Woman held at gunpoint

[RogueUSMC]

*snip*I'd suggest ditching the heels to make the getaway a lot faster, more agile, and less painful.*snip*

but then she'd be out a Louis AND two Monolos...lol

Seriously though, Op will be in my prayers for peaceful resolution...

[Amonix]

I don't want to hijack this thread but WOW. I am glad to say I am a part of group of people willing to offer help and advice so easily. I also join in hopes this guy decides to "move on".

I don't get why some people can't move on.... All their actions do is end up making sure that nothing will ever happen.

[Carzan]

[LadyLightening]

Thanks for all the comments! Especially the ladies that chimed in! :) Everyone's contributed to things I hadn't even thought of.I have a quick question though. I had some young guys (very early 20s...if that) come to the door selling magazine subscriptions. I had been working in the backyard coming and going into the house every so often and the front door was unlocked. Doorbell rings and stupid me answers the door halfway with my gun in hand on the side that wasn't supposed to be visible. Once I realized I shouldn't be in "threat" mode, I told them to hold on and I closed the door and put my gun on the hallway table. One of the guys was pretty country and he asked me what kind of gun I had and if it was pink.... Pink holster!! They saw through it through the glass in the middle of the door. So I apologized a million times and decided to buy magazines that were ridiculously overpriced after I gave them an idea of why I answered with a gun. They were cool with it and laughed, asked to come into the house and finish paperwork and I let them in. Can I get in trouble for them seeing it? I know absolutely I would if I was outside my home but I was inside. I know I shouldn't of let them in either but I didn't come to my senses until after the fact.

[Jumping Frog]

Thanks for all the comments! Especially the ladies that chimed in! :) Everyone's contributed to things I hadn't even thought of.I have a quick question though. I had some young guys (very early 20s...if that) come to the door selling magazine subscriptions. I had been working in the backyard coming and going into the house every so often and the front door was unlocked. Doorbell rings and stupid me answers the door halfway with my gun in hand on the side that wasn't supposed to be visible. Once I realized I shouldn't be in "threat" mode, I told them to hold on and I closed the door and put my gun on the hallway table. One of the guys was pretty country and he asked me what kind of gun I had and if it was pink.... Pink holster!! They saw through it through the glass in the middle of the door. So I apologized a million times and decided to buy magazines that were ridiculously overpriced after I gave them an idea of why I answered with a gun. They were cool with it and laughed, asked to come into the house and finish paperwork and I let them in. Can I get in trouble for them seeing it? I know absolutely I would if I was outside my home but I was inside. I know I shouldn't of let them in either but I didn't come to my senses until after the fact.

You have no duty to keep your firearm hidden in your own home.

There are people who will debate either way an openly carried handgun on your property. People like to parse the definition of "public" and "manner calculated to alarm". Me? I have no problem with an openly carried handgun in my front yard.

As info, I simply do not answer the front door to anyone selling door to door, unless we are talking about 10 year-old girl scouts or equivalent. I most defintiely would never have answered the door to a couple of young men.

[CHLLady]

Thanks for all the comments! Especially the ladies that chimed in! :) Everyone's contributed to things I hadn't even thought of.I have a quick question though. I had some young guys (very early 20s...if that) come to the door selling magazine subscriptions. I had been working in the backyard coming and going into the house every so often and the front door was unlocked. Doorbell rings and stupid me answers the door halfway with my gun in hand on the side that wasn't supposed to be visible. Once I realized I shouldn't be in "threat" mode, I told them to hold on and I closed the door and put my gun on the hallway table. One of the guys was pretty country and he asked me what kind of gun I had and if it was pink.... Pink holster!! They saw through it through the glass in the middle of the door. So I apologized a million times and decided to buy magazines that were ridiculously overpriced after I gave them an idea of why I answered with a gun. They were cool with it and laughed, asked to come into the house and finish paperwork and I let them in. Can I get in trouble for them seeing it? I know absolutely I would if I was outside my home but I was inside. I know I shouldn't of let them in either but I didn't come to my senses until after the fact.

You need a No trespassing/No soliciting sign, a solid front door, and a chain so that you don't open the door all the way... NO do not let them in. Women have to stop being so nice. Our safety needs to come first over offending someone's feelings. I say this because I KNOW I am guilty of this very thing. WHY do we do this after the fact? We have to put the brakes on first. WHY shouldn't you be in threat mode?! Your instincts told you correctly the first time, your brain made you change it!! You were 100% right to answer the door with your gun. Listen to your instincts. And don't apologize! In the book, I mentioned earlier, he tells you WHY you need to use your instincts! Do you know the kind of people who sell mags. Door to door are not the kind that have a good job history or a long one. I bet they hire anyone to do this, even ex-cons. Who's to say that on that day he decides to go bad again... We have got to change our way of thinking!

