Cellar Dweller
Member
OK, this happened about 1 hour go...
I'm watching Reign of Fire with the sound up, when I hear a knock on my front door (11:45pm). Since I'm not expecting anyone and I'm not gonna answer the door without preparation, I go for something handy.
EVERYTHING is: either locked up in a safe which is behind a uneasily-opened door + empty mags; in a range bag with full mags but I can't locate the bag; revolvers empty + ammo in another room...well, you get the idea.
In the meantime, my wife woke up to hear me banging around the basement while the knocks continue. She sees emergency vehicles outside, thought I might have been making too much noise and that a neighbor had complained and calls me to answer the door after turning on the light in the living room. I figure that bad guys aren't gonna cobble up a fire truck, ambulance and police cars so I quickly figure I better NOT grab a piece, and it's probably a good idea to answer the door ASAP.
Two policemen, and they tell me that "someone dialed 911 (my address?!?) but didn't say what the problem was, so is everything OK?" Adrenaline up, I know I sound a little shaky even though everything's fine with my house and family. I answer yes, and my wife is standing in view of them...they give me a phone # and I tell them that is not my number, then they want my name (OK by me), I'm about to invite them in for a look-see when the second cop says "wrong house" while monitoring his radio (he was off to the side, while the first was facing me). OK then...
Two FOID holders living here, so that is likely a flag. 911 call, interrupted, flag. No answer to knock within at least 30 seconds, but cursing (as I trip over my daughter's toys) and banging around, flag. C&R license, copy of application dropped off per BATF, I don't know if they file it in the trash or keep it, potential flag. Because I realized this on my way to the door, plus the fact that I had attended their Citizen's Police Academy and met some of the officers and did a ride-along and AFAIK it's a solid department is why I was going to invite them in.
Lessons:
1. Having a gun in the house (overconfidence) is useless if it isn't immediately useable (everything is now loaded with mag inserted, chamber empty or 5/6 loaded for revolvers)
2. Put toys away before dark and don't curse and throw them
3. Moving hands slowly and in plain sight is a good idea (did this)
4. Storm-door glass is hard to see thru at night until the light is turned on outside...the indoor light reflects back
5. Having the wife there in plain sight is a good idea (she did this)
6. LEO encounter in this type of circumstance is gonna get the adrenaline flowing, even when nothing is happening here...I know I sounded a little nervous, and was likely acting nervous.
7. 911 can definitely get the address wrong, so I'm not gonna count on their accuracy if I'm the one calling them
I'm still a bit shaken by this, but my wife went back to sleep (Condition White?). Overall, a
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<edit to add> Some of my C&Rs don't have drop- or firing-pin safeties; keeps the same manual of arms for all (rack and ready for pistols or pull trigger for revolvers).
I had stuff locked away, out of sight due to contactor estimates and preparing for carpet cleaner crew. Shoddy housekeeping on my part
:banghead:
I'm watching Reign of Fire with the sound up, when I hear a knock on my front door (11:45pm). Since I'm not expecting anyone and I'm not gonna answer the door without preparation, I go for something handy.
EVERYTHING is: either locked up in a safe which is behind a uneasily-opened door + empty mags; in a range bag with full mags but I can't locate the bag; revolvers empty + ammo in another room...well, you get the idea.
In the meantime, my wife woke up to hear me banging around the basement while the knocks continue. She sees emergency vehicles outside, thought I might have been making too much noise and that a neighbor had complained and calls me to answer the door after turning on the light in the living room. I figure that bad guys aren't gonna cobble up a fire truck, ambulance and police cars so I quickly figure I better NOT grab a piece, and it's probably a good idea to answer the door ASAP.
Two policemen, and they tell me that "someone dialed 911 (my address?!?) but didn't say what the problem was, so is everything OK?" Adrenaline up, I know I sound a little shaky even though everything's fine with my house and family. I answer yes, and my wife is standing in view of them...they give me a phone # and I tell them that is not my number, then they want my name (OK by me), I'm about to invite them in for a look-see when the second cop says "wrong house" while monitoring his radio (he was off to the side, while the first was facing me). OK then...
Two FOID holders living here, so that is likely a flag. 911 call, interrupted, flag. No answer to knock within at least 30 seconds, but cursing (as I trip over my daughter's toys) and banging around, flag. C&R license, copy of application dropped off per BATF, I don't know if they file it in the trash or keep it, potential flag. Because I realized this on my way to the door, plus the fact that I had attended their Citizen's Police Academy and met some of the officers and did a ride-along and AFAIK it's a solid department is why I was going to invite them in.
Lessons:
1. Having a gun in the house (overconfidence) is useless if it isn't immediately useable (everything is now loaded with mag inserted, chamber empty or 5/6 loaded for revolvers)
2. Put toys away before dark and don't curse and throw them
3. Moving hands slowly and in plain sight is a good idea (did this)
4. Storm-door glass is hard to see thru at night until the light is turned on outside...the indoor light reflects back
5. Having the wife there in plain sight is a good idea (she did this)
6. LEO encounter in this type of circumstance is gonna get the adrenaline flowing, even when nothing is happening here...I know I sounded a little nervous, and was likely acting nervous.
7. 911 can definitely get the address wrong, so I'm not gonna count on their accuracy if I'm the one calling them
I'm still a bit shaken by this, but my wife went back to sleep (Condition White?). Overall, a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<edit to add> Some of my C&Rs don't have drop- or firing-pin safeties; keeps the same manual of arms for all (rack and ready for pistols or pull trigger for revolvers).
I had stuff locked away, out of sight due to contactor estimates and preparing for carpet cleaner crew. Shoddy housekeeping on my part
:banghead:
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