Forgot my gun today, then needed it.

[ExtremeDooty]

I left the house without my carry gun today. I can't remember the last time this happened, if ever. I had a chance to get it at lunch, but figured I could go one afternoon without my gun.

So I'm working on the front entrance of a house in downtown Kalamazoo, and this young woman quickly walks by and goes in between the houses. I knew by the look on her face that something was up. I walked back to where my saw was set up and found her hiding behind a privacy fence. When she saw me, she whispers, "Don't say anything!" I started "fixing" the privacy fence so I could talk to her. She was hiding from her drug enraged boyfriend, who had just broken her cell phone, threw a hammer at her, disabled her car and was now chasing her in his pickup.

Crapola!!! My back pocket was EMPTY!! The Bersa I normally keep there was safely avoiding this situation on my bedroom dresser. CRAPOLA!!!

So I went to plan B. I gave the damsel in distress my pepper spray and told her to stay behind the fence. Used the cell phone to call 911 and then got my assistant off the roof to guard the rear of the house. The next door neighbor was also working on his house so I asked him to stay on the side near the fence. Then I grabbed a crowbar and loitered between the street and the fence until the cops showed up 15 minutes later. Two cars showed up and they took it from there.

Turns out this was the third time this month this woman had been attacked by the boyfriend. He's on probation for domestic violence and she can't get him out of their house without a 30 day eviction notice. I let her keep the pepper spray.

The good news is that I kept my wits about me and took care of the problem without a gun. Although I don't know what would have happened if the boyfriend had found us. I also remembered to charge the cell phone the previous night. Construction sites are loaded with potentially useful weapons. I will never forget my carry gun again.

How crazy is it that this happened on the one day that I was unarmed?

 

[Delmar]

Glad you did not have to meet up with the doper, E.D. I suppose I don't have to mention that you don't bring a crowbar to a gunfight either, except you really did not have much of an option....................

 

[P95Carry]

ED - this perhaps highlights the need to carry 16/7! My oft repeated maxims are ...

''Expect the unexpected'' - and - ''Never assume''.

I work from home - many days I do not leave the environs of my property - but I still carry regardless. We are into the ''spare tire'' or ''fire extinguisher'' deal here - we cannot know - at any time - what is round the corner.

I am also (thru age and cyncism) a proponent of the ''Murphy strikes when least wanted'' avenue of approaches.

Jesting aside - there really is NO way to know from one minute to next, in ANY situation, whether the nasty sticky stuff will collide with the round whirly thing. Answer? ... NEVER leave your piece - as you have discovered (tho fortunately not to your cost) - it is almost always gonna be that ''one time'' when you forget or don't bother, that it might be needed.

Make it part of your apparel - on when rising - off when to bed - and no exceptions inbetween.

Glad the incident was not a bad outcome.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Turns out this was the third time this month this woman had been attacked by the boyfriend. He's on probation for domestic violence and she can't get him out of their house without a 30 day eviction notice.

Something's wrong with this picture. Why isn't he in jail?

I think you handled the situation very well for someone who wasn't armed.

 

[psyopspec]

Admirable job of doing the best you could with what you had. Agree with SW that the scum shouldn't be out in public.

 

[R.H. Lee]

I dunno. Sometimes things happen the way they should, and sometimes they don't. Maybe if you'd been armed, the guy would have shown up and you'd shot him. Maybe if you'd been armed, the cops would have shown up, mistaken you for the perp, and shot you. Maybe, sometime in the future, you would have left your pistol at home, been attacked and killed, and now that won't happen, because you'll be armed after this event.

Who knows?

 

[pax]

Construction sites are loaded with potentially useful weapons. I will never forget my carry gun again.

E.D.,

When I worked as a carpenter's flunky a few years back, I felt pretty weird keeping my gun on my belt. Of course, by the time I'd layered on street clothes (gun under 'em), rain gear, and tool apron, there wasn't any way I'd ever have gotten at the gun if I'd needed it in a hurry. I always just figured I'd use a crowbar, power saw, or nail gun if it came to that. But I wasn't willing to drive to work without the gun, and with it underneath everything, I knew it wasn't getting stolen out of my car.

pax

Look, I'm going down to the arsenal on a gun run. Anybody want anything? -- Sledge Hammer

 

[Aguila Blanca]

How crazy is it that this happened on the one day that I was unarmed?

Murphy's Law

 

[Browns Fan]

Well done! Good job of thinking on your feet and taking charge of the situation!

 

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Good Thinking

You kept a cool head and provided protection and contacted authorities, and let them take it from there. Good thinking.

 

[FPrice]

Good job there.

I'm sure you would have felt better having your CCW, but your actions show the truth of the old saying, "Your mind is your most important weapon.".

 

[sturmruger]

I am glad you didn't end up needing it. That kind of reminds me of my reaccuring dream where I need my gun but when I go to draw it I have an empty holster. It sucks!

 

[Mannlicher]

It sounds like you did just fine without the little Bersa. Crowbar would probably do more damage to the bf anyway.

 

[Dave R]

Agreed. Sounds like your only tactical mistake was not having your carry pistol.

Other than that, good 'tactical response' to the incident.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Well Done!!
It's probably how it should have been handled even if you had your Bersa.

AFS

 

[cerberus]

Around here

The law reads unless it's you'r life or family that is in danger of some type life threating item. You cannot even draw you'r firearm. The plain fact of our State law is you can't even draw you'r firearm even if you see some women or man being bashed to death. Only a LE Officer can take this action with a firearm.

 

[stans]

Something's wrong with this picture. Why isn't he in jail?

Laws vary from state to state. In Virginia a person could get away with any level of abuse just short of murder as long as the victim did not press charges. Thankfully, that has changed and the state will bring charges. It seems that victims will often, out of fear most likely, not press charges. I actually saw a case of this right up until the victim died under mysterious circumstances.

 

[TonyB]

I was in the hospital a while back and of course couldn't carry...I felt so naked(and that was before the "exam").....after carrying for a while when you don't it's really odd....you handles the situation properly though.....but it is always reassuring to have your little buddy with you even if you don't "need" him.

 

[entropy]

Well done, E D! Your quick and helpful reaction made having your Bersa on you or not a moot point, although it probably ensured you won't be forgetting it anytime soon.