Lessons Learned From A Near-Fatal Criminal Attack

by
posted on May 20, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gsagi2015_fs.jpg (3)

A criminal shot a gorgeous young gal scheduled to marry into my family when she arrived home just before noon. Thankfully, her injury isn’t life threatening. She’s expected to make a full recovery, and hopefully it won’t delay this year’s wedding. However, there are some scary lessons in this incident.

When she arrived home, the open garage door didn’t raise any red flags. She proceeded into the house, discovered “loot” staged for a quick escape, saw furniture out of place and before she could exit a bad guy confronted and shot her. Obviously, there’s a lot more to the story, but my lack of detail is to ensure the integrity of the investigation underway. If my experience with the justice system is any indication, I might be able to fill in the missing pieces 18 months from now-if there’s no appeal.

How did the criminal know the home would be empty? He works, so that’s a given. She’s a stay-at-home mom, with a toddler (who thankfully escaped injury) who keeps her busy.

Lesson One: Social media status updates are good at giving away your movements. The perp is still at large, so this is nothing more than family conjecture at this point. However, I know I’ve been guilty of telegraphing house vacancy in the past. No more. Does your profile list city and date of birth-the first security questions a bank asks? Can you say identify theft?

Lesson Two: There’s genius in routine. If that garage door is religiously closed every morning and night, it telegraphs something is amiss, immediately.

Lesson Three: Those things moved by the criminal for theft will probably be held as evidence that you might see back in 18 months-if there’s no appeal. That includes the firearms owned by law-abiding victims with a fresh concern for their family’s safety, even if the perp is still on the loose.

Lesson Four: If you know someone who takes and passes the concealed carry course, but is “too busy” to process the paperwork at local law enforcement, tell them this nightmare. She passed the course. He did too, but neither of them went downtown to finish the paperwork. Things might have been different had she been carrying. His gun with him at work wouldn’t have helped that morning, but at least they’d have a something with which to defend themselves if the criminal returns-whenever she gets out of the hospital.

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.