Issue last night, am I too paranoid?

[OK Hog Shooter]

After reading this thread I realize the importance of going over possible scenarios that may occur in your neighborhood/at your house and having some type of plan, even if it's just a mental exercise. It's easy for any of us to second guess what shoulda/woulda/coulda been done. The best response, I think, is to have a plan that works for each of us... I'll just shuck a round into my Benelli M2 12 gauge in hearing range and see what happens. Seriously though, I'm glad things turned out as they did for you.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Sorry, just don't answer the damn door. If the dogs are barking loud enough that you can't hear him, he can damn well hear the dogs.

So I pulled my coat back, displayed I had a gun

In many jurisdictions, this could leave you open to a "brandishing" charge.

 

[CJ]

I don't normally open the door to anyone I don't know or am not expecting. I'll just look thru the door peep hole and if I don't like what I see I ignore them. So far, so good after all these years. They always leave quietly.

 

[cmort666]

I'll just shuck a round into my Benelli M2 12 gauge in hearing range and see what happens.

Any self-defense firearm I'm counting on already has a round chambered. If chambering a round "impresses" an intruder, I guarantee that the muzzle blast in their face does so far more.

If he's not in the house, I don't need to shoot. If he's in the house I need to shoot, and without unnecessary delays.

 

[JcMack]

s.
In many jurisdictions, this could leave you open to a "brandishing" charge.

Fortunately around here reachin around, and maybe brushin your coat aside, is called "scratchin your butt"

 

[ErnieDeBord]

What a sad thing it is, to not to answer a front door! I own my house and property. I pay my taxes and will open my door when ever I feel the notion to! I also will go outside whenever........I have even been knowed to pee on my lawn...............Thank God I live in the "sticks" of Ky

 

[OLDFED]

While your action turned out well, I'd advise not going out. You don't know how many of "them" are out there besides the one at the door. Stay inside your castle where there's cover, you know the turf and you have a phone. The Bad Guy's defense attorney would paint you as a "cowboy" looking for trouble if you'd have shot him. Some prosecutors would too, pointing out your "vigliante" behavior. I
also suggest getting a full glass storm door and locking it. Bad guys have to break thru that, giving you advance warning before they kick your primary door. Get outside lighting with motion sensors. If you're disabled, you'd have a tough time fighting on your front lawn, but your control of the inside is to your advantage. Continue to be brave, but not foolish.

 

[stantheman86]

He might have been acting like a "salesman" to see if someone is home......if you hadn't responded he might have kicked the front door in.

I don't think you can be charged with "brandishing" on your own property, especially if you didn't draw and there are no other witnesses. What is this "salesman" gonna do, call the cops and say "I was banging on some guys door selling Boy Scout Cookies after dark and he came out with a gun....."

 

[Out West]

JC,

I'm on the board here at our HOA. We have a Safety & Security committee that interfaces with the local NPO (neighborhood patrol officer). At a meeting last month with all the area Citizens on Patrol, Code Blue and local HOA's the NPO recommended the "no solicitation" & "no trespassing" signs. He also suggested that all our residents call in anything that is out of the ordinary. Including people knocking on doors: mine or my neighbor's. The NPO stressed the idea of reporting anything that doesn't look right. If it looks funky to you - it probably is.

We are lucky since the NPO will be on these calls faster than you can investigate yourself. They may not make an arrest, but they will find out what is going on. If the guy can't explain why he there knocking on doors, he won't be around long. Plus he gets loaded into the police database.

BTW, the NPO said if the signs are posted on your fence or property, they can arrest.

I think you handled it about the same as I would have.

Stay safe,

Out
West

 

[m1gunner]

Your going outside gave you the tactical advantage IMHO, and I would likely have done the same.

You did the unexpected, and came in from an unanticipated direction, likely using the cover you knew from living there.

In a house alone doesn't help much if you are the victim of a home invasion. Around here these home invasions are done in groups of 3 or more intruders, quick, and often with multiple entry points.

You can't maneuver in a box, being outside takes the advantage of surprise away from the intruders. Just make sure to utilize the "21 foot rule" and you will be as safe or safer than hiding in your house.

It is risky, but sometimes you just have to stand and fight. I refuse to let the scum that has taken over our streets deny me the use of my property.

 

[WR Moore]

If there's only one, coming from an unexpected direction is a good thing. On the other hand, if there's more than one, you've got multiple potential problems.

Coming out does make it look like you're looking for trouble, but having the front door blocked off is a potential counter to that.

 

[vytoland]

1. do not respond to a knock at the door
2. observe the actions of the "door knocker" from inside of your house.
3. be prepared to contact police immediately if actions intensify
4. prepare for self defense, armed and in a strategic location inside of your house.

