Well, I was not really talking about the ammo but how inappropriate a single shot shotgun is for your skill level. You will need a repeater of some sort.
Seeing as though your request is for subsistence level support for that wonderful cat of yours, I will offer you a nice sling shot and a bag of marbles.....The marbles is because I know you lost yours.
Earl.......... what has already been said here by the fellers should give you peace. This scam has become so rampant that when those really in need are asking, they suffer through our doubt of their honesty. You did fine brother. There were WAY to many negative variables in his story to make it realistic. Chances are, he was playing on your good samaritan side and stringing it along. If not............... he has my prayers.
Too bad the leaches of society have hurt the truly needy of man kinds nature to help a fellow man...............
__________________ LUKE 22:36 -and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT
Earl,
Don't beat yourself up over this, I've been burned numerous times with situations like this, I'm still a sucker for a sob story, (and by looking at my sig line, I should be the most cynical person you'd meet), anyway, my story:
Back when I was traveling, I checked into a motel in Mississippi, and heading back to my car I was approached by a fellow who said he noticed my license plate and was from the same county in Georgia I was from, (I didn't check his),he waved back at his truck which had several others sitting on and in it,
they looked like crew of hard working guys who were stranded off on a job, anyway, he asked it I could give him some money for gas to get back home, he figured they needed $25.00 worth to get there, I only had $20.00 in cash and I asked the guy I was traveling with if he had any, he said no, he was out of cash. so I gave him the 20, he thanked me and I went on to the room, feeling real good about myself----my friend I was traveling with checked into the same motel a couple of months later, and couldn't wait to call me to tell me that those same guys were still out of gas in the parking lot and still trying to get some gas money---Burned again, but what the heck, it's only money.
But always remember---you never know when an angel is going to be sent to test you-----
olcop
Earl Sir: You did not fail yourself nor anyone. Years ago I would see people needing gas and I would put a couple bucks in thier tank. At one time I saw a young family they had a small baby with them. Being a young family myself, my first wife and I decided to help. We didn't have much money back then but we went home and packed up some food, baby food, and diapers. I told the guy about the Social Services department and showed him where it was. He told me (with his family on the street) that he has more pride then that. At some point you have to swallow your pride. And years after that what really turned me off was when I saw a gal in the Los Angeles area get off a bus carrying a walker. She walked to the corner in front of a burger joint and set up shop. She opened the walker and pulled out a sign stating she was homeless and needed money. I watched this for 2 hours. The bus came back and she folded up her walker packed her sign away and walked to the bus and got back on.
That is when I said no more. I was sitting at the Petro in Little Rock AR. Finishing fudging my logs and watching what was going on. A car pulls into the car parking area and 2 black guys get out. They walk into the truck parking area and start hittin the drivers. Well they hit my truck. Start with the spew how thier car broke down (mind you I sat thier and watched them) and needed money. I looked at the guy and said BS I watched you pull in, park and walk to the trucks. Your car ain't broke down. OH BOY, he got mad because I called him on it.
But then thier are those times that you feel it. Myself and my second wife (crazy physco from hell) were coming out of a truck stop and saw this girl sitting on a bench in the rain. No bag, no coat, soppin wet. She said she did have any food, no money. That a truck driver picked her up in another state and dumped her off at that truck stop and took her bag. Now as a truck driver I have seen a lot of s--theaded truck drivers out there. So I pulled 20 bucks out of my pocket and told the now X to go give it to her. And to tell the girl to get something to eat and call her family to get her a bus ticket home. wheather she did or not I do not know. If it had only been me and if not married at the time I would have gotten the girl some dry cloths and put her in my truck and made sure she made to her home town. It's truck drivers like the one who dumped her off in the rain that make the good truck driver look bad. And thier are very few of the good truck drivers left.
So Mr Earl you did nothing wrong and no reason to feel guilty and beat yourself up.
I slept like a warm frog in a hot mud puddle last night..LOL.
But ya know that bothered me a bit yesterday...I forgot to say as this fella just wiped his windows with the squeegie thing, then came over to ask me I told him
I can't help ya..he just drove off. So he had some gas I guess..LOL....
I like many would have walked home iffin it was me and never asked a sole for a dime. Being that old ya never forget your wallet,it just don't happen..
We all want to help out those who really need it, not those who want to take advantage of us. It was just gas. Not as if he needed medical help. It is hard to determine those who really need it and those who are just trying to rip us off with a sob story. It is easy to say this because I wasn't there, but don't worry about it. Don't call you character into question over this, no one on this forum ever would.
I have to be honest with your here... I wouldn't have helped him. I know it's a sad story and all, and maybe I just don't trust people enough, but a few years ago I had this happen to me, the most sob story you'd ever want to hear. And I would have helped the guy if I hadn't helped another sob story in the same way just one year before and had that guy take me real good.
__________________ "Ruin a liberal's day; recite historical fact." - found on a bumper sticker
I am with the 99% here. This type of scam is very rampant. I get approached pretty frequently. I normally tell the security or management of whatever establishment they are in front of. Let them handle it.
Now, I have been stuck before. I mean dead in the water. Cell phone dead, no cash, pulled my credit card out that morning to pay a bill online. Stuck.
No problem though. Hiked my butt over to a gas station and convinced the lady behind the counter to let me use the phone.
__________________
"It is useless for the sheep
to pass resolutions in favour of
vegetarianism" ~ R. W. Inge
Today, after a long hard day on the construction site, carrying heavy things, climbing all over and welding high rise steel, getting burned and banged up as always...not to mention the long commute home...a bum came up to my window and said, "how you doing today?"
Well what could I say? "I am tired as hell, I been working my freaking brains out all day on minimal sleep, then battling LA traffic."
The very WELL-FED man took his "hungry" sign, turned, and approached a different car ...with this look on his face like I had just somehow victimized him. Is it wrong for me to feel aggrevated at this guy? hardly. Every town has food pantry services for those who truly are hungry. My hard earned money will go to buy ME beer, not scammers.
It shows your character (good) that this would concern you. I am frequently approached by people with a story asking for something--most stories are not true and it is unfortunate that I have seen many panhandlers who make stuff up. I usually feel I am enabling them if I simply give them a handout but do help out those I consider who are truly in need. This is a hard call to make, but usually the guy with the flat or the unservicable car, etc. is pretty obvious.
I was approached by a woman (leaving the gun shop none the less) with a story of looking for a meal. I walked over to the nearest 7-11 and asked her to pick whatever she wanted out. She proceeded to complain about how her tooth hurt but did get some stuff to eat. I think she was miffed to some extent I just didn`t give her the money (she came over from a liquor store) but this let me think that I might be helping out in case the person (who wasn`t overweight) that day was telling the truth.
I have many worthy people and organizations I give money and my time to and can directly participate in what they do and see the positive effects. I am willing to help out but in general never give just cash to folks on the street--unless I`m SURE they are telling the truth-- because I have heard too many lies.
Now when it comes to someone who really is in need (broken down car, accident, lost, etc.) I always help out when I can.
__________________
In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit -- John Galt
87Likes
