Once I gave the finger to a vehicle that was riding too close behind me. The vehicle followed me to my destination and pulled up next to me. A BIG woman (and her big daughter)proceded to get out of the car and both were mad. It was frightening and I learned my lesson. I have to agree with NeverKnowsBest, just let them pass.

A BIG woman (and her big daughter)proceded to get out of the car and both were mad. It was frightening...

See...this is a perfect example of being prepared to defend yourself. Had you been prepared and had a clear head you would have calmly reached into your glove box. Grabbed your weapon. Rolled down the window. And chunked that Twinkie as far as you could and while those two BIG gals rolled around fighting over it..... you just casually drive away as if nothing happened.

Hope that helps next time. Git Real.... just doing what he can for the little people.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

That would have bought me some time while I was trying to untie my ankle-wrap espadrille wedges so I could better utilize some of the fancy jumping-jack kicks I learned at the Richard Simmons aerobic studio (conveniently located in Morrow)!

Yesterday I picked my granddaughter up from FCHS early. I took one of her friends home who lives in the East Fayetteville area.
Driving down a residential street a car in front of me started stopping and going. Suddenly he made a sharp left and stopped in the street. Afraid he would pull back in front of us I tapped my horn and drove past him.
He lost it, started blowing his horn, got on my bumper. He had his arm out the window shaking his fist, and screaming. I had to stop at a stop sign at Banks road. With all of the traffic on Banks road,I had nowhere to go. My granddaughter was trying to find my cell phone, I was reaching for my weapon.

The guy suddenly pulled in someone's driveway, turned around and sped off.
This happened so fast, we were terrified.
Next time my cell phone will be next to me, not buried in my purse. My weapon will still be in easy reach.

Tug

I agree, driver training should be offered in all schools.

It was too much of a pain for the school administrators and the federals quit some of the payments for it under Reagan, I think.
Kids know much less about driving now due to several scores of millions of dumb teachers (parents, or aunt slossie).

Unlike Git Real and some other good old boys on this website, I do not carry a gun in my car

Well... I guess you'll be as useless as "boobs on boar hog" in the event there's an emergency that requires the use of a firearm to protect either yourself or more importantly the lives of your family. Not to mention other innocent victims. This "good old boy" ain't out lookin for fight. Believe it or not I carry a tire iron in my car too. Doesn't mean I'm out looking for flat to change.

I might be tempted to use it, or at least wave it at them.

Gump...If you want to wave at someone you use your hand or if you're a jerk you might use your middle finger to do so. Any fool and especially anyone that served in the military would know that you don't wave to people with a weapon. That'll get you killed for sure. So it's obvious from your blog that it is a good thing that you do not carry.

I've carried for 30 years and have never felt the urge to wave to someone with my piece. Again... how stupid is that? I have taken weapon in hand and positioned it in a manner to defend myself if the perp actually tried to make a move on me. Rest assured I was very glad that I did not have my Louisville Slugger in my hand in those moments. Thank God I didn't have to use my weapon and you know what? The eye contact I kept with these guys prevailed over any stupid desire I might have had to wave a gun at them. The best part was that they never even saw my firearm. As it should be....

Us "good old boys" who carry aren't out itching for fight. You watch too many danged westerns. Exist in the real world dude!

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

First of all, my point was to not confront strangers over a minor traffic offense, as you don't know what might result.

As for my ability to safely handle guns, I've proven that by having the guns for over 30 years without any mishaps. I made the conscious decision not to carry guns in the car after an incident in which a cocaine-addled taxi driver rammed me and tried to force my car off the road just for being in his way. This was back in the 70s, on I-85 in downtown Atlanta. If I had had a gun, I would have used it, as I suspect you would have too. Instead, I evaded him, got his license plate, reported it to the police, and got him a year in jail for assault with a vehicle.

I'm not throwing mud at you for carrying a gun--it's your decision. In my case, my temperament is such that I'm better off not to. As Clint Eastwood said, "A man has got to know his limitations." Either way, I think you'll agree that it is risky to physically confront a stranger when you don't have to, especially if you are female.

First of all, my point was to not confront strangers over a minor traffic offense, as you don't know what might result.

We all need to avoid confrontation. I hate it when it's avoidable and it's being pushed on you.

