Here's a scenario that I've thought of a few times, but never seen addressed anywhere. Since we're full of threads involving suspicious people in parking lots, I thought this would fit right in.

Say you're walking out of the bookstore with a new book (by yourself). About halfway to your car, a suspicious-looking person asks you for some money. You tell him no, and he starts becoming more insistent. You're starting to feel threatened. So, what do you do with the book? Hold onto it and draw one handed? Drop it and draw? Throw it at the BG and draw?

What if it was a couple of gangbangers with their hands under their coats?

Weapon hand is ALWAYS empty.  Carry everything in your off hand.

Quoted: Weapon hand is ALWAYS empty.  Carry everything in your off hand.

Yeah, I included that in the assumption. You're carrying it off-hand, but do you hold onto it and use the gun one-handed, or drop it and use both hands?

Quoted: Weapon hand is ALWAYS empty.  Carry everything in your off hand.

+1

Throw it at his face while drawing, that'll give you the split second you need to break leather and double-tap COM.

Wal Mart and six bags plus a case of Pepsi

How can you carry them in one hand?

Throw the book at him and then shoot.  Problem solved.

Quoted: Wal Mart and six bags plus a case of Pepsi How can you carry them in one hand?

Drop it or use a cart

Quoted: Wal Mart and six bags plus a case of Pepsi How can you carry them in one hand?

I use a cart because I'll be darned if my lazy ass has to go through more than the minimum effort to Mozambique drill some mugger's ass to kingdom come.

Heres something I always think about.  What happens if you get mugged in a trainstation and you only need $3 more to get a ticket home and you ask some guy coming out of a book store for a random act of kindness and the fucker shoots you center of mass 3 times.

I guess I'm the rare bird that only draws his handgun if I feel my life is threatened. Around here we get lots of beggars/pan-handlers in the parking lots. Aside from it being against the law in AZ to draw down if not in life-threatening situation, I always carry pepper spray for just these situations. My shootin' hand is almost always free and I have my ASP Palm-Defender in left hand when walking to the car. I have been in this situation a couple times and after a 2nd firm "Get the Fuck away!", they left me alone. If anyone cared to get closer that arms reach, I would blast them with some hot sauce. In this particular situation I suppose I would have Palm Defender and book bag in left hand and if they subject got too close, I would get a grip on my handgun with right hand "just in case".

Quoted: Wal Mart and six bags plus a case of Pepsi How can you carry them in one hand?

Ever heard of the new invention:  shopping carts?

Quoted: Throw the book at him and then shoot.  Problem solved.

+22.3

You should only draw if you feel your lifes in immediate danger and if you do feel threatened then dropping 10 bucks worth of groceries on the ground really doesn't matter.  

Say "No Thanks" to whomever asks.

It confuses them, and you get time to walk away.