Holy Crap!!! Shots Fired Behind My House!!!!!!

[ArchAngelCD]

Will you guys cut it out!! He's a 16 year old kid!! (no disrespect meant) Stop telling him to shoot. Stop telling him to return fire and for god sakes, don't tell a minor to drink.

It's obvious to me he got nervous when he heard the shots, nobody was home and he was looking for a little comfort. It should have been obvious to you guys too. At 16 he was acting more mature than many who answered him.

KiltedClaymore,
You did the right thing calling 9-1-1, locking the doors, setting the alarm and calling your parents. You didn't make Eagle Scout by accident I see. You did well so relax and enjoy the fact nobody in your family was hurt. Don't worry about choosing the wrong words when you were nervous, it was the only thing you did wrong (and I use the term "wrong" loosely) and there was no harm done. You're OK in my book...

 

[perpster]

being 16 and a recovering alcoholic

Yikes. I'm glad you're recovering (and not hit), but sad that it's even necessary at your age.

 

[Zoogster]

Honestly it does not mean much. I have heard shots fired every now and then. Usualy no criminal attack has happened, nobody is hurt or injured, and no problems exist the next day.

Being concerned about bullets flying or falling is valid. Based on tests most bullets shot near straight up fall almost a minute later, some with enough force to injure or kill. However not with the force of a bullet, just the force of a heavy chunk of lead falling from really high.

If it was someone in a shootout, chances are you or someone else in your home is the least of thier concerns, and a criminal that just shot in an area is unlikely to stay right in the immediate area. Being alert or ready is still smart, but hearing gunshots is not the end of the world. In fact it is not really much different than hearing screeching tires. It may be something, it may be nothing. It is unnerving, warrants attention immediately after, but is probably no big deal.

Getting online and posting about it after taking what you felt were appropriate actions is not really such a bad thing either as others have said. Nobody is breaking in, you were not shot at, and you do not seem to want to go investigate. What better to do while you wait for the police to come take a report, make a little small talk and comfort you before they continue on thier way? Erm I mean rush out to save you from near imminent death.

I am of the understanding that 'securing the perimeter' is bad doctrine; instead of you having the element of surprise and waiting (while being prepared and armed) the bad guy in your backyard will be able to see you and get the first jump on you.

As for "securing the scene". If there was a criminal plotting or planning on an individual in a home in the middle of a city I think the last thing they would do is fire shots prior to having contact with the person and then hang around. Maybe if you live out in a rural location it could be a possibility. It does not seem like that is the case, and would be counterproductive in a densely populated area.

Going out and potentialy finding an injured person to actualy use your boy scout abilities and provide some necessary first aid is not necessarily such a bad idea. Sure others will say "No it could be dangerous, you are just a kid, etc" but a little risk or danger from something most likely nothing, and if it actualy was something most likely over, compared to letting someone sit there, alone, bleeding out as they lie on the street because everyone is huddled in thier homes trying not to be involved is also not a decision to be proud of. You are obviously a young man and capable of making decisions, choose who and what you want to be and don't feel like you need your options validated by others.