SITREP: Gas Station Ready: How To Stay Dangerous EP689
Watch the recorded episode here
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BLUF MAIN TOPIC: This episode is all about being safe at gas stations and how to react if confronted, assaulted, robbed, or caught in the crossfire of a robbery or altercation.
Gas stations rank among the most dangerous places you encounter in everyday American life, and most people have no clue how vulnerable they are every single time they pull up to the pump. Think about what happens the moment you stop to fuel up - you exit your vehicle, leave your door open, pull out your wallet, and immediately bury your face in your phone like everybody else in this distracted society. You become the perfect target. Criminals know this. They study these locations because they understand the psychology of the soft target. The guy staring at his screen while gas pumps into his tank has zero awareness of his surroundings.
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He has no idea someone is watching him from across the lot, sizing him up, deciding whether he looks like an easy mark. Recent incidents across the country prove this remains a consistent threat - from armed robberies in Mount Vernon where victims had guns pressed to their heads, to violent confrontations at gas stations in Phoenix where a man was shot multiple times simply for telling someone not to cut in line at the bathroom. These are not isolated events. They happen every single day in cities and small towns across America, and the only thing standing between you and becoming a statistic is your willingness to wake up and pay attention.
STAND WITH THE MISSION ...
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PRACTICAL TIPS | MAIN TOPIC
First and foremost, positioning is everything. When you pull into a gas station, back into the pump closest to the exit whenever possible. This gives you the ability to drive straight out if something goes sideways. Never box yourself in. Keep your vehicle running if your state allows it, and always keep your doors locked until you absolutely need to exit. Once you step out, stay off your phone. That device is your biggest liability because it robs you of the one thing that keeps you alive - situational awareness.
Adopt what trainers call Condition Yellow - a state of relaxed alertness where you are constantly scanning your environment without being paranoid. Know who is around you at all times. Watch for the criminal interview - that moment when someone approaches asking for the time, a cigarette, or directions. This is often a test to see how you react, to gauge whether you are paying attention or completely oblivious. If someone approaches and your gut tells you something is off, trust that instinct immediately. Create distance, get back in your vehicle, and leave. Your intuition exists for a reason.
If you carry concealed, understand that drawing your firearm should always be your last option. Your awareness and positioning should keep you out of situations where you need to use it. But if a threat presents itself and you have no other choice, you need to have trained enough that your response is automatic. Practice your draw from concealment regularly. Know your backstop. Understand the legal implications in your state. And recognize that in a robbery situation, compliance may be the smarter tactical choice if the criminal already has a weapon trained on you and your family.
