Couple of incidents/ reasons to have a gun

[Timber Wolf]

What follows are just a couple of personal incidents that, although they eventually tuned out benign enough, highlight the need and “comfort” of having a gun available. We live on a cul-de-sac that is the first street off the highway and in fact are the only people living on the whole street. It is pretty quiet most of the time and is generally a really nice place to live.

Last fall I was in the backyard working on something while my wife and 5-year old daughter were out front with the garage door up. My wife was sitting in a chair doing some chore where she could watch our daughter ride her scooter on the driveway. A little rice burner of some fashion comes rolling down the street slowly, turns around in the cul-de-sac and comes back to stop in front of our driveway. The car had dark tinted windows so you could not see anything inside and nobody gets out, like they are sitting there sizing up the situation.

I came around the house to see the car (suspiciously) sitting there so I ease over to the F150 and retrieve my current “truck gun” (S&W 457 loaded with Hydrashocks) and tuck it into my waistband under my shirt. While I am busy arming myself my daughter starts to walk out toward the car to see what is going on! My wife and I both call for her to stop and come back and as she does a guy gets out of the drivers (opposite us) side and steps to the front of the car and states he is looking for work and wants to know about the house being built next door. I say it is mine and I don’t need any help right now. He says OK and gets back in the car and drives off.

Happy ending. So, he could have been legit and did not want to get out of the car with just a woman and child out front and when he saw me he was comfortable to get out and talk. Or, it could have been a car-load of trouble (who knows if anyone else was in the car) and he was covering himself by telling a story when he saw me. We will never know but my wife did admit she what I was doing and was glad I was armed. As I told her latter, you don’t get to pick when trouble might happen and better safe then sorry about having a gun.

Fast forward to last Saturday night. I always exersize my rights under my concealed carry permit and slip a heater in my pocket when going out on the road with the wife and kid. I have the 457 in my truck of course but when traveling in the mini-van I like to have a smaller piece on me in case we stop for gas, food, a rest stop, etc. So, I have my P32 with a spare mag in a pocket holster in my right front jeans pocket. We had gone about an hour west to drop off the kid at the grandparents for a couple of days and decided to stop for groceries on the way home.

We do so around 7:30 PM in a pretty deserted parking lot and a very few people in the store. When we parked my wife pulled through to point out and there was not another car anywhere close. When we come out there is a really beat Toyota Corolla sitting eight feet behind the wife’s van kind of half hanging out in the drive aisle. Two young immigrants (Mexicans) are circling the Toyota and checking it out. The car had dark tinted side windows and you could not see anything inside (just like the car in the story above). They move off toward their car as we approach and I tell my wife to unlock the van (remotely) and get in. While this is going on I loosen the P32 from the holster and get a grip on it in my pocket. As I go past the Toyota I can see nobody is inside but as I am loading the groceries a dude comes out of the store and opens the car to get some cigarettes. The Mexicans approach and from the discussion it turns out one of them once owned the car. Happy ending with no drama. I am still happy I had a gun with me.

So, two times fairly recently I was happy I was armed even though nothing took place. The incidents are still enough to drive home the fact that you may not get to pick if/when you need a gun so best to practice having one handy.

[Survey Punk]

My "condition 1" Government Model in a IWB holster has given me a warm fuzzy feeling a number of times.

JB

[hagar]

There was a couple of times in AZ when I was glad to have an M1 carbine or L1A1 handy..

[spittle8]

I live in Detroit, am white, and commuted on foot for a year and a half. I never carried (would've been illegal as I got the job at 17) but if I had I would have been immeasurably more comfortable. I never knew if that day would be the day that something happened. I'd been jumped by ~15 dudes, been threatened with violence/robbery, had racial epithets thrown my way, and I'm convinced the only reason I wasn't preyed upon was because I always met force with force. If people threatened me I responded threateningly to them and showed no fear. I'm glad no one ever called my bluff as I didn't even carry a knife for the longest time and fist fights are messy when you're outnumbered, but anyone who thinks CCW is absurd might take a lesson from me before they run their mouth.

Great stories btw, always be vigilant. It costs you nothing if nothing happens, but it might save your life or someone else's if something DOES happen. Few feelings are worse than being ambushed and caught completely off guard. Readiness is so important.

