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My doorbell rings about noon today...two twenty-something white males standing at the door. I put my .25 auto in my pocket and opened the door to see one guy with jeans and a golf shirt and a t-shirt on his shoulder that was up covering his neck tattoo. Both arms had sleeve tats. The second guy was in a black t-shirt and jean shorts holding a root beer can. Not professional or impressive at all and my internal alarm was going off immediately.
White shirt guy starts talking...stating that they are working on some sort of post-high school public speaking training course and they are out embarassing themselves today trying to win a contest for a trip to Barcelona Spain. He said they were doing some research on positive careers and then asked me what positive career I was in? When I replied that my career was none of his business, he was somewhat stunned, but before he could protest, I told them to buzz off because I wasn't interested in anything they had to offer...and I closed the door.

Our community has a solicitation permit requirement and all adult door-to-door presenters must possess it. I called the PD immediately and within 5 minutes, two crusiers were 3 doors down from my house with both suspects being interviewed. They cuffed the kid holding the soda can...posession of marijuana. They took the other guy to the station, but released him after issuing him a citation for soliciting without a permit.

I'm completely convinced that these guys were casing out future robberies...if they know what you do, they can assess when you are home and figure the best time to hit the house. Being that one had drugs on him, there is an even better chance that they were up to no good. I was probably stupid for opening the door to two strange males who could potentially overpower me. My 7 shot .25 was inadequate should the situation get ugly.

I think I'm going to go to Lowes and get a NO SOLICITING sticker for my door. They are ugly, but I'm sick of strangers ringing my doorbell without an appointment! Am I becoming "that guy" that is paranoid and anti-social...or is the world just getting that crazy and I'm right to not subject my family to unwanted criminal action???

Interesting story. Their explanation is just stupid enough to be true, but I certainly think you were justified in your disbelief.

Blindref757 wrote: I think I'm going to go to Lowes and get a NO SOLICITING sticker for my door.

I mounted one right next to my doorbell and they still ring it.

Blindref757 wrote: My 7 shot .25 was inadequate should the situation get ugly.

I think I'm going to go to Lowes and get a NO SOLICITING sticker for my door.

While you are at it get 45 ACP - although Lowes doesn't stock 'em.

Blindref757 wrote:I think I'm going to go to Lowes and get a NO SOLICITING sticker for my door.

They won't care. When I was a Boy Scout passing out fliers for food donations, I would come across houses that had "no soliciting" stickers, so I skipped them. However those house always had a lawn care business card or a flier for something else. Maybe those people couldn't read?

Blindref757 wrote:...stating that they are working on some sort of post-high school public speaking training course and they are out embarassing themselves today trying to win a contest for a trip to Barcelona Spain. He said they were doing some research on positive careers and then asked me what positive career I was in?

If I heard that, my Baloney detector would have gone to Def Con 5. Whenever I answer the door, I always have my LCP in my pocket with my hand on it. If I had been there, they might have found out that I owned an LCP.

DocV wrote:While you are at it get 45 ACP - although Lowes doesn't stock 'em.

I have two 9mm, but didn't have them on body while sitting around the house. I think I'm going to get a 12 guage for the front door.

Seems a little overboard to call the police in that situation. Assume these two really were just out soliciting and trying to raise money for a trip, how are they supposed to know they need a permit?

I've done some door-to-door soliciting for my church and I didn't know needing a permit was even a possibility so if that had been me at your door today, you would have gotten me a ticket... thanks alot.

thenick_ttu wrote:Seems a little overboard to call the police in that situation. Assume these two really were just out soliciting and trying to raise money for a trip, how are they supposed to know they need a permit?

I've done some door-to-door soliciting for my church and I didn't know needing a permit was even a possibility so if that had been me at your door today, you would have gotten me a ticket... thanks alot.

...if someone is out in a neighborhood without submitting themself to police clearance and getting the permit required by law, they have EARNED the ticket...and, as often as not, police find something more is afoot than just soliciting without a permit...do it right and we'll see the permit and know that at least whoever's bothering us at the door is doing it legally...

I believe the world has changed. The number of legitimate companies doing door-to-door sales can probably be counted on one hand. These communities are putting in the solicitation ordinances to protect citizens. An officer told me yesterday that the ratio of scammers to legit salesmen was 10:1.

