Sorry for long, hopefully worth the time.
Ok here is my story. I am new to carrying, have permit, and pretty much new to home protection too, but hunted for years as a youth. I am at Lowes, I have a conversation with a clerk about why I am carrying a firearm. CC but I bent over to check a price and she noticed the print. I did the normal talk about rights yada yada and reminded that each person shot on the news this morning, had they known today was their day, they would have taken protection. Since I don’t know my turn, I carry every day now. Also advised that there is probably 3 other people carrying in the store at that moment. Don’t know if this is true, but there are lots of ingo members so it was a guess. Left and headed home.
Note that my racing trailer has been broken into, outbuilding attempted another night, thread on here sharing that story, and a snooper spooked by my neighbor all in the last 2 years.
Ok, I pull in the driveway top of the hill to the house. I put my firearm in small of the back, grab backpack and head in. Walk in the front door, dogs barking in mudroom, and then I see a shadow upstairs followed by a subtle door close. Ok, game on. I have always been cool under pressure of any kind, just that way I guess. But I must admit, my heart was about to jump out of my chest, lump in my throat, and I had a heightened clarity of mind that I have not experienced in years. School day so I knew my wife nor the kids were home at noon. I pulled my gun, racked it quietly, hit the safety off. First thought was about my choice to carry hollow points as a good move, weird but was my first thought. One clip in, where was extra clip?, extra bullets?, shot gun location upstairs and one down, my mind was doing inventory but on autopilot. Damn, I processed an immediate plan and backup plan with precision, with exception on cell, in which never crossed my mind I admit. Yea I know that was an error.
Ok I head up the stairs in draw position pointing up. Three doors possible, 2 closed, both sons. I go to the one closest to the stairs to cut off escape providing intruder is in the other room. It was ironically like a video game, but for real. I push the door open, seems clear. Enter bathroom, intense moment when a shadow appeared to be behind it, pushed open with plunger to keep gun clear, nope, but like I said, extremely intense moment within an intense moment. Check closets by opening and stepping back real quickly out of reach and hopefully clear of direct fire if armed. Again nothing.
Back to hall in which I had kept an ear and eye behind me in case a run on my or a give-me-3- steps moment, remember the song, another weird thing I I thought about in the moment. Did a quick eyeball of my bedroom but not a search since I heard a door close and it was open when I got upstairs.
To the last door. Repeated steps from first room and came down to the last closet door. Ok, at this point I want to say that I am a tough macho s.o.b. Actually I am, grew up inner city, college football player, etc etc. But knowing that someone was in my house, and this is the last door unchecked, man my mind racing!!!!!!! No I didn’t run or leave, but It was some time before I thought about opening that door, so I didn't as first option. I stepped back around the bathroom door jam and yelled out for them to open the door slowly, both hands come first, if more than one person to exit slowly and lay down on the floor hands above head. Of course I informed that I was armed and that I have not shot anyone yet but was looking for a reason to enjoy my first. Made up that part for them thinking it was a good verbal posture. After what seemed like 30 minutes, not more that 1-2 minutes probably, there was still no response. So I moved to the door, I swear to you guys that the world stopped rotating at that moment, it was like mental tunnel vision. I threw the door open and took a knee to get low, gun drawn, nothing. I worked towards the door, still drawn, hit the light, check behind the clothes, all clear.
I quickly doubled back and did the same check on my bedroom, rechecked the first bedroom, and then the entire house, only now with a shotgun over my should too. I found no trace of anyone in the house or that anyone had been in the house. Ok now I stop at the fridge and get a glass of milk. I could not drink it I was shaking so bad! I had not been a bit nervous during the ordeal, heightened like I said, but not a shake in my body, honest! Now I am shaking like I have parkensons, light headed, couldn’t think clear, I was a total mess. This was the strangest thing I personally have ever experience, both parts during and after. Like dear fever times 1 Million! Anyone ever gone throught this?
I swear to you all this is how this went down. Never did figure out the shadow or the door. I never thought my house was haunted, still don’t, but damn strange. Several points for sharing is so that anyone else in my situation would maybe react the same or do it differently. I am open to critique but clearly not why I posted. This just scared the “ship” out of me thinking it was my turn and it was actually happening to me.
I have read hours and hours of stories here. And have to say thanks to all of you for the education I received. Although no story was exactly like mine, enough pieces covered, along with some militia videos on YouTube, and video games with my kids, I feel pretty good about how I handled my first time. I just want to give a giant Thank you INGO Members for having a hand in waking me up and getting me a prepared citizen!
