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*** Warning: this may be a controversial post involving the use of firearms ***
*** If you are offended by firearms, click the 'back' button now ***
Back in the mid-90's for a few years I delivered pizzas part time. It was in a small town and crime wasn't much of an issue until the last couple of years. We had our "no go" areas but they were off limits because none of the houses were numbered and too many residents would try to scam discounts and freebies.
I've carried a weapon since I was 21, which is the legal age to carry in Georgia. In 1995 the law was changed to allow concealed carry with the Georgia Firearms License, which I had obtained as soon as I turned 21 in 1992. Company rules be damned, I kept my sidearm (a Colt M1911A1) in the car.
It was 96 or 97. We'd started getting the occasional call to deliver to abandoned houses in bad neighborhoods but no robberies yet. I got a delivery to a decent line of apartments on a street where we'd had no incidents. The street starts out as part of the town, then quickly turns into a rural area once past the county jail.
This was also the last time I allowed a lighted company sign on my car.
About a mile from the street, a car pulled out of a gas station and followed me, closing quickly. By the time I turned onto the street and began trying to look for the house number, the car was so close I could not see the headlights.
I sped up, the car sped up. No way I could stop without being rear-ended. So I sped up more and the car stayed right on my tail. We passed the jail and I whipped off into the parking lot of a county dumpster area. The car followed and stopped. I spun my car around and opened the door.
All 4 doors on the other car opened and 4 people started getting out. I jumped out with my .45 aimed directly at the car that had chased me.
All 4 doors quickly closed and I've never seen an 80's model Toyota burn rubber but this one did.
I completed the delivery then reported most of the incident, leaving out the part about me being armed. Although the manager knew I carried.
About a month later, another driver was dispatched to a delivery that turned out to be an abandoned house and he was beaten and put in the hospital. He recovered with no permanent injuries, thank God, and his car wasn't stolen.
From then on, we had quite a few "no go" areas and a zero tolerance policy for bullshit. At that store and the next one I worked for, every so often I'd be asked to ride along with a driver to a questionable delivery. One store owner told me "well you know the company prohibits firearms" and I just smiled and said "ok, if I ever have to shoot a robber, I'll shout very loudly 'I quit!' before I pull the trigger. that should cover you on liability if anyone sues". He just laughed.
He said that while I was showing him my newest .45 at the time as well as the riot shotgun I also kept in the car.
I have a lot of respect for all of you who deliver pizzas. You really never know when you'll have a delivery that goes south. Take care and be safe out there. And remember one thing. If your state has a 'castle doctrine' the worst you'll face is being fired but hey at least you'll be alive to look for another job.
*** If you are offended by firearms, click the 'back' button now ***
Back in the mid-90's for a few years I delivered pizzas part time. It was in a small town and crime wasn't much of an issue until the last couple of years. We had our "no go" areas but they were off limits because none of the houses were numbered and too many residents would try to scam discounts and freebies.
I've carried a weapon since I was 21, which is the legal age to carry in Georgia. In 1995 the law was changed to allow concealed carry with the Georgia Firearms License, which I had obtained as soon as I turned 21 in 1992. Company rules be damned, I kept my sidearm (a Colt M1911A1) in the car.
It was 96 or 97. We'd started getting the occasional call to deliver to abandoned houses in bad neighborhoods but no robberies yet. I got a delivery to a decent line of apartments on a street where we'd had no incidents. The street starts out as part of the town, then quickly turns into a rural area once past the county jail.
This was also the last time I allowed a lighted company sign on my car.
About a mile from the street, a car pulled out of a gas station and followed me, closing quickly. By the time I turned onto the street and began trying to look for the house number, the car was so close I could not see the headlights.
I sped up, the car sped up. No way I could stop without being rear-ended. So I sped up more and the car stayed right on my tail. We passed the jail and I whipped off into the parking lot of a county dumpster area. The car followed and stopped. I spun my car around and opened the door.
All 4 doors on the other car opened and 4 people started getting out. I jumped out with my .45 aimed directly at the car that had chased me.
All 4 doors quickly closed and I've never seen an 80's model Toyota burn rubber but this one did.
I completed the delivery then reported most of the incident, leaving out the part about me being armed. Although the manager knew I carried.
About a month later, another driver was dispatched to a delivery that turned out to be an abandoned house and he was beaten and put in the hospital. He recovered with no permanent injuries, thank God, and his car wasn't stolen.
From then on, we had quite a few "no go" areas and a zero tolerance policy for bullshit. At that store and the next one I worked for, every so often I'd be asked to ride along with a driver to a questionable delivery. One store owner told me "well you know the company prohibits firearms" and I just smiled and said "ok, if I ever have to shoot a robber, I'll shout very loudly 'I quit!' before I pull the trigger. that should cover you on liability if anyone sues". He just laughed.
He said that while I was showing him my newest .45 at the time as well as the riot shotgun I also kept in the car.
I have a lot of respect for all of you who deliver pizzas. You really never know when you'll have a delivery that goes south. Take care and be safe out there. And remember one thing. If your state has a 'castle doctrine' the worst you'll face is being fired but hey at least you'll be alive to look for another job.
Knowing my luck, they'd be good samaritans who just wanted to tell me my gas cap was off.
I stopped dozing in my car when it was parked on the street after that.
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