[rustyswarf]

Have not had anything happen to me, personally lately, but a friend of mine who moonlights delivering pizzas got into it twice in the same neighborhood. On two different occasions, a pizza delivery order was called in and when he drove the order to the address given, a guy was standing on the sidewalk outside the house. (Different houses on both orders about two weeks apart.) Before the driver can get out of his car with the pizza, the guy on the sidewalk flashes a small blued revolver and demands the pizza guys money. Imagine; the next thing he sees is a parkerized Rock Island .45 auto, full of factory high-speed hollowpoints. The would-be robber split in a dead run in a big hurry. (Pizza guy has a CCW permit.) He told his boss at the pizza shop, and his boss, made the entire neighbor hood OFF LIMITS--no more pizza deliveries there, day or night. Moral of the story: (1) Don't mess w/ people you don't know. (2) If you want your pizza delivered--don't harass the pizza guy.

[Hebrew Battle Rifle]

I have drawn my pistol in self defense 3 times so far. No shots fired yet. I can give you two very valuable pieces of advice learned the hard way:

1 Always carry a light source and practice getting it on target quickly.

2. Be the first to call the police. Even when no shots are fired. If you draw your weapon, call the police. If you allow "the other guy" to make the call, he becomes the victim. Guess what that makes you? Plus, if "that other guy" did it to you, he will do it to others. Others that may not be able to defend themselves. Make the call.

[wyatt earp]

These incidents happened years ago....1st was before I had my CCW and went to a BOA ATM situated on the ground level of a multi-storied parking garage in not the best of neighborhoods.

While using the machine and being cautious it dawned on me that this was not the safest ATM to us with pillars for the garage all over providing excellent cover for any scum in the area. An overwhelming sense of fear came upon me like never before and I got the cash and got the hell out of there. One week later I read in the paper that a man was fatally shot at the very ATM in front of his wife in broad daylight.....that was when I decided to get the CCW. I have since learned to pay attention to that sixth sense warning.

2nd incident occurred when the minivan i owned at the time was having transmission trouble and I was trying to make it home from work before it conked out all together. I was approaching a major intersection and did not want to stop so I turned right at the short cut before the intersection for any easy way around it....I made a wrong turn and took the street before the short cut which happened to be a dead end.

I notice 4 teens on bicycles following the van down the street....I pull the 9mm out the glove box and sit it on my lap thinking...here we go. I manage to do a u turn at the end of the street with the youths circling and got the hell out of here. That dreaded sense came over me again but this time I was ready and made it home safely.

Yep, we can't pick the time and place but we can choose to be prepared.

[Timber Wolf]

Funny business on the cul-de-sac again the other night. I am in the garage working on a little project at the bench and my wife and daughter come out to clean the van, ride bikes, etc. As my wife backs the van out to get more room she notices headlights shining on the house we are building next door. Can't see a vehicle because of the huge pile of dirt (topsoil) I scraped up from under the house and piled to be re-spread to build up the yard (put cheap fill sand under the house, saved high dollar top soil for the yard). So, I wander out to the truck and retrieve the 457 and tuck it in my waist band under my shirt and walk out to the street. About that time a lady in a truck (with what looked like a weeks worth of laundry piled in the seat) stops at my driveway and asks if the house is for sale, "no" says I, "try farther down the street, I think there are some". She leaves and then comes back followed by a Dodge truck and they both proceed to sit down at the end of the cul-de-sac looking at a lot for sale (I guess that is what was going on). I watch them for a while and they go on out and back in the neighborhood. So, probably bargain hunters looking to steal a pre-foreclosure or something but damn, at 8:00 at night? And again, as she drove down the street I tell my daughter to go in the house. As the lady turns the truck around I walk out and here comes my daughter asking "what do they want daddy?" "GET IN THE HOUSE!" So, got a learning episode out of the deal explaining daddy can handle (most) anything but I need to know first that she is safe and when I tell her to get in the house she needs to do it. I don't know if it will stick but maybe these little training exercises are a good thing. Keep reinforcing safety awareness to all of us. And again, the wife asked "you got your gun out the truck didn't you?" Damn right I did.

