Am I paranoid?

[colorado_handgunner]

First, I live in apartment in a major city in the US (over half a million people) so crime is a concern overall.

Tonight I am sitting on my couch when someone raps on my door. I walk over to the peephole and see a man bundled up in a jacket waving and saying, "Hello, hi, anyone in there?" I have never seen this person before (at the apartment or anywhere else) and there is no reason for him to be at my door at this hour (7:00 PM). While he is not dressed poorly, he is in a wool type overcoat the obscures most of his body from view.

This is where I do not answer the door since I have no chain or anything on it, so it could be knocked aside if I do. Also, because I do not know this person and cannot make out much through the peep hole.

At this point I go to the safe and get out the XD .40 (I usually set it out first thing when I get home but forgot tonight). I come back to the door (gun in hand, arm down, finger off the trigger, chamber empty).

I hear the man talking to someone, but cannot see the other person through the hole. I look again a minute later and they are gone. I stayed completely silent the whole time, so there was no way they knew I was at the door.

The .40 has been on my hip the rest of the night in case they were casing the place for a break-in. Am I paranoid? I know it was likely some sales deal or a neighbor, but the other person out of view concerned me. Thoughts?

Update: 2 hours later

Just saw two emergency vehicles pull up, one FD ambulance, one FT.
Waited a few minutes and went out on deck to look. Everything looked or sounded fine so I went downstairs to look (could hear neighbors out and about and the firemen so I figured it was safe (no CC permit so I had to leave the springer .40)

On the parking lot side of the building there are 3 police cars! I watch for a minute or so and then see the officers leading away a man wearing the same colors and same ethnicity as the man who knocked on my door!
Guess I was not paranoid and played it right!!! Man, my pulse is still racing!!!!!
The one upstairs was looking out for me earlier to do as I did!!!

 

[BudW]

Maybe you should have called PD,other than that you played it right I.M.H.O.

 

[oldways]

Chamber empty? Why?

 

[mrokern]

I wouldn't call you paranoid, I've done exactly the same thing...except all of my guns always have one in the pipe.

I know my neighbors, and if it's not them knocking I'm not going to open up without some clue who the person is. Maintenance and delivery people identify themselves as they knock. A knock and, "...anyone in there" from a stranger is going to get me looking out the peephole with a gun in one hand and a phone in the other.

-Mark

 

[sublimaze41]

I don't understand the empty chamber part. In a crisis that extra time to chamber a round seems to pose a risk.

 

[indoorsoccerfrea]

i think you did the right thing. better to err on the side of caution, anyways

 

[colorado_handgunner]

Chamber empty because I did not feel immediately threatened. My door is steel in a solid frame, so it would take a moment to batter in.

Also my XD trigger is soft, and I am in an apartment. Therefore, I prefer to only chamber a round if I feel immediately threatened to completely eliminate the chance of a ND. I have not been shooting for long, so in a high stress situation, I like the extra buffer.

I did consider chambering as I walked back to the door though, but consciously chose not to. Not the best choice, I think in hindsight now, but it worked out.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Paranoia is a thought process characterized by excessive anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion.

Were you excessively anxious or fearful? Would it have been impossible for the individual to have attempted to harm you had you opened the door? Did you simply imagine them at your door?

If you answered yes, you may be paranoid. If you answered no, you're not.

I'm just wondering why you keep your guns locked up from yourself, and when you get them out for potential self-defense, you don't make them ready to use. Of course, it's your choice, but I wouldn't, and don't purposely increase my helplessness by doing so.

 

[hso]

First, secure your door effectively so you can talk to people who come to it without fearing an immediate break in.

Second, if you're going to carry a gun due to concern for a threat put a round in the chamber. Keep your booger hook off the bang switch and the gun in the holster until needed.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

chambering the round while holding the gun close to the door, so the unexpected guest could hear it, then watching the reaction might have been interesting to observe.

I think you did the right thing, but I have to say I would have had a round in the chamber to start.

 

[jcwit]

All my Home Defense weapons have one in the tube, ready to go BANG

 

[Gamera]

I'll have to go with what everyone else has been saying. You're not paranoid, and keep one in the chamber!

 

[heron]

Here's an idea: go to the hardware store and buy a rubber doorstop and keep it next to the door (doorknob side). If some stranger comes and you want to open the door a crack to find out what they're about, just scootch that doorstop over in front of the door, a few inches away from it, with your foot behind it. They won't see this. Pistol ready, open the door a crack. If they try to shove their way in, well, they won't, but you'll be able to jump back and cover the door with your weapon.

And no, you're not paranoid. You're cautious, which is a good way of staying alive.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I suspect a religious group. As irritating as they can be,I would not plug them. How ever,I would not keep my HD gun in a safe.

 

[colorado_handgunner]

Moved update to start.

 

[Woodstock45678]

whoa got that response in the time I was writing my first response.

See if anyone gets arrested...

 

[BudW]

Let PD KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!!!!! ASAP

 

[Badmotorfinger]

Leave out the "Empty Chamber" part though...

 

[iburnpowdah]

FWIW

I believe you should have communicated with that person from behind the closed door.

Asked them why they were standing at your door, and if you did not like the answer call local PD. And yes, keep one in the pipe...

 

[rogerjames]

I believe you should have communicated with that person from behind the closed door. Asked them why they were standing at your door, and if you did not like the answer call local PD. And yes, keep one in the pipe...

+1. 7PM is not an abnormal hour. I would have communicated through the door. What do you want? Who are you looking for? etc... Like the others said... keep one in the chamber, then follow your safety rules that you should be following anyway. ... gun is always loaded.

 

[Rockwell1]

First, secure your door effectively so you can talk to people who come to it without fearing an immediate break in

I believe you should have communicated with that person from behind the closed door

+1. 7PM is not an abnormal hour. I would have communicated through the door.

I have a hard time understanding this mentality. I don’t care what time you come to my door, if I don’t know you I don’t answer. I have never had an unknown person come to my door that wasn’t some type of inconvenience or annoyance. Why should I open the door or encourage them?

 

[reddog1083]

Please tell me you asked the officers what happened? Told them what happened to you?

Damn I am curious now!

 

[BULLSI]

Every door I ever knocked on that had a peep hole I can tell If someone was there by looking at the peephole to see if it goes dark because of the light that travels through it. Also is there a gap at the bottom of your door if so then there would have been a shadow movement to tell if someone was there, if you were there. Heck I worked at an aprtment complex and the gap at the bottom of the door were so bad that you could lay on the ground and look into the apartment to see what you had for dinner.

 

[youngda9]

You were threathened enough to go grab a gun, shoulda had one in the chamber. If you keep it in the safe should keep one in the chamber also, no reason not to. One less step to defending yourself.

 

[Evnldr]

I leave mine UN chambered but i also leave the slide back flip the switch boom time and the bad guy knows it's on due to the fact i have a decock safety. But i agree i would not answer the door either just watch and be on alert.