When To Glock Or Not To Glock: The PI Question

Even if you aren't technically a PI (a private investigator is required to be licensed).

You may be the independent journalist, or lawyer's assistant. Or just curious about something that concerns the "public good"(other people might call you nosy). Whatever circumstances, there comes a time and case when the job or the story takes you to a place even cops fear to tread without a gun.

Never take the gun if you don't need it. Once in a while you'll be wrong, but 99% of the time you'll be right.

If you're wrong, retreat if you can. Better to come back prepared.




When you know you're entering a dangerous situation, one where people are known or are
strongly suspected of having committed murder, or another serious assault, always take your gun.
But, when it's no longer needed and the job is
finished, take it home and lock it up again. Always lock it up when it's not in use.









Your gun is not an ego accessory. It is a tool.
99% of the time you don't need it. If you
think you need it more than that, you need to reconsider how you're doing what you're going. Maybe this isn't the gig you're cut out for.

It's not the movies. Most information you get
will be from asking the right people polite questions.




And the most common job you'll be asked to
do is the cliche: shadowing a suspected unfaithful spouse. That doesn't require a gun...no matter what your client tries to tell you.


Wrote this after I came back from my first "field trip": that is, a job that was more than "polite questions". It was, thankfully, uneventful. I prefer "polite question" jobs.