I'm not throwing mud at you for carrying a gun

Then why in the heck did you coin the term "Git Real And The Good Old Boys"? Sounded like "Git Real And The Rest Of His Gun Totin Trailer Dwellin White Trash Redneck Beer Bellied Buddies That'll Shoot Anything That Walks, Crawls, Sneaks, And Snakes". By golly son I took great offense to that you Yankee Vermin. I'll have you know that I don't live in a trailer or anywheres close to one.

Seriously though...Let me just say that the last thing I ever want to do is get caught in a situation where I'm backed in a corner and the situation requires me to utilize my weapon for survivals sake. I pray that never happens. I mean I really prefer that never happens. Problem is that it sometimes does.

As far as your follow-up point goes I'll stick to what I was taught growing up in the Wild West. "You don't wave or point a gun at anyone unless you're prepared at that very moment to pull that trigger". Bet you were taught that too!

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

Anybody who brags about the size of their "piece" in their glove compartment just might be a redneck. There's no harm in that, no need to take offense. Some of my best friends are rednecks. And by the way, I grew up right here in Georgia. My in-laws are from Heard county, and I helped my father-in-law raise cattle in Newnan before I went into the Air Force. If my remarks about you being a "good old boy" sounded like a put-down, that was unintentional. My apologies.

My intent was to share a personal anecdote that I thought was of value as a lesson learned. One follow-on point that I should share is that the thing that set off the taxi driver is that when he started tail-gating me, I tapped my brakes. He proceeded to ram me from behind, then when I changed lanes, he rammed me from the side and tried to push my car into the concrete divider at the side of the road. I was driving a Pinto, so he pretty well had his way with me for a few seconds. Then he went after the other car that was in his way.

The outcome was that he got put away for a year. If I had started shooting at him in self defense, who knows how that would have turned out. On the other hand, if anybody tries to break into my house while I'm home, I will take them down without hesitation.

Having said all that, I fully support your right to bear arms. I just don't choose to carry a gun in my car. It's a personal decision.

Anybody who brags about the size of their "piece" in their glove compartment just might be a Redneck.

Gee... I guess I'm a redneck. So what do you call someone that carries their piece in their pants? Gotta ask ya though. Do you really think I'm so thin skinned as to take offense at being called a redneck or a good old boy. I'm beginning to think that if a man doesn't have a touch of either title in him then he ain't worth wasting feed on and a more proper title for him would be "French".

If my remarks about you being a "good old boy" sounded like a put-down, that was unintentional. My apologies.

No apologies needed. Again I am a highly trained professional that speaks Redneck, Hillbilly, and per Hack I am also and expert at speaking Ebonics.

If I were in your situation with that fanatic the last thing I'd do is roll my window down and play California Cop with weapons blazing. Defensive driving is the way to go there. Lock'em up a pull over letting him get ahead of you and if he backs up and exits his car and attempts to get in yours then perhaps you take drastic measures to defend yourself. But, like I said earlier, the last thing I want to ever do is to be tested in a real life situation.

Gump I carry because I have my own biz and it's located in Clayton County on the Fulton line. Good and decent citizens work in that area. Thugs prey on these productive, family supporting, innocent people in that area. Often I am there after the crowds leave. Even during the day I feel I have an obligation to protect myself and my employees to the best of my ability if need be. No, I can't guarantee the outcome. But, unlike the evil that occurred at VT rounds will be fired back in response to any sort of violent offense or crime that might be perpetrated on us. This coupled with cash on the premises from time to time necessitates responsible firearms preparedness. Rest assured the Clayton County Police are rarely around when you need them. And if you want a quick response from them then a murder better have already occurred. Sad but true. They've admitted this to me.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

When I retired from the AF, I considered using Troops to Teachers for getting my teaching certification. That would have meant incurring an obligation to teach in a "high-needs" school for 4 years, specifically in Clayton County. Back in the 70's, when I was living in Newnan, Riverdale was a nice middle-income neighborhood, so I thought "How bad could it be?" Luckily, one of my in-laws told me how much it had changed in 20 years, so I paid my own tuition and moved to PTC instead. THANK GOD!!

Now, I understand why your carrying a gun is a necessity, not just for show. Thanks for sharing!!

Then hats off to you! Good solid men are needed in our school systems to give boys someone to look up to as an example. They're our men of the future and they need to know how a proper man conducts himself.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

Yeah, I'm trying to use my AF experiences to convince my students that they really will need math in real life, since so much about flying involves numbers and math. Most of my students think they know what they are going to do in life, but you and I know that they don't have a clue. If anybody had ever told me I would have a military career and then become a high school math teacher, I would have laughed at them back in high school. Life is a long and winding road, and a lot more complicated than it looks in high school. Well, gotta go to a graduation!