I had some man come to the door, which I did NOT open claiming to be from an electric company I don't have. He was very offended that I would not open the door. I could tell in the way he answered me. Oh well! Too bad, survey someone else! But then again, I did open the door to a guy trying to sell Direct Tv/Dish. He asked for a bottle of water, a pen, and 2 napkins to wipe his face. I accommodated him every time. I shut the door and he was not allowed in, but still I'm irritated with myself over this one. I'm too darn nice! Ugh! Then we put up the No trespassing/soliciting sign.

[suthdj]

Thanks for all the comments! Especially the ladies that chimed in! :) Everyone's contributed to things I hadn't even thought of.I have a quick question though. I had some young guys (very early 20s...if that) come to the door selling magazine subscriptions. I had been working in the backyard coming and going into the house every so often and the front door was unlocked. Doorbell rings and stupid me answers the door halfway with my gun in hand on the side that wasn't supposed to be visible. Once I realized I shouldn't be in "threat" mode, I told them to hold on and I closed the door and put my gun on the hallway table. One of the guys was pretty country and he asked me what kind of gun I had and if it was pink.... Pink holster!! They saw through it through the glass in the middle of the door. So I apologized a million times and decided to buy magazines that were ridiculously overpriced after I gave them an idea of why I answered with a gun. They were cool with it and laughed, asked to come into the house and finish paperwork and I let them in. Can I get in trouble for them seeing it? I know absolutely I would if I was outside my home but I was inside. I know I shouldn't of let them in either but I didn't come to my senses until after the fact.

You have no duty to keep your firearm hidden in your own home.

There are people who will debate either way an openly carried handgun on your property. People like to parse the definition of "public" and "manner calculated to alarm". Me? I have no problem with an openly carried handgun in my front yard.

As info, I simply do not answer the front door to anyone selling door to door, unless we are talking about 10 year-old girl scouts or equivalent. I most defintiely would never have answered the door to a couple of young men.

I would like to add letting them in your home was a HUGE mistake, anything could have happened, but more importantly they now saw what you own and where it is at.

[Excaliber]

Thanks for all the comments! Especially the ladies that chimed in! :) Everyone's contributed to things I hadn't even thought of.I have a quick question though. I had some young guys (very early 20s...if that) come to the door selling magazine subscriptions. I had been working in the backyard coming and going into the house every so often and the front door was unlocked. Doorbell rings and stupid me answers the door halfway with my gun in hand on the side that wasn't supposed to be visible. Once I realized I shouldn't be in "threat" mode, I told them to hold on and I closed the door and put my gun on the hallway table. One of the guys was pretty country and he asked me what kind of gun I had and if it was pink.... Pink holster!! They saw through it through the glass in the middle of the door. So I apologized a million times and decided to buy magazines that were ridiculously overpriced after I gave them an idea of why I answered with a gun. They were cool with it and laughed, asked to come into the house and finish paperwork and I let them in. Can I get in trouble for them seeing it? I know absolutely I would if I was outside my home but I was inside. I know I shouldn't of let them in either but I didn't come to my senses until after the fact.

My jaw just hit the floor.

You should profusely thank God for keeping you safe while you created a home invader's dream scenario.

Have you considered that your stalker may have friends who are willing to help him?

A standard decent front door setup is a no soliciting sign, an intercom for remotely interviewing folks who think the sign doesn't apply to them, top quality locks (which are kept locked), reinforced door strikes, and tools and a plan for folks who can't take no for an answer.

And that's for folks who aren't being stalked.

You need to seriously look at how easily you were manipulated into doing things that made you extremely vulnerable to becoming the victim of a major crime.

The ability to assess situations and recognize danger, and the self confidence and assertiveness to say "No" firmly when necessary and mean it are absolute foundational requirements for personal safety.

[LadyLightening]

Thanks for all the comments! Especially the ladies that chimed in! :) Everyone's contributed to things I hadn't even thought of.I have a quick question though. I had some young guys (very early 20s...if that) come to the door selling magazine subscriptions. I had been working in the backyard coming and going into the house every so often and the front door was unlocked. Doorbell rings and stupid me answers the door halfway with my gun in hand on the side that wasn't supposed to be visible. Once I realized I shouldn't be in "threat" mode, I told them to hold on and I closed the door and put my gun on the hallway table. One of the guys was pretty country and he asked me what kind of gun I had and if it was pink.... Pink holster!! They saw through it through the glass in the middle of the door. So I apologized a million times and decided to buy magazines that were ridiculously overpriced after I gave them an idea of why I answered with a gun. They were cool with it and laughed, asked to come into the house and finish paperwork and I let them in. Can I get in trouble for them seeing it? I know absolutely I would if I was outside my home but I was inside. I know I shouldn't of let them in either but I didn't come to my senses until after the fact.

