PLAIN TOWNSHIP, OHIO — When 18-year-old Ronald Henderson arrived in a parking lot under the presumption he was going to buy a phone off another man, he likely anticipated “aggressive negotiations” being part of the bargain. He thought wrong.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Henderson became “irate” and then got into an altercation with the seller. He then drew a handgun and tried to rob the man at gunpoint. The man drew his own handgun and shot Henderson. Police arrived at the scene and arrested Henderson after getting him treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The seller was also injured but his wounds were superficial.
Henderson now looks forward to a charge of felonious assault and aggravated robbery according to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
Whenever going into a private sale with a stranger, it’s always good to meet in a public place and bring a gun. It’s not because every stranger you meet is a bad guy. In fact, I’ve sold items on craigslist before and had zero issues thus far. The presumption isn’t that the other person is bad. It’s a need to protect your life.
If you don’t carry everyday, I’d hope you would reconsider. But even if you don’t, please do recognize there are occasions where it just makes sense. A private sale is one of those occasions. We’ve seen too many stories of craigslist deals gone awry.
When the concealed carrier is prepared, he stands a shot of walking away intact. If he’s not, he’s going to get victimized.
A further recommendation is to meet outside a police station. I know not every concealed carrier can do that while armed, depending upon the state you’re in, but it’s a fantastic idea. A bad guy has to be a complete fool to try to rob someone outside a police station. And if he is that fool, at least he doesn’t have far to go after you defend yourself.
I know some police stations are setting up dedicated parking spaces where people can pull up and do their private transactions.
Another great choice is to have a dash cam set up. It can be used to spot other driver’s license plates and also exonerate your actions if you do need to defend yourself.
And lastly, I always recommend taking a friend. The friend doesn’t have to carry a gun if he or she isn’t comfortable but just having another witness there with you can be a help.
If a private sale or transaction isn’t going the way you like, feel free to cancel. No matter how good the deal may seem, it’s not worth your life and health. If the other party is acting suspicious, like parking in a poorly lit space or changing the venue at the last minute, just call it off. There will be another buyer out there.
Play it safe. See if some of these suggestions help you out. And please, please, please, do carry a concealed handgun on your person.