Crazy Night!

[Amonix]

So... 0202 on Saturday I had someone banging hard on one of the front doors to my house. Scared the crap out of me because I was in the middle of studying. I grab the phone call 911 and report that someone is banging on the door and that they have jumped my fence to get into the yard due to both the gates being locked (one driveway and one walkway). I notify the dispatcher that I am armed and I am a CHL. The dispatcher tells me I need to go put my gun away. I replied with "Why would I do that? If they break into the house I may need to protect myself." I was then told that I needed to tell her the color of my gun and that I should go put it away. I simply said ok.

Now what is going through my head is a few things. The first of which is my mom has been given death threats that they of course have said they would harm her family. I also have a family member that is upset about the way the estate (my Grandmothers house) is being handled and has made threats to burn the house down. So I am already on edge. 45 minutes later PD shows up. Because the gate is locked they call and have me meet them outside. I go out and I am asked for my ID. Being that I am carrying my weapon (plus what I would want someone to do for my mom) I explain I am armed. He said that dispatch already told him that and just asked where it was. I explain it was on my right back side.

They searched the back yard for me said that this has been common they are trying to see if people will wake up and open the door and try to get into the house. I explained that no one I know ever comes to my house at 2 in the morning and if they did they will call me before. Not even my best friend does that. Overall they were very friendly and very nice. What a night....

[jmra]

I would be tempted to request of copy of the 911 call. If it is how you remember it (not always the case in high pressure situations at 2am), I would file a complaint against the operator who handled the call. Telling someone to disarm themselves in that situation may be considered by some less knowledgeable citizens to be a lawful order and following that instruction may well get them killed.

[Jumping Frog]

Glad you are alright. Good to be cautious.

[OldCannon]

The dispatcher tells me I need to go put my gun away.

Tell them you will do nothing of the sort. A dispatcher can't give you an official police order.

[rbwhatever1]

I agree with jmra. This one needs to be pushed to the top. If 911 dispatchers are being trained to "automatically disarm" Law Abiding Citizens they need to be retrained to "arm them". This is preposterous.

[WildBill]

The dispatcher tells me I need to go put my gun away.

Tell them you will do nothing of the sort. A dispatcher can't give you an official police order.

Tell them you will put the gun away after the police arrive and secure the scene.

[Excaliber]

I would be tempted to request of copy of the 911 call. If it is how you remember it (not always the case in high pressure situations at 2am), I would file a complaint against the operator who handled the call. Telling someone to disarm themselves in that situation may be considered by some less knowledgeable citizens to be a lawful order and following that instruction may well get them killed.

I agree.

I doubt the instruction the OP was given was in accordance with department policy, and retraining on how to handle such incidents is in order.

[JALLEN]

It sounds like the 911 call was forwarded to some socialist hellhole like California.

Remember Joe Horn!

I'd bring that conversation to the attention of the Sheriff or similar.

[johncanfield]

...45 minutes later PD shows up. ......

Which is a great reason to hang on to the gun since your defense is up to you in that situation.

[Abraham]

You may save someone's life if you take the time to call the Chief of Police or the Mayor or whoever is responsible for the 911 operators and get those operators trained properly.

Telling a potential victim to disarm is not only illogical, it could be life ending...

Please do it today.

P.S. I'm very happy for you that you're not a victim and refused the operators dopey instructions regarding your pistol.

[Blindref757]

Complete Bunk!!! I would definitely start at the very top of this police organization. Since no crime was committed, working up through the chain will likely fall on some desk of a person who has too much to do and too little time, and end up in the trash. This is a ball of poop that needs to roll downhill.

[jmorris]

You don't have your location in your profile, would you mind giving the city or county where this occurred?

[WildBill]

I think you all are expecting too much from a dispatcher.
They are trained in communication.
In Houston they made $9-13/hour.

Here is a copy of a sample test and study guide for 911 Dispatchers:
http://quizlet.com/12536368/911-public- ... ash-cards/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://mesaaz.gov/jobs/PDF/JobAnnouncem ... 202011.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://911operatorsalary.com/TX/Houston ... her-Salary" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Texsquatch]

So much can happen in 45 minutes. What a shame. Glad that was about as exciting as it got and no harm was done.

[Abraham]

WildBill,

I hear ya, so why I wonder did the dispatcher give out such very bad advice regarding self defense with a gun?

Lib mindset?