Ok here is my story. I am new to carrying, have permit, and pretty much new to home protection too, but hunted for years as a youth. I am at Lowes, I have a conversation with a clerk about why I am carrying a firearm. CC but I bent over to check a price and she noticed the print. I did the normal talk about rights yada yada and reminded that each person shot on the news this morning, had they known today was their day, they would have taken protection. Since I don’t know my turn, I carry every day now. Also advised that there is probably 3 other people carrying in the store at that moment. Don’t know if this is true, but there are lots of ingo members so it was a guess. Left and headed home.
Note that my racing trailer has been broken into, outbuilding attempted another night, thread on here sharing that story, and a snooper spooked by my neighbor all in the last 2 years.
Ok, I pull in the driveway top of the hill to the house. I put my firearm in small of the back, grab backpack and head in. Walk in the front door, dogs barking in mudroom, and then I see a shadow upstairs followed by a subtle door close. Ok, game on. I have always been cool under pressure of any kind, just that way I guess. But I must admit, my heart was about to jump out of my chest, lump in my throat, and I had a heightened clarity of mind that I have not experienced in years. School day so I knew my wife nor the kids were home at noon. I pulled my gun, racked it quietly, hit the safety off. First thought was about my choice to carry hollow points as a good move, weird but was my first thought. One clip in, where was extra clip?, extra bullets?, shot gun location upstairs and one down, my mind was doing inventory but on autopilot. Damn, I processed an immediate plan and backup plan with precision, with exception on cell, in which never crossed my mind I admit. Yea I know that was an error.
Ok I head up the stairs in draw position pointing up. Three doors possible, 2 closed, both sons. I go to the one closest to the stairs to cut off escape providing intruder is in the other room. It was ironically like a video game, but for real. I push the door open, seems clear. Enter bathroom, intense moment when a shadow appeared to be behind it, pushed open with plunger to keep gun clear, nope, but like I said, extremely intense moment within an intense moment. Check closets by opening and stepping back real quickly out of reach and hopefully clear of direct fire if armed. Again nothing.
Back to hall in which I had kept an ear and eye behind me in case a run on my or a give-me-3- steps moment, remember the song, another weird thing I I thought about in the moment. Did a quick eyeball of my bedroom but not a search since I heard a door close and it was open when I got upstairs.
To the last door. Repeated steps from first room and came down to the last closet door. Ok, at this point I want to say that I am a tough macho s.o.b. Actually I am, grew up inner city, college football player, etc etc. But knowing that someone was in my house, and this is the last door unchecked, man my mind racing!!!!!!! No I didn’t run or leave, but It was some time before I thought about opening that door, so I didn't as first option. I stepped back around the bathroom door jam and yelled out for them to open the door slowly, both hands come first, if more than one person to exit slowly and lay down on the floor hands above head. Of course I informed that I was armed and that I have not shot anyone yet but was looking for a reason to enjoy my first. Made up that part for them thinking it was a good verbal posture. After what seemed like 30 minutes, not more that 1-2 minutes probably, there was still no response. So I moved to the door, I swear to you guys that the world stopped rotating at that moment, it was like mental tunnel vision. I threw the door open and took a knee to get low, gun drawn, nothing. I worked towards the door, still drawn, hit the light, check behind the clothes, all clear.
I quickly doubled back and did the same check on my bedroom, rechecked the first bedroom, and then the entire house, only now with a shotgun over my should too. I found no trace of anyone in the house or that anyone had been in the house. Ok now I stop at the fridge and get a glass of milk. I could not drink it I was shaking so bad! I had not been a bit nervous during the ordeal, heightened like I said, but not a shake in my body, honest! Now I am shaking like I have parkensons, light headed, couldn’t think clear, I was a total mess. This was the strangest thing I personally have ever experience, both parts during and after. Like dear fever times 1 Million! Anyone ever gone throught this?
I swear to you all this is how this went down. Never did figure out the shadow or the door. I never thought my house was haunted, still don’t, but damn strange. Several points for sharing is so that anyone else in my situation would maybe react the same or do it differently. I am open to critique but clearly not why I posted. This just scared the “ship” out of me thinking it was my turn and it was actually happening to me.
I have read hours and hours of stories here. And have to say thanks to all of you for the education I received. Although no story was exactly like mine, enough pieces covered, along with some militia videos on YouTube, and video games with my kids, I feel pretty good about how I handled my first time. I just want to give a giant Thank you INGO Members for having a hand in waking me up and getting me a prepared citizen!
) to do just that. 
to you for realizing it yourself. There's a fine line between bravery and foolhardiness. I'm not going to define where it is or on which side of it your actions were, that's your job to do. I'm glad for your, your wife's, and your children's sake that everything worked out OK. Please do not take any of this post as criticism, just as thoughts to consider.
