Too cautious or paranoid?
- Thread starter Kilroy08
- Start date
dave_in_delaware
New member
It was definitely a matter of being safe, and taking precautions, to protect you and your family. It wasn't being paranoid at all. And, what if your gun was showing? You were on your own private property. 400' from the road. You armed yourself because a stranger was on your property. It was legitimate and he needed help. Good. But what if it was a set-up for a robbery or something? You were being prepared. Good for you!
Dust_Devil
New member
Nothing wrong with bringing a sidearm with you when meeting up with a stranger coming up to your home asking for gasoline. Were you carrying it concealed or open?
It wasn't like you had your shotgun out, pointed at him and made him take out his ID.
I never lived in a rural area and so it would be just weird for me to see a guy asking some stranger for gasoline, so I would defintely try to be protected and cautious.
It wasn't like you had your shotgun out, pointed at him and made him take out his ID.
I never lived in a rural area and so it would be just weird for me to see a guy asking some stranger for gasoline, so I would defintely try to be protected and cautious.
That is the one problem with living out in the sticks. There is safety in numbers, I'm in the burbs and if something in like that happened in my driveway it would be visible to at least 4 to 5 of my neighbors. We all watch out for each other so if something is not right, or if some stranger is wandering around the neighborhood, as a community we are on it. Walking out with a .45 in the burbs may be a little too paranoid, but in a rural area where it is just your family and no neighbor watching your back, I think it is pratical to be armed when a strange approachs. As a young guy I got lost driving around northern PA (aka God's country) I didn't realize that I drove onto someone's private road and right up to this guys farm. The guy was turning hay or compost and walked up to my car with the pitchfork still in his hand. I seen no problem with it but my girlfriend (who is now the wife) was freaked out.
Limeyfellow
New member
A sensible thing to do. Its also good to take someone along with you. I have done the same thing before carrying a tommygun, so don't feel too bad.
riverkeeper
New member
Yes. Roscoe needed a walk.
Check out the book "Gift of Fear". Not what you think and much much good.
Check out the book "Gift of Fear". Not what you think and much much good.
progunner1957
Moderator
Paranoid? No. Refuse to be a victim? Yes.
Kilroy -
You did the right thing, absolutely 100% right thing without a doubt. You did what you had to to make sure you and your mother were safe. Good man!!
They say that "crime is at a ___ year low" (fill in the blank) but watch the 11 PM news for a week and you'll see that even if the above statement is true, we still live in a nation where criminal predators walk the streets and more are released from prison each and every week.
Home invasions seem to be a growing crime these days; last week on the local news, a man in Indianapolis answered his doorbell at 9 PM (I wouldn't have) and was bashed in the head with a brick and robbed; his wife watched in horror and begged the 911 operator to send help. He died from his wounds.
The scumbag was caught, but that does not make it all okay (contrary to the thinking of The Sheeple). The man is still dead and his wife is still a widow.
Whenever my door bell rings, I go into either Yellow Alert (day) or Red Alert (night) with my Kimber 1911 within arm's reach. Am I paranoid? No. I refuse to be a victim, PERIOD!!!
I would suggest a longer jacket or a shoulder holster for your 1911; they are heavy for belt carry, and require overtightening of the belt to the point of being uncomfortable to keep them and your pants in place. Another option would be an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster. They keep the gun in place pretty well, and the end of the holster is inside the waistband of your pants where it is concealed.
Keep up the good work, never let your guard down and refuse to be a victim!!
Kilroy -
You did the right thing, absolutely 100% right thing without a doubt. You did what you had to to make sure you and your mother were safe. Good man!!
They say that "crime is at a ___ year low" (fill in the blank) but watch the 11 PM news for a week and you'll see that even if the above statement is true, we still live in a nation where criminal predators walk the streets and more are released from prison each and every week.
Home invasions seem to be a growing crime these days; last week on the local news, a man in Indianapolis answered his doorbell at 9 PM (I wouldn't have) and was bashed in the head with a brick and robbed; his wife watched in horror and begged the 911 operator to send help. He died from his wounds.
The scumbag was caught, but that does not make it all okay (contrary to the thinking of The Sheeple). The man is still dead and his wife is still a widow.
Whenever my door bell rings, I go into either Yellow Alert (day) or Red Alert (night) with my Kimber 1911 within arm's reach. Am I paranoid? No. I refuse to be a victim, PERIOD!!!
I would suggest a longer jacket or a shoulder holster for your 1911; they are heavy for belt carry, and require overtightening of the belt to the point of being uncomfortable to keep them and your pants in place. Another option would be an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster. They keep the gun in place pretty well, and the end of the holster is inside the waistband of your pants where it is concealed.
Keep up the good work, never let your guard down and refuse to be a victim!!
Paranoid? I don't think you are. I carry a gun for a living and have undoubtedly pissed off more than one person during the course of a normal work day. I also live out in the sticks. In the woods to be exact, and have been known to take many a #2's with my pistol laying on the cloths hamper in front of me while I push. If we're paranoid man, than it beats being dead. I think you where totally within reason to arm yourself.
Now that I've had a couple of days to mull it over...
My initial doubt and asking for a verdict on it was due to the fact that this is the first time I've had to deal with a situation like this. I feel that I handled it well. While not exactly carrying concealed, I was carrying discreetley. Heck, I doubt he even saw the holster sticking out. I always had my maglight pointed at him and was never backlit.
One area of clarification though. He was at the end of my driveway, Mom found out he was there as she was pulling into the driveway. Not the most pleasant of surprizes. We also share a driveway with some neigbors who's house is right on the road. Their schedule varies so much that I couldn't really count on them for support if something brown hit the fan. So in conclusion, I'm not going to be in the open with no reasonble cover or backup nearby without my firearm.
I feel that I have handled it well and will continue to do so until new experience dictates otherwise.
Kilroy, too cautious but rightly so, was here
Btw: In reference to Mr. Dust Devil's remark about "At least you didn't come out pointing a shotgun at him." Could've been worse... How 'bout my '03-A3 with 18" of bayonet hanging off the end of it.
My initial doubt and asking for a verdict on it was due to the fact that this is the first time I've had to deal with a situation like this. I feel that I handled it well. While not exactly carrying concealed, I was carrying discreetley. Heck, I doubt he even saw the holster sticking out. I always had my maglight pointed at him and was never backlit.
One area of clarification though. He was at the end of my driveway, Mom found out he was there as she was pulling into the driveway. Not the most pleasant of surprizes. We also share a driveway with some neigbors who's house is right on the road. Their schedule varies so much that I couldn't really count on them for support if something brown hit the fan. So in conclusion, I'm not going to be in the open with no reasonble cover or backup nearby without my firearm.
I feel that I have handled it well and will continue to do so until new experience dictates otherwise.
Kilroy, too cautious but rightly so, was here
Btw: In reference to Mr. Dust Devil's remark about "At least you didn't come out pointing a shotgun at him." Could've been worse... How 'bout my '03-A3 with 18" of bayonet hanging off the end of it.