and I don't blame her one bit---here's this big dude opening her car door.... she was not happy.

Millions upon millions of Americans carry handguns every day without freaking out and losing their shit. It doesn't make you go insane and lose your brain any more than the old myth about someone getting high and putting a baby in the oven is true: it's scaremongering.

but it could have eh?

because you would have been rightfully in fear for your life.



(You'd have to be very quick about it though.)

It would have been a mess.

you deserved whatever you would have gotten. Kidding, but you should be more careful and aware of your surroundings and vehicle around an ATM.

Weird things happen, daily. Its all about judgement calls.

the G35 is old---the money tight.

It make you a target of muggers if you are flashing cash around. Didn't your mother teach you anything?
Glad you're not dead.

i had literally 20 steps to my car from the ATM.

If I get mugged in that situation--- well geez...

Why ask for violence? People are desperate right now.

a busy parking lot is a wonderful place to steal. People are so busy looking around trying to keep from getting hit, they are easy targets for pickpockets and others who would grab and run.

I would have been as scared as that young woman. Single women are believed to be "low hanging fruit." We are the first targets, so we are constantly under attack.

When somebody was robbed at gunpoint in my local supermarket parking lot, on a sunny, Sunday afternoon -- my last one before I closed on my condo and moved away, I knew I was getting out of town in time. That was back in '03, when the fake recovery was underway.

Two years ago, a student here in rural Maine was robbed of her new textbooks on the path between two school buildings. And my chemistry prof had her purse stolen from her office, just across from the classroom.

Things are far more desperate this time around...

Glad someone else's chimed in on this. Consider that many street smart, careful, women (esp) and men would never do what you did because you were at an ATM/flashing your cash/not paying attention/and vulnerable. May be all the more reason you surprised this person who had no way of guessing that you weren't looking where your going. People are on alert and women (esp) HAVE to be. You're a "big guy" maybe you don't have to think about it. A lot of men leave their wallets and valuables in their cars. Most women don't have that habit or (false?) sense of security.

parked with a clear escape route, keys gripped in fist to scratch anyone who looks crosseyed at me, looking over my shoulder like a paranoid coke fiend....

Full on tactical mode - I'm the same. I do love the drive through ATM, but they planted trees everywhere and I'm always looking over my shoulder, ready to take off if someone comes from behind. If it's not a drive through ATM, then I do exactly what you do.

Somebody could have ended up dead.

No gun...nobody dead or seriously injured. It's not what the NRA wants as they would love for everybody to be armed, but this outcome was best for both of you.

NRA creations like George Zimmerman and Raul Rodriguez only make Americans less safe.

and isnt that sad.

i watched a video yesterday. i looked for it and could not find it. i wanted to put it up. my son and i were watching. it was about a man walking up to people and holding their hand. it was a hoot. almost every woman reacted strongly, fearfully, pulling hand quickly to chest. a really strong reaction. the men did not react in a jerky, quit manner. a few even allowed the hand holding until he figured what was up.

though son and i laughed, we recognized a very telling difference in the response.

Count your money in your locked car. I am always amazed at how little concern people have for their own safety...particularly in these tough economic times.

Second: There are 2 types of gun owners, (a) The people who keep their guns under lock and key when not in use, and who use them for sport....whether hunting or target shooting. (b) The people who are so paranoid that if they had to undergo a psychological/psychiatric evaluation would not be allowed to own a gun, yet alone a concealed carry permit.
While there are exceptions to every rule, if you operate with that principle in mind you'll live longer.

than carrying a firearm. For something like the 40th year in a row crime is down, and yet Americans (especially white suburban Americans) are more afraid than ever.

50 years ago this may have been laughed off.

We've had a few young ladies go missing here in Central Florida the last couple of years....lot's of cable coverage for sure.

Both times I didn't realize it until I'd been sitting for a second or two. Once I was with somebody else, who thought it was really damn funny.

In the age of cell phones I imagine it's slightly more common to go to the wrong car.

He brought a newer Infinity--mine is a 2008---he brought up a 2011---not much difference---both Black.

My wife and I both got in and quickly realized---hey this is new.

And I'm glad that woman wasn't carrying.

. . . thought this was a needle thread

I've also tried to unlock the wrong car.

Guns are dangerous in a lot of innocent situations.

When you are walking, you should be paying attention to where you are going and not flashing cash.

about 20 years ago.

Had flown from SF airport to SeaTac in Seattle on a late flight.

By the time got to Red Lion Inn (where had reservations and had called saying I would be late and was a regular client when in Seattle) was after midnight.

So I was struggling with a suitbag, small suitcase, banker's box, laptop, and slide card for the door.

Couple was in bed already in rom already and the guy jumped up wrapped in sheet pointing a handgun at me.

We got free rooms.

One would think that that the system would not allow two parties to be checked in

Fortunately when I went into the room the guest was not there.

as things were. Not only was she apparently unarmed, but she left her car door unlocked. Foolish.

get why people in this country are terrified of each other. I actually got into another blue 1991 Subaru station wagon parked at a Waffle House about 5 years ago. It wasn't until I looked down and saw a ton of newspaper and trash on the floor that I realized it wasn't mine!

I know many women that do and a shot in the eyes would have ruined your eyes for a few day...

You're slipping, dude.

At the very least she had a fist (or two), but she didn't use that either. :shrug

Your story certainly demonstrates that even the best of us need to pay attention to what we're doing, but it doesn't really illustrate anything about self-defense ar being armed for that purpose...

I had a burgundy Ford Taurus and I walked out of the grocery store and tried to open a car that looked exactly like mine. Fortunately, there was no one else in the car. Then I noticed a baby seat in the back and realized it was not my car. I really felt foolish.

situations like this. You didn't park in that spot. It was a different make of car. You weren't paying attention to what you were doing. As you say, you're lucky she wasn't armed and didn't have some pepper spray or a taser, either. Paying attention prevents many things.

glad you didn't get shot

You check her purse? Glove box? Under her seat? If you didn't then you have no evidence to support that she did not have a gun.

Sounds to me like she did a great job of assessing the situation - seeing that you were as shocked as she was - and determining that this was an accident and you were not a serious threat. Sure, you frightened her. But, she may have had training that taught her how to evaluate serious threat vs honest mistake before using her weapon.

Never assume that someone is not armed. And - if they are - hope like hell that they've undergone training to use it.

I simply said I could have got shot.

I think we're both from the same neck of the woods.

I always count my cash as soon as it comes out of the cash dispenser and stick it in my wallet immediately, along with the ATM card. I've heard too many bad stories about ATM's.

Again, I'm glad you're ok and I'm sure she'll lock her door from now on after she returns from the ATM

I can't figure that one out, really. Were you running away from the car? If so, why would she shoot you at all?

But, cool story anyway, there, trumad.