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Stupid wrote:When you hear a noise in late night, which one is safer:

A. Grab a gun, go to the noise and investigage
B. Grab a gun, but turn on your camera and monior watching it from your bedroom with door locked.

I completely understand your logic. I really do. I believe you have a valid point and I might even agree with you depending on the circumstances. But, we are all bringing different mental pictures to this discussion. Here's a partial glimpse at my picture.

I know for a fact that cameras can be and routinely are disabled. Granted that's not likely but it's worth noting that most residential camera installations do not place cameras in bedrooms. I don't have kids but if I did and had no cameras in their rooms, it seems it might be necessary to leave the "safety" of my bedroom to verify there isn't someone standing over my kids with plans to make lamp shades out of their skulls.

I don't consider the interior of my home to be "the unknown." It MIGHT be safer to just sit in my bedroom watching a TV monitor. But in my home, I don't believe that's true. My house is just too small and I'd prefer than any fight happen away from the bedroom with my wife inside. I plan to win that fight but if I don't she is prepared to make a last stand from the bedroom.

texas297 wrote:I know that I'm not in the minority here but isn't in sad that in this day and age that we've coming to answering an unexpected knock on the front door (especially after dark) with our sidearm readily available.

Sorry, I grew up thinking that was normal in the city. Too many weirdos, drunken fools, crackheads and gangbangers walking around without leashes. Dad was a cop and I can't remember ever seeing him without either a S&W M19 or Browning HiPower under a shirt or suit. He may not have answered the door with a gun in hand, but it was definitely within reach. Once or twice, some local crackhead came to knock on the "neighborhood narc's" door at O-Dark-Thirty and Dad did answer the door with a gun in hand but hidden from the person on the otherside. I don't think either of those people realized a gun was pointed at their head the whole time they were standing under the porch light. Summers in Columbus were a different story.

Back then, Columbus was still just a small town with little crime. At my grandmother's house just off HWY71, the door wasn't just unlocked, it was wide open except for the screen door to keep the bugs out. Cars around town were routinely left unlocked, even in the town square. Everybody knew who you were and you could count on nosy little old ladies calling GrandMa to alert her to your antics on the opposite end of town. It was a wonderful time, an innocent time, and I time I truly miss. But the reality is, unless something kills off two thirds of the world population and most of us go back to living in small rural communities, no one will know what it's like to grow up like that again.

jbirds1210 wrote:

G.C.Montgomery wrote:[ I honestly think he was a probably psychotic and in need of being institutionalized.

Sir-
I have met you and can't imagine anyone....except someone fitting your above description would pick you to assault. The theory about picking out the sheep seems to go out the window with this failed attempt at your life. Wow......it does not take a genius to become a criminal.
Jason

Idunno, may be it's my kind and cuddly demeanor that gets me set up for all the stuff I keep getting into. I do try to be nice to everyone. My friends all say I'm a big teddy bear but a bear all the same. So, I guess the wackos, crooks and general idiots of the world just never notice the claws, fangs and exceeding capacity for violence until it's too late.

Venus Pax wrote:G.C.M., that's pretty sad that they weren't interested in taking the report. They may not have ever found him, but assault charges needed to be filed against him.

I've never had to draw my weapon outside of my home. If dh & I hear something, we pick up guns & investigate. This usually occurs at home, and its usually dogs outside or one of the cats or our dog tearing up something inside.

I've become convinced that some agencies exist mostly for the purpose of filling reports for insurance purposes. I honestly think HPD is one of those agencies. There are cases that HPD's leadership does believe warrant investigations and dedicated resources but they involve losses of over $50,000 and/or a leaking body.

About a year after that incident, building security started advising tenants of a guy matching my guy's description, accosting people leaving the building at night. I honestly think he was a probably psychotic and in need of being institutionalized. But, we generally don't do that in Texas anymore. HPD will probably get interested after he caves in some rich socialite's skull.

Casingpoint, Houston is a kinder gentler place than it was ten years ago. I've noticed suspects who've killed or shot police officers in the last five years have all lived long enough to get to court. When I was a kid in the early 80's that would not have happened. It's amazing how many people fell out of moving police cars, committed suicide in jail or were discovered floating in the Ship Channel after being arrested or questioned for their involvement in the death or injury of a police officer.

Once, in downtown Houston at 1:30AM. It screwed me up mentally for days. During that time, I found myself enraged by the guy brought me to the brink of ending his life. I still remember getting home and having to convince myself that I hadn't left a leaking body in front of my office building.

HPD's response when I called to report what happened inspired no confidence. I called saying a man had tried to assault me with a brick. They asked if I'd shot him. I said, "No." HPD desk officer's reply, "Why are you calling again?"