Should've said something?

[baldopepper]

Stopped at a rest area today and just in front of me entering the men's room was an older, very unstable walking man.  Noticed right off he was open carrying a side arm.  He took the urinal next to and I realized he had the pistol in, what I call, a quick draw holster. He was intently carrying out his chore, and frankly I don't think he knew I was even standing next to him. With the gun literally just inches away from me, I very easily could have pulled it out and confronted him or simply ran out the door with it..  I don't think he realized what a vulnerable situation he had put himself in. Somewhat isolated rest stop and he was obviously in no condition to physically confront me or stop me from running out.  I am in no way questioning his right to carry or reason for carrying,  but left without pointing out to him what a bad situation his failure to secure that gun might have put him in if the wrong person had stood next to him.  Should I have said something-feeling a bit guilty.

[KFhunter]

That was just his fake to see if anyone went for it, then he’d get ya with the real one hidden away!

I got the idea in the trail camera section 




In seriousness, it could have went anywhere after you said something, if you were police or an instructor you might have had a bit more authority with your concern which is justified imo

[hunter399]

Nah....
Better off minding yourself in the restroom these days.

I don't carry firearms into the city.
Nothing against it.
I see people that do though.
My gun radar is pretty strong.

[MADMAX]

You should have winked at him and told him nice piece
Seriously
Best to say nada

[WapitiTalk1]

You should have winked at him and told him nice piece
Seriously
Best to say nada

And that’s when the fight started    OP, do you think the old boy was under the influence of something?  That would be another Lego in this situation, as in he shouldn’t be getting in his rig and back on the highway.

[baldopepper]

I don't think he was under the influence, it's possible, but I really think he was just old and in poor condition.  Im old myself and around a lot of older people, see a lot of em in his condition just not usually open carrying.

[WapitiTalk1]

Gotcha. Thanks. Ya, tough dilemma for sure. 

[GWP]

Probably an old military arms and self defense instructor 'acting' old waiting for someone to try him out.
I recently saw a pic of a kid that tried one that learned how tough an old marine trainer can be.

[Special T]

Maybe he was trolling? Just wanted to go out fighting Valhalla style? 

[Fidelk]

Clint Eastwood driving to another "old guy" role?

[CaNINE]

Remaining silent was the right call.

[buckfvr]

Remaining silent was the right call.

Yep, nunya.

[HUNTIN4SIX]

Maybe he was trolling? Just wanted to go out fighting Valhalla style? 

That’s what I thought.  He’s an old gunslinger just waiting for an opportunity 

[hunter399]

Those old timers....
Stuff was alot different in those days.
Better off leaving him be.

[Alchase]

This thread got me thinking about when My Dad started getting dementia/Alzheimer's. It came to a point when we had to take his keys away to keep him from driving. He did not have the capacity, mentally or physically anymore to drive, without being a complete hazard to those around him. It busted his pride like nothing I have ever witnessed. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

As mush as I hate to say it, putting the individual right to carrying a weapon in the same situation, would have been 100 fold more dangerous to innocent people then driving.
I have never heard of a situation where this has happened though. I am sure it does, just have not heard about it.
 
I hope I have the wherewithal to make my own decision, if and when that day comes. The idea of putting my family in that situation is not something I ever want them to go through.   

[MightyWhite]

Did he resemble”Walt” on Gran Torino?

[2MANY]

Visible Browning can be a problem with old folks.
Depends.

[hunter399]

"DEPENDS"
 

[baldopepper]

This thread got me thinking about when My Dad started getting dementia/Alzheimer's. It came to a point when we had to take his keys away to keep him from driving. He did not have the capacity, mentally or physically anymore to drive, without being a complete hazard to those around him. It busted his pride like nothing I have ever witnessed. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

As mush as I hate to say it, putting the individual right to carrying a weapon in the same situation, would have been 100 fold more dangerous to innocent people then driving.
I have never heard of a situation where this has happened though. I am sure it does, just have not heard about it.
 
I hope I have the wherewithal to make my own decision, if and when that day comes. The idea of putting my family in that situation is not something I ever want them to go through.

  Had to take the car keys from my Dad a few years back and from the father-in-law recently.  Very hard decision, but in both cases they were a danger on the road to themselves and others.  That's part of what bothered me after the encounter. I honestly beleive his cavalier carrying of that handgun was a danger to himself and others.  He wasn't faking or acting, he was just an old fellow who strapped that gun on out of habit the same way my father in  law jumped in his car everyday until he had 3 accidents ( all his fault,but fortunately not major) in 1 month. Hopefully that old boy has family or friends who'll notice what he's doing.

[Zardoz]

Tough call for sure. It depends on each persons reasoning in that type of situation.  If he seemed as unaware as you mentioned, I would have waited for him outside, a safe distance away and called him over to talk a minute. Asking him if he was feeling OK. Then see where it goes, friendly like. YMMV

[cjjcb]

I guess in my mind, would I feel the need to approach a stranger displaying what I consider to be “negligent behavior”? Honestly, probably wouldn’t approach, but I’d sure keep an eye on him while in the vicinity…

[WapitiTalk1]

For the entire thread, conundrum…. I’ve wanted to yank his pistol, quicker than he could obviously react, clear the weapon, and loose a verbal assault on home boy that would still be lingering somewhere in the clouds. Of course, I didn’t count on the little LC-9 he had in his waste-band. These old guys, they’re smarter than we may think 

[Fidelk]

Maybe he was trolling? Just wanted to go out fighting Valhalla style? 

That’s what I thought.  He’s an old gunslinger just waiting for an opportunity 

Or......as you're going out the door and behind the relative safety of cinder blocks.......maybe for a little fun you Holler......"DRAW YOU VARMINT!!!!!!"