You dang right I called the cops...and I will continue to do it. Did you read that one of the guys had pot in his pocket? Legit people don't go door to door with baggy pants, neck tattoos and sleeves. Call me judgmental if you wish, but the whole "looks, walks, and quacks like a duck" theory fits here.

McDonalds and Burger King both have Help Wanted signs in the window.

...more discerning than judgemental...you did well...(except for that .25 )

speedsix wrote:

thenick_ttu wrote:Seems a little overboard to call the police in that situation. Assume these two really were just out soliciting and trying to raise money for a trip, how are they supposed to know they need a permit?

I've done some door-to-door soliciting for my church and I didn't know needing a permit was even a possibility so if that had been me at your door today, you would have gotten me a ticket... thanks alot.

...if someone is out in a neighborhood without submitting themself to police clearance and getting the permit required by law, they have EARNED the ticket...and, as often as not, police find something more is afoot than just soliciting without a permit...do it right and we'll see the permit and know that at least whoever's bothering us at the door is doing it legally...

Maybe they have technically "earned" the ticket but that doens't mean they should get a ticket. You or I probably "earn" a ticket every single day while driving (changing lanes without a blinker, going 1 MPH over the speed limit, etc). That doesn't mean we should get a ticket every time we earn one. Sometimes people just make minor mistakes or simply don't know. I still think it was overboard to call the police in this situation.

...may you NEVER have personal knowledge of how important it is that he did...

I have two signs at my front door and many solicitors ignore them or they leave their junk mail at my door. I don't use much tact with these type of people!

Blindref757 wrote:My doorbell rings about noon today...two twenty-something white males standing at the door. I put my .25 auto in my pocket and opened the door to see one guy with jeans and a golf shirt and a t-shirt on his shoulder that was up covering his neck tattoo. Both arms had sleeve tats. The second guy was in a black t-shirt and jean shorts holding a root beer can. Not professional or impressive at all and my internal alarm was going off immediately.
White shirt guy starts talking...stating that they are working on some sort of post-high school public speaking training course and they are out embarassing themselves today trying to win a contest for a trip to Barcelona Spain. He said they were doing some research on positive careers and then asked me what positive career I was in? When I replied that my career was none of his business, he was somewhat stunned, but before he could protest, I told them to buzz off because I wasn't interested in anything they had to offer...and I closed the door.

Our community has a solicitation permit requirement and all adult door-to-door presenters must possess it. I called the PD immediately and within 5 minutes, two crusiers were 3 doors down from my house with both suspects being interviewed. They cuffed the kid holding the soda can...posession of marijuana. They took the other guy to the station, but released him after issuing him a citation for soliciting without a permit.

I'm completely convinced that these guys were casing out future robberies...if they know what you do, they can assess when you are home and figure the best time to hit the house. Being that one had drugs on him, there is an even better chance that they were up to no good. I was probably stupid for opening the door to two strange males who could potentially overpower me. My 7 shot .25 was inadequate should the situation get ugly.

I think I'm going to go to Lowes and get a NO SOLICITING sticker for my door. They are ugly, but I'm sick of strangers ringing my doorbell without an appointment! Am I becoming "that guy" that is paranoid and anti-social...or is the world just getting that crazy and I'm right to not subject my family to unwanted criminal action???

Blindref757 wrote:Did you read that one of the guys had pot in his pocket? Legit people don't go door to door with baggy pants, neck tattoos and sleeves. Call me judgmental if you wish, but the whole "looks, walks, and quacks like a duck" theory fits here.

HA!! You didn't call the police because he had pot in his pocket. You called the police because you didn't like the way these two fellows looked. One of the guys having pot is just a coincidence.

And it is absolutely wrong to think legit people don't have neck tats and sleeves. I can specifically think of one guy in my church who works with our teen ministry. He will be going door to door in a couple of weeks trying to raise money for a summer camp. He's got neck tats, sleeves and wears baggy pants and he's just as legit as any person on this board.

...he called the police because they were violating the permit law...period...just as he could have if they wore suits and ties and had Bibles under their arms...the law is for our protection...doesn't matter who's breaking it...