I had to pull the CW today

[LL617]

Today was the usual type day for a mom of a teenager. Get child to school. Go to work. Get home from work. Let dog out. Get child from school. Stop on way home to get items for school. Go home. Find strangers on, maybe in, house.

[Gentlemen, if your wife doesn't practice with her CWP, show her this entry. If time and money would permit, I would probably be shooting once a week. I do practice "dry runs" frequently, working on form and technique. I try to shoot live at least once every three weeks.]

Back to today--While my pulse was elevated, I knew that my training by my CWP instructor had been excellent, that I had practiced carefully, and I was determined to take care of my son. I was able to avoid direct interaction, however, and I was happy to put my CW away. It may have been all mistake; there will be follow up to determine what was going on.

Incidentally, it took the police 20 minutes from the 911 call to get to the house [+/- 3 min.]. They had a locked gate to get through. They got there about five minutes after the strangers left.

I did make some mistakes which I will not repeat [parked the car at the house, not at the street, for example].

Please remind your wives, children, and yourselves--a CWP gives you permission to carry, but you need to train your brain and your body on what to do. A piece of paper cannot replace good training. I am planning already to take a more advanced defensive class; this just confirms that I should.

 

[pawncop]

I think Jeff Cooper said it best "Having a gun makes you a shooter, like having a guitar makes you a musician."

I may have messed it up a little but the message is clear. It is your mindset that will allow you the opportunity to use the tools to save your self.

So very glad all is well.

 

[HankG]

During a tour as a Marine Infantry Officer in the late 60s, Immediate Action Drills were mandatory. Lost a point man because the second Marine in the lead squad froze when he saw a NVA soldier in a tree. The Marine froze, the NVA soldier shot the point man, dropped out of the tree and got away. Training to protect your life is no different. If you have to think out a situation for to long, you may be doomed depending on who you are facing.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Number one, you and your family are safe and secure. Number two, you are relatively relaxed and confident, despite having to face down a potentially dangerous situation on you own.

Be thankful that it went no further. Continue with your training and security procedures.

Last time I had to call 911 was a possible burglary in progress at my home, on a weekday just before noon. My wife nearly walked in on the bad guys, backed off and called me on the cell phone. I arrived within 3 to 5 minutes. Police got there 47 minutes later.

I'm not complaining, just saying that this is pretty normal in most communities. In most situations when a citizen is confronted with an intruder or burglar, etc, the citizen will have to deal with the situation as best they can. Those that choose to rely upon law enforcement response will usually end up very disappointed, or worse.

Stay safe. Be prepared. Do what you have to do to protect yourself and your family.

Best regards.

 

[Rastoff]

Find strangers on, maybe in, house.

I would like a little more detail please.

When you got home, were they on your roof? Second floor balcony? I'm just not clear on where they were.

Then, did you confront them or just sit in the car with your gun ready?

I think Jeff Cooper said it best "Having a gun makes you a shooter, like having a guitar makes you a musician."

I may have messed it up a little but the message is clear.

Allow me to clarify: "Owning a gun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician." -Col Jeff Cooper

It's my favorite self-defense quote.

 

[Dominus_Lex]

Glad to hear it came out well for you and your family.... Sadly for everyone involved they do not all end that way.

 

[Evil Dog]

"Owning a gun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician."

I'd heard it as ".... than owning a piano makes you Liberace."

 

[BigBill]

Glad you and your family are ok.

We been bear hunting for many years me and my brother. We practiced at the range all the time. I could put two bullets through the same hole at 100yards with my 338wm. I even practiced standing up hand held and rapid fired 4 shots as fast as I could fire at four different bulls eyes.

When we finally came across a bear my practice paid off. I went into automated control. Put the rifle up, sling on my elbow and shot. I never heard the bang from the gun. We were programmed.

We practice with handguns. All the time at 25yds &100yds.

My point is its how fast you can think and react to what's going on.

I lived in an older neighborhood where my family grew up and my three brothers knew everyone. One guy grew up with my brawling brothers and told me one day I was lucky I had a alarm in my truck because he couldn't make any money off of me. My python became upholstered in a heart beat. The druggie was eye to bore with the 6" barrel. It's the first time I ever upholstered my gun. His eyes popped out like quarters. Every time I went outside he ran in the house. It was a year of playing cat and mouse before he talked to me again with respect. Because of my brothers he should of known better to push me.
It was one of those days I wasn't in the mood.

My cousin is a cop in a city. They were short handed when he got the call. A house was being robbed. He went in alone weapon drawn. The bad guy was in the kitchen on the other side of the door way. As he entered the door way he got the powder blast but the bullet missed him. The bad guys pistol jammed the sametime my cousin got pissed and sprang out and shot the bad guy. As the bad guy reached for a shotgun he shot him again. He killed the bad guy. He wasn't sure if he was hit or not at the time . It happen so quick there is no time to think it's all reaction time. There was no time to wait the only other cop on duty was on the other side of the city.
How can anyone practice for that? The saying is if you stop to think your dead.

When I worked the second shift pumping gas. They just robbed and shot and gas station owner across town. With this news just being heard I told the owner if we get robbed just give them what they want, the money isn't worth dying for. But when they leave and they start shooting I told him to kiss the cement floor I'd do the rest.

This was a few years after a bakery was robbed and as they left the robber was recognized and the robbers shot and killed ten people.

Soon after I moved to the country to raise my family.

 

[Wolf1775]

I've had someone try to break into my home shortly after my wife and I moved in. Our shepherds sent him packing and almost took a chunk out of him. My wife hasn't complained about my carrying since, and has gotten a feel for how to use my gun just in case.

