This was 10 or 11 at night... no one delivering a package, I promise. I'm not prone to panicking or grabbing guns - really. (Except when the turkey buzzards are hanging around my chicken yard. Then all bets are off).

It just struck me... the time I mentioned in that story and the one I referred to about the turkey buzzards which happened a month or two ago, are the only two times in 29 years I've "grabbed" a gun other than going out to target practice. Surely that isn't too "looney tunes" by almost any standard.

She is not prone to it either, which is why I thought of it. She is seriously the most logical think it through type of person I know. Something about the whole thing just really really scared her.

Better that she was embarrassed than regretful. Honestly, I also felt kinda' silly after everyone went back to work...you can't help but ask yourself if someone was really outside or not. Doug assured me the cops would much rather be called and not needed than needed and not called, so I hung on to that!

I'm again going to point out that the reason that I come out ahead in these situations is that I practice and seek professional level training with firearms.

Even with the multiple combat tours that I've had, the training that I've received at an upper-level firearm academy can't be beat - it will give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage a threat when you need to and come out on top.

I will once again suggest that anyone that is able should seek out training at one of these schools ( all of which I've attended and can personally recommend ) :

http://www.frontsight.com/index.asp?
http://www.gunsite.com/main/
http://www.icetraining.us/
http://www.thunderranchinc.com/

The information that you'll learn at any of these fine courses will change your life in ways that you can't even imagine.

I second gunsite!! Topnotch training there.

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

 Quote: Bob Scott

Get a can of wasp and hornet spray. It will stop a dog if you shoot it in the face and it has a longer range.
No laws against carrying it either!

Excellent advice! I knew this and forgot it. Might have to make a holder of some kind for your belt however, but it is doable!

Believe it or not, It is not just about the legality of what is carried, but the legal issue of “what if” a child gets injured from what is being used, spray back, or just that it is within reach of them.
.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

We grew up with electric fences as a part of life. The philosophy on fences was much like the philosophy on animals around here - leave it alone or deal with the consequences. Wonder of wonders, it worked!

Hear hear!

I think we grew up when common sense still existed. Electric fences are no big deal.

 Quote: barbara schuler

This was 10 or 11 at night... no one delivering a package , I promise. I'm not prone to panicking or grabbing guns - really. (Except when the turkey buzzards are hanging around my chicken yard. Then all bets are off).

It just struck me... the time I mentioned in that story and the one I referred to about the turkey buzzards which happened a month or two ago, are the only two times in 29 years I've "grabbed" a gun other than going out to target practice. Surely that isn't too "looney tunes" by almost any standard.

Maybe "opossum"???????

"opossum?"

I'll never know what it was and it doesn't matter. It could have been an animal (although that GSD had never before growled at anything like she did that night) or it could have been the guy on a bike who "kinda" followed me the day before while I walked Adam in his stroller... I'll never know.

My reason for posting that story was to stress that even with a proactive, reactive police department, things can happen very quickly and that personally, I am not comfortable leaving my safety and that of my family soley in the hands of someone else. Do I depend on and trust the police? Absolutely. Do I leave the security of my home and family completely in their hands? Absolutely not.

We aren't "gun freaks". I don't whip one out every time one of the dog growls, trust me. However, if anyone ever attempts to enter my home without permission and with ill-will in mind, I'll call 911 and arm myself, then hope like hell the cops get there before anything else happens. jmho.

My husband would strongly second Will's recommendation of Front Sight Institution.

 Quote: barbara schuler

"opossum?"

I'll never know what it was and it doesn't matter. It could have been an animal (although that GSD had never before growled at anything like she did that night) or it could have been the guy on a bike who "kinda" followed me the day before while I walked Adam in his stroller... I'll never know.

In situations like that I sure trust my dog's intuition. Living in the country, Missy has learned to just ignore many things. Critters, coon hunters, they're part of life. But if I'm at my grandma's place and my uncle comes in from a meeting after I've already gone to bed? she's on the alert with her growls and barks until I tell her it's okay. She know what is normal and what is not.