First time to threaten use of gun

[wgoforth]

Last night, 9:00 PM, my wife went to answer the doorbell. She said by the time she got to it, it sounded like he was trying to open it. It was a door-to-door security alarm salesman. She said he wouldn't take no for an answer, so she shut the door on him. Today, after church services, he was walking down our sidewalk. I watched him from the kitchen window. He looked in my passenger window of the van, the back seat window. Talked on his phone, then back to the van. By this time, I was out on my poarch and yelled "What are you doing?" He spun around and said nothing. I repeated the question, and he started towards me. I said "NO! What are you doing?" He said he was looking for an address. I said "Not in my van you weren't." I then told him to leave my property. He said "No sir" and continued towards me. I repeated and he again said no. By this time I am reaching toward my pocket and stated that if he did not leave immediatly I was going to draw my weapon. He turned around immediatly and walked away. I called the police, telling them the matter including I had told him I would use my gun. Within 3 minutes, 2 cars arrived. One came to the house and said he was arrested on outstanding warrants. I stated I wanted criminal tresspass warrant served on him (to establish further myself, in case he wanted to claim terroristic threat.). wife should NOT have opened the door to a stranger at 9:00 PM, thats a given.

[bnc]

Wow, replying NO to a command to get off of your property while advancing must have been alarming. Any word on what the warrants were for? He certainly sounds like a piece of work. Glad it didn't get more seriously and reaffirms my decision to never open the door unless I'm expecting someone.

[The Mad Moderate]

IMHO I would not give a verbal warning saying I'll draw my gun, because if he is also armed and many bad guys are, it could end very badly. If I feel a need to warn someone I have a gun then I probably should draw it because I would feel as though my life was in danger.

[sookandy]

Mine have not been as bad as yours but several times people have knocked on the door late at night. I usually don't open the door but when I look through the peep it's always with a pistol on me. A few times they just keep knocking and I will open the door with the pistol behind my back. At that point I just want them to know someone is home. I also have rocks in the front and they make a very loud destictive sound so when I hear that I go out and check around. One guy said don't shoot me. Little did he know..... It might be different if it wasnt posted all over...No Soliciting!

Glad you got a BG put where he belongs and it all worked out.

[Dave2]

Wow, replying NO to a command to get off of your property while advancing must have been alarming.

That might've done it for me, depending on other situational factors.

[OldCannon]

Wow, replying NO to a command to get off of your property while advancing must have been alarming.

That might've done it for me, depending on other situational factors.

Ability. Opportunity. Jeopardy. Done deal. Tell the cops to bring a coroner.

(Legal Disclaimer: Not that _I_ would have done that. I would have tried to reason with him, even invited him inside for a cup of coffee and some food. Maybe he was just trying to get his life straightened out and was visiting random houses for some help. You never know.)

[Blindref757]

IMHO I would not give a verbal warning saying I'll draw my gun, because if he is also armed and many bad guys are, it could end very badly. If I feel a need to warn someone I have a gun then I probably should draw it because I would feel as though my life was in danger.

+1

[C-dub]

I certainly would have drawn once he said, "No" to my order to leave. If he would have kept coming after that he would have been carried off.

Scary stuff to be sure. I'm glad you did not have to shoot him and that the police got him.

[Seabear]

Good job on calling the police. Most people are afraid to get the police involved, but like I teach in my CHL classes the first person to call is considered the victim. He could have called first and make you come off as the crazy guy with a gun that doesn't like innocent salesmen. Glad it worked out the right way.

As to drawing your weapon or not , we weren't there so I won't say what you should have done. I personally have stopped possible attacks both ways. Every situation is different, the main thing is your were observant and ready.

[5thGenTexan]

I'm afraid when he said NO to my 2nd request to leave and advanced, I would have had him prone eating concrete until PD arrived one way or the other. The more uncomfortable that 100deg plus temps made it the better.

[Middle Age Russ]

I am glad that the trespasser was taken into custody with no further issue.

If he was indeed actively trying to enter your home the evening before, it may have gotten messy even if your wife had not answered the door. Certainly not a good idea to answer late in the evening without some sort of backup.

[v-rog]

You did Great! Couldn't have described a better response.

[Keith B]

Let's see what is wrong with this picture:

1. 9PM. Solicitors are normally required to not make door-t-door calls after dark by city ordinance (if you live in the city limits.)

2. Salesman was pushy and refused to leave. Any good salesman would have moved on realizing they were not going to make a sale.

3. Returning to the neighborhood on Sunday. Due tot he fact that I have a no soliciting sign on my door means I don't do business with them at all, but especially on Sunday when my family is looking to rest.

4. Checking out your van. He was casing it and homes in the area.

5. Refusing to leave your property and advancing. Not a very smart move on his part.

6. Arrested on outstanding warrants. I think I would see if your wife remembers who he was supposedly selling for and contact them about sending a person with a criminal history to check out your house for a security system. Sounds like a great case for a lawsuit against the company to me!!!

IMO you done good.

[RPB]

Home invasion ppl/burglars sometimes pose as utility ppl or security alarm ppl, sometimes as Police, a "trustworty" type.. to get a door open... even saw a case of a little girl scout cookie sales type, or single female whose car broke/with men out of sight.

[RockingRook]

Great post, thanks!! When he said "No!!" I really do not know what I would have done. I do not really know till I am put in a
similar situation.

I would have probably drawn my gun, kept it out of sight and told him again, "Stop!!" Then I would have displayed and
if he continued coming I would have shot him.

Don't really know till it happens. Hope it never does!! There are a lot of crazies out there and with the economy as it is
it will get only worse.

Chuck