RKO
US Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2003
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 2
Three weeks ago Miss Baby and I took delivery of a Honda Ridgeline and started off for her spring break to visit my son, his wife and their first born in Phoenix, AZ. We had made reservations at a motel in Big Spring, TX. It was raining when we checked in about 2200 and were given room 101, ground floor, outside access, closest to the office. It seemed just right. However, at 0200 we were awaken by screams of profanity and threats, in both English and Spanish. Without turning on a room light I peeked through the curtains and saw a latino male, approximately 25-30, and a latina, age not determined.They were shouting at someone in the next room, 102, to open the door. Judging from his screams in English, he was not about to do so. Only two cars were visible, our Ridgeline, and a battered red Toyota Carolla, undetermined vintage and ownership. The shouts from all three, in both English and Spanish, continued, but now someone was shouting 101, our room number. I called the office and reported the disturbance outside, urging that the police be called as violence seemed eminent. The office clerk said he was aware of the ongoing incident and had called the local police.
After about 15 minutes, no police had arrived and the shouting and screaming continued, with our room number, 101 being said repeatedly.
It occurred to me that the two latinos might think our Ridgeline belonged to whomever they were trying to get to come out.
I then realized that I had no flashlight in the room, and only a five-shot Chiefs Special. What if they started to vandalize our Ridgeline, or break down our door? After what seemed an eternity, I remembered that I had brought my Dillon bag inside, rather than leave it on the vehicle. In the bag was my Glock 19, 8 15-round magazines and one 30 round magazine, plus the Glock light which fitted on to the 19. The feeling of relief was very, very welcome. I had Miss Baby move to the floor on the far side of the bed. I took a position where I could continue to surveil the outside through the a crack in the curtains while sitting on the floor, with the Glock, now fitted with 30-rd magazine and light.
Strangely, I begin to realize I've done this before, a flashback to one dark night, April 1968, Cao Lanh town, Kien Phong Province, the Mekong Delta, SVN. I and two other Americans, in the Embassy House, when a VC Main Force battalion came across the Vietnamese/Cambodia border, with the mission of wiping out the SVN administration in the town and occupying it. The sitting and waiting, hoping to get a clear shot, all the while waiting for Spookie to arrive, seemed to be happening again.
This time however the police never arrived. I remembered that Texas law is very specific in that one can use lethal force to protect one's person, and also to stop the theft or damage of one's property, particularly at night. I made up my mind that if anyone tried to vandalize or steal the Ridgeline, or made a determined attempt to force open our door, I would give them one short verbal warning, then followed, if necessary, with a Mozambique or two from the Glock. Finally after some 30 minutes, the angry two got into the red car and departed. Was I happy to see them go? Yes, for Miss Baby's benefit, but I must admit that the urge to shoot was getting stronger and stronger, just as it had been at the Embassy House so many years ago.
RKO
After about 15 minutes, no police had arrived and the shouting and screaming continued, with our room number, 101 being said repeatedly.
It occurred to me that the two latinos might think our Ridgeline belonged to whomever they were trying to get to come out.
I then realized that I had no flashlight in the room, and only a five-shot Chiefs Special. What if they started to vandalize our Ridgeline, or break down our door? After what seemed an eternity, I remembered that I had brought my Dillon bag inside, rather than leave it on the vehicle. In the bag was my Glock 19, 8 15-round magazines and one 30 round magazine, plus the Glock light which fitted on to the 19. The feeling of relief was very, very welcome. I had Miss Baby move to the floor on the far side of the bed. I took a position where I could continue to surveil the outside through the a crack in the curtains while sitting on the floor, with the Glock, now fitted with 30-rd magazine and light.
Strangely, I begin to realize I've done this before, a flashback to one dark night, April 1968, Cao Lanh town, Kien Phong Province, the Mekong Delta, SVN. I and two other Americans, in the Embassy House, when a VC Main Force battalion came across the Vietnamese/Cambodia border, with the mission of wiping out the SVN administration in the town and occupying it. The sitting and waiting, hoping to get a clear shot, all the while waiting for Spookie to arrive, seemed to be happening again.
This time however the police never arrived. I remembered that Texas law is very specific in that one can use lethal force to protect one's person, and also to stop the theft or damage of one's property, particularly at night. I made up my mind that if anyone tried to vandalize or steal the Ridgeline, or made a determined attempt to force open our door, I would give them one short verbal warning, then followed, if necessary, with a Mozambique or two from the Glock. Finally after some 30 minutes, the angry two got into the red car and departed. Was I happy to see them go? Yes, for Miss Baby's benefit, but I must admit that the urge to shoot was getting stronger and stronger, just as it had been at the Embassy House so many years ago.
RKO
