I imagine it's not a good idea to steal gas from someone with a .38 in their glovebox. At least that's what the NRA tells us with theri numerous stories of defence against crime by an armed citizenry.Heh! That something I wonder about too. I put myself in the shoes of the kind of scum that'd rob someone at gunpoint and I realise that if I thought they might have a gun too at all, I'd still rob them, but I'd also very likely shoot them as well because I'd be worried they might shoot me first.
And the more I think people might be armed, the more likely I am to shoot them dead anyway without waiting to see.
And I think that's what tends to happen. A lose/lose situation :(
You still get robbed, but you have a higher chance of getting killed.
-The one most likely to come out alive is the one who has their gun out and ready: the criminal.
You might also scare them off or kill them first, but there's more chance of you not doing that. I mean, there's a reason soldiers don't generally go into battle against armed foes with their guns in glove compartments or concealed under their clothing.
Soldiers usually do go into combat with weapons ready, not locked and loaded. Tanks don't go weapons free until the enemy is spotted.
Anyhoo, you'd be surprised how fast they can draw that weapon. Scarred the hell out of me how fast it came out of that handbag and then the glovebox. Even that one campus where unlike Virginia State they had a right to carry law and the gunman was taken out before anyone was killed. (again info courtesy of the NRA except for witnessing the fast draws.) If you get weapon training (civilian too)part of it requires safe and quick draw and return fire. Most criminals don't go to the range and practice. Law-abiding weapon carriers are required to in most states with right-to-carry.
So you get that drill out to steal gas, or be that tuner car and you see a flash of gunmetal or shiny steel… hey, I din't mean it…
According to those that carry (and the NRA natch') the threat is enough.
Do I believe this? No, when I worked in gas station I just had the phone close at hand and Woodbridge's Worst were on stand-by. (very busy state highway near the main State highway) It was NJ. The one time a gun was drawn in defence the drawer was the wrong skin color and the gun was confiscated didn't matter that the other in question had nearly committed vehicular homicide. Woodbridge's Worst didn't even interview the guy who had barely jumped out of the way of an AA pissed off driver with an attitude.
There was only one drive-through gas theft and we got their number and they got caught.