My Apartment complex has slowly been going downhill since I moved in a year and a half ago.
Actually, a little background about myself first, as I don't think I've ever really properly introduced myself here. I currently instruct at the USMC Basic Reconnaissance Course. I've been enlisted since very early 2001, served 5 years with 1st Reconnaissance Bn at Camp Pendleton (three Iraq tours there) then two and a half years with 3rd Recon at Camp Schwab Okinawa, now I'm back here at Pendleton instructing. I know my way around a carbine, long gun and pistol pretty well. Anyway, I live in San Clemente in a fairly low rent apartment complex to save on my BAH....
So, 11pm, my wife is asleep, I'm online buying ammo for a Ruger MKIII that I just started my CA 10 Day waiting period on. I thought I heard a very, very light knock at the door, which was confirmed by my trusty Cattle dog. I expect a few solicitors here selling coupons and carpet cleaning between 6 and 8 PM, but 11 is unheard of. I had the option of the 1911 in condition 3 in my coffee table drawer, or the 870 in condition 3 in a closet by the door. I pick up the 1911 and ask in a very calm, sweet voice "Who is it"? (you know the voice...) and hear a surprised voice answer "Johnny" . I do not know a Johnny. I rack the slide and engage the safety and answer the door with the pistol set up for a retention drill ( position 2 in a draw). The kid is already running as the door comes open, as I think he heard the slide rack. HE stops about 30 feet away and looks at me like he knows something that I don't, a big know it all grin on his face, and asks where Blake is. I know one guy named Blake, and I work with him, and he is about twice my size (I'm not small, 5'10 and 180), and he lives ten miles away, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't hang out with 15-18 year olds in my apartment complex. The kids eyes get huge as he sees that what he heard really was a slide racking as he notices what I am holding (not in any way pointing at him, still just in position 2, muzzle pointed downward).
It could have been an honest mistake, but what I see are these facts. A lot of us Marines live in this complex. There is a decent amount of crime here, but usually not by the Marines or against them. This is a holiday weekend and it is well known by the locals that we all have four days off. Typically, jarheads with 4 days off go somewhere that isn't home. This kid was not expecting a door to open.
Should I have gotten the pistol out? I feel I was justified. Did I need to go condition 1? Better 1 than three if I open the door into a threat. I did not hold the weapon on this kid, nor did I actively threaten him with it. All in all, I feel it was the right response, and I am almost certain this place was being cased out, as no one has EVER done this before, and I have been here a year and a half.
Actually, a little background about myself first, as I don't think I've ever really properly introduced myself here. I currently instruct at the USMC Basic Reconnaissance Course. I've been enlisted since very early 2001, served 5 years with 1st Reconnaissance Bn at Camp Pendleton (three Iraq tours there) then two and a half years with 3rd Recon at Camp Schwab Okinawa, now I'm back here at Pendleton instructing. I know my way around a carbine, long gun and pistol pretty well. Anyway, I live in San Clemente in a fairly low rent apartment complex to save on my BAH....
So, 11pm, my wife is asleep, I'm online buying ammo for a Ruger MKIII that I just started my CA 10 Day waiting period on. I thought I heard a very, very light knock at the door, which was confirmed by my trusty Cattle dog. I expect a few solicitors here selling coupons and carpet cleaning between 6 and 8 PM, but 11 is unheard of. I had the option of the 1911 in condition 3 in my coffee table drawer, or the 870 in condition 3 in a closet by the door. I pick up the 1911 and ask in a very calm, sweet voice "Who is it"? (you know the voice...) and hear a surprised voice answer "Johnny" . I do not know a Johnny. I rack the slide and engage the safety and answer the door with the pistol set up for a retention drill ( position 2 in a draw). The kid is already running as the door comes open, as I think he heard the slide rack. HE stops about 30 feet away and looks at me like he knows something that I don't, a big know it all grin on his face, and asks where Blake is. I know one guy named Blake, and I work with him, and he is about twice my size (I'm not small, 5'10 and 180), and he lives ten miles away, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't hang out with 15-18 year olds in my apartment complex. The kids eyes get huge as he sees that what he heard really was a slide racking as he notices what I am holding (not in any way pointing at him, still just in position 2, muzzle pointed downward).
It could have been an honest mistake, but what I see are these facts. A lot of us Marines live in this complex. There is a decent amount of crime here, but usually not by the Marines or against them. This is a holiday weekend and it is well known by the locals that we all have four days off. Typically, jarheads with 4 days off go somewhere that isn't home. This kid was not expecting a door to open.
Should I have gotten the pistol out? I feel I was justified. Did I need to go condition 1? Better 1 than three if I open the door into a threat. I did not hold the weapon on this kid, nor did I actively threaten him with it. All in all, I feel it was the right response, and I am almost certain this place was being cased out, as no one has EVER done this before, and I have been here a year and a half.