View Full Version : What would have you done?
I was about to pull into my driveway last night when there was a teen/twenty year old talking on a cell phone and had what looked to be a stainless steal revolver that he was tucking under his arm. I let him pass the driveway and as I pull in, out from the other side of his arm is a barrel. As I pull up a little further into my driveway, I stopped and just watched for about 1/4 of a second until I could grasp the stupidity. I quickly realized that he was an idiot so I called 911. I watched him walk about a block and a half leisurely carrying the pistol chatting on his cell phone. I was on the phone with dispatch describing what I was witnessing, He was almost a block away and I moved the car a little closer to make sure I never lost sight. He stopped at a house 1.5 blocks from my driveway and looked like he was helping a friend load a truck bed when the cops got there. Was I out of line calling the cops on him, or was it justified? I never found out what was going on, but my personal belief is that he was 1. an idiot for carrying like that, 2. looked underage and maybe up to know good, or 3. just heading to his buddy's house before they went out shooting. :shrugs:
What would you have done?
BushMasterBoy
07-14-2015, 12:31
Same thing...
hurley842002
07-14-2015, 12:33
I'd have called the police, but the part where you follow him, has George Zimmerman written all over it
I'd have called the police, but the part where you follow him, has George Zimmerman written all over it
I wouldn't say I followed him. I moved my car maybe 4 houses down. the start to finish was about 1.5 blocks and when he was about a block out I moved down, he walked a few more houses and then was at his friends house.
Total Zimmerman move. If you were CCW..........
Human curiosity, same thing kills a lot of cats also.
Total Zimmerman move. If you were CCW..........
Human curiosity, same thing kills a lot of cats also.
I did NOT have my CCW. I was coming back from a softball game, and was in gym clothes and flip flops with a cell phone and a wallet.
newracer
07-14-2015, 12:49
I would have watched him from my driveway until he was out of sight. I would not have called 911.
JohnnyDrama
07-14-2015, 13:00
That's a tough call for me. How would you have felt if he had been walking down the street with the pistol in a holster? If he was some miscreant up to no good alerting the police was definitely the right thing. In the spirit of reading about too many people standing by while they could've made a difference, I'll side with the "right thing" crowd. Hopefully if he was a dumb kid needing some edumucation, the police were tactful about it and all he got off with was a warning. My brother tried a similar stunt and ended up spending a night in jail, loosing his pistol, and a felony record. The charges had to by dismissed when the evidence disappeared (it was a collectable pistol). Eventually his record was expunged. My brother wasn't up to no good, he just was being stupid.
I wouldn't have called 911 either. It sounds like he was being stupid but not that stupid so as to be a threat.
If I saw a young adult/teen at night walking around my neighborhood whom I didn't recognize, I'd be a little curious too. I wouldn't call 911, but the pistol looking object in his hand changes the dynamics of the situation. I would've done the same thing minus following him.
I would've minded my business. OC is legal.
Keep in mind he's on Texas, not sure the oc lawi thought padded is in effect yet.
In my opinion you did fine. Who knows what some kid was up to carrying a handgun under an arm walking down the street for blocks on end. That's a bonehead move and suspicious in my book. Not like he's walking across the street to show the neighbor the new purchase or whatever.
The Zimmerman wannabe in the neighborhood may have pulled on him.
You did him a favor.
Anything not in a holster is worthy of suspicion.
Great-Kazoo
07-14-2015, 14:08
In my opinion you did fine. Who knows what some kid was up to carrying a handgun under an arm walking down the street for blocks on end. That's a bonehead move and suspicious in my book. Not like he's walking across the street to show the neighbor the new purchase or whatever.
The Zimmerman wannabe in the neighborhood may have pulled on him.
You did him a favor.
Anything not in a holster is worthy of suspicion.
HEY GUYS, IT'S OPEN CARRY IN TX. MYOB.
Keep that in mind as you're loading up a few long guns , heading to or from the range.
Next thing one knows , the cops / 911 are called for what you look like or wear
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/149866-Belt-with-fake-bullets-leads-to-arrest-in-Boston
I wouldn't have called the cops without first talking to him.... I would have probably asked him what kind of pistol it was and how long he's had it, just to get a judge of his reaction, and therefore a hint at his character... but mind you, I am always armed. If he was a snide prick or acted irrationally, I would stop contact, watch him from a safe distance (like you did) and then call the cops.
HEY GUYS, IT'S OPEN CARRY IN TX. MYOB.
Doesn't matter. Things should be holstered. If he was walking from the door to the car, that'd be different, but he was walking around the neighborhood.
