How would You Re-act

[Rangermedic]

I had Just returned from a 21 day TDY [that turned into a 160 day one] and had stoped at my mother's house,for a couple days. At around 10:30pm the doorbell rang, we were not expecting anybody, nobody knew I was home, we had not ordered any take out. Before I could answer the door they started to knock loudly and shout "anybody Home"? "open up" So I got my duty weapon [1911A1] + a Remington 870 and went out the back door while my mother called the Police. At this point they were "beating" on the door. the guyn next door had also come out his back door and was on his way to my front door, he had a Mossberg 590 with him. from cover I asked them "what that did they want"? at this point they started to get 'loud" and angry at us for suprising them till they saw we were armed. the gentleman from across the street had also come out with his M-1. [he had heard the call over his police scanner and had come over to check on my mother] the police arrived 3-5 mins latter.
Turns out their car had a flat and they had no spare, an wanted to call for a tow.
have been wondering did i over respond?

 

[S&WKING]

i dont think u did i wold have done something similar. my friend had a druged up guy beat on his door and he answered it with a 12guage but the guy already wandered off

 

[justin 561]

No, around where I live, they (crooks) knock on your door to check if someone is home. You responded about what I would have done.

 

[gallo]

Are there any houses for sale in your neighborhood? I'd love to have neighbors like that.

 

[Mark K. C.]

The only thing I would have done different: Once I saw all the neighbors with their firepower I would have got mom far and away to safety still in contact with 911 and gone to the door myself.

 

[H088]

I dunno, I would have opened the door partially and kept the gun to the side out of view and asked them what they wanted.

I think it was a bit of an overreaction, just my view though.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

depends on where you live

 

[loop]

IMHO, you showed a great deal of restraint.

I would have either burst out the front door well armed or circled around the back to come up from behind them.

By the time the PD arrived they would have been on the ground - either shot or waiting for the cops.

 

[Zach S]

He had a flat, and he over reacted. You simply reacted.

Only thing I would have done different is stay in the house and yell through the door.

Dang. Three to five minute response time. Does your mother live in a high-crime area?

 

[mbdolfin]

i wish i had neighbors like that

i wish i had neighbors like that to back me up. I don't have a single neighbor that owns a gun.

 

[Treo]

I don't know that I'd go outside unless I knew I wasn't going to run into 6 of the guy knocking's buddies, and I certainly wouldn't open the door. I'd find out what they wanted through a window next to the door.

You had back up so going out the door wasn't bad, and you certainly didn't over react

 

[XD Fan]

Great Neighbors!

 

[Dumpster Baby]

Not over reacting. There are very few acceptable excuses for aggressively pounding on someone's door and yelling.

 

[TallPine]

That' about how I would (and have) handled unexpected visitors at night, except I have no neighbors close by.

I'm nearly always willing to help people, but not if they start demanding -it's only 25 miles to town, just a good stretch of the legs

 

[Starship1st]

Excellent neighborhood watch program. Sir you did the right thing. You do not beat on a person;s door because you have a flat tire. These guys figured you have something we need and we are going to demand and take it if we want to?

Well that is the product of government schools. If a person needs help I was brought up to ask for it and not demand it.

We need more neighbors like your grand mother has. You are a good grand son.

 

[OhioPaints]

I can see ringing the doorbell and pounding on the door when there is no response (a lot of doorbells don't work). But his "open up" was over the top! Bad choice of words if they were truly innocent.

Ken

 

[FCFC]

So I got my duty weapon [1911A1] + a Remington 870 and went out the back door while my mother called the Police. At this point they were "beating" on the door.

You went out the back and left your mother inside with a phone to protect herself with?

What happens if the door pounder(s) decide to kick in the front door just as you are beginning to come around from the back? They get a free shot at the first occupant they see? What if the potential home intruder team has a plan to station one armed guy at the back of the house to wait for anyone coming out while the front door guy attempts to get inside by door pounding or kicking the door in? The guy coming out the back is at a disadvantage if someone is waiting for him.

Once you were armed (1911 and 870 in hand) what is the benefit of exiting the building, given that the cops are on the way?

