This happened to me some weeks ago and I have been meaning to share it to be able to lend a thought process to those who take home defense seriously; as I was caught off guard by the experience. First a summary, then an evaluation.
I was asleep in bed with wife and at about 1 am I heard gunshots that sounded like they were coming from inside my home. I sprung up, and grabbed my piece from my nightstand. It was a DA/SA HK at the time and I remember that I cocked the hammer, finger off the trigger. First thing I did was yell at my wife to cal the police. Which she did not do; for reasons that are beyond me. I left my room and went across the hall to the boys room where it sounded like the gunfire was coming from. They were startling and beginning to hoop and holler. I could see a figure outside their window and the firing was definitely coming from outside their window. I drew on the the window and went to fire but I did not due to my children running to me. I shooed both boys back into my bedroom and shut the door. I ran to the front door (shooting was in front yard) and opened it, walked out front broad-side with a shooting stance and did an assessment. The front porch light was on and my whole body was outside the door frame. I noticed immediately that the gunshots were colored, and they were coming from the ground (My 3/4 O'clock). It was fireworks. When I saw that the "I'm being attacked" factor just instantly dropped. I remember I lost all my primal instincts and I felt like the hulk coming back down. I immediately heard someone yelling my name from the drive way (my 9 O'clock) My brother came home from the navy on a late flight and lit fireworks in my yard and was walking towards me laughing, saying chill out, calm down, etc. There was a serious family fight as the whole situation was incredibly immature, dangerous, and upsetting to neighbors and children. Wife was furious. This is typical s*** from my family and is to be expected; but that did cross the line
Looking back I like to analyze the things I did wrong.
-My wife did not dial the police, which I scolded her for afterwards.
-I should have spent more time securing my family, and hunkering down in my household.
-I should not have gone outside
-I did not have cover outside
-I should not have walked my whole body outside
-I did not physically hear my wife, children, or my brother calling my name due to sheer adrenaline/fear/whatever. If there were LE present I doubt I would have heard/obeyed orders. If someone came in the back door while I went out front I doubt I would have heard my family holler.
Feel free to enjoy the read, consider the circumstances, and critique the performance (or lack there of). Have a plan, make sure if you know you/loved ones are safe you make a conscious decision to engage/cover/whatever and plot your moves before moving.
I was asleep in bed with wife and at about 1 am I heard gunshots that sounded like they were coming from inside my home. I sprung up, and grabbed my piece from my nightstand. It was a DA/SA HK at the time and I remember that I cocked the hammer, finger off the trigger. First thing I did was yell at my wife to cal the police. Which she did not do; for reasons that are beyond me. I left my room and went across the hall to the boys room where it sounded like the gunfire was coming from. They were startling and beginning to hoop and holler. I could see a figure outside their window and the firing was definitely coming from outside their window. I drew on the the window and went to fire but I did not due to my children running to me. I shooed both boys back into my bedroom and shut the door. I ran to the front door (shooting was in front yard) and opened it, walked out front broad-side with a shooting stance and did an assessment. The front porch light was on and my whole body was outside the door frame. I noticed immediately that the gunshots were colored, and they were coming from the ground (My 3/4 O'clock). It was fireworks. When I saw that the "I'm being attacked" factor just instantly dropped. I remember I lost all my primal instincts and I felt like the hulk coming back down. I immediately heard someone yelling my name from the drive way (my 9 O'clock) My brother came home from the navy on a late flight and lit fireworks in my yard and was walking towards me laughing, saying chill out, calm down, etc. There was a serious family fight as the whole situation was incredibly immature, dangerous, and upsetting to neighbors and children. Wife was furious. This is typical s*** from my family and is to be expected; but that did cross the line
Looking back I like to analyze the things I did wrong.
-My wife did not dial the police, which I scolded her for afterwards.
-I should have spent more time securing my family, and hunkering down in my household.
-I should not have gone outside
-I did not have cover outside
-I should not have walked my whole body outside
-I did not physically hear my wife, children, or my brother calling my name due to sheer adrenaline/fear/whatever. If there were LE present I doubt I would have heard/obeyed orders. If someone came in the back door while I went out front I doubt I would have heard my family holler.
Feel free to enjoy the read, consider the circumstances, and critique the performance (or lack there of). Have a plan, make sure if you know you/loved ones are safe you make a conscious decision to engage/cover/whatever and plot your moves before moving.
