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February 5, 2009, 11:05 PM
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#1 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: September 29, 2008
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 118
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what am I to do???
So here is how it happened. I am currently away from home on a Deployment. My wife is at home and almost 6 months pregnant with my son. Today something happened that really upset me. This happened to my wife. This morning as my wife was headed to work she walked out the door of our apartment and was stopped by a man supposedly selling magazines. She told him that she was late for work and kept walking to her car. At this point she realized she left her phone in the house and went back to get it. This is the biggest mistake she could make. She went inside and the guy followed her. HE actually walked into the entry way of our apartment and looked around the inside of our place. My wife yelled at him to get out and grabed her mace, and pointed it at him and told him to leave. He put his hands up and left and she immediatly called the police. Since my wife is the person she is...she made a poster that had the number of days till I came home and put it up in our living room so of course this guy saw that. He sayed "So is your husband deployed?". I really don't know what to do at this point fellas. I am gone, my wife is alone with our dog and she's pregnant, and a stranger entered my home and knows that I am gone. What should I do??? This really worries me.
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Sig P226 .40, Mossberg 500 Persuader, Springfield 1911 GI, M91/30 |
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February 5, 2009, 11:24 PM
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#2 |
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Staff In Memoriam
Join Date: October 31, 2007
Location: Western Florida panhandle
Posts: 11,069
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Is she armed? I would have her contact the powers that be that have the jurisdiction over the neighborhood and have them step up daylight patrols as there are known rings of criminals that use the door to door magazine sales thing as an M.O.
Most areas of modern populace require the sales firm and people to be permitted and/or background checked as a way to hinder these criminals and give reason to charge them... Brent |
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February 5, 2009, 11:39 PM
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#3 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: January 19, 2009
Location: WI
Posts: 1,162
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If she's local I can give her my number as an emergency contact, between my wife and myself one of us is always home. Also I would be willing to check up on her from time to time. I mean no disrespect by this so please save the "inuendo" jokes for another thread guys as this Man seems to be in need of some genuine assistance here. If she does NOT have a Firearm I have one that I would be willing to sell her for $1.00 (ONE DOLLAR) to keep with her at the appt until you get home. You may find it in your heart to sell it back to me then after you return. I would also be willing to donate my time, equipment and ammunition for a few sessions of firearms instruction if need be. I did not see what state you are from but I am in the Milwaukee WI area. If she is within a few hours I would be willing to make the trip. Don't let the Paranoia destroy ya, but PLEASE have her be careful and SMART. -Goodspeed
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February 5, 2009, 11:46 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: December 7, 2008
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 38
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Have your wife engage the neighbors as additional eyes and ears.
Watching out for each other, so to speak. Also have her contact the local police (if they didn't take any action on the first call), and make them really aware of the presence of a realtively brazen door-to-door salesperson. File a trespassing or burglary report if necessary to get the incident on record (this would depend on the local laws...) I'm pretty sure that her SA has ratcheted up a notch or two, but have her remain aware and vigilant, and if she sees the same guy in the area again, call the police immediately... |
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February 6, 2009, 12:01 AM
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#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: October 31, 2008
Posts: 312
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I also would be willing to lend a hand. Always happy to help a American Soldier. I live in Westminster, CO. Let me know if I can be of assistance. Best of luck to you on your tour. Good hunting!
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February 6, 2009, 12:05 AM
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#6 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: September 29, 2008
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 118
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Thankfully I've given my wife some firearms training before I left. She knows how to use my SIG P226. I left that with her and I told her to take the rest of my guns up to her parents house. In reference to your post Godspeed, I thank you for the offer and if we lived closer to WI I'd have probably taken you up on that offer. We live on the northwest side of San Antonio. Unfortunatley our part of town has been on the downward spiral for a couple of years now. Criminals are getting more and more bold everyday around where we live. This one just kind of put me over the edge. She's gave a report to the police and they said they are going to step up daytime patrols around our apartments. She also reported him to the apartment staff as soliciting of any kind is prohibited in our complex.
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Sig P226 .40, Mossberg 500 Persuader, Springfield 1911 GI, M91/30 |
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February 6, 2009, 12:07 AM
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#7 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: January 5, 2009
Location: Just off Route 66
Posts: 5,067
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A. have a friend teach her how to use the 500 and have her keep it handy in the appartment.