[AEnemaBay]

Friday night I was sitting at a red light with my wife and her aunt (we had just came back from a late night movie). From my left there was a group of 6 teenage black kids walking on the sidewalk. When they reached the crosswalk they started to walk directly to my side of the car. Without even saying anything my wife performed a brass check and handed me the P7 from the center console (she's an amazing woman). The kids walked around the car on all sides looking in but ended up just getting on the other side of the street. I told my wife:

"Let one of these punks try to open the door, break a window, or anything. A mag full of Federal HST's would definitely put an end to their weekend."

I'm very thankful that nothing happened, but I'm even more thankful that I had a means to protect my wife, aunt, and myself from any possible harm.

[Outlaw Patriot]

Originally posted by AEnemaBay
Friday night I was sitting at a red light with my wife and her aunt (we had just came back from a late night movie). From my left there was a group of 6 teenage black kids walking on the sidewalk. When they reached the crosswalk they started to walk directly to my side of the car. Without even saying anything my wife performed a brass check and handed me the P7 from the center console (she's an amazing woman). The kids walked around the car on all sides looking in but ended up just getting on the other side of the street. I told my wife:

"Let one of these punks try to open the door, break a window, or anything. A mag full of Federal HST's would definitely put an end to their weekend."

I'm very thankful that nothing happened, but I'm even more thankful that I had a means to protect my wife, aunt, and myself from any possible harm.

EEEEK! Some brown people walked past me and I got scared!

The OP's situations sounded suspicious, but I think maybe you just need to relax, or you'll probably shoot a kid for playing with a cap gun some day.

[AEnemaBay]

Originally posted by Outlaw Patriot


EEEEK! Some brown people walked past me and I got scared!

The OP's situations sounded suspicious, but I think maybe you just need to relax, or you'll probably shoot a kid for playing with a cap gun some day.

I'm Indian, my wife is black/puerto rican, the fact that they were brown had nothing to do with it. The fact that they were walking on the sidewalk directly in front of the crosswalk and then decided to change direction and walk directly to my side of the car is what got me scared. I didn't say that I just pulled out the gun and started waving it in their faces telling them to get back. I simply had it on the seat in between my legs.

Funny how if it doesn't happen to you it doesn't seem serious. I don't mean YOU specifically by the way.

[Outlaw Patriot]

All right, fair enough, my bad. I was mostly just having fun, but I have seen more than a few comments on this site not unlike what I thought you were saying.

[yarro]

I always park a good walk from the store. One night I got to Wally world to pick up some ice cream for the boy . I park at least 30 spaces from the nearest car. I come out and a beat up Chevy Impala that was elsewhere in the lot when I got there is parked next to our car with 2 very grubby looking tatted up hispanics leaning on the car between mine and theirs. I unlock the car with the remote and tell my son to get in while I stand at the back of the car and eyeball the two goons. One of the goons does the puff up with two hands in front of his crotch like he has a gun under his shirt as the other gets in the passenger door and slides over into the driver's position. He is giving me that I dare you to try and get in your car look. At that point the bag with the ice cream that I had behind my back is on the ground and he realizes that my hand is on something else. He bangs on the roof and jumps in the car. They flee. I am pretty sure that they intended to rob me or worse.

I work until late at night on weekends and had been followed home twice when I lived in Arizona and worked next to South Phoenix. Both times being aware kept anything bad from happening. Very entertaining when you lead them to several squad cars instead. Hands free mode on the cell phone is great. One group had an unregistered SBS in the car.

-yarro

[Jailguard]

It has taken a few time but I think my kids have finally gotten the idea of when i say just get in the truck to do it and not ask questions. The incident was when we were comming out of the local movie theater and two large groups of male teens started running at each other in the parking lot. One of my friends was working the theater as an offduty assignment and was caught in the middle of the rush so i told the kids just get in the truck and lock the doors and I went to help. Good thing is it broke up as quick as it started and there was nothing that really happened but the kids have learned to listen when there is that ceartin tone in my voice. Now if I could just get the wife to listen

[jimmbob]

@AEnemabay--Damn rights, better safe than sorry! ALWAYS be in the defensive mode or it may cost you your life. A few years back I had a knock on the door at about 1 AM and answered it as I always do at that time of night with my 12 guage in my right hand hidden to the right of the door jamb and opened the door and held it with my left. It was an Afro. Amer. dude who proceeded to try to push his way through the door and as he did I stepped back and pulled up the allready chambered 18" Moss. to his chest and he dropped his 45(which I never saw till he dropped it) and ran so fast he actually fell down while trying to escape. Before that a few of my friends would give me a bad time saying I was paranoid,this and that. Just goes to prove, you can never be too safe. I have not since been visited by him or any of his friends.

