Hey folks,

Im_Gumby is on vacation this week so he sent me an article ahead of time to post in his absence. Don't worry...he'll be back next week, same Monty Python time, same Monty Python channel. Here's his article...

Rob

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Quote: (AP) TAMPA, Fla. - A robbery attempt by a masked man and a gunshot wound to the leg didn't stop a pizza delivery man from making his rounds, pies in hand Thomas Stefanelli, 37, said dedication to his job at Hungry Howie's Pizza kept him on the job after a struggle with a robber Saturday night left him bleeding from a bullet wound in his left thigh. Stefanelli arrived at a home only to realize it was vacant, police said. The masked man approached Stefanelli, pointed a gun and demanded money. Stefanelli said he fought with the man, and two shots were fired. One hit Stefanelli, but he did not immediately notice. The shooter eventually fled with a second man. "They figured they were going to make an easy mark by robbing a pizza delivery person," said police spokesman Joe Durkin. Stefanelli finally noticed his wound. His cell phone wasn't working, so he drove to his next delivery address, dropped off the pie and called his boss to ask him to call the police. Stefanelli went on to make three more deliveries. "It bled a little bit, not much," he said. He was treated and released from a hospital. No arrests have been made, but police have identified several suspects, Durkin said.

Reminds me of the construction worker I posted about earlier, who shot himself with a nail gun.

You do have to wonderÂ… how can you NOT tell youÂ’ve been shot?

Having been on the receiving end of a BB gun pellet, I know I felt that QUITE clearly. I would have to assume that anything fired from a pistol would have to be worse. But I digressÂ…

ThatÂ’s some dedication from Pizza Delivery Guy! How many of you would take a bullet for your job? (Military personnel and police are not included, as you have a reasonable expectation of being in the line of fire, so to speak) I know I have very little chance of facing lead projectiles where I work, but do those of you who may, what makes it worth it to you? Military service is easy to understand the rationale (I would have been in the Navy, except for having had asthma past 13), but how could you get up in the morning knowing that you might be shot at?

‘Course I will be in NY City on vacation when you read this, which in and of itself raises my chances of getting shot… ah well.

Did Im_Gumby send in his Pimp-Proxy.....
Sweeet find....

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Having been on the receiving end of a BB gun pellet, I know I felt that QUITE clearly. I would have to assume that anything fired from a pistol would have to be worse. But I digress… That’s some dedication from Pizza Delivery Guy! How many of you would take a bullet for your job? ‘Course I will be in NY City on vacation when you read this, which in and of itself raises my chances of getting shot… ah well.

Well, there's probably a 1:30,000 chance that I would be shot at due to my work environment, mainly because all the screwups that invite that type of retaliation are about 4-5 hours away from me. However, my philosophy is "if you shoot me, you better well f'n kill me first try."

Of course, this DD post does raise the question about safety in the workplace. With layoffs/downsizing/rightsizing/whatever being on the rise here in the US, it isn't just the postal service that causes people to come in w/guns in hand. If you notice in reading the news stories about these tragedies, it isn't really the co-workers/peers that are the main targets (unless it's a known jerk(read: target of opportunity)), it's usually management types who are known throughout the company for not being fair in their policies. Anyone else who comes under fire are (usually) either a) toadies of the aforementioned management types or b) people who have suddenly developed heroism and rush in to save their coworkers. Personally, if I know someone's not normally a happy camper, plus recently been part of a downsizing, if I see them come into the office w/a purpose -- that's the time for me to go on break . . . outside . . . down the street.

Who knew a pizza-delivery person could be so Gangster, the next 50Cent no less.

Haha, interesting article and interesting comment by Gumby.

Yeah, that's some hardcore dedication to a job like delivering pizza (no offense to anyone who does it; I've done it myself). I know if someone robbed me, and I thought all they wanted was the money and nothing more, I'd hand over the money and whatever else. I'm not going to fight with the guy over it, it's not my money anyway! Know what I mean? Not to mention, this guy probably had less than a hundred dollars on him since I think they give you enough to make change for bills and the pizza orders themselves were probably right around $20 a piece. However, if I thought my life would be at risk if I didn't at least try to do something, I'd definitely fight them off, or try to anyway. I think anyone who goes door-to-door (for lack of a better description of their job) needs to have some sort of security. There was a story at a local Papa John's here when a guy was delivering a pizza and stepped into the front door while the customer was getting cash and another guy came out of nowhere basically and him with some blunt object. They took everything from him, and left him knocked out in the front yard. How crazy is that? But, the update on the situation is that upon investigation of the crime, the homeowner's alibis proved to be true in that they weren't even home that night so someone must've broken in, made the call, mugged the delivery guy for everything all under fake name and fake address. Smooth of them and whatnot, but it just makes you realize how resourceful, clever and whatnot the criminals of today are getting. They're practically receiving their master's degree in Crimes 101 on the streets here. Kind of makes you wonder what little spontaneous act you may be a victim of while walking down the street one day.

I'm done ranting.

Here in New Jersey, in some parts, "gangsters" will throw a baby or very young child in the street so a car can stop to avoid hitting him/her, in which then he gets immediately robbed/killed at gunpoint.

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob You do have to wonderÂ… how can you NOT tell youÂ’ve been shot?

Well, my $0.02, I know when one is shot in a body part sonsisting of a lot of muscle(thigh) the bullet goes through the skin at a fast rate. This burns the end of the nerves.My second opinion is adrenaline. If you were wrestling a guy to save your life, you may get a little adrenaline going.

Hardcore nonetheless.

-BINKINATOR-

Last time I delivered pizzas atthe Hut, I had well over $100 in my pocket. It's all luck of the draw, sometimes you get stiffed every other run, other times you're getting 5+ per run.

I've known nobody in my town that delivers pizzas who's been robbed. North of here in Indy I've known a couple that have gotten jacked. Hey, I guess it's a risk you take when you sign up for the job.

It must be a pretty big compliment to the company knowing the their deliverers are getting mugged for their pizza. Or they could ust go by the mass number of sales they get each week.