Great timing being the last day of school.

I guess you'll have time to work it into next years lesson plans.

I saw a commercial for this the other day and thought; "What a great way to teach kids math, science and physics. Heck, they'll never even know they're actually learning something."

"Tune in to Discovery Channel's STUNT JUNKIES and see astounding feats of physics and engineering performed by the world's greatest extreme athletes. ..."

Discovery Educator Network

The reason I mentioned waving a gun was that in the incident with the taxi, there was another car that the taxi bumped into, and that driver chose to wave a pistol at the taxi driver. I agree with you that that is not a smart thing to do.

I see now that you are one of the more "responsible" gun onwers.

I can't say I would have been as nice as you were to the cab or the driver.

NRA FILES
Butte Montana
November 5, 2006

Home Invasion Gone Wrong For Criminals.

Two illegal aliens, (AKA undocumented guest workers) Ralphel Resindez 23 and Enrico Garza 26, probably believed they would easily overpower a home alone 11 year old Patricia Harrington after her father had left their two story home.

It seems the two crooks never learned two things; they were in Montana and Patricia had been a clay shooting champion since she was nine. Patricia was in her upstairs room when the two men broke through the front door of the house. She quickly ran to her father's room and grabbed his 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun.

Resindez was the first to get up to the second floor only to be the first to catch a near point blank blast of buck shot from the 11 year old's knee crouch aim. He suffered fatal wounds to his abdomen and genitals. When Garza ran to the foot of the stairs, he took a blast to the left shoulder and staggered out into the street where he bled to death before medical help could arrive.

It was found out later that Resindez was armed with a stolen 45 caliber handgun he took from another home invasion robbery. The victim, 50 year old David Burien, was not so lucky as he died from stab wounds to the chest.

The good part - they lived long enough to know they were sent to the happy taco stand in the sky by an eleven year old GIRL ! ! !

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

Good thing it was Montana, Git....In New York or California they probably would have taken the girl into custody. They would say that since she was such a crack skeet shot, she should have shot to wound them and not kill. And then the parents would face a wrongful death case.

Wonder what our District Attorney would have done.

It's a good thing you don't carry it with you in your car.

You stand a good chance of getting arrested if you "wave it at them".

Owning a gun and having a carry permit doesn't automatically entitle anyone to intimidate anyone else with it.

People with guns/permits need go and read up on the law to learn what they may do and what they CAN'T do with a gun.

While you're at it, take some classes on the proper use and care of a gun as well.

Driving to and from Atlanta, every day, has taught me restraint as I do carry my gun with me. If you think people drive badly here in PTC, they most certainly do, try it with some of the 'fools' on the interstates doing 90+ mph.

What we don't need are things like this or this.

It's a good thing you don't carry it with you in your car.

You stand a good chance of getting arrested if you "wave it at them".

Bad... arrested or killed? BTW...the new avatar rocks.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

Waving a gun at a non-driver while sitting at a stop sign, at least here in PTC, would probably get you arrested if the wavee called the police.

If you did that same thing while at the Pavilion, odds are the person next to you would shoot first and then high-tale it out of Dodge.

I would imagine that the folks that are 'hangen' at the Pavilion have more experience with drive-by's than most Soccer Mon's here in PTC, but I could be mistaken.

If you PTC people have it so good in PTC, why are you graceing us here in Fayetteville with your presence, I'm sitting here reading all
this junk you're writing and not believing it. I live right smack in the middle of Fayetteville and we personally don't have any problems. I don't know why ya'll think it's so bad here when I read about the crime you have there in your little utopia you call PTC.
Maybe some of you people have problems because of your I'm so much better then you attitudes. I'm proud to live in Fayetteville, I'm proud to send my child to FCHS, I'm proud to frequent the pavillion, and after all the hundreds of trips there, other then rude drivers which we here in Fayetteville have no monopoly on, have had no problems there whatsoever, so next time ya'll want to take your lives in your hands and vist us here in Fayetteville, DON'T, do us all a favor and go to Coweta, oh, thats right, ya'll look down on them too. I've met some of the nicest people in my work in PTC, butI"ve also met some of the most snobby people ever there.Might I suggest ya'll get your own backyard in order before you worry about ours.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

U.S. DOJ, Uniform Crime Reporting Program

For a city that is only 40% the size of PTC, Fayetteville seems to be as crime ridden as I suspected.

