Opening the Door

posted on April 2, 2013
rackley2015_fs.jpg

In what authorities are calling a clear-cut case of "self-defense,” a retired Washington D.C. police officer shot and killed an intruder in the early morning hours of March 31.

According to the news reports, a Calvert County, Maryland resident heard loud bangs on his door, retrieved a handgun and opened the door to find two men standing there holding weapons. When the door opened, the men made threatening gestures toward the resident. In fear for his life, the resident fired several shots, killing one suspect and forcing the other to flee.

Now this is about as good an ending as can be expected in this type of situation; the homeowner was not injured or charged with any crime. Some might say that he acted foolishly when he opened the door in the early morning hours to loud banging, but having grown up in the South, I actually understand.

While I recommend that most people should call through their door it and check the peephole viewer, and to never open the door to suspicious characters, I don’t actually follow my own advice on that one. I’m going to open the door, and have many times, regardless of the time of day because someone might need help. Over the years, I have pulled people out of ditches, made a few “please come get me” phone calls and once even drove a couple of women in a bad situation to a shelter. I’ve also run off a few people who thought they could con someone out of money with a sob story, and even followed one guy to the neighbors, also cousins, after he didn’t take a hint.

I also understand because I’ve been the guy knocking on a door in the wee hours trying to get some help. Believe it or not, there was a time when we didn’t all carry cell phones. Also, while cell phones are great, they can lose service or become broken, forcing people to search for help. Only you can decide the best course of action in this type of situation. For myself, I’m going to answer the door, but I’ll do with a gun in hand. Tell me how you would handle this type of situation.

Latest

Don Bower at shooting bench outdoors with T/C Contender pistol and 7 mm Super Bower ammunition
Don Bower at shooting bench outdoors with T/C Contender pistol and 7 mm Super Bower ammunition

Bower Wildcats & The Quest For Ultimate Pistol Accuracy

Colorado experimenter Don Bower has developed a series of wildcat cartridges and modifications to the Contender pistol that extend its range to 500 meters, with accuracy many refuse to believe ...

Preview: Barnett Demun AccuStrike Pro

The new Demun line of miniature, “pistol-style” crossbows from Barnett are surprisingly potent given their extreme compactness, and the AccuStrike Pro is both the family’s most powerful and most feature-packed member.

New For 2025: Rossi Brawler In 5.56 NATO & .300 Blackout

Building on the .45 Colt/.410 bore Brawler introduced in 2024, Rossi USA is expanding its line of break-action handguns to include chamberings in 5.56 NATO and .300 Blackout.

Preview: Winchester Supreme W20-60X 80 mm Spotting Scope

Sure, the skilled use of your firearm is vital to the success of any big-game hunting adventure, but you’ll first need to find your quarry, and Winchester’s new Supreme line of optics includes a pair of reasonably priced spotting scopes that can help put you on the trail of your target animal.

Gun Of The Week: Heritage Mfg. Roscoe

Welcome to another American Rifleman Gun Of The Week video, and this time, we’re checking out a revolver fit for all the private eye wannabes and film noir fans out there. This is the Roscoe from Heritage Manufacturing.

The Armed Citizen® May 30, 2025

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.