Don Pitaniello was closing up at work this past Sunday night at Mac’s Convenience Store, 145 North Main Street Rutland VT, when a man in a hoodie came into the store looking to rob the place. The man had a knife and when he approached Pitaniello and the counter, he laid it down and said “Empty the register”.
Pitaniello, a Vietnam veteran, looked at the man and said “Really?“, as he drew his .380 and pointed it directly in his face.
Can you guess what happened next? That’s right, the man took off quicker than he came in. Pitaniello briefly followed the suspect but soon returned to the store.
Pitaniello said he prevented a robbery but violated several of his store’s policies, including a prohibition on bringing firearms to work and following an armed robber from the store.
Pitaniello said the incident could cost him his job but he doesn’t regret his actions.
“That store has been robbed eight or nine times and I always work nights,” he said. I’m a firm believer in having a gun and not needing it rather than the other way around. I can always find a new job.”
Pitaniello stated that he’s carried a firearm all his life. Good for you, Sir. If you end up losing your job for protecting yourself and the store, there are better places for you to work that will be happy to let you carry a firearm without worrying about losing your job.
