below.

Why Speaking To Anyone After Defensive Gun Use Is A Bad Idea

September 15, 2018 By Craig Campbell Leave a Comment

It’s never a good idea to speak your mind freely to the press after you’ve been involved in any kind of shooting, even if it’s a defensive gun use that is likely to be justifiable in a court of law.

Of course, we cannot determine what is or is not justifiable, here, on our little blog. What we can do, however, is speculate on the outcome and learn from what happened in an effort to never make the same mistakes, ourselves.

Over a year ago, Mr. Bowers of Peoria, AZ, was the victim of arson. He pulled his revolver, shot the suspect, and could have created a huge mess for himself with his loose lips.

The only thing you should ever do after a defensive gun use, is call the police, and then your lawyer. (please note that I’ve included the video interview at the bottom of this article)

Now, I’m not an attorney so nothing I say here should be taken as legal advice, but I do know some firearms-specific attorneys who all agree on something:

Under no circumstances should you ever speak to the media or the police about what happened, no matter what anyone tells you.

The main reason for this is because you’re likely a mess of emotions after you pull the trigger and you may or may not be able to recall the events of a critical incident right after it happens.

The only words that are ever acceptable to say to the police, is a description of the perp who got away. That’s it.

Don’t ever tell them why you pulled your gun out, how many times you fired, or anything else for that matter because it all goes on record.

Read what I’m about to say next very, very carefully: If you say the wrong thing, even by accident, you may incriminate yourself later on down the line and not even realize it.

Many people don’t realize this, but most police departments require a specified amount of time to pass before they allow a cop who has discharged his weapon to make any statements.

The main reason for this is because recalling events right after is a hard thing to do. No matter what they tell you, you don’t have to say anything until you’ve spoken to your lawyer.

In fact, once you ask to speak to your lawyer, they have to stop asking you questions. You have rights as an American citizen. If you ever need to use your weapon in self-defense, make sure you use them.

Anyway, back to the Peoria man with the big mouth …

There are two main issues with how he handled his DGU, the first one was going on camera with the media about his defensive gun use, where he describes in detail exactly what happens. Here’s a small paraphrasing of what he said:

He was at home when he walked in on someone setting his house on fire. He had his .357 Magnum revolver and he shot him once in the house.

The wounded arsonist got up and ran away.

However, where the Peoria man went wrong, is where he said, on camera, that he thinks he unloaded the gun on the arsonist as he ran away across the field.

That’s bad juju for a couple reasons.

First, he’s not sure if he unloaded it. Did you catch that? He “thought” he unloaded it. He was unsure, unable to recall the events, and should have kept his mouth shut. (again, check it out in the interview at the bottom)

Second, in order for the defensive use of a gun to be considered “defensive” your life should be in imminent danger (please learn the laws in your state, and don’t take what I’m saying as Gospel, because I can’t know all laws in all states).

This means that, yes, during the time when his house was in the process of being lit and he shot the first round off, he was likely to be justified in a court of law.

Where he may have ran into a jam, are the five shots that he unloaded at the arsonist after he fled the scene.

Life was no longer in danger, and instead of shooting at the bad guy five more times in an open field where other people may have been, there are other things he could have been doing.

Then again, if he just kept his mouth shut, like he should have done to begin with, you and I wouldn’t even be having this discussion right now because we never would have known that he emptied his entire cylinder on a fleeing man.

Did you catch that part? He shot at a man who was running away. Not only did he do that, but the .357 Magnum is not a joke of a self-defense round. In fact, the maximum effective range of a .357 Magnum while hunting a deer is considered by many to be 100-150 yards.

What was on the other side of that field?

See where I’m going with this?

If you take away nothing else from this article, I hope it is these two very important things:

First and foremost, your life needs to be in danger for you to use deadly force, and always know what your target is and what’s around it.

Second, for the sake of your freedom, keep your mouth shut or you could incriminate yourself, even if you were in the right, just by saying something you should not have with a foggy brain. It doesn’t matter if it is the police or the media. It’s all on record, and can be submitted in court as a statement. Don’t do it.

Do you agree with what I said here? If not, what would you add? Remember, the point of this website is to teach others, so don’t hold back. Let us know in the comments below.

Our top picks for 22 rifles

Here is a link to the source article and video.

The 4 Basic Firearms Safety Rules

August 24, 2018 By Craig Campbell Leave a Comment

The necessity to be safe while “gun training” cannot be overemphasized …

There are rules. The rules must be followed or people could get hurt. Really, that’s how it is with all aspects of life from the job you have, to raising your children, to driving down the road.

Take, for example, the simple stop sign. If you choose to not follow the rule, or law, while driving and blow through the stop sign, you may have an accident. Of course, accidents aren’t guaranteed to happen, but the rules are put in place to prevent a collision from happening.

Another example, can be found when working on cars. I was a mechanic for a good part of my life. I knew that there was a rule in place that stated: If a car is up in the air, there must be jack stands underneath it to prevent it from falling.

You don’t understand its importance until a jack twists under the weight of a car. Once that happens, you realize why those rules are there. Thankfully, I wasn’t under the car when it came crashing down on the driveway below.

There are rules, or people get hurt. The wonderful world of self-defense is no different. And, in fact, the four rules of firearm safety may even be more important than all the others.

Guns can be used in self-defense, to kill animals for food, for target practice, and to fight wars. Guns can be used to kill.

