Gun & Intruder in Moto Grappa Today (GC)

[Bill Hagan]

I figure this post might get more views than my understandably ignored ride reports, etc.   

So, there I wuz …

Late afternoon on a pleasant day in Cross Junction.

I was pampering the Norge for the ride to Swanzey next week.  Aside from cleaning it up after my (pretty darn wet) 1500-mile mudder  to Atlanta, mutton run to Kentucky, and back, I wanted to ensure all fasteners, etc., were secure,.  Riding with some HonKawYamsters, and can’t be having any “Guzzi character moments.”   

So, I had the CD rocking and rolling to non-rock & roll.  Actually, if you care, to this sort of thing, http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/9281/, and the like.  Yeah, I know.  My German roots. 

Anyway, as some of you know who have been here, we live 10 miles out in the country.  Our house is about 150 yards off the main road, and the detached garage is similarly situated about 100 yards from the main house.

Kathi was/is grandbabysitting in what the geographically challenged call “Northern Virginia.”  I was alone on the shop side of the 30 x 50 outbuilding on the Moto Grappa (shop) side.

I was engrossed in torquing something down when I happened to look up and saw a man through the closed dutch doors in the storage side of the garage.  He was looking around, saw me, and jumped a bit.  I went into “red mist” instantly, yelled at him to freeze, and grabbed my Beretta I have when I’m alone down there. 

I had to chase an intruder out of our Atlanta home with a kitchen knife once, and since then I have preferred a pistol for such chores!

But this guy froze.  Good choice.

I did not brandish the weapon or point it at him at any time, but he saw immediately I was armed, which tends to get a thinking person's attention.

Well, to cut to the chase, so to speak, he was, unlike the usual Atlanta BS artist with which I have considerable experience, not looking for money with some fake sob story, but really had run out of gas near our gate, and had come into the open garage door to ask if we might have some gas. 

He had come in, and yelled out “Anybody here?” but my kraut marches apparently drowned that out, tho I must have heard something to make me look up and see him before he even saw me.

The guy said he lives up the road a few miles, understood my gun, would have done the same thing, and was grateful I let him a few gallons of gas.  He offered to pay but I said just return the can.  He did, btw, which demos yet another difference with my experiences in downtown Atlanta.

Oh, some Paul Harvey: he did return the gas can.  And, he’s a small contractor.  He’s coming back soon to do some tile and grout work at the house.

Just another day in (Iron) Cross Junction.

Bill

[normzone]

Good responses on both your parts.

I always take those moments as good opportunities for drills. Run them like they were real, regardless.

[Spuddy]

"All's well..."

Spud

[trippah]

Fortunately most of us get in more rides than home defense drills I suspect, which may explain the variance in views: but did you really chose the location because of the (iron) Cross name and can you petition the Commonwealth to officially change the name?  Just curious.  And the German roots married to the polish beauty; its like kumbayah day at the UN.    Glad all turned out well.

[Fangit]

You guys carry a gun while pottering around the house??? Things are that bad? Dam that sounds pretty sad really.

[atavar]

You guys carry a gun while pottering around the house??? Things are that bad? Dam that sounds pretty sad really.

It is pretty sad and yes. I also carry a gun on my premises and have one handy while sleeping.  Better to have one and not need it than the other way around.  Every city in this country has stories of home invasions and robberies.  Being trained and armed is no more than being a responsible citizen.

[John Ulrich]

It is pretty sad and yes. I also carry a gun on my premises and have one handy while sleeping. 

Now I know what your dog is sitting on!

[not-fishing]

You guys carry a gun while pottering around the house??? Things are that bad? Dam that sounds pretty sad really.

City folk will never understand country life.
Suburban folk will never understand life in the 'Hood on the wrong side of the tracks.

Frankly I'm surprised you didn't have a hound Catahoula or Plott announce his arrival.  Heck even my spaniels would have barked --- then licked

So how many Guzzi's fit in the "garage"?   guzzi content

[Vasco DG]

While I have to say I don't understand the whole firearms thing at least Bill is trained, sensible and conscientious. I don't think there would be likely to be any "Hey Bubba! Hold mah beer and watch this!" Episodes at Cross Junction.

