Unwelcome House Calls

by
posted on December 1, 2015
gsagi2015_fs-1.jpg

Rather than echo the sound advice to keep your carry gun on you and doors locked—even when you’re home and it’s broad daylight—I’ll let the criminals do the talking in this short list of home invasions in the last month. 

Indiana’s incident is sickening. The pastor left for the gym, but when he returned at 8:30 a.m. his 28-year-old bride—12 weeks pregnant—was unconscious on the floor. She had three bullet wounds, including one to the back of her head, execution style. To quote the ABC News headline, “Suspect stood over pastor’s pregnant wife after shooting her and watched her bleed, court documents say.”  The couple’s infant son, upstairs in a crib, was unharmed.  Despite the best efforts of doctors, she remained unresponsive and later died. Authorities arrested two who now face murder charges. A third allegedly violated parole in driving the getaway car.  An unlocked front door provided the criminals access for what began as a burglary.

I have to admit the pastor is a much bigger man than I could ever be. After the arrests, he’s still choosing “love over hate.”  

The 81-year-old California woman beaten during this broad daylight home invasion should make a full recovery. In Illinois, one criminal ended his lunch break (if they take one) and started shooting as he broke in. Here’s another post-brunch incident in Wisconsin.

It was 5:38 p.m. in Pennsylvania, about the time you expect Dominos to deliver, but it was four or five men making a house call. And, you just never know. An Ohio neighbor killed a couple and their 7-year-old son at sometime around 5 p.m.

Obviously, criminals usually prefer the work under cover of darkness, but some of the reports emphasize the fact they don’t care who they target. Duct tape was used to tie up a 91 year old in New York while the house was ransacked. The house was torched after an elderly man was killed in Michigan and the perpetrator(s) remains at large.  

With holiday school vacations quickly approaching, here’s another ominous safety reminder from Delaware. And if you want to read something really creepy, a baby monitor’s camera photographed a New York burglar crawling around the house while the family slept through most of the incident.  

There are a lot of criminals who view this time of year as one of opportunity, and precisely why lawful citizens should get training and own/carry a gun. The unthinkable can—and does—happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone. 

Latest

M1 Carbine American Rifleman Cover 1979
M1 Carbine American Rifleman Cover 1979

All The Way With The M1 Carbine

The speed with which the M1 carbine was developed and readied for quantity production is a striking tribute to the energy and patriotism of everyone involved.

Preview: Ruger Elite 452 Trigger

A factory upgrade included on many of Ruger’s top-shelf AR-platform rifles, the Elite 452 Trigger is also available from the company aftermarket—offering a marked improvement compared to the standard mil-spec AR-15 trigger.

New For 2024: Taurus Deputy

For the first time in several years, Taurus is bringing back a centerfire, single-action revolver with the Deputy, a handgun that combines traditional aesthetics and features with modern safety features.

Preview: Reptilia Beretta 1301/A300 Saddle Mount

Reptilia’s shotgun Saddle mount bolts directly atop the receiver to provide a much-lower-profile sighting solution than is possible with a Picatinny rail.

Gun Of The Week: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Classic

Welcome to another Gun Of The Week video, and for this episode, we’ve got a bolt-action rimfire rifle from Springfield Armory: the Model 2020 Rimfire Classic.

The Armed Citizen® April 26, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.