B. Have her get a BIG German Sheppard at least 150 lbs. I have two and I don't worry when I am away, they will sound a warning when anyone even passes the house and will tear apart anyone that even looks like they are going to my wife even me. One we have had since it was 10 weeks old the other we got from pet rescue. Dogs will change the equation and keep her safe. Jim |
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February 6, 2009, 12:44 AM
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#8 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: December 27, 2008
Posts: 1,032
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February 6, 2009, 12:47 AM
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#9 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: December 27, 2008
Posts: 1,032
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February 6, 2009, 01:16 AM
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#10 |
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Junior member
Join Date: December 7, 2008
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 309
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I know this is hard and if I was in the same situation I would be upset also. Take advantage of the offers of help from the folks close but try not to overreact. Seems like your wife is pretty sharp. Tell her to stay alert. She probably won't even need that advice after this incident. Maybe she can have a girlfriend stay with her for a while. Hopefully it was nothing but you only can do all you can, which I am sure you already are. Has she contacted the authorities? I think that would be wise. Any family members close to her?
Come home safe, I pray your wife will be safe also. |
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February 6, 2009, 01:25 AM
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#11 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: January 3, 2009
Location: Bismark
Posts: 332
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I agree, It may be an inconvienience but any GOOD friend of yours/hers would have no problem crashing on the couch for a while. Tell her to keep her SA on Orange when she's out, and have an exit/escape plan in the event of the worst case (a break in).... I know the castle Doctrine permits you from having to leave your home but in an apartment complex i'd imagine that being outside with a good set of lungs would be a great asset in the event of a break in.... MOST OF ALL i'd suggest that you relax and keep your wits about you, i'd hate to hear that there was an accident while you were deployed because you were distracted with this. (I Don't want to be insensitive and i'm not telling you to "Forget about it" but just to keep focused when you can.) Ask the local authorities to do some passes when they can and i think based on what you've said about her and her knowledge you'll be fine.
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February 6, 2009, 01:34 AM
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#12 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: December 27, 2008
Posts: 1,032
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Home Defense Products > Pepper Spray Booby Trap
http://www.defensedevices.com/terminator.html and Would you like to be alerted by a wireless voice alarm when.............. http://www.feelsafernow.com/voicealert.htm Last edited by noyes; February 6, 2009 at 01:43 AM. |
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February 6, 2009, 01:48 AM
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#13 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 20, 2004
Posts: 592
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Tell her to go to a gun range and ask for a paper target that has bee shot, with about 20 holes in it. Have her tape it up in a window near the front door.
As she is pregnant, I woundn't recommend a firearm at ths time. Instead, have her get a Tazer (The actual brand name product). |
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February 6, 2009, 07:56 AM
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#14 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: September 6, 2008
Posts: 120
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Quote:
Why not? Pregnancy doesn't affect the function of the trigger finger. |
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February 6, 2009, 08:15 AM
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#15 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: July 28, 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 11,756
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Depends on how far along she is... early in the pregnancy, no harm (and I've taken a pregnant friend shooting, BTW... 10mm!) but later in the pregnancy you've got all kinds of things to consider, from the air quality to the noise to the shockwaves, all of which is magnified on an indoor range.
It's not a great idea at 6 months pregnant. GetYerShells, I hope you get this worked out. Not to compound your problem, but it's better and easier to plan ahead than to be trying to figure out what to do now, while you are away from the situation.
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Attention Brass rats and other reloaders: I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss. |
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February 6, 2009, 11:24 AM
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#16 | |
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Junior member
Join Date: April 6, 2008
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Posts: 2,933
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Quote:
Tell her to USE the mace next time and call the cops. What he did is called illegal entry. |
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February 6, 2009, 11:53 AM
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#17 | |
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Junior member
Join Date: January 25, 2006
Location: Oak Harbor, WA
Posts: 1,719
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February 6, 2009, 04:08 PM
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#18 |
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Member
Join Date: September 25, 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 47
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Good on you for teaching her how to handle the Sig.