And as for OUTLAW PATRIOT---quit being so sensitive to brown people, yellow, red or white-- whatever dude --buncha BS you being so racially oriented and quick to point out white against black or whatever you are into. When I answered my door in the middle of the night I was armed because it was the middle of the night. I did not know the guy at the door was black, white, red yellow or otherwise .If someone appears to be a threat you need to be in the defense mode--screw you bringing race into it, it's all about protecting yourself and your loved ones! Get a clue, wingnut!

[molonlabe texan]

I consider my Taurus 651 to be a standard tool for yard work.

[jimmbob]

Since my little encounter I have a fully fenced yard, 4 pure black Germ. Sheps.(128 lb. female is the biggest), HK45 and a brand new Benelli M4. I find this works quite well and don't have to lock my door anymore.

[wyatt earp]

Dude....why would you want to open your door at 1am to a stranger? If I do not know the person on the other side of the door it ain't being opened...day or night.

[jimmbob]

Wyatt, if I had X-ray vision like Superman I would have been able to see who was on the other side of the door and I probably would have opened it anyway. When someone comes to your house in the middle of the night what are ya gonna do Wyatt Earp Dudette, cower in the corner? Go to bed and shiver under the covers wondering if they're gonna blast through your door or window after you go to sleep? Best defense is a good offense--hiding behind your weak locked door aint gonna do ya no good--Unless the thieves know your name is Wyatt Earp--then I'm sure they'll be scared away!

[SWOHFAL]

Originally posted by jimmbob
Wyatt, if I had X-ray vision like Superman I would have been able to see who was on the other side of the door and I probably would have opened it anyway. When someone comes to your house in the middle of the night what are ya gonna do Wyatt Earp Dudette, cower in the corner? Go to bed and shiver under the covers wondering if they're gonna blast through your door or window after you go to sleep? Best defense is a good offense--hiding behind your weak locked door aint gonna do ya no good--Unless the thieves know your name is Wyatt Earp--then I'm sure they'll be scared away!

I'm not opening my door at 1AM unless I already know who is on the other side. If they try to come in, they've got a surprise coming.

[xcpd69]

There's this new-fangled contraption called a "peephole," (I think) that supposed to let you see who's at the door BEFORE you open it............



Just sayin'........

[jimmbob]

Yeah, I've got me one of them there peepholes. Bare'ly works in the daytime let alone at night. About all you can see is that there is someone standing there. I would much rather confront someone on my property at the front door when I know exactly where they are standing and being able to confront the situation and be in control than to cower in my home not knowing where or when they may try to break in. If they come to your front door, there is usually a reason, dugh? If you don't answer the door then they think you're not home ,I would think? I apparently am outnumbered on this subject which I could really give a rats ass. I'm all about protecting myself and my loved ones and I will listen to anybodys opinion and process it and make my own decision. I am totally amazed at some of you that can have someone come to your house in the middle of the night and you don't have the balls to see who is invading your space! Am I missing something here? I thought I joined up on the FAL Files, not the liberal pussy files? I guess I shoulda just cowered in the corner and dialed 911 and waited for superman to come help me!

[SWOHFAL]

Originally posted by jimmbob
I thought I joined up on the FAL Files, not the liberal pussy files? I guess I shoulda just cowered in the corner and dialed 911 and waited for superman to come help me!

I guess you don't use your head much, at least in comparison to your mouth. Nothing stopping someone from shooting you through the door or after you open it. Better to not put yourself in that position.

[wyatt earp]

jimmbob are you listening to yourself? In this day and age no one ..I mean no one just opens the door to strangers. You are inviting confrontation that could easily be avoided if the person is a bad guy.

If the UPS man comes to my door and he is not the regular guy then I look for the truck BEFORE opening the door.

Hell I've had cops knock on my door at 10pm investigating a crime on the street in jeans and black T-shirts that said "POLICE" and I asked them for ID BEFORE opening the door because I couldn't clearly see a marked cruiser out front. The cops weren't too pleased and kind of pointed to all the gear on their belts as if to say this should be enough. I told them I could buy all that stuff on the internet and I wasn't trying to be a wise guy...out came the ID's or the door wasn't going to be opened.

