Nervous I've ever been

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ccsniper

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So I just got off work, went and did a little grocery shopping at Wal-mart. On my way home I noticed a car speeding up behind me. I saw that it had one head light out and took note of that(its important) I recognized it as a late 90's grand am, my friend has one and the lights are obvious. It followed me to my neighborhood. As my place of work does not allow CC, I was unarmed. I drove around my neighborhood several times to see if they were in fact following me. Finally they turned off down a street several blocks from my house. Once I got home, I unloaded the groceries and went inside. I had my hand on the doorknob when the same car drives right past my house. Windows were tented I couldn't see anything, then they drove down the block. By this time I had my hand on my phone to call the police to report suspicious vehicle in my neighborhood. I watched them from a dark room and reported everything to the police I could.

They drove around my neighborhood six times, slowed down right in front of my house several times. I live in a corner house and they drove by it from both directions. It was a late 90's silver pontiac grand am with a light out, honestly I see dozens of those every day, but I just happened to notice the light was out. My neighbors just had a break in 2 weeks ago. As soon as I seen the car leave our neighborhood I went over to tell him (ex navy seal, he wakes up before I get off work at 4 am). My neighbor thanked me and I got off the phone with the police, they are patrolling now, though the car left 45 minutes ago.

Now to the worst part of the story, as soon as I got into my house from unloading groceries I stuck my carry gun on my hip, which is a bersa .380. So I was armed all the while this was going on. Just before I went to wright this, after the car had left, I pulled it out and slid the slide back (like I always do before putting it down) and to my absolute horror, the chamber was empty. My brother was over earlier this evening and was ranting about how dangerous it is to keep a round in the chamber. At some point he must have taken the round out of the chamber, I found it on my nightstand. I don't know when he could have done this. Some of you may have an idea as to how pissed off I am about carrying, virtually, an unloaded gun.

He will be getting a phone call as soon as I post this, he doesn't have to go to school till 2:00 pm, but I am waking him up oh so very early to tell him that if he ever touches my guns again, I am going to break his fingers. If I had to use my gun I would have pulled the trigger on an empty chamber, and that makes me shake. I know the drill, tap and rack, but still freaked me out.
 
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A press check is your friend.

your story should read:

as soon as I got into my house from unloading groceries I did a press check on my carry gun, noticed it was unloaded, then loaded the gun and stuck it on my hip
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Amazing - I had ALMOST exactly the same thing happen to me a couple years back. A car definitely followed me, and even sped up when I did. The way I access my driveway and park makes my car pretty quickly invisible from the road, so I left him for a delay at a left while he HAD to wait for a car comin the other way, and quick like a scared rabbit, my car was hidden and I watched him slowly roll by looking from thick bushes. I went in through the back, no lights, got my 1911, dialed the local po-po. Cops got there quickly, but after rolling down our street 4 times the dude left. I had a make and description on the vehicle, but no plate ID.

My 1911 was loaded, but since the weasel never even stopped, better that......yet one always wonders, "Why was he following ME?"
 
Why did you let your brother have access to your gun? I have a speed safe on my night stand and no one has access to my gun but me. Your lucky he didn't shoot himself. It's not very smart just leaving a firearm where anyone gan get it.

I get crap all the time for living in Mass, because of our stupid laws. Its the law that all guns must be locked up, and I agree with this. It takes 1.5 seconds to get into my safe, so dont say "I wont have time to get it". 2 worst case senerios, your brother shoots himself trying to unload it, and you being killed for not carrying a loaded gun.
 
This is why a tactial and/or visual loaded chamber indicator is always a plus on a carry gun. My little Polish P-64 has a very good one, which is perfectly positioned so that it is easily checked without unholstering the weapon.
 
These posts make me so happy I live where I do. If a "suspicious vehicle" drives past more than twice, the next time he gets a laser dot on his hood/windshield.
While my Daughter was a 911 dispatcher, I was awakened by a noise and found a car parked in my driveway next to my mailbox. I couldn't see the interior so after about 5 minutes, I called her on the non 911 line(not recorded). She said one of the Deputies was lost around here somewhere and couldn't find himself on his map. I told her to have him look out his window at the mailbox he was sitting beside. She said when he saw the laser dot on the mailbox he about spilled his coffee. At least he "found himself" and could get to where he was supposed to be.
 
Casual - or deliberately threatening - use of a laser pointer or aiming device in a situation where a significant level of force is not otherwise justified is a VERY unwise practice IMHO.

A powerful handheld flashlight would work much better for the purpose...
 
Yeah especially if it turns out to be an off duty or unmarked cop car that followed you home on some imaginary or not-so-imaginary driving infraction (blowing a stop sign you didn't see, red light, maybe he thought you were all liquored up swerving as you frantically wave and roll down a window because of that angry wasp hitchhiker that buzzed your head)

... that laser pointer might get you in a world of hurt.

I take it you live in a state where you can't keep an unloaded firearm in the car when you go to work?
 
A car definitely followed me, and even sped up when I did.
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If you can't leave them in the dust, then just pull over. If they pull over too, then start driving again and head toward the cop shop.

