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Talking about my son, here.
Late last night, he and his SO were in bed when they heard a pounding at the door. As Mike pulled on a pair or shorts and grabbed for his bedside gun he told his SO to call 911.
By the time he got to the front door, Mike could understand a man saying "I've been shot."
Turned out to be one of the family living next door, a man Mike knew. By then, the man was on the ground, blocking the storm door from opening. Mike could see what turned out to be the exit wound in the man's back and had to tell him to roll over so he could open the door. Then he saw the entrance wound as well.
Pistol tucked into his shorts in a SOB holster, Mike went next door to see whether the rest of the family was all right. Found the younger brother of the wounded man and learned it was a domestic dispute wherein the younger brother shot the older in what he said was self-defense.
A few minutes later the police arrived and Mike was amazed at how long it took for them to get ready: one cop had to load his shotgun; the other fumbled with the sling of his AR-15 for what seemed a long time before getting it into place. Then more fumbling as he tried to get the magazine locked in and the rifle charged. (I was surprised at hearing this but suggested the police may have rules of engagement that prevent them from carrying loaded long arms.)
Now, all during the investigation, the arrival and departure of the EMPs and such. Mike still has his pistol holstered in the small of his back and is still wearing only a pair of shorts. (His SO had told the 911 operator that Mike was armed and that he was a licensed carrier.)
Suddenly, one policeman noticed Mike's pistol and threw him to the ground. Mike explained why he was armed and that, although he certainly didn't need his gun once the police arrived, he'd be damned if he was going to pull it out then and risk getting shot while putting it in his truck. (Mike's house was a crime scene by then: couldn't get back inside for a while.)
The policeman accepted this but told Mike he'd have to secure the firearm in his cruiser for a while. Fine with Mike.
Later, an LEO was questioning Mike and the conversation went like this:
"Now, you opened your door and saw the wounded man on your porch slab. Is that correct?"
"Yes, sir. Shot just above his right kidney. Straight through, clean exit wound."
"How do you know that?"
"I told him to roll over so I could open the door."
...
"What were you carrying?"
"A Bersa Thunder 380CC."
"A what?"
"Bersa .380 caliber automatic with eight rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, condition zero."
"What's condition zero?"
Mike explained.
"And it was loaded?"
"Yes. a total of nine rounds of jacketed hollow-point ammunition."
"You actually know what kind of ammo you have?"
"Of course."
"Most people don't." Then, "You're shaking. Are you cold?"
"I'm not cold. For Christ's sake, I'm sweating like a pig."
The cop grinned and nodded. "You're feeling the rush, aren't you?"
After a few more questions Mike's pistol was returned to him and he was allowed to go back into his house - where he laid awake most of the night coming down from the adrenaline high.
Now, as a father and a fellow gun owner, I can see the mistakes Mike made and the sheepdog mentality that caused him to make them.
But I'll leave it to the rest of you to provide the Monday-morning quarterbacking.
Late last night, he and his SO were in bed when they heard a pounding at the door. As Mike pulled on a pair or shorts and grabbed for his bedside gun he told his SO to call 911.
By the time he got to the front door, Mike could understand a man saying "I've been shot."
Turned out to be one of the family living next door, a man Mike knew. By then, the man was on the ground, blocking the storm door from opening. Mike could see what turned out to be the exit wound in the man's back and had to tell him to roll over so he could open the door. Then he saw the entrance wound as well.
Pistol tucked into his shorts in a SOB holster, Mike went next door to see whether the rest of the family was all right. Found the younger brother of the wounded man and learned it was a domestic dispute wherein the younger brother shot the older in what he said was self-defense.
A few minutes later the police arrived and Mike was amazed at how long it took for them to get ready: one cop had to load his shotgun; the other fumbled with the sling of his AR-15 for what seemed a long time before getting it into place. Then more fumbling as he tried to get the magazine locked in and the rifle charged. (I was surprised at hearing this but suggested the police may have rules of engagement that prevent them from carrying loaded long arms.)
Now, all during the investigation, the arrival and departure of the EMPs and such. Mike still has his pistol holstered in the small of his back and is still wearing only a pair of shorts. (His SO had told the 911 operator that Mike was armed and that he was a licensed carrier.)
Suddenly, one policeman noticed Mike's pistol and threw him to the ground. Mike explained why he was armed and that, although he certainly didn't need his gun once the police arrived, he'd be damned if he was going to pull it out then and risk getting shot while putting it in his truck. (Mike's house was a crime scene by then: couldn't get back inside for a while.)
The policeman accepted this but told Mike he'd have to secure the firearm in his cruiser for a while. Fine with Mike.
Later, an LEO was questioning Mike and the conversation went like this:
"Now, you opened your door and saw the wounded man on your porch slab. Is that correct?"
"Yes, sir. Shot just above his right kidney. Straight through, clean exit wound."
"How do you know that?"
"I told him to roll over so I could open the door."
...
"What were you carrying?"
"A Bersa Thunder 380CC."
"A what?"
"Bersa .380 caliber automatic with eight rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, condition zero."
"What's condition zero?"
Mike explained.
"And it was loaded?"
"Yes. a total of nine rounds of jacketed hollow-point ammunition."
"You actually know what kind of ammo you have?"
"Of course."
"Most people don't." Then, "You're shaking. Are you cold?"
"I'm not cold. For Christ's sake, I'm sweating like a pig."
The cop grinned and nodded. "You're feeling the rush, aren't you?"
After a few more questions Mike's pistol was returned to him and he was allowed to go back into his house - where he laid awake most of the night coming down from the adrenaline high.
Now, as a father and a fellow gun owner, I can see the mistakes Mike made and the sheepdog mentality that caused him to make them.
But I'll leave it to the rest of you to provide the Monday-morning quarterbacking.
I've never been faced with the sort of decisions he was, so I don't know how I'd react. But with the luxury of sitting here mulling "what ifs," here I go: Neighbor is on the doorstep, obviously shot. Whoever shot him might not be far away, so once I get outside (with gun drawn) first thing is to clear the immediate area, then holster the gun and tend to the neighbor. I would not have rushed to the neighbor's door, especially if the neighbor was still conscious and able to talk. ask him who did it, and if he/she is still in the vicinity. It's up to the cops to clear the house, not me. Also, since I knew the cops were on the way, I wouldn't want to be traipsing around with an unholstered gun.
