Would you bring a gun when expecting the police?

[Alan Fud]

The other day my neighbor from across the field called me at home from work. He told me that his alarm company just called him to tell him that his security system was reporting a break-in and he asked me to go over to his house and check things out for him so that he would know whether he should leave work or not.

He also informed me that he had already contacted the police and that they would be on the way.

Under these circumstances, would you bring a CCW when checking the place out in case you encounter a robber or would you leave the CCW at home to avoid any problems with the police.

For the record, it was a false alarm and I did not bring a firearm with me. Not sure if that was the correct thing to do especially if there would have been a robber.

Just curious how others would have handled a similiar situation?

 

[JamisJockey]

I'd pack my CCW as sure as hell....just remember the permit so the cops are less likely to hassle, and be upfront if you run into the cops.

 

[marklbucla]

I'd imagine it would be determined on certain factors. Is there any immediate reason for you to go there, i.e. would anyone's life be in danger? Do the local police know you or would you be confused for a burglar? I wouldn't want to be walking out of an alarmed house with a gun when the police arrive...

I'd think that if the police are already on their way it may be best for you to just meet them out in front once they arrive. No need to go play hero if you don't have to, especially if the jury pool in your area would think that cops are the only ones qualified to do so.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I don't ever leave the house without a gun.

 

[BluesBear]

Why would you be worried to do something legal in front of the police?

After all your neighbor called you and asked you to investigate.

 

[marklbucla]

First off, I've been told that clearing a house isn't something you'd want to do alone, especially with just a CCW weapon. On top of that, what for? Why put yourself in harm's way to save a vcr or a necklace that's probably insured anyway?

The police are already "on the way". I'd imagine that means they'll be there in a couple of minutes. If the police saw you come out of a house or even found you inside, they could make you fill out some form or even take you down to the station if they wanted to. It sounds stupid, but you never know what they'll do.

 

[Alan Fud]

Just to clarify ... the neighbor didn't ask me to go inside and "clear the house". I don't even have a key. He just asked me to look around outside and see if there were any broken windows, cut screens, etc.; and let him know so that he could decide whether he had to leave work or not.

And the Police did arrive within 10 minutes while I was outside with my flashlight.

 

[Trebor]

What point does your going to check achieve? If there's no break in there is nothing for you to do. If there is a break in, you are just putting yourself in possible danger. I mean, the cops were on there way either way anyway, right?

Now, if the cops said they couldn't come for several hours because of other calls that might be a different story. In that case you may want to go just so your neighbor knows if he's been broken into or not. But, if the cops are going to arrive right after you do, what's the point of your being there to interact with the cops or, worse yet, the robbers? Are you going to take the risk of confronting a robber for your neighbor?

The only other reason I think you'd want to check for your neighbor is if there was supposed to be someone at home at that house when the alarm went off and you wanted to make sure they were OK.

 

[Alan Fud]

Neighbor wanted to know if he should leave work or not to come home. If there was no break-in, he didn't want to lose the time off from work. If there was a break-in, he felt that he be there.

If the shoe was on the other foot and I was far from home, I would have wanted him to do the same for me to give me peace of mind.

Didn't see anything out of the ordinary with the request but wasn't sure if it was a good idea to bring my CCW along or not.

 

[Sactown]

Let the police handle it if no one was in danger and they were already on the way. Last thing you wanna have happen is to run into a jittery rookie in the middle of the night checking a house in the sticks for a possible burglar. Maybe call your friend after the police are gone to give him/her an update.

 

[DMK]

I would think that the best thing would be to stay clear until the police got there. Once they did, stay out of their way and don't cause an unnecessary problem (ie. possible hostage situation if a BG was in there or an unfortunate mistaken identity/friendly fire situation). Once they cleared the house/area, then make contact with the police and explain that you are an on scene agent of the owner at his request and that you would like to do a quick once around while they are there.

Oh yea, take your ID, CCW and keep it concealed. With two armed officers on scene you won't need it, but better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

[benewton]

Mr. Fud;

I believe you to be correct in backing your neighbor, and we should all do the same.

As for the weapon, since when do you leave your home, if you can legally do so, without one?

'course, the locals know me, and I've had to call the cops in twice, once for a breakin, check by an armed friend and myself, and once for a boat.

Armed, of course, NH being what it is.

 

[motorep]

Pack your gun, call the police or 911, and tell them who you are, how you are dressed, and why you'll be on the premises.

 

[Roadkill Coyote]

Your neighbor called the police (either directly, of thru an alarm company).

Your neighbor called you.

Who needs to call the police back and tell them that your OK, and checking the house for him, before you go anywhere?