Sheeesh even my kids know the rules about door opening.

Having a firearm is no excuse to not use your brain.

[jimmbob]

Wyatt, sounds like you opened the door at 10 pm to strangers. How did you talk to the cops, with your bullhorn or your intercom system? How did you see what was on their belt, with your remote camera? Did you peek out of your little peephole in the door or open it a crack with your little safety chain thingy in place? I sure hope you have a bulletproof door to be taking such risks! In this day and age you are lucky to still be alive after that stunt. What were you thinking?

[wyatt earp]

Errr....jimmbob....it's called a window....i have windows next to my door that I can talk through....closed windows.

Don't feel bad, you you made a mistake and we corrected you.

Now say after me 100 times : I must not open the door to strangers even if I have my shotgun

[jimmbob]

Wyatt Earp, I guess cause you're the famous Wyatt Earp you can get bulletproof windows? I had to wait until I stopped laughing till I could type out a reply. You have to be messing with me--aren't you? You just can NOT be serious. You actually feel like you're safe behind your closed window yelling to the people on your porch to show their cop badges and UPS ID?. No wonder they looked at you in disbelief. Unbelievable to say the least. Now I feel ashamed to even be trying to communicate with such a hypocritical moron.

[molonlabe texan]

WTF is up with this tread?

[AEnemaBay]

Originally posted by molonlabe texan
WTF is up with this tread?

It turned into a pissing match.

[wyatt earp]

jimmbob....just calm down dude and take your meds. No need to reply I understand what you are going through.

[Para Driver]

Originally posted by wyatt earp
Having a firearm is no excuse to not use your brain.

+1 in many regards...

[L1A1rocker]

Not long after I moved into this apartment I'm in I had a knock at the door. After picking up the .45 and looking out the PEEP HOLE I see a young affo-am and inquire through the door in a very reasoned tone who he was and what he wanted. He asked if so and so ( I forget who) was there. I then informed the young man in an equally reasoned and mettered voice that he had the wrong place. He said sorry and was on his way never to be herd from again. It was most likely that one of his buddies used to live here before me. But it COULD have been that the previous tennant owed him some money too.

I'm also fortunate enough to have a kitchen window 4 feet down from the front door. On one occasion it was opened rather than the door. As it turned out the new maintance man was just going through introducing himself - at 7:30 in the evening though.


I've never been in any of the above type of situations though I have slipped my hand into the fanny pack and been ready on a few occoasions but it so far has only been "PRE-procausion. LOL

My father did have a memorable incident though - several years before we had CHL in Texas. He had to drive through a bad part of town, with stoplights, on his way to work and there had been a recent batch of incidents in that area. The "transiants" and homeless often wandered through that area and there had been a couple of "car-jakings", though I don't believe that term was used then. Anyhow the carjackers were getting into peoples cars at the stop lights and making them drive them to another town so dad but a cheep Astra 400 into his car to have with him. Nice powerfull round and cheep enough to ditch if need be.

So dad is sitting at the stoplight and takes note of an afro-am of questionable lucidity, hygine, and home status ia sitting down on the sidewalk on the left hand (driver) side. Said citizen then stands up and procedes to cross the street directly for my fathers door. At the half way point the gentalman demands "take me to such-and-such street. My gentalman of a father, that rarly ever utters a profane statment, dressed in his suit and tie sitting peacably alone in his corvette, states to this fine citizen that "I'm not *ucking taking you anywhere you *ock-sucker" while he retrieves previously mentioned Astra 400 and places it in his lap. The citizen I believe, at that point, decided to walk to such-and-such street.

[biyf]

I got held up a couple of years ago by a kid with a sawed-off single shot 12 gauge. I stopped at the local Safeway up the street about 9 PM and went in to grab a few needed groceries. Luckily, I was alone. When I came out, a young white guy around 19 approached me and my shopping cart and asked to use my cell phone to call for a ride. I dialed the number he wanted for him and then let him use the phone. He stepped about 15 feet away and talked on the phone for a couple minutes while I loaded my groceries into the trunk.

