Powderman
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I'll make one more comment, then I'll move on...
In your next to last post, you stated...
It's not that at all.
Have you ever been in a situation where you are trying to give advice to someone who is heading down the wrong path--with potentially negative consequences--where they just don't listen?
Those of us on this board who are cops--and also, combat veterans who have HAD to do house clearings--plus those who have been neither but have been there and seen the elephant--know without a doubt that clearing a house is one of the most dangerous things you can do.
In the military, as well as in law enforcement, training and actual deployment and circumstance usually falls under the same two major rules: You TRAIN as you will FIGHT, because when the time comes, you will FIGHT like you have TRAINED--and also, that you FIGHT to WIN--which includes cheating whenever possible and necessary. There is no such thing as a fair fight--one of the quotes I admire greatly came from LTG George Patton, who said that you should not give YOUR life for your country, but rather make the other poor bastard give HIS life for HIS country.
You have stated that you have learned from this thread that you should make noise before you go in, etc. And, you have stated that you are a type of guy that WILL do this again, if necessary.
I hope not.
You seem from your posts like a really nice guy, devoted to family and household, fiercely protective of home and family. In other words, you'll do to ride the river with. Stick around--there are not too many other guys like you. (Incidentally, you'll find a lot of other folks of like mindset here.
)
But, I must be blunt with you for your sake, and I hope that you will listen to me and seriously consider this advice.
There is a word for your mindset with regard to this incident....
It's called tombstone courage.
There are plenty of us on this board who have been in situations where our lives hung by a thread, and where we seriously considered that we were in the last moments of our lives.
There are others on this board who have actually KNOWN that their lives could have been over in seconds, and who have had to fight--respond with overwhelming, crushing, deadly force to save their own lives. The consensus is universal--you should NEVER attempt to clear a house or building by yourself.
There is of course one exception to that rule--and that is to save the life of another, especially someone you love. If I were coming home, and determined that my wife were in danger, I give less than a flat rabbit's *** what's inside. Cerberus and the hounds of hell could be on that front porch, and Satan himself could be laughing inside with glee--but if my wife or children (even though they are both grown) are inside, then I draw my weapon, say a quick prayer, grab a handful of gravitas and go to work.
In my case, the same goes for any other person in danger. I took the oath, and I wear the badge of the law. You don't get hurt on my watch if I can help it.
However, all else being equal, and if there is ANY way to do otherwise, I WILL wait for backup.
In closing, I will say this:
I was talking to my son about clearing houses. He is a Marine Corporal, a combat veteran of the battle of Fallujah. He spent a good portion of his time clearing buildings--including one incident where he and a fellow Marine turned into a room to find two insurgents inside, armed with Avtomat Kalashnikova--AK47's. They were at almost muzzle contact distance.
My son and his brother Marine walked out of that room, alive.
He has told me since then that HE will not clear a house by himself.
Please--for your sake and the sake of your family--listen to the advice given here.
Wait for backup, or call the police and let them (us) do our job, our sworn duty--to keep you and yours safe and out of harm's way.
Someone once said that people are able to sleep in peace because savage men stand ready to do harm to those who might otherwise hurt you.
We are the savage men--and women--who will stand in the breach for you.
God bless, sir--and stay safe.
In your next to last post, you stated...
It's not that at all.
Have you ever been in a situation where you are trying to give advice to someone who is heading down the wrong path--with potentially negative consequences--where they just don't listen?
Those of us on this board who are cops--and also, combat veterans who have HAD to do house clearings--plus those who have been neither but have been there and seen the elephant--know without a doubt that clearing a house is one of the most dangerous things you can do.
In the military, as well as in law enforcement, training and actual deployment and circumstance usually falls under the same two major rules: You TRAIN as you will FIGHT, because when the time comes, you will FIGHT like you have TRAINED--and also, that you FIGHT to WIN--which includes cheating whenever possible and necessary. There is no such thing as a fair fight--one of the quotes I admire greatly came from LTG George Patton, who said that you should not give YOUR life for your country, but rather make the other poor bastard give HIS life for HIS country.
You have stated that you have learned from this thread that you should make noise before you go in, etc. And, you have stated that you are a type of guy that WILL do this again, if necessary.
I hope not.
You seem from your posts like a really nice guy, devoted to family and household, fiercely protective of home and family. In other words, you'll do to ride the river with. Stick around--there are not too many other guys like you. (Incidentally, you'll find a lot of other folks of like mindset here.
)But, I must be blunt with you for your sake, and I hope that you will listen to me and seriously consider this advice.
There is a word for your mindset with regard to this incident....
It's called tombstone courage.
There are plenty of us on this board who have been in situations where our lives hung by a thread, and where we seriously considered that we were in the last moments of our lives.
There are others on this board who have actually KNOWN that their lives could have been over in seconds, and who have had to fight--respond with overwhelming, crushing, deadly force to save their own lives. The consensus is universal--you should NEVER attempt to clear a house or building by yourself.
There is of course one exception to that rule--and that is to save the life of another, especially someone you love. If I were coming home, and determined that my wife were in danger, I give less than a flat rabbit's *** what's inside. Cerberus and the hounds of hell could be on that front porch, and Satan himself could be laughing inside with glee--but if my wife or children (even though they are both grown) are inside, then I draw my weapon, say a quick prayer, grab a handful of gravitas and go to work.
In my case, the same goes for any other person in danger. I took the oath, and I wear the badge of the law. You don't get hurt on my watch if I can help it.
However, all else being equal, and if there is ANY way to do otherwise, I WILL wait for backup.
In closing, I will say this:
I was talking to my son about clearing houses. He is a Marine Corporal, a combat veteran of the battle of Fallujah. He spent a good portion of his time clearing buildings--including one incident where he and a fellow Marine turned into a room to find two insurgents inside, armed with Avtomat Kalashnikova--AK47's. They were at almost muzzle contact distance.
My son and his brother Marine walked out of that room, alive.
He has told me since then that HE will not clear a house by himself.
Please--for your sake and the sake of your family--listen to the advice given here.
Wait for backup, or call the police and let them (us) do our job, our sworn duty--to keep you and yours safe and out of harm's way.
Someone once said that people are able to sleep in peace because savage men stand ready to do harm to those who might otherwise hurt you.
We are the savage men--and women--who will stand in the breach for you.
God bless, sir--and stay safe.