 

[feralmerril]

Wow! I live a sheltered life here in SW utah! The young people here are still corney. I have at least twice in the last year answered the door late at night and a bunch of kids were out on a scavenger hunt! Another time at night someone knocked and it probley was a young peoples group from a church wanting to know if they could do chores or whatever for us. When we get snow more often than not our driveway and sidewalk is shoveled and we dont know for sure who done it. When we first moved here the door bell rang and no one was there. I put a snub in my pocket and walked up and down the street and found a youth hideing in the dark!
I guess I shook him up when I told him we were from a rough area in california where he just might get shot for that! The people here are a lot like I was raised in the 40s and 50s in wisconsin. It`s getting to be a sorry world when you need to walk around IN your house armed!

 

[Kanewpadle]

Secure your home. Better than average deadbolts and a steel storm door.

I have one of those steel security doors and I can open my front door to see who it is without them getting in.

 

[DeathGrip]

Do what you gotta do as long as you have the advantage.I hope that one won't come knocking again.Hopefully the message you sent wasn't the dinner bell.Danged if you do Danged if you don't.I'm proactive and refuse to be a sheep.
Take care.

 

[Rule 303]

Just cause you're paranoid don't mean that they are not out to get you. Common Sense goes a long way in dealing with folks this day and time.

better safe than sorry

Rule 303

 

[PDL]

I'm not really sure of your question. If you were to ask if you did the right thing I would say yes, and no.

Callin' for assistance when you first identify a threat is prudent. And protecting your neighbors and yourself by letting the younger officers deal with the question/problem makes sense to me.

It's hard to not go out and 'handle' it yourself, I can identify with that. As I don't bounce as well as I used to.

Sounds like you didn't have any non-combatants in the house to protect. So maybe outside sounded good. I think you had to be there to comment on whether that was right or not.

But on your original question - nope, not paranoid.

 

[JcMack]

I really didn't expect this many responses. To kind of respond to some criticisms: I've had a carry permit forever but never bothered to carry a gun because my job took me to Illinois. I carry the gun around the house because I'm in and out of here and have been known to forget to bring it. It weighs almost nothing. Plenty of others here (and on this forum) seem to do the same. Going out the back to run around to the front is something I've done for years. The rare people that bang on my door generally startle me and set the dogs barking up a storm. My coming up beside them from around the side startles them. Turnabout is fair play say I. The front of my place is lit up like Stalag 17. So this guy was well lit up while I was in the darkness between houses. My neighbor works nights and his wife Pat is home alone. They know I TRY to keep an eye on comings and goings here. This town is the actual place that was depicted in a "Christmas Story". Gene Shepards boyhood home is right down the street. It's not that bad. What agravates the heck out of me is the literally tens of thousands from Illinois that have moved to this county just to the south of me. I used to be able to go 15 mins. south to hunt pheasant. No more. That land is populated as far as the eye can see with brand new houses a lot of which are for sale. I'm not moving. People moving is what gave the scum the opportunity to move in here. The mayor here has done a lot since he took office maybe 8 years ago. He has an army of code enforcers chasing people to keep their places presentable. Store owners hate him because they are required to keep their places in shape. I've lived in worse places in "better" neighborhoods.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Have you considered a peephole in your door? The "no soliciting" sign could be an aid, too, provided folks abide with it.

Be safe.

IMHO (and experience) signs DON'T WORK AT ALL! If anything, they make you EVEN MORE of a target.
Where I lived years ago, I had one such sign mounted on my front door. I got everything from salesmen to missionaries. When I made the comment to one such individual (in a sarcastic tone) that I apologized that they couldn't see the sign so prominently displayed on my door. The response I got was a laugh and a "Sir, if I obeyed signs like that, I wouldn't have a job..."
FTR, EVERYTIME I went (or go) to the door, I always have something availible and I'll leave it at that.

 

[feralmerril]

Years ago I rented a room to a friend. Like myself he worked endless OT and was trying to catch some rare sleep. I happened to be cleaning a revolver when the doorbell rang. Went out and it was two old JWs women. I nicely declined their visit and concern for my miserable soul. They left. It wasnt 20 minuets latter and the doorbell rang again and it was two DIFFERENT old JWs women! My dog angel that was in heat flew out the door between us and several other male dogs with molestation on their minds that had patently been hanging around for a mistake scratched out after her! I now was outside, irrate, and had the cleaning rod in my hand. The lovely old squaws stood on each side my open door.
I bellered, Q^GEXOP! Thats just what I didnt want to happen! I had to throw something and the cleaning rod was in my hand. In mid swing I saw if I continued the pitch, the rod was going to hit my brand new 1972 1/2 datson pick up truck! I twisted my wrist and sailed the cleaning rod through the door that the old girls were standing each side of!
The sweet old girls probley momentarly lost some of their concern for my troubled soul and cussed at me as they ran off and said something about I should have put up a warning sign.
Angel got knocked up too!