Had a strange night
- Thread starter Webbj0219
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LeverGunJunkie
Member
lebowski; you're on point with the GA Castle Laws. And for the record, I'm not the initiating poster and was not the center of the 'action.' Merely a casual observer to the discussion trying to learn.
I completely agree with your assessment.
I completely agree with your assessment.
DHJenkins
Member
You have obviously not heard the clips of people calling 911 when their burger isn't prepared the way they like at their local drive-through. I'm not kidding, either; there are quite a few of them out there.
And they weren't meddlesome kids - they hit a vehicle, remember?
Plus, we only know they were kids because the OP went out there to find out; they could just have easily been armed criminals.
Besides, every police department has a non-emergency number.
LeverGunJunkie
Member
Roger all. My 'meddlesome kids' comment was a generic scenario. My point is I don't want to be one of those people calling 911 about a burnt burger...I have tremendous respect for LEO's and I don't want to waste their time.
But, the comments on this thread have convinced me, w/out a doubt, that calling "Johnny Law" is the appropriate COA.
But, the comments on this thread have convinced me, w/out a doubt, that calling "Johnny Law" is the appropriate COA.
As someone's already pointed out, you could call non-emergency dispatch or you could just wait till you see an actual crime committed before you call. I don't care if the whole world wants to park outside my house it's not my business until they actually present a threat. (IMO)
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Webb,
So you talked to your dad. That's good.
Is your dad an attorney practicing criminal defense law, by chance? Because if he isn't, you need to talk to one of those most rickytick, I think. There's far too much you don't know re. going about in public with a pistol at this point, even after being taken to task to some degree by "the elitists" here in S&T. Taking a good defensive handgun class is an excellent idea, but you need to have a conference with a criminal defense attorney in your jurisdiction as well, to get briefed on what the law in your jurisdiction both says and means about self defense. Usually, initial appointments with attorneys are free- but it's worth paying for, if you get billed for it. It might save you getting billed for several hundred hours later...
What should you have done?
1) Stay in the house.
2) Call the local PD or SO, depending on your jurisdiction. Keep their non-emergency number handy, you don't have to call 9-1-1 if it isn't really an emergency.
3) Report a suspicious vehicle/suspicious activity, if that's all that is going on. Get a tag number if you can- always. Describe the vehicle- make/model/type/color. Describe the occupants if you can. Your local LEOs are paid to handle this stuff. Let them do their jobs.
4) STAY IN THE HOUSE.
hth,
lpl
So you talked to your dad. That's good.
Is your dad an attorney practicing criminal defense law, by chance? Because if he isn't, you need to talk to one of those most rickytick, I think. There's far too much you don't know re. going about in public with a pistol at this point, even after being taken to task to some degree by "the elitists" here in S&T. Taking a good defensive handgun class is an excellent idea, but you need to have a conference with a criminal defense attorney in your jurisdiction as well, to get briefed on what the law in your jurisdiction both says and means about self defense. Usually, initial appointments with attorneys are free- but it's worth paying for, if you get billed for it. It might save you getting billed for several hundred hours later...
What should you have done?
1) Stay in the house.
2) Call the local PD or SO, depending on your jurisdiction. Keep their non-emergency number handy, you don't have to call 9-1-1 if it isn't really an emergency.
3) Report a suspicious vehicle/suspicious activity, if that's all that is going on. Get a tag number if you can- always. Describe the vehicle- make/model/type/color. Describe the occupants if you can. Your local LEOs are paid to handle this stuff. Let them do their jobs.
4) STAY IN THE HOUSE.
hth,
lpl
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rainbowbob
Member
Calling the police to check it out, rather than doing so yourself, is good advice.
After that you will likely have to remain patient (and put on the coffee), because this kind of call (at least in these parts) is a low priority, and it may be a very long time before (if) they show up.
My last such experience was a noise complaint involving dozens of people going to and from their cars parked all over our our quiet residential street. They had rented the church for a big party that included LOUD drumming, chanting, and shouting, and were in the parking lot drinking, laughing, talking loud - until about 4 am!
I called twice, but the police never showed - despite assurances they were on their way.
The sleep deprivation affected my judgement somewhat, and I was tempted to take matters into my own hands.
In frustration, I did leave the house and made it obvious I was watching and waiting.
But I did NOT initiate any confrontation.
You shouldn't either.
After that you will likely have to remain patient (and put on the coffee), because this kind of call (at least in these parts) is a low priority, and it may be a very long time before (if) they show up.
My last such experience was a noise complaint involving dozens of people going to and from their cars parked all over our our quiet residential street. They had rented the church for a big party that included LOUD drumming, chanting, and shouting, and were in the parking lot drinking, laughing, talking loud - until about 4 am!
I called twice, but the police never showed - despite assurances they were on their way.
The sleep deprivation affected my judgement somewhat, and I was tempted to take matters into my own hands.
In frustration, I did leave the house and made it obvious I was watching and waiting.