You need a No trespassing/No soliciting sign, a solid front door, and a chain so that you don't open the door all the way... NO do not let them in. Women have to stop being so nice. Our safety needs to come first over offending someone's feelings. I say this because I KNOW I am guilty of this very thing. WHY do we do this after the fact? We have to put the brakes on first. WHY shouldn't you be in threat mode?! Your instincts told you correctly the first time, your brain made you change it!! You were 100% right to answer the door with your gun. Listen to your instincts. And don't apologize! In the book, I mentioned earlier, he tells you WHY you need to use your instincts! Do you know the kind of people who sell mags. Door to door are not the kind that have a good job history or a long one. I bet they hire anyone to do this, even ex-cons. Who's to say that on that day he decides to go bad again... We have got to change our way of thinking!

I had some man come to the door, which I did NOT open claiming to be from an electric company I don't have. He was very offended that I would not open the door. I could tell in the way he answered me. Oh well! Too bad, survey someone else! But then again, I did open the door to a guy trying to sell Direct Tv/Dish. He asked for a bottle of water, a pen, and 2 napkins to wipe his face. I accommodated him every time. I shut the door and he was not allowed in, but still I'm irritated with myself over this one. I'm too darn nice! Ugh! Then we put up the No trespassing/soliciting sign.

Being too nice is my number #1 weakness! Niceness is what got me into this situation in the first place... I just downloaded that book to my iPad, it sounds like I could really use it. I just had the same experience with Direct TV!! I had to let this guy into my house though...I could hear his stomach rumbling and then he asked me if he could use my bathroom. This guy pinched a loaf in my toilet, didn't even flush AND I could smell it from my living room. It looked like world war 3 had started in my bathroom. I don't get it! If that was me in someone else's home, I wouldn't go drop bombs in their bathroom... I'd have to leave!! Sorry if I was too detailed.

Anyways, I don't know why I felt bad for them seeing my gun. Afterwards I realized it was a paper clip anyways as it wasn't loaded. I was all over the place today with making so many dumb moves but I haven't felt as good as I did today in awhile... I will let you know how the book goes! :)

[CHLLady]

Well, I'd like to say that you lose the niceness the older you get, but that's not true. At least not for me. you just learn from your mistakes. It's something in my DNA, how I was raised, my personality etc. just seems too much too, but we have to fight this for our own good. I read something about a woman saying she needed to put on her 'itch face when she's in a higher level situation. I thought about it and told myself I could do this. Lol. I think I'll practice in front of the mirror. I have to see this for myself. Ha! I usually have my concentration/serious look on, but a witch face, hmm...

I'm glad you are taking this seriously. Prepared is not paranoid! Meanwhile, put a curtain/material over your glass door. If you can't sew or don't have a machine, use "stitch witch" to fold over and iron a nice seam. Use sticky Velcro to adhere it to your door. Get your dog at your side when you answer the door from now on.

Listen and learn from these great people here. They discuss things throughout threads that you may not catch until the 5th page. I have learned so much and even taught my hubby a few things he didn't even know.

Now keep reading that book. You are a woman on a mission. A victor who walks with confidence, not a victim. How's that for a pep talk? Lol.

[LadyLightening]

Who doesn't love ladies pep talks!? Men. lol

[Amonix]

Who doesn't love ladies pep talks!? Men. lol

I had an Ex that use to give really good pep talks. Just the whole biting her phone thing when she got me mad made me worried. I need to find some of these "nice" ladies you two keep talking about.

[Excaliber]

You can find a very easy to use wireless intercom that lets you talk to visitors from another point inside the house without going to the door here.

[sawdust]

It may have been mentioned earlier, but let me strongly emphasize how beneficial and valuable the information that is at http://www.corneredcat.com could be for you.

In my classes I would demonstrate, in several ways, how unthinking behavorial responses (or non-responses)can lead us into possible situations. As one example, I would pick up some random inane object - a pair of pliers, a wadded up ball of paper, anything out of context to the topic - and proffer it to a student. Almost without exception, the student will take the item. Why? Because it seemed the "nice" thing to do? Regarding earlier comments, why let a stranger knocking on your door into your home? Because it seems a "nice" thing to do? As another example, after discussing The Four Rules of Firearms Safety, I hold out a toy gun for the student to take. Invariably, the student's finger will go directly to the trigger, even though a few minutes earlier, I had expressly told him/her that to do so was a breech of safety. My point is that in the context of self-defense and self-protection, we all have to evaluate, test, and often alter some of our ingrained habits.

Regards

[PhillRoath]

When I started here in Houston in January of 1987 (software for the Space Shuttle) one of the ladies that gave excellent instruction was named Libby Jones. She was a nice lady who late one night let a man into her home...

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-mur ... ibby-jones" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So you ladies here, be as smart as you are nice!

Phill