I'm SICK of this!

[Adam_W]

I don't live in the greatest neighbourhood, and lately the crime rate has been increasing, mainly because of drug activity. It's not uncommon for us to hear gunshots from an apartment complex at the edge of our neighbourhood where a lot of drug deals happen. Well, this evening, I'm just finishing up my days work on my latest model ship and getting ready to go to bed, when somebody drives down OUR STREET firing a gun. I heard at least 10 or 15 shots. I don't know if they were shooting in the air or at one or more houses. I don't think any bullets hit our house, but I won't know for sure until daylight. The police are patrolling the area, and they have a helicopter searching as well. As soon as I heard the shots, I grabbed my gun and went into "protect mode". I just think it's disgusting when I have to walk around my OWN HOUSE with a loaded 9mm pistol to protect me and my family from some loser with nothing better to do then to shoot up the f***ing neighbourhood. I know the armed citizens issue is a controversial subject, but in my house there will ALWAYS be a firearm ready for use. I have three firearms and I KNOW HOW TO USE THEM, and if someone tries to get in here to hurt me or my family, they will end up with a nice, hot lead enema! I DON'T F***ING TOLERATE CRIME!

Adam

[Rerun]

I am with you Adam!  I am enrolled in a class at the local Sharp Shooting place called Women and Guns.  I will get one and I will know how to use it!

The guy below me got robbed this week.  I'm sure I walked right by the guys but I didn't say anything to them.  They looked like "punks"

So this afternoon there were some Punks out in front saying the F' word and just being rude and so I went out and took a picture of them!  FREAKED them out!  They had a girl friend come knock on my door saying they were just helping fix her truck.  I told her "if nothing is missing around here then no problem".  I'll probably be dead by morning!  If so, the camera is in the dishwasher.......

I'm so sick of people taking things or wrecking things that are NOT theirs.  GEEZ go get a real JOB.

[Sluff]

I've been thinking of getting an alarm system installed. Christy can't hear well at all anymore and The Dog sleeps with me in my room. He will let me know if anyone comes in but I don't feel I could get up as quick and react safely like I used too.

[Wattle]

Thinking of you Adam. I hope everything settles down quickly and you can relax. Take care. 

[G-Ma]

I have a gun and know how to use it...but I keep it out of sight and the kids think it's useless that way...I don't know what's happening in this world anymore.       

Hope everything is ok Adam.

[MiSSis]

My husband has a couple of shotguns in the house from his early years of hunting but I'll admit that I've never even touched the things.  We live in a relatively small rural housing addition where crime is pretty much nonexistent.  Just some smashed mailboxes which usually seems to happen around the time of high school graduations although I can't say for sure that there's any correlation.  I will admit though that since I've been back PD, I've become much more afraid of my situation.  If my husband is home, no real problem but if I'm here alone, I feel very trapped and vulnerable.  I'd love to have some sort of alarm system (our cat is absolutely no help and Dan doesn't particularly want a dog) but I haven't convinced him to have an alarm system installed yet.  He did concede and let me get a weather radio last year.  At least I find some comfort in having advance notice in case of severe weather and I can get unhooked from my machine in case a quick trip to the basement would become necessary. 

[MIbarra]

Since my husband's new job, I am home alone most nights also and I hate it. We have a gun - rifle, but I have no idea how to use it. And I want an alarm system also, but hubby seems to think we live in a safe neighborhood since we live out in a somewhat rural area. This makes me feel worse. I told him no one would be close enough to hear me scream!  lol  I have two dogs, but they would be pretty much be worthless. They'd probably lick the robbers ankles.

So, I sleep with our house phone, cell phone, and car keys right next to me. The car keys because I can push the alarm button on the car from the bedroom and make it go off, maybe a neighbor would hear that if something happened. I know a little silly. My husband laughs at me.

I hope the cops patrol your neighborhood more closely from now on, Adam!

[Wenchie58]

Adam..
   I'm on your side with this one...keep that 9mm handy.  I live in a very remote area...alone...with a dog who loves anyone who pets him...oh yeah, and my loaded and ever ready firearms.  I REFUSE to be a victim!
  To the Ladies....this is just my  .  I am a strong supporter of the right to bear arms and protect ones safety, but I also believe very much in gun safety.  If there are guns in your house...LEARN them!  A person who may try to use a weapon that they aren't familiar with...in an adrenaline pumped situation is a catastrophe waiting to happen.  I started shooting for sport at 9 years old (thanks Dad) and now am very comfortable with many different firearms, their operation, maintenance and safety features.
  I'm with Adam....steal my car....take my money...I'll be pissed.  Try to hurt, maim, injure or kill me or mine....and you'll be dead.

