Here's the scoop:
Around 7:30 pm yesterday I am sitting in my living room with my 2 y/o daughter when I hear 6 loud pops coming from outside my home. I immediately go into alert-mode and call for my wife to come watch our daughter. I run upstairs and grab some more substantial firepower and my phone (only had a .22 mag mini-revolver on me at the time). I slipped on my running shoes, slid my 380 into its paddle holster and put that on, tucked my phone and flashlight into my pockets, handed my wife our HD .45 w/weapons light, and went outside.
Outside I found my neighbors from both sides discussing the sounds, one of whom was on the phone with the cops and was convinced the sounds were gunfire. He swore it sounded like a 12ga shotgun, although it sounded more like a car backfiring to me.
Anyway, while the police were on the way I took a quick look around (very cautiously) just to make sure no one was hurt and waited outside for the cops to show up.
Here's the alarming part: 15 MINUTES LATER a single police cruiser rolls through the parking lot without the spotlight on! I was standing in a shadow under a tree and the officer drove right past me without noticing! As I stood there amazed that he didn't see me I noticed that the hood latch on my vehicle was popped on one side, so I walked over and latched it, which set off my car alarm and got the police officer's attention. He parked his car and walked over to me nonchalantly.
He asked me where I lived and if it was my car, never verifying anything I told him. He was very nice about it all, I just expected him to be more cautious. He quickly turned his back on me to scan the area with his maglight. I advised him that I'd taken a quick look around and noticed that the front and rear gates of a vacant home were open. He called for backup and they checked the yard and left. He kind of shrugged as he walked away and said they weren't sure what the reported noises were. Fine by me; I thought it was just a car backfiring anyway.
So here's what I learned:
-I need to keep a pair of shoes by the door.
-I should have an adequate weapon securely stored downstairs (I always have something on me, although it's often just my NAA .22 mag when I'm relaxing at home).
-I should have taken my keys outside with me. Would've helped with the car alarm.
-Police response time for multiple gunshots is 15 FREAKING MINUTES!!!
Here's what I did wrong and why:
-I went outside to investigate. That was dumb. I did take a look out the window first and saw my neighbors out there, I didn't think they were actually gunshots (but they could have been), and I just wanted to make sure no one was hurt (because I have a little bit of training in dealing with that sort of thing).
-Waited outside for the police. Also very dumb. I could've been considered a suspect. I could've startled the officer and gotten shot. I wasn't the one who called them, and they had no reason to assume I'm not the bad guy.
I guess this is where I open the door for comments and critique...
Around 7:30 pm yesterday I am sitting in my living room with my 2 y/o daughter when I hear 6 loud pops coming from outside my home. I immediately go into alert-mode and call for my wife to come watch our daughter. I run upstairs and grab some more substantial firepower and my phone (only had a .22 mag mini-revolver on me at the time). I slipped on my running shoes, slid my 380 into its paddle holster and put that on, tucked my phone and flashlight into my pockets, handed my wife our HD .45 w/weapons light, and went outside.
Outside I found my neighbors from both sides discussing the sounds, one of whom was on the phone with the cops and was convinced the sounds were gunfire. He swore it sounded like a 12ga shotgun, although it sounded more like a car backfiring to me.
Anyway, while the police were on the way I took a quick look around (very cautiously) just to make sure no one was hurt and waited outside for the cops to show up.
Here's the alarming part: 15 MINUTES LATER a single police cruiser rolls through the parking lot without the spotlight on! I was standing in a shadow under a tree and the officer drove right past me without noticing! As I stood there amazed that he didn't see me I noticed that the hood latch on my vehicle was popped on one side, so I walked over and latched it, which set off my car alarm and got the police officer's attention. He parked his car and walked over to me nonchalantly.
He asked me where I lived and if it was my car, never verifying anything I told him. He was very nice about it all, I just expected him to be more cautious. He quickly turned his back on me to scan the area with his maglight. I advised him that I'd taken a quick look around and noticed that the front and rear gates of a vacant home were open. He called for backup and they checked the yard and left. He kind of shrugged as he walked away and said they weren't sure what the reported noises were. Fine by me; I thought it was just a car backfiring anyway.
So here's what I learned:
-I need to keep a pair of shoes by the door.
-I should have an adequate weapon securely stored downstairs (I always have something on me, although it's often just my NAA .22 mag when I'm relaxing at home).
-I should have taken my keys outside with me. Would've helped with the car alarm.
-Police response time for multiple gunshots is 15 FREAKING MINUTES!!!
Here's what I did wrong and why:
-I went outside to investigate. That was dumb. I did take a look out the window first and saw my neighbors out there, I didn't think they were actually gunshots (but they could have been), and I just wanted to make sure no one was hurt (because I have a little bit of training in dealing with that sort of thing).
-Waited outside for the police. Also very dumb. I could've been considered a suspect. I could've startled the officer and gotten shot. I wasn't the one who called them, and they had no reason to assume I'm not the bad guy.
I guess this is where I open the door for comments and critique...