I still had not unlocked my Honda Civic coupe and was standing at the back of the car waiting for him to give my phone back. When he finally did, he lifted up his shirt and showed me the butt of his sawed-off (though he never pulled it out) and told me to get in the car as the driver and take him to an ATM to get him $100.

I was quite in shock and thought for a second he was trying to be an ass and ask for a ride in a very rude way. It really didn't dawn on me what was happening for about 5-10 seconds. I still had not quite gotten my brain wrapped around what was going on and he asked me to give him the keys, which I did.

Then he told me to get in the car as the driver while he rode as passenger (presumably with a sawed off 12 gauge pointed at yours truly) and take him to the ATM. I offered him my wallet (he already had the keys), but he said he was not interested in my wallet - he wanted $100 from an ATM (to buy some meth, I'm quite sure, from the looks of the kid). Things finally clicked in my head and I knew I had to go along with him until I saw my chance. He had my keys and was by the passenger side, while I walked to the driver's side to get in. The car was still locked.

When the car was directly between us, and my brain was in full control of the situation, I took off running as fast as I could while dialing 911 on the cell phone he had given back to me. My brain knew he'd never get the shotgun out of his pants and hit me at anything further than 20 feet, and I planned to be a lot further away than that by the time he could react. And I was.

He fumbled with my multitude of keys and finally got the car open and drove off, while I was safely inside the Safeway where there were lots of people while I spoke with the cops on the phone and gave them the rundown.

The end result? I went home safe and sound in a police car, and he took my 2001 Honda with 180,000 miles on it and totaled it about a mile up the street into somebody's back yard with the cops hot on his tail. He was not caught that night, though he was identified and brought in for questioning later. After a lengthy (and pretty shoddy) investigation, the detective was not able to find enough evidence on the guy to charge him, so he went free. I guess they forgot how to lift fingerprints off shotgun shells and gun metal.

The sawed off shotgun, which was left in the car when he wrecked it, was loaded. I never did find out what kind of shell was in it.

I've been around guns my whole life, life in a pretty safe area in a pretty safe town, and never felt the need to carry a gun. I was not armed that day, though I do have my CCW now. All the cops I spoke to said I did the right thing, and that they would have done the same I did, even if they were armed. If I'd been armed that day, I doubt I could say the same.

The story, I guess, has a happy ending. Nobody died. I'm now a lot safer and lot more watchful when I'm out and about, especially when my wife and kids are with me. And the insurance company paid me more than full price on my totaled Civic 2 door and I was able to get a brand new 4 door out of the deal. The meth-smoking kid will surely wind up getting caught at some point, if he hasn't already.

[GSP228]

One night last year, I noticed a P/U that I didn't know parked in a corner of my yard with 2 occupants. I slipped out a back door with a Mag Light and G22. I came up on the right rear quarter of the truck and lit them up. They both started hollering "Sheriff's Office, Sheriff's Office!". I said OK, you show me your ID and I'll show you mine. They did and I did, and everything was fine. They were drug agents staking out a drug deal that was supposed to go down in the parking lot of the post office across the street from my house. They could have come inside for the stakeout if they had asked.

[Cava3r4]

One night last year, I noticed a P/U that I didn't know parked in a corner of my yard with 2 occupants. I slipped out a back door with a Mag Light and G22. I came up on the right rear quarter of the truck and lit them up. They both started hollering "Sheriff's Office, Sheriff's Office!". I said OK, you show me your ID and I'll show you mine. They did and I did, and everything was fine. They were drug agents staking out a drug deal that was supposed to go down in the parking lot of the post office across the street from my house. They could have come inside for the stakeout if they had asked.

Many years ago I was getting divorced and was living in a cheap basement apartment where I was one of the few in the building who actually worked.
One day, 4:30 PM I came home from work and shortly thereafter there were about 5 guys in SUITS standing around my car.
I went down the hall and got the caretaker and another guy who actually worked. 3 of us went out to the lot (this was after a series of car break ins, gas tank syphoning etc) and approached these guys.
I said to the first guy "who the hell are you and what are you doing here?"
He pulls out a badge and says "I'm with the narcotics dept and a bust is going down in about 5 minutes and you had better be out of the way or we will run you in for obstructing justice".
UM... Okay..
5 minutes later they crashed into some apartment. they were too late, the heroin addict was DEAD on the floor. His dipshit sister was the pusher too! Very sad, they were like only 20 years old.

