Musician Jay Allen, winner of the 2022 Country Now Awards as Favorite Competition Contestant, featured on NBC’s “The Voice” and recognized as one of Music Mayhem Magazine’s 2023 Artists to Watch, took to social media to share his recent experience in Tennessee, being robbed at a grocery store.
The incident occurred in East Nashville, with the singer sharing his experience in an Instagram post, telling people what happened and reflecting on his state of mind.
“I’m ok, (besides being out a few bucks) but it was the feeling that I couldn’t get over… Even with having a muscular stature and being covered in tattoos, it didn’t matter… he had a gun, and I didn’t,” posted Allen.
Allen, who was obviously shaken but not stirred by the incident, went on to talk about how the feeling of helplessness inspired him to take his safety into his own hands and become a gun owner, even after having been unsure about guns for years prior.
“I felt helpless, taken advantage of and mad at myself more than anything… I’ve always been on the fence about guns, but today I’m a proud new gun owner. It’s strictly for self-defense, and I will NEVER feel that way again,” Allen added to the post.
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In his post, Allen shared an image of his new gun, what looks to be a SIG P365-XMACRO TACOPS, and some footage of himself shooting at the range. Followers and fans responded thoughtfully, sad about what had happened, but grateful that Allen escaped the incident unharmed, with many encouraging his commitment to defend himself.
Aside from his music career, Allen, whose mother passed from Alzheimer’s in 2019, has also become a philanthropist, having raised an impressive $160 million plus to fight the disease.
Like most, I’m sure, I celebrate his safety coming out of an incident unharmed that many people have unfortunately not survived. Even more so, I applaud his rational response to the ugly reality and his willingness to see the importance of being able to defend his life and those whom he cares for. Too often we see people succumb to fear drawing irrational conclusions from that emotion. Violent crime predates the invention of firearms by a long shot, and the right to defend ourselves is enshrined in our Constitution. Welcome to the club, Jay Allen. Stay safe and train hard.
“SIG P365-XMACRO TACOPS”
There are lots of good-choice carry guns, but the Sig P-365 X-Macro Tacops is a good choice for a carry gun.
After many years of carrying a Glock 22 as my EDC, a gun that never once jammed or failed even once in any fashion in practice, or when I needed it most across several defense incidents over time, and it always performed perfectly for me, I finally retired that faithful and trusted friend as it was showing its age and wear. Had to select another EDC, and out of the many guns I have or tried out I could have selected among other Glocks or even another Glock 22 or many different brands, but my carry requirements had changed also in the mean while. So after evaluating for all aspects (e.g. reliability, capacity, hand fit, weight, conceal-ability, etc…) across multiple guns I settled on the Sig P-365 X-Macro Tacops.
“bUt MuH tAtS n MuSkLeS!!”
lol. Reminds of those victims who protest “bUt I’m An AlLy?!?!”
Better late than never and I hope he takes it more seriously than just a prop to pose for the gram with.
“Even with having a muscular stature and being covered in tattoos, it didn’t matter…”
Maybe the robber thought he was a hipster.
Maybe him and Jason Aldean can cut a duet called ” We don’t care what you sissy lib losers think.”
Tattoos are for losers. Kinda like weed.
What’s conservative?? A liberal who has been mugged. In this case, it is the literal truth.
Back in the day. Having a tattoo was protection against being killed in battle. Now in the 21st century people believe it still protects them from being assaulted or approached by criminals.
Having big muscles and tattoos doesn’t stop a 22LR from entering your heart or brain or some other body organ.
btw
This reminds me of Raiders of the Lost Ark. A gun beats a sword and the big man holding it, every time.
He was undecided if he should become a gun owner? I blame the parents, They have a crazy liberal mindset, thinking an inanimate object can be evil. A gun is a tool used for hunting or to defend yourself, nothing more, A TOOL. Many tools take instruction and practice to use safely and efficiently. You wouldn’t hand a person a Chainsaw and tell them go cut some wood if they never used one.
Hope he takes time to get some actual training from a qualified instructor. Last thing the country needs is another YouTube trained firearms expert running around thinking he is John Wick.
I have carried for years and have never had any issues and I hope to never have but you just do not know for sure. Better to carry and never have to use than to not have a gun and need one. Only has to happen once.
I went to the DollarGeneral yesterday armed as usual. The aisles are like a corn maze, barely enough room for two carts to pass. A robbery, etc. would turn into what they call Close Quarter Combat or in the case of DollarGeneral it’s Really Close Quarter Combat, don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes does not apply.
Apparently the Musician never watched The Good, Bad and the Ugly and took from it the numerous examples in the movie where the character with the Gun is in charge for the time they have the Gun.
Speaking of Musicians on a Sunday Morning must always include Kris…connect the h…
h ttps://youtube.com/watch?v=gPGuUHNT7U4&feature=shared
Debbie, thanks for the link.
I didn’t realize he died in September at age 88.
and I agree with:
“‘Cos there’s something in a Sunday,
Makes a body feel alone.”
FWW,
Yup. Worked the polls this past Tuesday. Fourteen hours. We were told firearms were forbidden to poll-watchers even though voters could be armed. So, I figured: “Hey! I’m a voters and a poll-watcher. That means half of me can be armed.” So I carried my G43 in my right-side cargo pocket. My left side remained unarmed.
Problem solved!
unlike rappers new age country western stars must not carry guns?
Well Jay, ” Im’a gonna go gits mah gun.” is to late.
Besides according to Dacian/Miner49/Albert AJ Hall having a gun would have only gotten you killed.
Best just to let the bad guys have what they want.
And WTF Jay, your CMA must not amount to much, most of the rich and famous have other people do their shopping for them. That’s why you never see Bill Maher in a store. He’s smart.
Good for Jay Allen.
Maybe his situational awareness will improve significantly now and enable him to avoid the next would-be armed robbery.
I certainly hope someone educates him on the potential risks and benefits of trying to draw a handgun for self-defense on an armed robber who already has his/her own handgun pointing at him.
Good for the musician who is the subject of this article. (I cannot type his name because that triggers moderation jail.)
Maybe his situational awareness will improve significantly now and enable him to avoid the next would-be armed robbery.
I certainly hope someone educates him on the potential risks and benefits of trying to draw a handgun for self-defense on an armed robber who already has his/her own handgun pointing at him.
For reference a stupidly simple comment consisting ONLY of the musician’s name (that is only two words) triggered moderation jail.
My daughter is a violinist. Over the years, I have tried and tried to convince her to get into country-western music, or even blue-grass. THAT is where the money is. But no…she is a classical music snob. Good thing she is in high-demand as a violin teacher.
Me, I always thought I would retire to a life of playing pubs on the weekend and working in my shop during the week. God, however, had other ideas. Guess, I’ll go with his.
Funny how that happens, huh?
Smart move for Allen. As a musician, I know that instruments and equipment can be a high-dollar draw for robbers, and some crazies can hate you because they don’t care for your style of music. And loading zones for venues are often dark, seedy areas in crime-prone zones. Personally, firearms have saved my life several times, mostly without having to fire in those situations. I’ve finally worked out pistol, holster, and wardrobe combos that work whether traveling (not commercial air), setting up, or performing.
Help me out here.. Where in the Constitution is the right to self defense enshrined? Unless it is under the right to life (which is not enshrined in the Bill of Rights). I am not saying we don’t have a right to self defense, I just didn’t know it was enshrined in the Constitution or Bill of Rights.