I think your decision to leave the mother was poorly thought out. You left your mother alone for a few critical seconds.

Thankfully, there was no real danger or injuries. Just a couple of obnoxious and unthinking strangers...

Are you in Texas?

 

[JWarren]

At this point they were "beating" on the door. the guyn next door had also come out his back door and was on his way to my front door, he had a Mossberg 590 with him.

the gentleman from across the street had also come out with his M-1.

I like your neighborhood.


Something doesn't seem right with the story. A person needing help doesn't typically act so aggressive when at the door. They don't get angry at the people when they show up.

I think the response he got inspired him to go to "Plan B" where he is an innocent poor soul with car trouble.

I suppose that he didn't have a cell phone? Seriously, the days of people needing to use your phone has essentially ended-- except for extreme cases. Even *I* have cell phone coverage at MY house now.

It doesn't add up.


Even if you over-reacted (and I don't believe you did) and the guy's story was legit, he just got a STRONG lesson on interpersonal skills and proper etiquette when approaching someone with your hat in your hand.

You did great.



-- John

 

[Creature]

I agree that this guy smells fishy. Nobody beats on my door without an equal and opposite reaction.

Did the police confirm that he had a flat tire?...because a flat would have slowed his get-away down a bit if his "Plan A" was to rob your home.

 

[give]

dont think you over reacted,they shouldent have been pounding on your door in the first place,not a smart thing to do in an age when home invasions are getting more common place,i would think they were lucky they dident happen on a house with a trigger happy homeowner inside

 

[TallPine]

I suppose that he didn't have a cell phone? Seriously, the days of people needing to use your phone has essentially ended-- except for extreme cases. Even *I* have cell phone coverage at MY house now.

There is little or no cell phone coverage in our neighborhood.

Something doesn't seem right with the story. A person needing help doesn't typically act so aggressive when at the door. They don't get angry at the people when they show up.

A couple years, my adult daughter who was living with us at the time opened the door to somebody after dark (we had words about that later ).

The guy says he is a friend of our ex-neighbor, and I told him in that case he should get off our property right now. But instead of leaving, he starts demanding that we bring a 4wd up an help them steal a pickup off of that property. (it was winter with snow on the ground) Really nice guy

My sidearm was under my wool shirt and I came close to drawing it because he wouldn't leave. They even tried to beg gasoline off of us before they finally left.

I fail to understand the criminal mindset.

 

[JWarren]

Tallpine wrote:

Quote:
I suppose that he didn't have a cell phone? Seriously, the days of people needing to use your phone has essentially ended-- except for extreme cases. Even *I* have cell phone coverage at MY house now.

There is little or no cell phone coverage in our neighborhood.

Since I had previously believed that I was the last person on earth that they'd finally get cell service to at his home, I'd say yours qualifies as an "Extreme Case."


-- John

 

[jon_in_wv]

Both my neighbors are elderly. I wouldn't have left my house but there is a good chance I would have gotten my gun and yelled through the door that I have it and they better leave. You home is a place of safety. There is nothing wrong with waiting. IF they break in, you can be justified for taking more action without looking like a rambo.

 

[pappy]

I think you did great plus you have some really good neighbors.
Also, from:
"I had Just returned from a 21 day TDY [that turned into a 160 day one]"
I assume you mean mmilitary? So a huge thank-you for your service sir!

 

[Rangermedic]

I guess i should add the reason they "beat on the door" [had to replace a broken glass pane, behind the iron grate] was that they "heard dogs barking & lights were on in the house"
one of the dogs might have licked them to death the GSD another story.
there were 4 of them 3 at the door 1 in the car, the tire was kinda flat 'slow leak' they told the PD. after checking them out and the car they were sent on their way.
My mother has her own self defense weapons.
they had a cell phone but it was not working.
at the time i did not want to open the door an get "bum rushed" [after looking out a window an seeing there was 3 of them]
'low crime area, the guy from next door had called the police earlier so the response time was 7-10 mins.
i would have helped them if they gave me a chance instead of becoming upset "that know one answered the door soon enough".