Posted: 9/22/2006 1:46:01 PM EDT
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OK so last night, the wife and I are sitting on the couch winding down as the kids were just sent to bed. We get a knock on the door (this is about 9:PM and we don't get many un-planned visitors). Of course I get up, go to the door thinking it may be one of my teenage son's friends and all I need to do is tell him my son is unavailable. So I open the door and there on my porch is a man about my age (32 or so) whom I've never seen before. I immediately notice he has a side arm holstered, looks to be a 1911. In his hands are about 10 boxes of ammo. At this point (night, armed man at my door), I start to go through a million scenarios in my mind, etc. I calmly ask him (while eyeing his hands and his holster) if I can help him. He asks "Is Thomas here?" Ok, so now I get worried. See my real first name is Tomas, just like Thomas without the H and pronounced "Toe-Moss" (very rare foot disease, just kidding) and am constantly called Thomas by mistake. So now I've got an armed man at the door asking for someone by my name or a version thereof. So I say, "Yes, I'm Tomas, what can I do for you?" Again, I'm eyeing him, his hands, his holster, etc. And I gotta tell ya, I'm pretty nervous. Any ways, to make a long story short, the gentleman that lived in the house before we bought it was named Thomas. I had totally forgotten this of course. And the man at my door was bringing by some ammo for him. Now, we've owned the house for 3 years now so this guy obviously doesn't keep in touch. I calmly inform him of his mistake and he moves on. No incident and I'm glad, but it seriously got me to thinking... What if he had been hostile? Here he is on my porch with a gun and I'm in flip flops, etc. Now I can't very well run around my house with a gun belt on at all times, and I certainly don't want to live totally paranoid. But at the same time, I do want to be able to protect my family at all times, etc. I'm not a pushover by any means, I'me 5'10" about 200 lbs. I workout, etc. I'm certainly not gonna just lay down for anyone but a .45 at that range would pretty much well... hurt. What would you have done? Would you have done anything different? Have you faced this before? What would you suggest? |
| I have been living in my parents house for almost a year now alone. I am too young in NYS (20) to have a pistol. At night i have a 12 gauge loaded near me at all times. When i do get an unexpected vistor i keep the foyer dark and bring my shotgun with me.. I have had a a trooper come to the door at midnight or so and he didnt say anything about the 12 gauge in my hand when i came to the door.. Maybe its a hich thing. |
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I don't answer the door for anyone I'm not expecting. If someone shows up unexpectedly, especially at night, and you feel that you must answer it, determine who they are and what they want through a closed door. Never answer the door unarmed (or at least within arms reach at most). |
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Unless I am specifically expecting company, I dont answer the door unarmed. After dark, the door doesnt get opened for strangers. If i didnt call them, they arent welcome in my home. I dont carry a gun around my home either, but if we get a knock at night time, whoever it is can wait the minutes it takes me to go the bedroom and get my CCW. It isnt paranoid to not trust strangers showing up at night time. |