I understand that part of my problem is trying to rationalize my experience to a lady that believes gun control means keeping a gun in your purse and never taking classes on self preservation, security checks, or situational shooting and decisionmaking.

That said here is the issue.....I was living on a friends place and had been told to keep an eye on things because equipment had been stolen recently and he didn't want or need anything else to disappear. I had locked the gate behind me as I usually do. The driveway is over 300 yds to the place I was living. Late in the afternoon within a couple hours of sundown a vehicle I do not recognize pulls into the yard. I called the landowner to ask if he was expecting anyone or if he recognized the make and model he said no. I grabbed my sig and went outside(probably should have called the sheriff but did not). The guy walks towards me briskly with his right hand extended at arms length his left hand behind his back concealing god only knows what and wants me to shake his hand. At this point there was no place for me to retreat, so I pulled out my sig held it close to my waist pointed in his direction and demanded to see his other hand very slowly and for him to identify himself. It was only then that he called me by name and very slowly brought his other hand out in front to reveal a beer. Seems he only had one and felt guilty for not bringing more. Turns out he was an aquantance that I had not seen for 5 years. He had shaved his head and facial hair, lost about 50lbs, bought a new truck, had new dogs, and a new wife. I didn't recognize anything about this guy.

The lady of whom I wrote earlier claims that only law enforcement or someone in the military should have responded the way I did. She watches nothing but true crime on TV and reads about serial killers. I have no LE training or actual military time. I have had self preservation training, situational awareness and reaction training, and some self defense training. I feel totally justified in my actions. Would I have used lethal force? If this guy would have tried to disarm me probably. If he had continued to advance and not identified himself, maybe. Turns out this guy had stolen a lot of small inconsequential items from the place in the past and was told in no uncertain terms not to come back but did anyway.

The landowner should have changed the combination on the gate, but figured a stern warning would be enough. Normally there was no resident on the property and the individual in question didn't expect anyone to be there.

What are your thoughts? Other than calling the sheriff what else should I have done? I am open to criticism to learn how to better handle a situation should it arise again.

Well since he only showed up with one beer, and if he really knew, ME NO SCOTCH, I would have shot him, and burried him on the back forty....


Actually, in truth, you were prepared for "whatever". Luckly "whatever" was not necessary.

However, in the future you might consider confronting unknowns behind cover with a rifle.

Never apologise for taking precautions to enhance your safety.

Sounds like he was back to steal more stuff. If he's really your friend, stopping by for a visit, would he only bring one bottle/can of beer?

If he's stolen property in the past and been warned not to come back, at the very least he's guilty of Criminal Trespass. The landowner needs to get a report made with the Sheriff's Office. If there is no report, the incident didn't happen!

I'd have stayed in the house, called the Sheriff's Office and hope he didn't try to break into the house. Who said his buddies weren't just right down the road.

Change girl friends, she's nuts.

Except for the rifle and cover noted above, I think you did well. It's damn odd for someone to be walking around with their hand behind their back while greeting someone. I'd have been on "go" for sure.

People who haven't been there, especially city types, don't realize that when you're out in the Texas (or anywhere) countryside you're usually a LONG time delay from help arriving. You have to be alert and prepared to handle it yourself or be a victim. In my case it is about 45 minutes for a Sheriff's deputy to arrive, based on two (luckily non-life threatening) prior calls. I hope they don't screw up the crime scene if I can't handle it.

You can't win that one. She'll always be wrong but never know better.

As for the genius who didn't change the lock, you might be able to convince him he chose poorly.

Gato,


I dropped her back in March. I ran into her in the store the other day and she now says she carries her derringer in the trunk claiming she can get it anytime she needs it. I really feel sorry for her. I wish she would get some practical training because she will wind up the victim of a violent crime if she doesn't start using what little brains God gave her.

South Texas Sasquatch

Backing up to square one . . . The whole situation sounds creepy. I live out in the boonies, way off the road -- which is a long dead-end. And I get concerned when someone I don't recognize drives onto the property.

But I don't step outside with a gun.

We figure out who it is and what's going on BEFORE we step outside. And the Sheriff is on speed-dial.

There's no lock on the gate at the bottom of the drive. Most of the time it's open (meter readers, deliveries). But if I had a locked gate and someone drove onto the property, it'd be a call to the Sheriff and figure out from cover, with a RIFLE.

Tough situation Drew. IMHO it is better to demonstrate that the place is defended than to hide in the building and then blast him when he enters! I suspect he was up to no good and you probably saved his life. While possible, it is unlikely that 20 Hell's Angels were waiting in the brush to open fire on any defenders out in the open.
What would have happened if you had called the cops? This was hardly an emergency! I read in the paper that it took the cops 1 hour to respond to phone calls about shots fired. Showed up and found 5 dead!
You did OK. There is probably no best solution.
Peter.

Drew, I would of made a few small adjustments. I don't know what your laws are like down there, but in many jurisdicitions, what you did could be considered brandishing. So, I would of ordered him to state his name and business, and show his other hand. I would of only presented the firearm is absolutely necessary.

As far as rationalizing with your lady friend, you must win them over gently. Next time things get a little scarry for her, tell her to go get her derenger from her trunk. Let her see how long that takes. Next time a salesman is there, afterwords, point out when he's between her and her little derenger. When she's watching those murder TV shows, help her understand how things would of turned out different if the victioms were armed and fought back? Show her how few of those murdershow victoms were armed and ready to fight. Let her shoot your black guns and see how fun they are. Show her how safe and cautious you really are. Let her shoot your .38 spl/other mid caliber handgun, in a way that will build HER confidence with the firearm. Once she feels that she is safer with a firearm in her posession, then you have won.

.

quote:

Let her shoot your black guns and see how fun they are.

The only Black gun I own is a 600 OverKill!

quote:

The only Black gun I own is a 600 OverKill!

Well, by Black gun, I didn't mean something that would turn her Black and Blue!!

If she ever says she's ready to shoot the 600 OK, you will know you have won!

There have been other issues and without going into them GatoGordo had it right the first time.....SHE'S NUTS!

I had about the same happen to me years back I live on a dead end road and fairly long drive way we don't get many vistors that we don't know who is coming. I was getting ready for work and in full uniform. When a stange car pulls up I walked out with hand on my pistol.

The door slowly opens and I hear its me Chuck I then reconized a officer/freind I worked with many years ago he had move to the big city to work.

It was nice to see him he stated do you allways come out with a hand on your gun I said no some times it is in my hand. We had a good laugh and visted.

A gun that isn't handy is about as good as no gun at all.

You did the best you could with what you had, other than calling 911 and giving a location over the phone. I think I would have had the sheriff arrest him and let he and the owner of the property work it out.

Rich

I'd say the mistake you made was closing the distance with him. The closer you got, the less options you had. When bad things happen, you need to INCREASE your distance from the possible bad guy.

You could have done the same things from a position of cover and been a lot safer.

I think you handled it well.

When seconds count the cops are only minutes away!!! I wouldent have called em either.

People with shaved heads are almost always criminals, criminals that need to be met with excesive force every single time!!!

I think you made a reasonable choice to challange his intentions at gunpoint, possibly would have been safer to challange from a more dominant position with a rifle but hindsight is 20 20. I usually challange intruders at night unarmed and in my underwear half asleep but I am unaccostomed to hardcore American style crime, but if I had the rights and freedoms of an American I would express them to the maximum effect.