[1MOR]

Wifey and I were staying in a Motel on St. Petersburg Beach(FL) a couple of years ago. After a morning on the beach and lunch, we decided to take a snooze. About 2PMish, I heard the door hit the chain lock. By the time I rolled off the bed, grabbed my pistola off the nighstand, the guy had unhooked the chain and was a step or two into the room. He had a stack of menus from the hotel restaurant in his hand, a set of keys on his belt, and a hotel ID card hanging around his neck. I put him on his knees and my wife called the hotel manager who came to the room and identified the guy as a hotel employee, doing what he was supposed to be doing. This guy came about that close to meeting his maker that afternoon. I suspect he knocked, didn't get a response, and entered the room to see what he could steal. Instead, he got something else. Wife and I checked out and never went back.

Guy got all pissyfaced after I let him up.

[splogan]

My wife used to hate that I carried till she felt safe because of it. We were on a road trip. I always have something in the car, learned the hard way on that. Where I was going and where I started I was good to go to carry. One unfortunate city on the way I was not. No biggie except due to road construction we missed our exit and ended up lost on a really bad part of town. The kind where 7-11 is a waiting area and everything is in the back behind bullet proof glass with the cashiers. I went to get out of the truck to as the cashier for directions and the wife would not let me exit the vehicle without my gun. I explained I was not legal to carry there and she said "I don't care, take it." She had the doors locked as I was closing it. As it turned out I did not need it but there were several VERY shady characters around and it forever changed my wife's view on CCW. She even wants one now. I whole heatedly believe that if people were aloud to carry everywhere that we would have less shootings and violent crime. Arm the sheep. All the mass shootings happen where people are certain nobody has a weapon.

[Andy the Aussie]

11pm last night we had two men run into our yard and to the front door. They then started knocking on the security door. I am afraid I am one of those cowards that did not open the door . It really does not make sense in either a tactical or practical way to show yourself. I spoke with them from my side of the door and explained politely they should leave . Both were "its OK mate it OK mate no problem" but then in conversation to each other it was "the f*cking arsehole" , "c*nt" etc etc. yes I could have opened the inner door (we have a steel security outer door) but why lower the level of barrier you have.... ? I am more than capable of taking care of me and Mrs Andy but why risk it, what if I lost round one and left Mrs Andy alone and the doors open ? Sorry, we kept them at bay and contacted the Police. Mrs Andy got an excellent description of the as they ran from the front (thanks to the halogen lights/movement sensor).

They certainly would have regretted trying to come past the door or through a window But I am not about to get into it over getting woken up.

In the "good 'ol days" Mr 870 would have been on hand but for us out here that time has past

Incidently the Police took nearly an hour to arrive, this partially has to do with where I live and with the honest description of the incident I have gave during the 000 (our 911) call. Had I talked it up they would have been here sooner but there was no need.

Andy

[wyatt earp]

Here is an incident that occured in Miami a few years ago...

A homeowner heard a knock at his door and looked out to see a delivery man with a package....he was wearing the uniform of one of the lesser known delivery companies. Not expecting a delivery the homeowner's son became suspicious and armed himself before his father opened the door to receive the package.

On opening the door the "delivery man" forced his way in and pulled a pistol from the package. The homeowner and the delivery man struggled to control the weapon while the homeowners son drew his weapon and shot the home invader....who died at the scene.

It turns out that the "delivery man" was a former navy SEAL now working in the drug trade and ended up hitting the wrong house. The man was highly skilled in firearm proficiency...hence he was working alone... but lost the fight because he was outnumbered.

The moral of the story is that opening the door to your house can be a life and death affair.

[confederate91]

it aint much but i always keep my .22 rifle in my truck. the clips out of it but it loaded with 40 grain mini mags. cant carry it with me but still better than nothing.

[Buddy Lee]

Originally posted by Cava3r4


Many years ago I was getting divorced and was living in a cheap basement apartment . . .

This reminds me when I was living in Fort Collins, Colorado. I had moved away from home in Georgia to study at CSU. While I was there I was living in a basement apartment working on my second Bachelor's Degree (because my History Degree was doing so much for me ). It was about 10:00 AM on a Saturday morning and I was sound asleep. Suddenly I heard a loud and repeated banging on the sliding glass door to the apartment. Groggily I got out of bed an grabbed my P85 to see what was going on. As I eased back the vertical blinds that were in front of the door I saw a Larimer County Sheriff's Deputy standing outside on the patio.

