What a way to end the day

R

ronl

New member
The other day I was coming home from work and I had a tire blow out on my truck. Just my luck that I had taken the spare tire out because I was hauling so many tools. I pull into this driveway into a space out of the way. I am one of the last people on earth who do not have a cell phone, so I figure I'll walk up to the house and ask to use a phone to get some help. No one home. It is around 5:30, so I figure someone will be getting home soon and I can ask if it is okay to leave my truck where it was parked. I wait around for twenty minutes or so and still no one. I decide to walk over to the house next door. I ring the door bell, hear people shuffling around but about 30sec later still no response. I ring the door bell again, wait about 10 sec and decided to walk away when the door opens. Guy steps out with his hand behind his back, immediately I'm thinking gun, but that's okay with me because all I want to do is use the phone. He dials the number for me and hands me the phone and I look through the open door to see the man's wife pointing a loaded revolver at me. I finish the call, hand the phone back and the man produces a pistol, holding it across his midsection. He tells me he has a concealed carry permit, as does his wife. Woman still has the revolver pointed at me. I thank the man and walk away thinking just how stupid some people are. They broke at least two laws standing there. They were both guilty of brandishing a weapon and the woman committed criminal assault with a deadly weapon. Class B felony in my state. Serious stuff there. It made me realize how little "training" these people really had. I understand the desire to protect oneself, but these people were absolutely clueless in regards to the law. I am a state licensed private security specialist, and we spent a great deal of time in my classes discussing the laws concerning firearms. Every class required to obtain a carry permit should stress the law concerning use of a weapon, and safety, but it's quite obvious that some don't. At least the woman didn't lose her balance, discharge the gun and wound me. It was an interesting way to end my day.
 
I'm sorry, I can't get over the fact that you don't have a cell phone. I only know a single adult who doesn't have a cell phone, and that's my grandfather who is 90 years old; and the only reason he never got one is because my grandmother has one and they're always together.

How do you stay competitive in your line of work if you can't make phone calls outside your home or office? It's not like there are phone booths on every street corner anymore. Heck, as far as I know there aren't any phone booths anywhere these days.

That couple was way out of line and obviously broke the law, but I don't blame them for thinking you were up to no good. If anyone between the age of 15 and 80 came to my door and told me they didn't own a cell phone, I'd think they were lying.
 
ronl said:
The other day I was coming home from work and I had a tire blow out on my truck. Just my luck that I had taken the spare tire out because I was hauling so many tools. I pull into this driveway into a space out of the way. I am one of the last people on earth who do not have a cell phone, so I figure I'll walk up to the house and ask to use a phone to get some help. No one home. It is around 5:30, so I figure someone will be getting home soon and I can ask if it is okay to leave my truck where it was parked. I wait around for twenty minutes or so and still no one. I decide to walk over to the house next door. I ring the door bell, hear people shuffling around but about 30sec later still no response. I ring the door bell again, wait about 10 sec and decided to walk away when the door opens. Guy steps out with his hand behind his back, immediately I'm thinking gun, but that's okay with me because all I want to do is use the phone. He dials the number for me and hands me the phone and I look through the open door to see the man's wife pointing a loaded revolver at me. I finish the call, hand the phone back and the man produces a pistol, holding it across his midsection. He tells me he has a concealed carry permit, as does his wife. Woman still has the revolver pointed at me. I thank the man and walk away thinking just how stupid some people are. They broke at least two laws standing there. They were both guilty of brandishing a weapon and the woman committed criminal assault with a deadly weapon. Class B felony in my state. Serious stuff there. It made me realize how little "training" these people really had. I understand the desire to protect oneself, but these people were absolutely clueless in regards to the law. I am a state licensed private security specialist, and we spent a great deal of time in my classes discussing the laws concerning firearms. Every class required to obtain a carry permit should stress the law concerning use of a weapon, and safety, but it's quite obvious that some don't. At least the woman didn't lose her balance, discharge the gun and wound me. It was an interesting way to end my day.
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In 2015 'nobody' walks up to a house with a "can I use your phone" story ;)

You don't know who's going to answer the door, best bet is to get a cheap flip phone.
 
Sounds like they watched Massad Ayoob's video:

"Don't answer the door!!!"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD3zIA6vJkQ

He makes the point that asking to use the phone is the oldest trick in the book and that home owners should offer to call the Police who will gladly offer assistance and probably a good tazing.
 
I wouldn't have a cell phone if my wife hadn't got one for me. I was perfectly happy to be without one. I have a work cell phone now, but it sees little use.
 
Andy Blozinski said:
I wouldn't have a cell phone if my wife hadn't got one for me. I was perfectly happy to be without one. I have a work cell phone now, but it sees little use.
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I was perfectly happy without one also...until I got one...now I don't know how I ever got along without it.
 
