Took out my pistol from my pocket and it worked to defuse a problem

Many years ago I was an MP in the military and wore the oversized Beretta, I had to pull it out a few times.I have had a state carry license since they became available to regular people, I use a larger pistol when I know I have to go to the ghetto, but 99% of the time I carry a pocket .38 in a Nemesis holster. I have never had to pull it.I was skirting the edge of Detroit (8 Mile like the movie) on my way home from a work related stop because the freeway was jammed up, and I was low on gas. I stopped at a station that looked okay, on the Oakland county side of the road. This is not the terrible part of Detroit you see in ruin porn youtubes, but it is a little rough.Gas station robberies and carjackings are common in Detroit, last year the police chief suggested license holders pump gas with their pistols in hand after dark. This was late afternoon, though.White guy walked by, then came back and stepped around my SUV back corner and got very close to me and put his hand in his pocket. I had seen him through the car window acting weird and already had my hand in my pocket, as soon as he stepped up I pulled out my pistol.He turned and walked away, calling out he was going to ask me where the Kroger (grocery store chain) was. He then walked a half block down 8 Mile and stood there until I got done and left.I don't practice pulling the pistol enough but I didn't have any issues getting a clean draw. I did index my finger along the side, I think my thought was waiting for him to pull first before I fired, but it wasn't a fully formed thought.I do shoot the pistol every two months or so, and that was helpful to my confidence.I did not check behind me enough in case he was working as a team, but I did back up with my back to the pump until he was far enough away. via /r/CCW http://ift.tt/2xLcJwO