You see hutch, the difference between PTC and Fayetteville is when I shop in PTC I tend to leave my gun in the car most of the time. However, when I shop in Fayetteville, very rarely, I chamber a round and take the safety off before I get out of my car.

GEORGIA
Offenses Known to Law Enforcement
by State by City, 2005

Population
PTC, 34,741
FYT, 14,240

Violent Crime
PTC, 11
FYT, 20

Rape
PTC, 3
FYT, 1

Robbery
PTC, 3
FYT, 9

Agg. Assault
PTC, 5
FYT, 10

Property Crime
PTC, 335
FYT, 726

Burglary
PTC, 26
FYT, 31

Larceny-theft
PTC, 258
FYT, 657

Motor vehicle theft
PTC, 51
FYT, 38

Keep eating that spinach, you're going to need it.

Well I'm sorry you feel that way, maybe you should keep your scared butt out of our 3rd world city, just stay home and study your stats and thank God you don't have to live here with like I thank God I don't have to live with you. I always feel safe here even without your numbers

ps, when you're walking around with your safety off, I hope you don't shoot any of your self-rightous little parts off, and judging by the motor vehicle thefts, maybe you should take your gun out of your car when you're at home.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

Hutch,

My wife and I ventured into your 3rd world city for dinner last night.

Just to let you know we weren’t attacked by any of the thugs or gangs that have been reported to reside in your city.

Food was good restaurant staff was excellent and no thugs in the parking lot waiting on us to get out of the car. And yes, we were very close to the Fayette pavilion.

I do have a carry permit, but felt no need to carry last night.

I have traveled extensively in the USA and abroad and I can tell you, there are bad people in every city and country, but the good people almost always out number the bad.

Didn't get robbed until you got the check, eh?

I have been most blessed, maybe it's that angel on my shoulder. Working two jobs, I leave home in the dark, return home in the dark. If I have time to shop or gas up, chances are it will be in the dark. Sometimes there are those of us who have no choice.

You are absolutely correct there are good and bad folks everywhere; and I thank heaven the good outnumber the bad, thank goodness indeed.

Didn't get robbed until you got the check, eh?

Yeah, But we enjoyed the food so it was worth it.

I can understand your concern with shopping after dark, especially with nut cases like Gary Hilton in the world.

But I would like to think, that if you ever found yourself in a dangerous situation, some of the good people in Fayette county would be there to render assistance.

I grew up in S.E. DC. If you want scared, spend a few nights down on Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

What I do know is that if/when something hits the fan most people won't have time to cock their gun and take the safety off or will forget to do one or the other. My way, I just have to pull the hammer back. (another safety)

Because I carry a semi-auto .45, it saves about two to three seconds to already have one in the chamber and the trigger safety off.

sounds like you're scared to me.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

so I don't go there after dark. I moved to Fayetteville in the mid 80s and Brooks in the mid 90s and have seen some changes over the years. Yes, I'm scared at times. So, I just don't go.

I posted this a while back.

I still think it's funny.

Shopping at the Avenue

You see, I do have a sense of humor.

yes, that's funny, but you paint the wrong picture of my city, and I've got to call you on it,just like if you bad mouth my house, my wife, kid, or dog.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

I've said this before, I have friends who live in Fayetteville. One is a single mother, several are widows like me, and live alone. They are concerned about all of the crime, and don't feel safe anymore.

I don't live in PTC. I don't go to Fayetteville after dark. When I go there in the daytime I'm very careful.

Tug

I don't live in PTC either. I don't go around armed. Understand I want to be safe also- we just have to be careful- things happpen in PTC. Just beware of Bad when he is in Fayetteville he says he is armed. I go to Fayetteville after dark, again I am careful just as much as I would be in PTC. I think Bad has been watching too many crime movies.

I understand- take care, be careful (meet me for coffee and if I am around in Fayetteville and someone tries to hurt you- watch out.)
You are a sweet lady- hey between myself and Hutch and others we will watch out for you.

____________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

You seem so sweet and innocent. Thanks for the kind words.

I don't think we need to beware of Bad. I've had my gun permit for years too.

Take care

Today I had 4 year olds at school tell me they had never seen snow.
Thank you God- I know they are jumping up and down, outside- going wild like they do everyday, except in the snow- I would love to see their smiles and their faces now, and play with them in the snow.