[WapitiTalk1]

Maybe he was trolling? Just wanted to go out fighting Valhalla style? 

That’s what I thought.  He’s an old gunslinger just waiting for an opportunity 

Or......as you're going out the door and behind the relative safety of cinder blocks.......maybe for a little fun you Holler......"DRAW YOU VARMINT!!!!!!"

 

[cjjcb]

For the entire thread, conundrum…. I’ve wanted to yank his pistol, quicker than he could obviously react, clear the weapon, and loose a verbal assault on home boy that would still be lingering somewhere in the clouds. Of course, I didn’t count on the little LC-9 he had in his waste-band. These old guys, they’re smarter than we may think 

Yeah gotta expect the little seniorita outta left field…
🤣🤣🤣

[wadu1]

This thread got me thinking about when My Dad started getting dementia/Alzheimer's. It came to a point when we had to take his keys away to keep him from driving. He did not have the capacity, mentally or physically anymore to drive, without being a complete hazard to those around him. It busted his pride like nothing I have ever witnessed. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

As mush as I hate to say it, putting the individual right to carrying a weapon in the same situation, would have been 100 fold more dangerous to innocent people then driving.
I have never heard of a situation where this has happened though. I am sure it does, just have not heard about it.
 
I hope I have the wherewithal to make my own decision, if and when that day comes. The idea of putting my family in that situation is not something I ever want them to go through.

  Had to take the car keys from my Dad a few years back and from the father-in-law recently.  Very hard decision, but in both cases they were a danger on the road to themselves and others.  That's part of what bothered me after the encounter. I honestly beleive his cavalier carrying of that handgun was a danger to himself and others.  He wasn't faking or acting, he was just an old fellow who strapped that gun on out of habit the same way my father in  law jumped in his car everyday until he had 3 accidents ( all his fault,but fortunately not major) in 1 month. Hopefully that old boy has family or friends who'll notice what he's doing.

I also had to take my dad's keys away a few years ago, after some minor fender benders.  Then   a year later when he had a trip to the hospital he cold cocked a nurse he was put in restraints. He was not happy and threatened the staff, told them when he's out he's getting his gun and coming back. The hospital would not release him until the guns were removed from the house. He still thinks the crazy lady down the street stole them, even after I told him they are in my safe.

[HUNTIN4SIX]

Maybe he was trolling? Just wanted to go out fighting Valhalla style? 

That’s what I thought.  He’s an old gunslinger just waiting for an opportunity 

Or......as you're going out the door and behind the relative safety of cinder blocks.......maybe for a little fun you Holler......"DRAW YOU VARMINT!!!!!!"

 

 

[Threewolves]

God bless him, American,  2nd amendment, probably at least an NRA LIFE Member.

 

[dreadi]

It’s best not to fool around, or else you’ll find out.


BLACK HAMMER ARMS
07/02 NFA Dealer

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[ghosthunter]

I would leave him alone. Not your party. World is full of “What ifs”. Lots of folks get in the soup by injecting into areas they don’t belong.

But hell I am an old guy. I put a gun in my pocket everyday as normal to me and my family as anything I do. When it comes time for me my son is going to paint them red unload and let me wear them around house. ( Two Bonds in Shoulder Rig)

Right now I am in Canada, culture shock for me no gun. My wife even patted me down before we got to the border just to make sure. We will be re entering USA in a week. And a family member is meeting me in eastern wash with my speciality packed package so I can camp 15 more days with my natural attire.

Every gun regulation started with. “ What if”

[Alchase]

This thread got me thinking about when My Dad started getting dementia/Alzheimer's. It came to a point when we had to take his keys away to keep him from driving. He did not have the capacity, mentally or physically anymore to drive, without being a complete hazard to those around him. It busted his pride like nothing I have ever witnessed. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

As mush as I hate to say it, putting the individual right to carrying a weapon in the same situation, would have been 100 fold more dangerous to innocent people then driving.
I have never heard of a situation where this has happened though. I am sure it does, just have not heard about it.
 
I hope I have the wherewithal to make my own decision, if and when that day comes. The idea of putting my family in that situation is not something I ever want them to go through.

  Had to take the car keys from my Dad a few years back and from the father-in-law recently.  Very hard decision, but in both cases they were a danger on the road to themselves and others.  That's part of what bothered me after the encounter. I honestly beleive his cavalier carrying of that handgun was a danger to himself and others.  He wasn't faking or acting, he was just an old fellow who strapped that gun on out of habit the same way my father in  law jumped in his car everyday until he had 3 accidents ( all his fault,but fortunately not major) in 1 month. Hopefully that old boy has family or friends who'll notice what he's doing.

I also had to take my dad's keys away a few years ago, after some minor fender benders.  Then   a year later when he had a trip to the hospital he cold cocked a nurse he was put in restraints. He was not happy and threatened the staff, told them when he's out he's getting his gun and coming back. The hospital would not release him until the guns were removed from the house. He still thinks the crazy lady down the street stole them, even after I told him they are in my safe.

Wow!
It is weird how it can go south so quick.
I had a friend who I use to hunt and play poker with. We all got together for a poker game and he seemed perfectly fine. 6 months later we all got together again, and he was talking crazy stuff, how the Highway cameras were following him. The police and fireman were recording him and had him under surveillance. The buddy who's house were were playing at, stopped mid hand and told him
"I have my kids in the house, if you are going to talk and act crazy, you need to leave, until you get you crap together." just a couple months later, in the basement at his Mom's house, he put the barrel of his 30-06 rifle in his mouth and pulled the trigger. No drugs, or excessive alcohol involved. I had known him since elementary school, never saw any hint or indication of mental issues.