practically the exact situation happened to me when i was younger, about 3rd grade or so. i awoke to the sound of my dog barking her *ss off and 2 male individuals talking in low tones right outside my bedroom window. needless to say, being that young, i was scared sh*tless. i peeked outside and could see 2 guys standing there wearing camoflauge coveralls carrying shotguns. looked like they were going duck hunting. well, the dog is still barking and one of the guys shouts, "Shut up b*tch!" now i'm REALLY scared so i figure it's time to get my dad. go into my parents' room and try to shake my dad awake. "Dad, there's 2 guys outside in camoflauge and they've got shotguns." my dad's response? "Yeah right. Go back to bed." don't know how he didn't hear the dog barking as her kennel was right by their room. finally get him up and he hears the voices too. grabs his Remington 870, racks a round, turns on the outside lights, and goes out to investigate. took me quite a few years to realize just how dangerous that was. we lived just on the outskirts of town, just outside the city limits. i don't think anyone called 911. went out the next day and found footprints outside my window and more leading away from the house. hope i'd handle things more tactically if i was the dad.
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security."
--Benjamin Franklin--