Close call in Quartzsite Arizona

I am purposefully being vague, so as to protect myself even though this happened some years back after I moved from Ca. to Arizona.



My brother lived in a California city, that was a couple of hours from the airport that he needed to fly from, he is handicapped as a result of a stroke, he cannot talk, and his motor skills do not allow him to write... He needed a chaperone to accompany him to an east coast medical facility, I live in Arizona and agreed to do so.



I left my home in Arizona, carrying my only California compliant handgun, a Taurus Millenium Pro in .45 ACP, I carried it in a hybrid holster and at the state line, I became California compliant and stowed everything away, where I expected it to stay until I got back to my state of residence.



We got a hotel near the airport the night before, as we had an early AM departure...later I got a call telling me that we had forgotten my brother's anti seizure meds, but not to worry, as we spoke, a pharmacy near my motel was filling the order. As I left my brother at the hotel, something told me that I should not go without protection, so I saddled up and discreetly headed out.



When I entered the parking lot (nighttime), I noticed that there were some shady looking guys hanging out on the other side of the parking lot, and they were eyeing me as I made my way to a park space. As I made my way out of the store, I immediately knew that things had gone south, as these four guys had fanned out around my car, and were going to prevent me from driving away. It was pretty easy to determine who the Alpha male of the bunch was so I gave him most of my attention, drew my pistol and held at the low ready.



Thankfully they scattered, and I was able to get out of there and hunker down at the hotel. Had I not been armed good case scenario, I would have been robbed, no ID, no flight for my bro, and probably no car. Bad case scenario, I would have had my head stomped, my bro would be wondering what happened to a brother that is now fighting for his life.



Had I called the cops after the fact, they might have wanted to look at the video of the parking lot, and anyway I would have to be dishonest about what transpired now I am a California resident for 10-25.



Had the bad guys called the cops with a "man with a gun call" they automatically become the victim, and the perp with out of state plates, happened to have a gun validating their claim.



There really was no decent option for a citizen to make a peaceable journey unmolested, so after my mother in law passed this last year, we decided to no longer travel into California for anything. My wife is a California native, die hard 9er's and Sharks fan, and I have a lot of good memories having lived there for 25 years, but I choose to never (as long as I can help it) be in that situation again.



I sold the Millenium Pro after that (6+1 capacity I believe) Most of the time I carry a Ruger SR9c standard mag has 10+1 with two 17 round mags with grip adapters. Other times I carry my double stack SA 1911..with two spare mags, that gives me 43 rounds of .45ACP, And always a bug...generally LCP, LCR...



I am so glad that I chose to carry when I needed to, and gladder that I never had to fire a shot....