It looks like she had difficulty managing the guy (making him leave the area before entering the home), giving him too much personal information, or getting the phone overrode the personal safety priority. I really like the ShivWorks DVD, PUC. http://www.mdtactical.com/ShivWorks/dvd_puc.html It covers managing strangers verbally & with body language, movement, and also some empty hand strikes. There's also a class coming up at the end of March, just West of Houston. |
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February 6, 2009, 06:11 PM
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#19 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: November 20, 2004
Posts: 3,150
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February 6, 2009, 06:22 PM
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#20 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: September 29, 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,346
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1) Any chance she could move in with a relative until you get home? No telling what this bum might do with this info either himself or passing it along the grapevine.
2) She should be especially on guard entering or leaving the house. FerFAL in Argentina has posted many times how this is the most dangerous few seconds in daily life when crime goes rampant. Never just leave the house or just pull up and jump out. First take a few seconds to look around for anyone or anything hinky. 3) Better discipline with car and home door locks. She should get in the habit of IMMEDIATELY locking doors behind her even if she is just popping in and out of the car or house. 4) Big dog for the house, and she should carry or have a gun handy in the house.
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"The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison
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February 6, 2009, 06:31 PM
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#21 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: July 19, 2008
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 117
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Be sure that the "mace" she's carrying is actually just pepper spray (capsaicin) and not a pepper and CS tear gas mixture. Soldiers who were or might be pregnant couldn't attend any training where they might be exposed to tear gas.
Here's a great link for self-defense items, including pure pepper spray... www.guardian-self-defense.com Kimber's "Guardian Angel" 90mph Pepper Spray is an excellent device for dispensing this spicy seasoning...  Check out the video link on this site... http://www.guardian-self-defense.com/guardianangel.htm Hondo11's Tazer suggestion sounds like a good plan too...  www.tazers.com Milspec
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"...there is no second place winner in a gunfight." Colonel Bill Jordan |
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February 6, 2009, 06:47 PM
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#22 | |
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Junior member
Join Date: April 8, 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 3,769
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February 6, 2009, 07:32 PM
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#23 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: December 27, 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 470
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A big +1 for getting a dog.
If it isn't practical to get a dog, maybe borrow one from family? A good dog will catch on very quick. I've always had a dog or two around. They are the absolute best alarm system and first defense. I'm very sorry you have to think about this right now, but I'm sure she'll be fine if she just keeps on alert. Remind her to keep her eyes open a little more (like she won't be already). I was thinking the same thing as a couple others above about checking on her once in a while if you lived close by. It's hard to deal with when you're away, I know. I've been in similar situations as you. Too bad I'm on the east coast or I would. Hell, she could live here with my fiancee if she wanted to, and talk about stupid girl stuff all evening while I sneak off to my buddys place.... You stay safe yourself, bud, and it will all be over before you know it.
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"Reach out your hand if your cup be empty. If your cup be full, let it be again. Let it be known, there is a fountain, that was not made by the hands of men" |
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February 6, 2009, 07:36 PM
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#24 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: December 24, 1999
Location: America
Posts: 3,479
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She has access to a firearm and the ability to use it? Great. Should she need to avail herself to its use, the concerns about the actual use pale in comparison to the potential alternative.
The suggestion to bone up on managing unknown contacts is a sound one. Since chemical alternatives are ill advised, I recommend noise making ones. Can she carry the pistol legally? If not, can she carry a Tazer legally? If so, another recommendation to consider it. It is indeed a second place alternative, but an effective one and better than a pistol in the house should the need occur outside. God bless and good luck.
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Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective |
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February 6, 2009, 07:41 PM
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#25 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: February 27, 2006
Location: Lane County Oregon
Posts: 2,547
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Make sure the Family Support Group for your unit is made aware of this. They may be able to bring more resources to bear on the situation. Our FSG coordinated with the Provost to get some "presence" in certain areas during deployments.
Having lived in SA, a coordinated effort between LEO and Military Police will make the area WAY less attractive to criminals. And I am sure the local LEO would welcome any additional asistance the Army sent along. This is obviously in addition to the Sig, pepper spray and her SA. Uniforms won't be there all the time. Any chance to get her moved to base housing? Maybe not, but worth asking up the chain. Stay safe, stay focused. Hard to do, but your buddies are counting on it and your wife is counting on you coming back as well. Thanks for your service!
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U.S Army, Retired Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. -Potter Stewart |
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