Crisis Averted
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:37 am
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to relate an interesting “incident� that happened to me two nights ago. I have gone over this a few times in my head and have discussed this with some close friends and family and have pretty much had time to dispel any notions that the following incidents were anything ordinary. I would also like to set this up by letting you know that I live in a nice neighbourhood in the Galleria area in Houston.
On Tuesday night (around 11pm) I had to deposit some money in a bank account. I went to one bank to make a withdraw, then went by a Bank of America branch near my house to deposit some money in the ATM. I always pull very close to the ATM and am constantly vigilant of my surroundings. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
On my way home (no more than a 2 minute drive), I noticed a car behind me that had one dim headlight. Having at one time in my life been a car salesman, I immediately recognized that it was a Lexus.
Keeping that in the back of my mind, I went down the road that leads to my horseshoe/U-shaped street. I took a left on my street and when I got half way down to my house (right in the corner of the “U�), I noticed that the Lexus had also turned down my street. Knowing fully that none of my neighbours has a Lexus, I decided to sit in my car and wait for them to pass. I untucked my shirt and moved it behind the grip of my handgun. I also did a quick check of my pockets to make sure my back-up magazine and cell were exactly where I thought they were.
The car passed me slowly and went around the U. I got out of my car and walked into my yard, when I then heard a car coming towards me. The same car was coming back around towards my house (they doubled-back), but this time with the headlights off. Knowing that this was not at all normal, I decided to move to a covered spot behind another car (Bronco) in my driveway. I immediately made sure that my background (in case I had to shoot) was as “safe� as it could be.
I kept a close eye on the approaching vehicle and stood so that my face was visible, but my body was covered. I wanted them to know that I was present and aware of what they were doing. I placed my hand the grip of my Steyr and peered down the street. Being a teacher, I have over the years mastered a stare that generally lets people know “I mean business.�
Whilst slowly approaching me, they all of a sudden sped up and went down the street, keeping their headlights off the whole way. I stepped out to see if I could get a license plate number to report to the police, but since their lights were off, I couldn’t read the plates.
I sort of shrugged it off as strange, went inside, and went to sleep. When I woke-up Wednesday morning, I realized that what had happened was not at all strange, but was likely someone followed me home from the bank and was looking to rob me. I tried to go over in my head how this could have been me “overreacting�, but an unknown vehicle doubling back and approaching me with its lights off at 11:30 at night is hardly normal.
The important thing is that at no point during this incident did I think I was overreacting. I immediately went into my “zone� and took what necessary steps I thought needed to be taken. I knew that if the car were to stop, I would draw my weapon; if a person were to step out menacingly, I would aim; and if I felt threatened, I would shoot. These all seemed like logical progression and I was not distracted by adrenaline.
Luckily, it didn’t come to drawing or shooting, so I cannot know for sure how I would have handled those situations. Nevertheless, I was happy I handled the situation the way I did, and I was even happier to learn that I am very alert, aware, and prepared for such a situation. It has only served to reaffirm why I carry a weapon with me daily.
How would you have handled the situation?
Stay safe…
SteyrM40
I just wanted to relate an interesting “incident� that happened to me two nights ago. I have gone over this a few times in my head and have discussed this with some close friends and family and have pretty much had time to dispel any notions that the following incidents were anything ordinary. I would also like to set this up by letting you know that I live in a nice neighbourhood in the Galleria area in Houston.
On Tuesday night (around 11pm) I had to deposit some money in a bank account. I went to one bank to make a withdraw, then went by a Bank of America branch near my house to deposit some money in the ATM. I always pull very close to the ATM and am constantly vigilant of my surroundings. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
On my way home (no more than a 2 minute drive), I noticed a car behind me that had one dim headlight. Having at one time in my life been a car salesman, I immediately recognized that it was a Lexus.
Keeping that in the back of my mind, I went down the road that leads to my horseshoe/U-shaped street. I took a left on my street and when I got half way down to my house (right in the corner of the “U�), I noticed that the Lexus had also turned down my street. Knowing fully that none of my neighbours has a Lexus, I decided to sit in my car and wait for them to pass. I untucked my shirt and moved it behind the grip of my handgun. I also did a quick check of my pockets to make sure my back-up magazine and cell were exactly where I thought they were.
The car passed me slowly and went around the U. I got out of my car and walked into my yard, when I then heard a car coming towards me. The same car was coming back around towards my house (they doubled-back), but this time with the headlights off. Knowing that this was not at all normal, I decided to move to a covered spot behind another car (Bronco) in my driveway. I immediately made sure that my background (in case I had to shoot) was as “safe� as it could be.
I kept a close eye on the approaching vehicle and stood so that my face was visible, but my body was covered. I wanted them to know that I was present and aware of what they were doing. I placed my hand the grip of my Steyr and peered down the street. Being a teacher, I have over the years mastered a stare that generally lets people know “I mean business.�
Whilst slowly approaching me, they all of a sudden sped up and went down the street, keeping their headlights off the whole way. I stepped out to see if I could get a license plate number to report to the police, but since their lights were off, I couldn’t read the plates.
I sort of shrugged it off as strange, went inside, and went to sleep. When I woke-up Wednesday morning, I realized that what had happened was not at all strange, but was likely someone followed me home from the bank and was looking to rob me. I tried to go over in my head how this could have been me “overreacting�, but an unknown vehicle doubling back and approaching me with its lights off at 11:30 at night is hardly normal.
The important thing is that at no point during this incident did I think I was overreacting. I immediately went into my “zone� and took what necessary steps I thought needed to be taken. I knew that if the car were to stop, I would draw my weapon; if a person were to step out menacingly, I would aim; and if I felt threatened, I would shoot. These all seemed like logical progression and I was not distracted by adrenaline.
Luckily, it didn’t come to drawing or shooting, so I cannot know for sure how I would have handled those situations. Nevertheless, I was happy I handled the situation the way I did, and I was even happier to learn that I am very alert, aware, and prepared for such a situation. It has only served to reaffirm why I carry a weapon with me daily.
How would you have handled the situation?
Stay safe…
SteyrM40