This is a fear that many gun owners have. What if I hear noises in my home at the same time that I believe to know the whereabouts of my entire family? Meaning…it’s not one of them, so it must be an intruder. But, what if I’m wrong?
If you are wrong, you’ll still want to be absolutely certain about what you’re pointing your firearm towards.
In Virginia, a 911 operator takes a call from a man who is en-route to the hospital with another person who has been shot. Then, the line goes dead. A few minutes later, police arrive at the scene of a single-car accident and one of the occupants has a gunshot wound.
During further investigation, police determined that just before the original 911 call, the homeowner was preparing to get ready for work and heard his interior alarm sound indicating the garage door had been opened.
Police said as the homeowner was approaching the interior garage, he heard a bang and sounds coming from inside the garage, grabbed a firearm and approached the garage door. As he opened the door, police say he observed a person coming towards him, raised his gun and shot the person. The homeowner determined that he had just shot his 16-year-old daughter who was attempting the sneak back into the residence after sneaking out earlier that morning without him knowing, according to police.
This is one of those instances where a person gets too worked up in the moment and doesn’t follow proper procedure. At no point ever should you discharge a firearm without identifying the object at which you are questioning.
I am reminded of an incident that happened a few years ago in the quiet town of Old Forge, NY. A father and son were on a motorcycle trip and stayed the night in a hotel. The father, an ex-police officer, woke up in the middle of the night to what he thought was someone breaking into his hotel room. In the cover of dark, he shoots and kills the person entering the room.
It would quickly be realized that the person he just shot and killed was his own son who had been out drinking at the bar, and was just returning to the room.
Always always always be aware of what is going on. It is your responsibility as a gun owner to assess a situation and determine if an actual threat is present. If you don’t, things like this can and do play out.
The daughter is in stable condition after being shot in the torso area.