IME, most of those "chasers" end up being someone who feels that you somehow wronged them on the road (passed them, got in front of them when they felt they should have the lead, etc.) Pulling over, they will usually pass on by. Living out in the sticks where I do, knowing the roads as I do, and often driving pretty quick cars, I have generally found it preferable to simply go faster than they can/will.
 
I used to carry the same gun (Bersa Thunder .380.) Back when my daughter was still an infant, I didn't carry it on my person while at home; I'd leave it in a hidden compartment in my easy chair, with the magazine removed and next to it. The chamber was kept loaded. One day, I slipped it into my holster, put it on, and proceeded to take my daughter for a walk in her stroller. While passing a house a few blocks from ours, a rather large and angry-appearing dog charged from alongside it, coming toward the roadway where we were. I immediately placed myself between the dog and the stroller, and withdrew the gun from its holster, holding it alongside my leg. No owner was in sight, and I proceeded to back away, further down the street. The dog, still barking aggressively, stopped at the edge of the roadway. Once a good distance was reached, I holstered my weapon and continued along with the walk.

Once at home, I unholstered the gun and noticed the magazine was missing. I immediately thought I'd somehow dropped it along the walk, perhaps at the scene of the dog encounter. I was relieved and mortified at the same time to find it in the chair compartment. It meant I had never inserted it. So, had I needed to shoot the dog, I would not have been able to, as even the one round in the chamber would have been useless due to the gun's magazine-disconnect safety.

Not long after that, I gave up on storing the gun in that manner, and soon adopted on-body carry during all waking hours.
 
It's not actually illegal to follow a person in a car, so you'd be hard pressed to justify taking any more action than you did.

Why not get the long gun when you get home and have it ready in case it turned out to be something serious?
 
Posted by Mobuck: If a "suspicious vehicle" drives past more than twice, the next time he gets a laser dot on his hood/windshield.
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As Fred pointed out, that would be very unwise, in the extreme.

Depending upon the circumstances and the evidence including witness testimony, could result in arrest, trial, and conviction for crimes ranging from assault to aggravated assault.

Most importantly, could also result in your being shot--by someone with reason to successfully claim self defense.
 
Mobuck said:
These posts make me so happy I live where I do. If a "suspicious vehicle" drives past more than twice, the next time he gets a laser dot on his hood/windshield.
While my Daughter was a 911 dispatcher, I was awakened by a noise and found a car parked in my driveway next to my mailbox. I couldn't see the interior so after about 5 minutes, I called her on the non 911 line(not recorded). She said one of the Deputies was lost around here somewhere and couldn't find himself on his map. I told her to have him look out his window at the mailbox he was sitting beside. She said when he saw the laser dot on the mailbox he about spilled his coffee. At least he "found himself" and could get to where he was supposed to be.
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Watch your laser-dotting! There can be any number of legitimate reasons a car may pass more than twice, and lasering someone can bring all manner of trouble, depending upon the local laws, and the perceived threat level as interpreted by the one being lasered. A worst-case scenario, for the one pointing the laser, would be if the car being lasered happens to be an unmarked police car, in a jurisdiction where pointing a laser is clearly construed to be an assault.
 
Regarding the OP's chambered being cleared, it is wise to check the condition of any weapon that has been out of one's direct control. I have read or heard tales of family members unloading weapons too many times for me to trust anyone.
 
Why not get the long gun when you get home and have it ready in case it turned out to be something serious?
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I did, the shotgun is sitting next to my desk right now in its usual position. It's always close at hand at the house.

Wow if that's what got you as nervous as you've ever been you must be very sheltered
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Pretty much, I have never been deliberately followed home. I probably should have mentioned that I had just bought several hundred dollars worth of groceries, and a "gangsta" looking guy behind me in line kept giving me looks after I laid $400 on the table. He made me nervous the way he was staring at me (then again, it was that time when all the weirdo's are out, they always seem to be out when I am).

I take it you live in a state where you can't keep an unloaded firearm in the car when you go to work?
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Don't like leaving anything valuable in my truck, I work odd hours 8pm to 3am and the only place to park at where I work is not lit well.
 
Posted by Mobuck: If a "suspicious vehicle" drives past more than twice, the next time he gets a laser dot on his hood/windshield.
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Really? And it turns out to be an old lady with bad night vision, or a guy looking for his lost dog.
 
My brother was over earlier this evening and was ranting about how dangerous it is to keep a round in the chamber.
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Your brother is an idiot. Sorry, but that's just how it is. Don't ever let him touch your firearms ever again. If he asks why, tell him he's an idiot, and idiots aren't allowed to handle firearms.
 
Your brother is an idiot. Sorry, but that's just how it is. Don't ever let him touch your firearms ever again. If he asks why, tell him he's an idiot, and idiots aren't allowed to handle firearms.
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Blame? The fault lies with the OP. I understand being mad, but he needs to be mad at himself. Rule #1... check to see if the gun is loaded.
 
The fault lies with the OP.
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I'm not absolving the OP of his failure to press check his weapon.

I'm saying that anyone who wants to go off at length about the dangers of carrying a firearm loaded shouldn't have anything to do with firearms, except for some good schooling, because they are idiots. More so if that person is so full of themselves that they go around unloading another persons firearm to suit their own idiotic pre-conceptions.
 
The magazine disconnect comes off pretty easily and does not affect function on the bersa .380. If anything function is better without it.
 
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