Bingo! the answer is your neighbor!

Its your responsibilty to insure your safety, and its your nieghbors responsibility not to waste your, and the responding officers time squinting at each other.

 

[ksnecktieman]

Been there, that, done that. There is no ccw in Kansas. For a buddy with a nice country house, eight miles from town. His alarm company called me at six am on a sunday. They said they had already called the county sheriff, and I was the emergency contact for weekends. They said it was not an intruder alert, it was a panic button. Someone had pushed an alert button, and did not respond to telephone calls. I decided I could respond faster than the sheriff. I took my 92F and got to the house before the sheriff. I pulled up in front of the house, no cars there, and honked my horn, I got out of my truck with the beretta behind my leg, in my hand. I walked to the front door, and knocked, it was not totally closed. I pushed it open and yelled to ask if he was ready to go fishing. I had time to check the kitchen and living room and garage before the sherriff pulled in the driveway. I laid my beretta on the table in the entry way. and walked out to meet the deputy with my hands empty(I was listed as emergency contact with the sheriffs office.). The deputy had to wait for backup before entering the house (another 20 minutes, note sunday morning). and the two officers checked the house. I would not have done it for an intruder alert, but thinking someone was in the house and not able to answer the phone put a different priority on response time. I planned that if I walked in and appeared unsuspecting I would be able to attack before they knew I was a threat, if there was someone holding my buddy and his family. This time it was failure on his part to set the alarm properly. But I think my response was proper.

 

[BluesBear]

I laid my beretta on the table in the entry way. and walked out to meet the deputy...

Good thing no one was in the house.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I laid my beretta on the table in the entry way. and walked out to meet the deputy...

Good thing no one was in the house.

I'll second that

I would have taken position in the front, glassed it, and waited. I am sure the LEO would not look askance at a neighbor looking toward the source of the problem.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Am I going outside of my home? I'm armed.

Am I inside my home? I'm either amed on my person or have something very close by.


In Texas you are required to answer accurately to any law enforcement officer if asked if yu are carrying. It's a very good idea to volunteer to any law enforcement officer you encounter on more than a casual basis (i.e., contact call, traffic stop, etc) BEFORE he asks. If an officer has run your drivers license in Texas it will already have told him (her) you have a CHL and you are obliged to confirm that.

If I have an occasion to contact the police for any reason it's because I have encountered something I can't handle myself. That's a pretty rare occasion in its' own right.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[thumbtack]

I recently went out of town and I had a friend check on my house and take care of my dogs while I was gone. He asked me if I had any guns laying around the house, so if he came here and some one was there if he had to worry getting shot with one of my guns. My reply was that if someone was in my house or it looked like someone was in my house call the police, you do not need to get shot over my stuff.

 

[Bigjake]

Is this another one to join the ranks of "The Fud Files"?? ( http://fud-files.netfirms.com/history.htm )

Such as:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=48691

Or this:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42613

or the ever popular "bear attack" thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41060

Another "what gun for bear" thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42121

Yet another "what rnd for bear" thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18496

Redundancy??, or am i just intolerant for being sick of these what if BS threads... Spare us

 

[444]

I wouldn't have gone over to his house at all.
If the police were responding, I wouldn't want any misunderstandings.
If the police wern't coming, I would be happy to break my back for him, but I don't want to get caught up is a tragic misundertanding.
Just because the police are somewhere, I wouldn't bat an eye at carrying a gun concealed.

 

[XavierBreath]

Heck, if the police are on their way, I'd stay at home, or at the most drive over and report the happenings to my neighbor on my cell phone. There is nothing quite like having a cop think YOU are the burglar.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I am not convinced that the issue of whether or not to bring a gun is even all that relevant in regard to the soon-to-be arrival of the cops, not unless it is illegal for you to have a gun or to CCW it away from your own property.

Reason it through this way. Your neighbor calls you and says his alarm is going off and asks you to check things out. Great. Specifically because the alarm is going off is an indication that something has gone wrong and one of the potential reasons why it has gone wrong is because bad guys are involved. If you are going to investigate, it would not be wise to do so unarmed. Imagine that something did go wrong and you were injured and are now trying to explain to your spouse/family/friends that, "I knew the situational might be dangerous, so I was sure to leave my gun at home."

 

[Alan Fud]

Posted by Bigjake: ... Redundancy??, or am i just intolerant for being sick of these what if BS threads ... Spare us

No, it more in keeping with sharing what you know and learning what you don't -- one of the reasons why this board was created.

 

[BluesBear]

But conjuring up a scenario and falsely passing it off as real events isn't exactly taking the High Road is it?