[MandaMe1986]

Growing up I moved from one neighbourhood like that to another.  When I was 7 my little brother nad I were  playing outside our apartment and saw our next door neigbor stab a guy in the parking lot across the street.  We ran inside and called the cops, but the guy died before they got there. And on top of that our neigbor came over and told my mother that if we told the cops that it was him he would kill us.  And pointed to me and my borther. So we moved within a week I think.  It was crazy fast after that happend, but the next few neighbourhoods we lived in wernt much better.  Now I live in a much safer and better neighbourhood. It is hard money wise. We wouldn't have to worry about money as much if we lived in a few other neighbourhoods in town, but as long as I can keep my children out of a bad neighbourhood like the ones I grew up in I am going to.

I agree with Wenchie make sure you know how to use your gun.  My dad and uncle made me sit down when I was younger and tought me a lot. But when I moved out on my own and brohter and I took a gun safty calss. Even when you think you know it all, they come in really handy. There is always something you didn't know. We have a 9mm, a shotgun, and a 22.

[kitkatz]

I am well aware how to us a gun, however I am not a good shot with the big stuff.  I would probably throw things at anyone I caught in the house.  The cat, the dog, lamps, books and stuff.

[Tinah1968]

  I'm with KK witout my glasses I couldn't shoot a tractor trailer if it was 15 feet in from of me I would probaby throw things then get the gun and just start shooting in the burglars direction of course..

[paul.karen]

   Nice Thread

Self protection is almost a must these days.  Response times can be slow and these punks will shoot you dead just for seeing you in your own house.

I agree an alarm is great to have.  If you dont like guns think about a 50,000 volt laser gun. Non lethal but will keep a person at bay.

Here in new jersey if you shot someone in your own house you will go to trail and chances are to prison as well.  It is sad indeed.

Along with safety classes you should go to a range or outdoor spot and shot regularly.

[Wenchie58]

  Nice Thread

 
I Here in new jersey if you shot someone in your own house you will go to trail and chances are to prison as well.  It is sad indeed.

 

Much the same here in NY P&K...but I got a motto.....you know I usually have a motto about most everything.

"Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6."   Think about it!

[paddbear0000]

Adam, did you ever hear any more about what happened on your street? Anybody get caught?

We "supposedly" live in a upper middle class to upper class city (it's actually a tiny suburb) called Oakwood, with no crime, but recently that has proved to be not so true. Our neighborhood is literally on the border of the city of Dayton. Dayton is a dying city, loaded with crime. Just today, the cops announced that they have discovered there are 18 known gangs in the city. And Dayton is a very small city. They have over 600 known gang members on their "shit list." We moved here 4 years ago, but the crime rate went from almost non-existent to weekly within the last 2 years. Cars are being broken into or stolen, stuff being stolen from garages and front porches, etc. Just late last year, 2 gang members decided to do a home robbery in broad daylight, while the homeowners were home! The wife had a gun held to her head!!

My husband travels for work sometimes and I'm scared when he's gone. I refuse to sleep in our bedroom upstairs when he's gone. I'll sleep on the couch in case I need to get out of the house immediately! That and the  dogs are right there. Of course, they'd just greet the criminal with their back ends wagging. I refuse to have a gun in the house, but I have tried on more than one occasion to convince my husband to let us get a security system, but he doesn't want to spend the money. He tells me I have the dogs to protect me. Yeah right! Thankfully our police have a spectacular response time of less than 2 minutes. Trust me, we've experienced it! My hubby has had to call 911 several times thanks to me passing out from low blood sugar. The cops come as well as the ambulance!

So for now, I have my trusty extra large can of mace in the drawer next to the couch, one in my car and one for my purse! And I'm not afraid to use it!!   

[Adam_W]

Since this incident happened, Things have seemed to settle down a little since there are more cops around. I forgot to mention, the next day, my dad found three 9mm shell casings in front of our house. No houses were hit, though. On a related subject, I got into a big argument the other day with my parents (my dad doesn't really have a problem with guns, but my mom hates them). I understand and accept the fact that some people don't like guns, but I flat out asked how my mom would feel if a gun was used to SAVE her life. The argument pretty much ended there. She still hates guns and always will, and she doesn't like the fact that I have firearms in the house, but she couldn't deny that one of my guns may be all that stands between us and a murderer.

Adam