We've come home once after taking all but one of our dogs out for some playtime at the local fair grounds and finding the front door wide open, but the storm door shut. And, low and behold, there was our old man that we left home wagging his tail. There wasn't any blood, nothing amiss, but I had him at my side gun drawn while checking the house to make sure everything was OK before my wife and the rest of the crew came inside. I don't know if the door just didn't latch completely and he opened it, or if someone thought the house was clear and realized their mistake enough to shut the storm door and bolt. Either way, we were all fine, nothing was taken, and now we leave at least one dog behind loose in the house while we're out.

 

[ikor]

Sounds to me like ya done good. No one panicked, no one that didn't need shot got shot, and you are taking stock of potential mistakes in your plan. I'd say you got at least a 9 out of 10 on all that IMO.

 

[brucev]

You and your family are safe. No one got shot. Good ending. Cool.

Give some thought to what happened. Always something that could have been done better. Do your best to figure out what could have been done better. For sure give very hard look at better exterior security.

Went through two attempted break-in's when my wife and I were newly married and in seminary. Ground floor apartments are so more vulnerable than second floor/upstairs units. A 12 ga. pump shotgun is very effective. Never had to fire a shot. After second incident, put up bars. Had no further incidents. Much better than having to shove a muzzle into the face of someone.

 

[LL617]

I would like a little more detail please.

When you got home, were they on your roof? Second floor balcony? I'm just not clear on where they were. .

When I got home, I thought I saw a friend's truck in the driveway so I pulled on into the garage [mistake]. Did not see anyone around or on roof. Saw ladder, wondered what was up; felt enough concern that I called hubby to see if he had called someone about roof [we had a leak that may be reoccurring although now have new roof installed]. He did not call. Dogs are in house, but not barking. Gave son cell phone to be able to call 911. Walked into house. Heard loud pounding that seemed to be coming from roof but could have disguised someone moving around in house. Dogs in kennel; they were okay. Realized that I was in a vulnerable position in that if someone did come down stairs, I might have to shoot them because I was in the house. Called 911. Went and got back in car with son and locked doors. Because of how they were parked, realized that it would be difficult to easily back car out of garage, so sat and waited. Man walks by going to truck, then disappears. A couple of minutes later, two men put ladder in truck, tie it down, and pull out to leave. I prayed that they did not approach me and they did not. I get out of car to get license plate [after about 20 seconds] , but they pulled beyond trees, and I could not see it.

Housecheck showed nothing missing, but skylight had been removed and replaced. [There was a lot of trash below it].

Discussed with husband what I should have done when he came home. He wanted me to block the driveway with the car and call 911 from there. Next time, I will assume nothing unless I see a friend standing by car.

Today found out that repair men were suppose to replace and repair neighbor's skylight.

I do know absolutely a couple of things now. 1] I need to train in tactical situations more. 2] If a child is threatened, I would shoot. I will shoot to cause hurt, not over a head. 3] I will not shoot unless I have to. 4] It is easy to get caught up in a situation.

 

[FishingPilot]

.....Today found out that repair men were suppose to replace and repair neighbor's skylight.

Not sure a new skylight is worth the anxiety you felt.

I came home one evening and found my internet service provider replacing the radio and antenna on my roof. No heads-up that they were coming either. I recognized the truck from the license plates so I wasn't concerned. Just goes to show that even in the best of areas, anything can happen.

 

[arjay]

Not as crazy as the story about the wrong house being torn down,but did you end up with a new skylight?

 

[Mickey D]

Things still seem a little uncertain. How did these repairman get into your house? Do you leave your home unsecured?

 

[Bekeart]

REMOVE LADDER!

Did not see anyone around or on roof. Saw ladder, wondered what was up; felt enough concern that I called hubby to see if he had called someone about roof [we had a leak that may be reoccurring although now have new roof installed].

Discussed with husband what I should have done when he came home. He wanted me to block the driveway with the car and call 911 from there. Next time, I will assume nothing unless I see a friend standing by car.

911 - Remove Ladder - Take cover behind the unknown truck.

Cover front door and watch for someone coming around the ends of house.

 

[walkin jack]

You used your head and your gun. Glad you were able to avoid shooting and glad you are one who took the time to get the training. We ALL need to take some of the responsibility for our own safety these days. They police are under paid, under staffed. They are out numbered and in many cases out gunned.

Keep on keepin' on.....

 

[Jessie]

911 - Remove Ladder - Take cover behind the unknown truck.

Cover front door and watch for someone coming around the ends of house.

Not sure about removing the ladder. Once you do that you've changed the whole dynamics. With her child , it was best they didn't know they were there.
I guess it was a case of wrong house and innocent, but you never know.
If it were me alone? Yeah, call 911, pull the ladder, block their truck and take cover well away and wait for the show.

 

[Rastoff]

Thanks for the clarification. It really helps us understand what happened better.

A couple of thoughts for you:

Walked into house.

This was a mistake. Even though the dogs weren't barking (they could have been drugged or killed), once you think it's possible someone is in the house, leave and call 911 immediately. Cops are paid and trained to clear houses, you are not.

As you've already said, it would be better to have just left, with your son, and go to a neighbor's house or public place. Nothing in the house is worth yours or your son's life.

Today found out that repair men were suppose to replace and repair neighbor's skylight.

So, some random guys removed and replaced your skylight? How strange. I wonder why they didn't wait for someone to come home before they started?


I'm really glad that it all worked out. Do you have any training beyond the basic CCW course?

 

[Rastoff]

One more thing:

I will shoot to cause hurt, not over a head.

I hope I'm understanding this correctly. You are saying that if you have to shoot, it will be for effect and not a warning shot, right?

The idea is to shoot to stop the threat. Once there is no longer a threat, you no longer have the right to use deadly force.