But I did NOT initiate any confrontation.
You shouldn't either.
ccsniper
member
NEVER LEAVE THE SAFETY OF YOUR HOUSE unless a loved one is in trouble and needs immediate action. I hope you learned something and NEVER do something like that again. calling the cops to tell someone to leave is a better thing than calling 911 because you got shot and need medical assistance.
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DHJenkins
Member
The added bonus of staying in your house and calling the law is that you can usually remain anonymous, thereby reducing the threat of reprisal.
Personally, I like to keep my vehicles free of scratches and flat tires - but that's just me.
Personally, I like to keep my vehicles free of scratches and flat tires - but that's just me.
OurSafeHome.net
Member
If you go out looking for trouble, you are likely to find it.
JustinL
Member
I am in total agreement about calling the police first; that is what they are there for.
AKElroy
Member
You were safe in the house, they were not placing you or others in danger, and you escalated a situation needlessly. Property damage & wierd behavior is for LE to deal with. Would you have approached them without the gun??? The presense of the gun should never change that judgement. In texas, patting the holster to convey you were armed could be considered brandishing, and you could have wound up in a felony take-down had this thug been the first to call PD, CHL or not. Referencing the gun clearly escalated the situation and his rhetoric, and you are fortunate he backed off. LEO's are trained to de-escalate these types of situations. What would you have done had he said [] you and your gun, and walked toward you? Even if you stopped him with 5 center hits, you still have a dead kid that had previously only been guilty of banging your neighbor & smoking pot. Everyone stays healthy if you stay in the house, maybe not if you don't. You pay a lot of tax; that was a real good opportunity to redeem a little w/ your local PD.
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30mag
Member
Call the police, load the 12-gauge and lock the doors.
If I were to someone in the middle of the night, it will be on my terms.
Keep alert.
Keep watching.
Don't assume anything.
If I were to someone in the middle of the night, it will be on my terms.
Keep alert.
Keep watching.
Don't assume anything.
LightningJoe
Member
That could have gone wrong about a hundred ways. The next time a you a approach a thug make sure you can handle him without threatening him with a gun. He wasn't on your land. He was quite legal. Your reaction was pretty ragged. You don't own the street. If you want to approach people you think look questionable, be neighborly. You can't go pointing flashlights in people's faces without starting fights.
Dogbite
Member
OK, so everyone has pretty much covered the mistakes made. I know someone who almost got killed doing exactly what you did. He was talking to some trespassers, and he had gotten close to them. He was armed with a rifle. He took his eyes off of one of them and when he looked back(just a second) his front tooth was broken by a 1911 being jammed into his mouth. They took his gun, and lead him out to the edge of the property where they smashed his weapon into the mud, and laid him down on the ground and drove off. They were never found by police. Get the plate and a description, and call the cops. Let them handle it from there.
Dogbite
Member
Yeah, it does. He told me that he thought they were going to shoot him, and then leave. He was mentally kicking himself for being stupid as they lead him out to the front gate.
sammy_adams
Member
- Joined
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Why call 911 and go through a middle-man?
Call your local police department number.
Yes, I do have mine memorized, Thanks for asking
You can explain to them what you have seen. They will thank you and come on by.
No fuss, no muss.
I have called the cops directly to report the donkeys who ride their snow machines on the state highway after dark. (not cause I care about the donkeys, I feel bad for the car driver who will hit them).
When I told the cops the snow machine incident happened a few minutes ago, because I had to look up their number instead of calling 911, I was told everyone else calls 911 for the most trivial of reasons.
Anyways, get the local police station number, write it on the wall next to the phone, next time something trips your wire, just call them direct.
Call your local police department number.
Yes, I do have mine memorized, Thanks for asking
You can explain to them what you have seen. They will thank you and come on by.
No fuss, no muss.
I have called the cops directly to report the donkeys who ride their snow machines on the state highway after dark. (not cause I care about the donkeys, I feel bad for the car driver who will hit them).
When I told the cops the snow machine incident happened a few minutes ago, because I had to look up their number instead of calling 911, I was told everyone else calls 911 for the most trivial of reasons.
Anyways, get the local police station number, write it on the wall next to the phone, next time something trips your wire, just call them direct.
outerlimit
Member
Webbj0219,
I wish you had called the police immediately, because right now the loser thug could be cooling off in the County jail with a drug charge & traffic offense. And his car in the impound lot.
I wish you had called the police immediately, because right now the loser thug could be cooling off in the County jail with a drug charge & traffic offense. And his car in the impound lot.
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Webbj0219
Member
Just wanted to update this story. Even though I may not have handled this the best way I figured that everything luckily turned out alright. Nobody was hurt. I spent no time in jail. And its been a good year or so and havent seen this guy back here. Figured I had scared him enough.