On the other hand, if the police showed up and shot and killed him like in other instances, perhaps you'd have a heavy conscience right now.
mackbamf
07-14-2015, 14:33
I can somewhat see it both ways. Definitely sketchy by carrying it under his arm so that would get my attention. At the same time I don't need someone calling the cops on me if they didn't approve of how I was carrying my weapon assuming I am within the law (not that I would walk around with it tucked under my arm but you know what I mean). I would have probably stayed by my house to ensure that they were not acting as a threat, once they were out of eyesight I go inside and lock my door.
I know open carry is legal but do the laws differ if you have your weapon in hand (assuming you are not pointing it or acting as a direct threat physically or verbally)?
Doesn't matter. Things should be holstered. If he was walking from the door to the car, that'd be different, but he was walking around the neighborhood.
On the other hand, if the police showed up and shot and killed him like in other instances, perhaps you'd have a heavy conscience right now.
Maybe he felt that he had a higher chance of being called in/shot if he had it in his hand.
sellersm
07-14-2015, 14:58
I think that the only time 911 should be called is if it involves a confederate flag....[Coffee]
OK, seriously, it's a tough call. We all have to make that choice in the event, not from the sidelines... Hmmmm, I'm guessing I would have just observed and secured my person and keep a good eye out.
So, umm.. are you against open carry, just a normal racist, or are you hebephobic/ephebiphobic?
Seriously, what was it that made you think he had committed a crime or was imminently about to do so?
Police contact can be for more than just committing a crime. If you see an old lady stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire, you can call the police, but it wouldn't be because you suspect her of having committed a crime.
Police contact can be for more than just committing a crime. If you see an old lady stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire, you can call the police, but it wouldn't be because you suspect her of having committed a crime.
Ahh.. So he felt that the young gentleman needed some help that OP could not provide. Makes perfect sense and I am sure that is what the OP was getting at.
Great-Kazoo
07-14-2015, 15:31
Police contact can be for more than just committing a crime. If you see an old lady stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire, you can call the police, but it wouldn't be because you suspect her of having committed a crime.
http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2012/04/14/73-year-old-grandma-arrested-for-being-towns-biggest-drug-dealer/
Police contact can be for more than just committing a crime. If you see an old lady stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire, you can call the police, but it wouldn't be because you suspect her of having committed a crime.
Pretty sure the OP didn't call the cops to assist in cleaning dude's handgun.
He got nervous and called. Same happens when some Boulderite spots your conceal carry.
Perhaps it was a shoulder holster that the guy was wearing.
I have the same stance as 00tec. If he wasn't causing trouble to you or others, why make a mountain out of a mole hill. Calling 911 in this situation simply creates more busy work for the LEO's and ultimately more taxes for us to pay so more LEO's can deal with more bullshit calls.
Most likely wouldn't have done anything as long as he wasn't scoping my property and was moving along his way. I am really only interested in protecting me, my family and my stuff. Anybody else is SOL these days.
I suppose it depends on what kind of neighborhood we all live in as well. I've heard gun shots in my neighborhood before. If I saw someone I didn't know walking down the street with an unholstered pistol, I'd call the police and feel zero shame in doing do so. I regularly run with my gun (not unholstered though, lol), and if someone spotted it and called the police, I'd understand the contact and feel confident that I'd pretty quickly be able to address the situation in a safe manner.
If I'm understanding the original situation correctly, it sounds as though the young man in question was essentially carrying his gun under his armpit, with the barrel poking out the back?
Everything is dependent upon the situation, including stuff that wasn't written in the post, but if we're armchair quarterbacking...
I would have probably parked in my driveway, and interrupted him to find out more about the way he was carrying his gun. There are ways to approach the situation that don't entail putting him on the defensive. It may have been some sort of prop, or he may have genuinely been an idiot, but a friendly, "Hey! Excuse me, can I interrupt you a second and ask you something?" with a smile usually gets results.
mackbamf
07-14-2015, 17:00
I suppose it depends on what kind of neighborhood we all live in as well. I've heard gun shots in my neighborhood before. If I saw someone I didn't know walking down the street with an unholstered pistol, I'd call the police and feel zero shame in doing do so. I regularly run with my gun (not unholstered though, lol), and if someone spotted it and called the police, I'd understand the contact and feel confident that I'd pretty quickly be able to address the situation in a safe manner.
Ha, wouldn't that be a sight, jogging while carrying a pistol in your hand. We could find the over/under and take some bets on how long it would take for someone to call the cops on that one. Lol
It doesn't help that I always run at night too.
sellersm
07-14-2015, 17:24
It doesn't help that I always run at night too.
Sounds like a good idea, no really, run at night and no one can see the firearm! [Coffee]
sellersm
07-14-2015, 17:31
Seriously, we don't always know what's about to happen. 6 punks took this homeowner's life in his own driveway:
http://universalfreepress.com/photos-video-six-new-mexico-teenagers-brutally-gun-down-man-in-his-own-driveway/#
To the OP: You are a free citizen and were present at the time. You made a decision and unless YOU believe you made a mistake, I will not second guess you. If you went home safe and no one else was injured, then I will consider it a good evening.