Oh. I've been in the Moto Grappa. Room for many motorbikes! :D

Pete

[frans belgium]

Et tu, Brute? 

[guzzimike]

Bill..  A Beretta..?


Your Peninsular-Bias is doing you a disservice, IMHO.

Shoulda gone for a BHP.

Or, more attuned to your Vandal ancestry, perhaps a Walther PPQ or a G19..?



-

[twodogs]

Always carry, like the old saying, why do you need so much HP don't really but it is nice to have when you need it

[Rough Edge racing]

 Damn, stuff can happen. Although I don't carry a firearm I respect the rights of others who feel the need. If you rely on the police to protect you are in danger.....I live in a somewhat rural area, our house is 350 feet from the road and concealed. We only lock the doors at night or when gone most of the day...A loaded shotgun is next to our bed upstairs. Or there's the Barnett Commando crossbow.....And various blunt instruments scattered around.
 

[Cam3512]

You're gonna need that pistol when I come down to steal your entire garage.  Still working on finding a BIG trailer.

Seriously, keep the music down so you can hear someone approach.  Your Spidey Senses worked this time....

Cam

[Lannis]

You guys carry a gun while pottering around the house??? Things are that bad? Dam that sounds pretty sad really.

You carry fire insurance on the place you live?   You're THAT afraid of fire?   Dam that DOES sound pretty sad when you put it that way .....

[nick949]

My mate Doug was having trouble with his bike. Isolated area. Walked to first house. No gun in face. Just help.  No paranoia. 

Change the culture - quickly!

Nick

[Lannis]

My mate Doug was having trouble with his bike. Isolated area. Walked to first house. No gun in face. Just help.  No paranoia. 

Change the culture - quickly!

Nick

That's why we can almost never have  a reasonable discussion on the subject.

1) "Gun in face".   Bill said exactly what he did, and he did NOT put a gun in the guy's face.   You're exaggerating for a reason.

2) "Paranoia" - A mental disease that makes people afraid of fantasies.   Bill already said that he's been assaulted once.   It's not paranoia.

3) "Change your culture" - Now that you've exaggerated the problem, "you" need to be like "me" even though your circumstances are completely different.

Next up - Evolution questions asked by "fanatical Bible-thumping medieval ignoramuses".

Lannis

[rocker59]

That's why we can almost never have  a reasonable discussion on the subject.

1) "Gun in face".   Bill said exactly what he did, and he did NOT put a gun in the guy's face.   You're exaggerating for a reason.

2) "Paranoia" - A mental disease that makes people afraid of fantasies.   Bill already said that he's been assaulted once.   It's not paranoia.

3) "Change your culture" - Now that you've exaggerated the problem, "you" need to be like "me" even though your circumstances are completely different.

 :1:

Why is it always the Cannuks? 

If I had a nickel for every time a Canadian jumped into the middle of an American thread that included the dreaded three-letter-word, preaching their holier-than-thou BS, I'd be retired from this moderator job, living larger than Luap...

[Stormtruck2]

Bill, I'm surprised you were carrying a Berreta.  I had you figured as a Sig-Sauer man, a P220 in fact. I don't  have to tell you how I feel about carrying a weapon.    No recriminations re situational awareness.  Just glad it was a drill and not "real life".  Sorry we can't make National, but life has a way of interfering with living. Have a great time. Give Kathi a hug from Lorraine and me.

[Stormtruck2]

Well , I see my attempt at distraction has failed . Damn fellas , come on , let's talk about ... oh I know , China . (Tongue in cheek here guys , tongue in cheek)

  Dusty

China? I HATE China. Everytime I break a piece of Lorraines  China I  get in trouble and cut off,  for a long long , did I  mention a long time.   