That is until a couple of days ago. I was coming home from a hard day at work and had picked up some groceries on the way home. As I was parking my truck I see a cadilac pulling up my street. Didnt think much of it. As I was getting out and grabbing my groceries the caddy was parked just opposite me and low and behold its that guy driving it. The same guy I had the confrontation with a year back. I guess he traded his probe up for something much nicer? It was kinda an akward moment. I figured I needed to keep up a tough appearance, with my experience with this type of guy if you act tough once with them and then you turn soft that will embolden them. So although I didnt feel like it I gave him a scowl. I have matured quite a bit since my last encounter(I had just gotten back from living in Reno the first time, living on the east coast for a bit sure gave my a more peaceable outlook on life).So I kinda stood there scowling at him with my groceries in hand as the same girl that was with him before gets outa the passenger side and runs up into the house and he turns around and drives away.
I talked to my fiance about this and she got all scared and said I shouldnt have acted all pissed at him. That I probably pissed him off. And now she is scared of me. Took me maybe an hour to calm her down so she would let me come near her. Woman. I was trying to protect her I dont understand how that makes her affraid of me?
But anyway I did relocate my gun to a more "accessible" location. And moved my threat meter up from yellow to maybe a yellow-orange. I thought I would but this out there to get some input on how I handled this? Thanx in advance for you time and any suggestions.
That is until a couple of days ago. I was coming home from a hard day at work and had picked up some groceries on the way home. As I was parking my truck I see a cadilac pulling up my street. Didnt think much of it. As I was getting out and grabbing my groceries the caddy was parked just opposite me and low and behold its that guy driving it. The same guy I had the confrontation with a year back. I guess he traded his probe up for something much nicer? It was kinda an akward moment. I figured I needed to keep up a tough appearance, with my experience with this type of guy if you act tough once with them and then you turn soft that will embolden them. So although I didnt feel like it I gave him a scowl. I have matured quite a bit since my last encounter(I had just gotten back from living in Reno the first time, living on the east coast for a bit sure gave my a more peaceable outlook on life).So I kinda stood there scowling at him with my groceries in hand as the same girl that was with him before gets outa the passenger side and runs up into the house and he turns around and drives away.
I talked to my fiance about this and she got all scared and said I shouldnt have acted all pissed at him. That I probably pissed him off. And now she is scared of me. Took me maybe an hour to calm her down so she would let me come near her. Woman. I was trying to protect her I dont understand how that makes her affraid of me?
But anyway I did relocate my gun to a more "accessible" location. And moved my threat meter up from yellow to maybe a yellow-orange. I thought I would but this out there to get some input on how I handled this? Thanx in advance for you time and any suggestions.
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Deanimator
Member
There was no need to acknowledge or interact with him at all.
You can be prepared to shoot him in self-defense if necessary without even giving any outward indication that you even recognize his existence.
Engaging him, even non-verbally, is an act that could be construed as instigation of a confrontation.
You can be prepared to shoot him in self-defense if necessary without even giving any outward indication that you even recognize his existence.
Engaging him, even non-verbally, is an act that could be construed as instigation of a confrontation.
hammerklavier
Member
Patting your holster like that is considered brandishing. Otherwise you did not do so bad. Call the cops next time.
FourteenMiles
Member
The second time you saw him (this year) you did not need to scowl at him. Your first interaction could be written off as mistaking his reasoning for being there. Staring him down was not really called for, now it just seems personal. He sounds like a punk kid but there is no reason you can't be civil with him.
Whenever I have gotten into a verbal altercation with someone, the next time I see them I make sure to be polite so they understand my hostilities were from the situation and not just me being needlessly mean/aggressive.
In your first instance he acted like a punk, but he was probably scared and did not want to embarrass himself in front of the girl, already had enough of that from his crappy driving. I would not worry about him.
In your first story you said you had to load you weapon, and the second one you said you now have it in a more accesible place. You should always have your weapon loaded and ready to go in a moments notice (if the circumstance allows). You should only use your weapon to defend your own health and that of others. If you had fired that first night you almost certainly would be in jail right now. Unless someone is advancing on you than you are not defending yourself, you are assaulting them (not in the legal sense but it should let you know how the law will view it). You definetley need to take some classes or something, your actions were both tactically and legally unsound. Though I understand you have good intentions.
Whenever I have gotten into a verbal altercation with someone, the next time I see them I make sure to be polite so they understand my hostilities were from the situation and not just me being needlessly mean/aggressive.
In your first instance he acted like a punk, but he was probably scared and did not want to embarrass himself in front of the girl, already had enough of that from his crappy driving. I would not worry about him.
In your first story you said you had to load you weapon, and the second one you said you now have it in a more accesible place. You should always have your weapon loaded and ready to go in a moments notice (if the circumstance allows). You should only use your weapon to defend your own health and that of others. If you had fired that first night you almost certainly would be in jail right now. Unless someone is advancing on you than you are not defending yourself, you are assaulting them (not in the legal sense but it should let you know how the law will view it). You definetley need to take some classes or something, your actions were both tactically and legally unsound. Though I understand you have good intentions.
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