I thank the man and walk away thinking just how stupid some people are.
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Like the guy that travels without a spare tire and/or a cell phone? Maybe those folks were stupid for even opening the door and letting you use their phone?
 
I don't have a cell phone. I have a tablet with a broadband connection which, for me, is far more useful.

A cell phone for me would be a waste of money as I don't make that many phone calls, and get very few calls on my landline phone - like 2-3 per week.

I do, however, always have fully inflated spare tires on both of my trucks...
 
I thank the man and walk away thinking just how stupid some people are. They broke at least two laws standing there. They were both guilty of brandishing a weapon and the woman committed criminal assault with a deadly weapon. Class B felony in my state.
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They were both inside their own house without knowing who was outside their door, maybe your state needs a Castle doctrine if people can't arm themselves if they feel threatened.
 
Hoghunting,
Please forgive me if I misunderstand your state laws, but I don't think you can point a gun at someone you open your door to, until they become a threat.

Folks, ccw permits and castle doctrine allow us to protect ourselves. Sounds like some of you need to get in the other line for murder permits:eek:.
 
They broke at least two laws standing there. They were both guilty of brandishing a weapon and the woman committed criminal assault with a deadly weapon. Class B felony in my state.
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Are you sure? What state? You were an uninvited intruder on their property. That in itself can be considered threatening.
 
We typically look out & see who is ringing the doorbell before we open-IF we open. 9 times out of 10 we don't answer. Why? Because it is our choice and if whoever was ringing had anything of importance to tell us, they would have called. I view anyone ringing the door as a "no good-nik".
 
I used to have a cell phone, but it took up too much of my time. In addition to doing private security work, I run a small construction business, and it keeps me pretty busy. I am not the typical contractor driving around in the fancy truck that spends most of his day riding around and talking on the phone. I am the hands on type and I'm in the trenches pounding nails every day. My customers expect me to do a good job and accomplish it in good time, and I found I could not do that with a cell phone, spending up to and sometimes exceeding an hour a day talking about things not concerning the job I am on. I ended up turning the phone off during the work day and checking messages when the day was through. Then the light went on and I asked myself what am I doing spending money for something I do not use, so I tossed it. People pay me to work, not run my mouth. And if I'm actually working, I make more money. If I'm working out of town I'll get a cheap phone and carry it with me, but that's about it. It still gets turned off during work hours. Funny thing is when I had a cell phone I had a breakdown and the phone was of no use whatsoever; didn't have any reception. Go figure. As far as I know there is not one state in the union that allows you to point a firearm at anyone without imminent threat. Just standing there unarmed outside the door does not meet the criteria for imminent threat, even in your own home. Here in Va. it is a class B felony to point a gun at anyone, without serious imminent threat. It will usually get you some time behind the gates and a pretty healthy fine, as well as losing your right to own guns. As to not having a spare, two friends and I were coming home from a day of fishing about a month ago when we came across three young girls with a flat tire. We stopped, got them moved off the main road, and offered to change the tire. It was a brand new car, and it didn't have a spare tire, seems that was optional. It did have a fix-a-flat kit, which didn't do any good as the sidewall was damaged. We did hang around until one of the girl's parents got there. As to the one who responded that no one ever walks up to a door and asks to use the phone, I hope you never have a flat out in the middle of nowhere that has no cell phone reception. Those words might not taste too good.
 
Anyone who would sooner point a gun at someone than talk to them needs to rethink their plan of action.

I know the elite tactical guys call that being prepared and defending your home.
 
I do not know if you could actually apply "brandishing a firearm" charge on them in/at their own home. Some places local law may not allow this.

Also, I think that, despite what you are sure you saw, there is reasonable doubt that the woman inside that you saw through the window was pointing a gun at you. Not saying she didn't, saying your word alone is not absolutely convincing.

And, for those keeping count, add 1 more to the list of adults you know who don't have a cell phone. For me, I don't have, or want one, as it is a waste of my money. I accept the "risk" and inconvenience of those rare times when I need to make a call away from home, opposed to paying a monthly fee for nothing. Even the prepaid phones expire after some amount of time, unused, which is something I consider a bit of a rip off.

so, I'm a dinosaur, by choice.
 
I saw the woman through the open door, and I can say that she did indeed have a loaded gun pointed at me. Pretty clear on that one. That being said, Va law makes no exception for being in the home when it comes to pointing a gun at someone. It is Criminal Assault with a deadly weapon. The way the law in Va works, if I had not seen her, it would not have been illegal. You cannot under Va law threaten anyone with a deadly weapon; period, without justification. I sure wasn't going to give anyone undue unease, whether they had a gun or not.
 
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