[nick949]

China? I HATE China. Everytime I break a piece of Lorraines  China I  get in trouble and cut off,  for a long long , did I  mention a long time.   

But it's good for target practice. Damn, there I go again, shooting from the hip. 

Changing the subject again -even with some Guzzi content -I saw a bear during my 100 mile commute on the Breva this morning.  Darn thing got away before I could draw my camera.  And yes, I was deliberately tweaking Lannis. A fellas got to have a bit of fun.

Nick

[Stormtruck2]

FULL DISCLOSURE :  Lorraine doesn't have to look for an excuse. I'm pretty adroit at handing them to her. 

[LaMojo]

You probably made a friend for life.  We have 3 yard dogs that will sound the alarm if someone drives up in a vehicle that they don't know. None are vicious and just want to be petted.  But if you don.t know that.........

[Lannis]

  And yes, I was deliberately tweaking Lannis. A fellas got to have a bit of fun.

Nick

"Tweaking Lannis" on that kind of issue is like trying to out-wrestle a pig in the mud.   You get muddy, no progress is made, and after a while you realize that the pig really likes it!

Lannis

[Bill Hagan]

OK, I suppose I should have known that � despite the relevant Guzzi content � this would deteriorate.  Sigh.

That said, as (like the Dow  ) it seems to have added up again, I�ll add this, then maybe lock or delete the thing or sure understand if it disappears.

First, perhaps if any of you had � only about five years ago � turned around in your kitchen one evening to say something to your wife, and see a man come up behind her (and I mean against her ), well, you might feel differently about the risks of reality.  I grabbed a knife and ran him out of the house.  A very disturbing event. Granted, in edgy urban downtown Atlanta, but it happened.  I won't forget. 

Second, as I sit in our dining room on this exceedingly pleasant morning in June, pecking this out (and working on routing to Swanzey), I have the front door wide open, and my small (Italian and American) arsenal (.40 cal. 9000 and 12-gauge Remington) located appropriately elsewhere in the house. 

In other words, I don�t pack 24-7. I can hear and see if anyone is coming up the gravel driveway, so I do not feel constantly threatened or in fear.  [In fact, Mr. Brown just delivered a big air bed for our overflow Swanzey-bound company]. 

I am mindful, however, that, while this is rural Virginia, I do not live in utopia.  And, if LEO�s don�t know where those two escaped N.Y. murderers are � http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/10/us/new-york-prison-break/index.html � they might be near us � or you.

Bear in mind, too, that the man yesterday was not merely �on my property� or even at the front door seeking assistance by knocking on the door.

He was not only within the curtilage, but inside my garage.  [That place holds three Guzzis just now, but will have five more motorcycles in there next Tuesday night.   

See these pix.  I was on the other side of those double doors












OK, back to topo maps and planning that great ride next week.

Bill

P.S.  If it weren't for our monthly trips to Atlanta on Mom's eldercare "duty roster," a dog would be a great idea.  I see one in our future, but in the meantime, the guns cost less.   


[Edited to ask what all those little diamonds are?  I thought it was a Safari thing with the new board, so used firefox for this, but still there. 

[rodekyll]

Would it have been different if he'd crossed the red line?     

Seriously though, it turned out well for everyone.

[Nick]

P.S.  If it weren't for our monthly trips to Atlanta on Mom's eldercare "duty roster," a dog would be a great idea.  I see one in our future, but in the meantime, the guns cost less.   

[rboe]

Glad you didn't shoot him. Good contractors are hard to come and don't need herd thinning.

[rodekyll]

We don't know if he's any good at contracting, and Bill's option is still open.   

[jackson]

Good to hear that the guy was legit but even better to hear that you were ready if he wasn't.  My wife and I are both CWP holders and wouldn't leave home without packing.  When I'm working in my workshop at the rear of our property, I always carry.  Every day, the news sites & local paper have stories re. someone being robbed (or worse) during home invasions, at grocery stores, mall parking lots, etc.  Glad to hear that you had the good sense to be prepared rather than becoming a potential victim.