When armed police officers believe they are about to encounter an unknown subject, who they believe is armed, they call for backup. They may or may not wait for that backup to arrive depending on the circumstances, but they call out their location and request backup.
If a citizen calls the police to report suspicious behavior and the reporting party honestly believes the behavior is suspicious, then police response is not a waste of time, IMO.
Be safe.
Pretty sure the OP didn't call the cops to assist in cleaning dude's handgun.
He got nervous and called. Same happens when some Boulderite spots your conceal carry.
Wasn't nervous, was thinking is this kid going to go shoot someone, himself, or animal? I spot both open and CCW, when I see open carry they are at least holstered!
To the OP: You are a free citizen and were present at the time. You made a decision and unless YOU believe you made a mistake, I will not second guess you. If you went home safe and no one else was injured, then I will consider it a good evening.
When armed police officers believe they are about to encounter an unknown subject, who they believe is armed, they call for backup. They may or may not wait for that backup to arrive depending on the circumstances, but they call out their location and request backup.
If a citizen calls the police to report suspicious behavior and the reporting party honestly believes the behavior is suspicious, then police response is not a waste of time, IMO.
Be safe.
If it was holstered, or he wasn't being a jackass about it, I would NOT have called the cops. He had it tucked under his arm, as well as holding it down, passing it from hand in hand. There was not a thought of being safe with it, other than it was pointed at the ground.... or directly behind him when it was in his arm pit. There are definitely 3 sides to a story.... Mine, yours, and the truth. I don't know what he was doing, but could tell he didn't have much education with guns and thus is why I called the police. Thank you all for your thoughts.
I think I would have made the call also but probably to the non emergency line. Let them decide if they feel it deserves attention. Carrying a firearm, particularly a revolver, in that manner is potentially dangerous and IMO is worthy of intervention.
Good point. I used to have all the non-emergency police numbers stored in my phone so I could call that line for suspicious activity.
hurley842002
07-14-2015, 20:29
I think I would have made the call also but probably to the non emergency line. Let them decide if they feel it deserves attention. Carrying a firearm, particularly a revolver, in that manner is potentially dangerous and IMO is worthy of intervention.
This is the call I was talking about, not 911. Also the info you give, and the way you give it (to dispatch) will usually go along way in the way the police respond (the level headed ones anyway).
the way the police respond (the level headed ones anyway).
There are no level headed police officers. You are obviously confusing the shape of their head with that very nifty high and tight hair cut [LOL]
hurley842002
07-14-2015, 22:01
There are no level headed police officers. You are obviously confusing the shape of their head with that very nifty high and tight hair cut [LOL]
Or maybe flat top? Lol
DavieD55
07-14-2015, 23:31
I would not have called and I dont care how stupid he might have looked, if we was moving about minding his own business. That is a good way to get someone hurt/killed/screwed over by heroic police officers.
Great-Kazoo
07-14-2015, 23:36
There are no level headed police officers. You are obviously confusing the shape of their head with that very nifty high and tight hair cut [LOL]
Looks like you and Irving are watching those comedian vids more than normal.
...
If it was holstered, or he wasn't being a jackass about it, I would NOT have called the cops. He had it tucked under his arm, as well as holding it down, passing it from hand in hand. There was not a thought of being safe with it, other than it was pointed at the ground.... or directly behind him when it was in his arm pit. There are definitely 3 sides to a story.... Mine, yours, and the truth. I don't know what he was doing, but could tell he didn't have much education with guns and thus is why I called the police. Thank you all for your thoughts.
Ok, that's fair enough. I hope the LEO contact went smoothly.
68Charger
07-15-2015, 07:56
44 posts and not one reference to a mag dump, or blading at 45? you guys are slipping.
I think this is one of those things you can't really determine over the internet- you were there... I would get a read from his posture, body language, tone of voice, etc that would determine what I did. You can try to describe such things, but it's so subjective.
Hopefully he got a lesson and will learn from it, instead of taking it the wrong way.
Sure sounds like suspicious behavior to me.
I'd have called the non-emergency police line to report it.
Handy chart for this, any many other, situations:
59577
You did what you felt needed to be done... The arm chair qb's can all go back to their benches now.
Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.
OtterbatHellcat
08-04-2015, 21:13
In my opinion you did fine. Who knows what some kid was up to carrying a handgun under an arm walking down the street for blocks on end. That's a bonehead move and suspicious in my book. Not like he's walking across the street to show the neighbor the new purchase or whatever.
The Zimmerman wannabe in the neighborhood may have pulled on him.
You did him a favor.
I am down with this take on the whole deal.
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