You are in a mall when a shooting starts - what do you do?

[MTechnik]

So you are at the mall... You go into the Wilsons Leather store to check out a jacket as a gift for your cousin. You happen to have your normal concealed carry pistol with you.

While in the back of the store, thinking "wow, lamb feels good" you hear screams and gunshots. None of the associated "police, drop your weapon" noises.

What do you do?

You see the employee exit out the back of the store is open... do you make a break for it?

You are in the back of a leather store with large racks you can get concealment from... Do you stay put and hope hiding works?

Do you decide "I can maybe save a life"?

With all of the recent shootings, I was thinking about it on the drive in... and don't really have an answer of my own.. figured it'd make for good discussion.

[Rule10b5]

While in the back of the store, thinking "wow, lamb feels good"

So, you're a Scot then too, are you?

[billamj]

I just don't run as fast as I used to, I'd have to stay concealed and pray a lot!

[CoyoteJack]

If there is an out for myself and my family I'm taking it. Second option take cover and wait.

I feel my first and foremost responsibility is to my family. I have no aspirations to be a hero.

[Weights]

The way I look at it, my concealed handgun is meant to save me, my family or friends with me only. Not that I want to see people die, but I believe that it's in my best interests to avoid getting in a shooting whenever possible; you don't know if you'll get hurt or what may happen, or legal or civil consequences that may follow. So, I would try to escape if possible. But, if the gunman started shooting in my area, then I feel the only choice would be to fire back in the hopes of taking him down if I'm to get out alive. Either way, I would do my best to alert police and let them handle the situation; I would rather have them take the man down than me.

[Emptymag]

The correct answer is...

[Zef_66]

If I am alone, I am probably drawing my weapon, and slowly creeping, staying under cover, to see what the hell is going on.

If I am with my family, I am going to exit stage right.

Again, just my first thoughts. Who knows what I would do if something like this happens. But most likely I would not try to be a hero. But I may stick around to provide first aid to those in need.

[1blindref]

It's hard to say sitting here quietly typing on my keyboard with no sounds of gun fire and people screaming.

I'd say that if I was with my family or a loved one, I'd make sure they got out safely - NO QUESTION!

If I was by myself, I'd probably take cover and see if I could save someones life.

[SSCUSTER]

Of course, I'll never know the answer until I actually encounter that situation. However, every time I hear about a mass shooting, I think that if someone present was armed, then maybe some lives would be saved. If I run out the back door with my 1911, then the result may be the same as if no one present was armed.

It would be hard to live with myself if I ran and there was a possibility that I could have kept the death toll down to two or three, including the bad guy, rather than 26.

Everyone has to make their own on the spot decision and there is nothing wrong with looking out for you and yours first. When the rubber hits the road, I may do just that. Philosophically though, I think I would want to stop the violence as soon as possible.

[sjl127]

I GTFO. (That's, Get The F- Out). There's not much I could do at a distance with my snubby...