I put the pistol down out of direct sight and slid open the door and asked, "Yes?"

"Buddy Lee (not my real name)?", came the irritated inquisitive response from the deputy.

"Yes", I replied.

"Call your mother", he ordered as he turned and left.

Buddy Lee

[AEnemaBay]

Originally posted by Buddy Lee

I put the pistol down out of direct sight and slid open the door and asked, "Yes?"

"Buddy Lee (not my real name)?", came the irritated inquisitive response from the deputy.

"Yes", I replied.

"Call your mother", he ordered as he turned and left.

Buddy Lee

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[worldskipper]

Buddy, I see that your Mom got her 'mothering' degree from the same school as my mom.

I assumed you called her?

[GOVT1911]

Originally posted by Andy the Aussie
11pm last night we had two men run into our yard and to the front door. They then started knocking on the security door. I am afraid I am one of those cowards that did not open the door . It really does not make sense in either a tactical or practical way to show yourself. I spoke with them from my side of the door and explained politely they should leave . Both were "its OK mate it OK mate no problem" but then in conversation to each other it was "the f*cking arsehole" , "c*nt" etc etc. yes I could have opened the inner door (we have a steel security outer door) but why lower the level of barrier you have.... ? I am more than capable of taking care of me and Mrs Andy but why risk it, what if I lost round one and left Mrs Andy alone and the doors open ? Sorry, we kept them at bay and contacted the Police. Mrs Andy got an excellent description of the as they ran from the front (thanks to the halogen lights/movement sensor).

They certainly would have regretted trying to come past the door or through a window But I am not about to get into it over getting woken up.

In the "good 'ol days" Mr 870 would have been on hand but for us out here that time has past

Incidently the Police took nearly an hour to arrive, this partially has to do with where I live and with the honest description of the incident I have gave during the 000 (our 911) call. Had I talked it up they would have been here sooner but there was no need.

Andy

WOW Andy! I'm glad everything worked out OK! That situation could have gone bad, FAST! Smart thinking to keep both doors shut, like you said, no reason to make anything easier for them.

When I was single and had no Kiddo, I kept a S&W Airweight sitting on a little shelf just to the left of my front door with a wool "watch cap" covering it for camoflage. It was always close at hand if I needed it and was the FIRST thing I checked when coming home. I always figured if for some reason I came home and there was someone already in my place, at least I'd have SOMETHING.


Now my story......several years ago I was awakened at about 0200 by a phonecall (happened alot with my job). turns out it was a neighbor that said " ummmm, hey, there's someone breaking into your truck." (there had been a rash of vehicle break ins lately in our apartment complex.) Neighbor had been out on his balcony in the next building having a cig and saw a guy climp into the bed of my pickup and start prying at the sliding rear window.

I grabbed my Mossy 590a1 and cellphone and went and woke up my roommate. He grabbed his pistol and flashlight and we went to see what was up.

Coming around the corner of our building, sure enough, there was a guy leaning into the rear window of my truck going thru stuff. I used a car for cover and hit the surefire on my shotty while racking the slide (dumping a loaded shell onto the parking lot LOL) and yelled "Show me your hands!" Roommate dialed 911 and backed me up while talking to the lady on the phone.

I had dirtbag stand up, hands up, and step off the truck. Had him lie spread eagle on the ground, palms facing up. I kept him like that for the couple minutes it took the PD to respond. I had roommate tell operator what WE were wearing.

PD shows up and as soon as they stopped their car, I placed shotty on ground and raised my hands.

they secured dirtbag in vehicle and we began filling out paperwork. Cop #2 was walking around parking lot looking at other vehicles when we hear her start yelling "show me your hands NOW!!" We ran over to see what was going on and she had found dirtbag #2 laying in the backseat of a car trying to hide under a towel. Turns out they were together and when he saw me and roommate approach #1 he quietly climbed into the back seat of an unlocked car.

If he'd have had a gun, roommate and I could have been in a world of shit. We had been so focused on #1 that we didn't even THINK to keep scanning our area.