Granted, this isn’t always the case. But, I can say that I carry a concealed firearm because I’d rather my attacker die than have my kids lose their daddy.

You’ve likely heard the saying that the firearm is the great equalizer of force. A tiny, old lady can successfully defend herself against a much bigger, younger opponent if equipped to do so.

Before we move on to the main point, let’s look at this in a bit more depth …

The gun by itself does not kill because it, alone, isn’t capable of taking any action. The person operating it is the sole deciding factor of whether or not these weapons will fire a round, whether done purposefully or “accidentally.”

Having said all of that, a firearm is nothing more than a tool, much in the same way a hammer or screwdriver is. In the wrong hands, a gun can be used to harm decent, hard-working people. Yet, so can a hammer, screwdriver, knife, car, truck or anything else you can think of.

On the flip side of the coin, in the right hands, a gun can be used in self-defense to save life much in the same way a hammer or screwdriver can.

As a side note, at some point in the near future, we’ll be starting an “opportunistic weapon” series, where we’ll look at how to use other household items in self-defense when a gun is not available to you. Moving on …

Any tool can be used as a weapon to ensure your survival when your life is placed on the line. The gun is nothing more than a tool that makes your job of living and making it home to your family, easier.

Because guns are tools, they are not inherently evil. Using a firearm to hunt is easier than using a speer. Just as it is easier to defend yourself with one, as opposed to a stick.

Because they are an object, they can be used properly, or improperly. They can be used for good, or for evil.

They can also be mismanaged by well-intentioned people. This is one of the reasons why there are rules, and why I’d like you to share this article with everyone you know.

What are the 4 basic rules for firearms safety?

It’s unfair to have an article about the basic rules of firearms safety without mentioning the man who championed them and made them what they are today.

Colonel Jeff Cooper played a huge role in developing much of the firearms training materials, like the 4 basic rules of firearms safety and the varying conditions of carried weapons (which will likely be covered in another article.)

One of the things drilled into me at basic training, and every time I went to the range after that in the Marines, were Jeff Cooper’s rules. I want to take a moment to discuss them with you now, and it is my sincere hope that you share this with all of your friends either as a refresher course, or to teach them for the first time.

It’s that important.

Rule #1)

Treat every gun like it is loaded:

Here’s the deal. If everyone always treated the gun they had in their hands like it had a live cartridge in the chamber, never assuming that it was unloaded, negligent discharges would drop dramatically.

Taking it a step further than that, whenever you do anything with your gun, you should always clear it to make sure it is unloaded. Several deaths happen each year because a firearm was negligently discharged when someone began to clean it, assuming it wasn’t loaded.

Never assume.

Taking it yet another step further, I always clear a gun before I hand it to someone else because I’m never sure how much gun training the other person has. Will they treat the weapon like it’s loaded?

A friend’s kid pointed a loaded .22 mag revolver at me once when he handed it to me and I about lost my mind.

I pulled the gun from his hands, emptied the cylinder, and gave him a lesson right there on the spot. The person you’re handing the gun to will likely be grateful that you are ensuring their safety by clearing it for them first.

In fact, whenever I hand someone a firearm, I do so with the action open, so they can have piece of mind that nothing is in there.

Rule #2)

Never point your gun at something you’re not willing to kill/destroy:

This is simple, but I see people violating it all the time. If I had a dollar for every time I’d been to a gun store and have been muzzled (someone pointed a gun at me, sighting it in), I’d have a lot of money.

Think about it like this. Guns make killing animals and self-defense easier, right? So, why would you ever want to point something designed to shoot metal projectiles at 1,000 feet per second at something you didn’t, in fact, want to shoot?

Let that sink in for just a moment, and then remember it next time you go “try on” a gun at your local shop …

Rule #3)

Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire:

Until your sights are on your intended target, and you want to shoot, your trigger finger (and all other fingers, for that matter) should be off the trigger.

This should be common sense, but it isn’t. Going a step further than the obviousness of this rule, keep EVERYTHING away from your trigger. There have been numerous “accidents” where clothing snagged a trigger, or where a damaged holster tugged on it just enough to send a round through the pipe.

Therefore, let me plug something that I do on a regular basis: check your gear for defects. If you begin to notice that your holster has a hole in it, or the leather is wearing a lot more than you’d like, get a new one.

Your life, or that of someone else, is a lot more important than the $50 you’d spend on a new holster.

Rule #4)

Know your target and what’s around it:

I’ve heard it worded like this once, and it really hits the point home — once that bullet leaves the barrel, you own it. This means that if you let a stray shot out and it hits someone else, that person could get injured and hold you responsible.

Of course, that’s only one aspect. You could also kill someone you didn’t intend to hurt, and that will stay with you the rest of your life.

Taking this a step further, bullets can and often do travel through things like walls, and even other people. You need to know what your target’s surroundings are before you pull the trigger.

Here is an example of a shooting competition where the shooter thought the range was clear, and wasn’t:

Guns are tools designed to make a job easier. Whether it is self-defense, hunting, target practice, or anything else you use your gun for, following the basic firearms safety rules will ensure everyone remains safe.

Did I leave anything out? Do you have anything to add? If so, make sure you leave a comment below, to share with everyone. Have you caught up on our SHOT Show coverage yet? If not, you can find all of our videos on the YouTube channel.