______________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

I understand, but contrary to bad's blog every other person on the road here is not armed and is not going to shoot you, the majority of this city is as safe as anywhere. Someone on this site once said nothing good ever happens after midnight and he was right, that's when the bottom feeders are out and the good people are in their homes. we have our problems but so does PTC, all the trouble is not confined to Fayetteville. If you ever find out who the scum was in that car, let me know and I will personally show him the light.

I yam what I yam...Popeye

Thanks hutch, you are always so kind.
I hope I never see the thug again. It makes me furious that my granddaughter had to see that.
I only had pepper spray that time, next time it will be something else.

Have a great holiday.

Tug

you, your home, wife, kid, or dog.

Well maybe the dog if it were one of those Paris Hilton, carry in a hand bag, yappers.

It's just a simple fact that the Pavilion has drawn crime into Fayetteville like flies to poop. We're having to deal with the same thing here, much smaller scale, because of HD and WallyWorld.

For some unknown reason there are kids that seem to think it's a cool place to just hang out. Even after PTC has spent millions upon millions of dollars providing real recreation areas all over the city there’s just something about hanging out in a sea of asphalt with sodium lamps. Go figure.

That's one of the reasons that some citizens of PTC have raised such a stink over massive development, BIG-BOX stores. We know if it's brought here, crime will not be far behind.

I don't envy you your position because in a few, 10+ who knows, the Pavilion will end up looking like a huge empty rundown hole in the ground. It happens everywhere, not just here or in Fayetteville.

In time developers will acquire new land and build something newer, supposedly better somewhere down the road and the Pavilion will be left to rot. During that same time it will become infested with additional low-life’s that think because of all of the expanse and buildings it's a great place to sell drugs and hang out.

Newnan is a great example of what not to let happen. The shopping center at Thomas Crossroads is dying because of newer, better, cleaner stores are being built just a few miles up the road in either direction. When I came here, almost twenty years ago, the only thing at Thomas Crossroads was a wooden vegetable stand. Now one quarter of it is dead.

Fayetteville is now considering a second phase for the Pavilion.

PTC has a K-Mart/Sears that we're all waiting to see when it closes.

If you want to see some scary numbers, look at what the per-capita crime stats in Fayetteville used to be 10 or so years ago. Crime almost didn't exist back then as compared to now.

Growth is good if done reasonably. Unfortunately that's not always the case.

Please enjoy your corner of the world for as long as you can.

The pavillion is just a small part of Fayetteville, and really we've had no problems there or anywhere in the city.I have two of the sweetest Labs that ever guzzeled food so you can't talk bad about my dogs, I wouldn't have one of those pocket dogs{ maybe go fishing with it, use it for bait}. Hopefully in 10 years will be retired and living up in the mountains, I was born to be a ridgerunner.By the way, since Dollar has all the answers to the Middle east problem I thought it would be a good idea to send him over there to straighten it all out, I pledged $20.00 towards his ticket and mixer is in for 87 cents how much can we put you down for?

I yam what I yam...Popeye

Although I'm not sure $ will remember why he/she is there once they arrive. They can't seem to stay on point for very long.

I carry a baseball bat in my trunk for just such an occassion, if you walk up to my car I assume its because you want to jack my ride and you will get a mouthful of Louisville Ash.

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." — George Walker Texas Ranger Bush-Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

Yup.... approach my vehicle and pull a weapon or try breaking my window and you will taste a round of the .40 S&W variety (Hydro Shock or Black Talon) which will be followed by pieces of my window which exploded just a mere nano second before as the slug passed through it. Screw the baseball bat.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

I don't think you read the post....she wasn't riding my butt, she was riding my 15 year daughter's butt who is learning to drive and clearly my vehicle was marked with "New Driver" signs. So you tell me, what would possess someone to do this to a young person? No road rage here...and I was sweet as pie. I think the road rage was on the part of the other driver. I simply told me daughter to ignore the fool behind her and concentrate on what is in front of her. I simply and sweetly confronted the horrible and dangerous driving habits of another.

Right, but you went on to say that you were the queen of ____ riding and couldn't wait to see her again so you could do the same thing to her. I'm not saying that the girl in the Neon should have been doing that; I'm saying that you should also control your emotions and set a good example.

I have never understood people who get upset when someone gets close behind their car.
It is better that they hit you close up than to come squealing up and blast you from a distance.
Just tap your brakes slightly or turn on your lights and forget them.
Skanks are hard to find so be good.

Well, at least we are not having a discussion about those "pesky" cyclists!

"I have never understood people who get upset when someone gets close behind their car."

I take it you have never taught a young person to drive in this day and age.