I carry an expensive Wilson Combat X-TAC Compact 1911. I do so because I have more confidence shooting the Wilson than any other pistol I own (or have tried) and it conceals better than any other pistol I own. A regular argument against carrying an expensive gun: the cops will confiscate the weapon after a defensive gun use. And? Once the job’s finished, I’ll deal with the loss. More importantly, I’m ready to tool-up with another trustworthy pistol. Because God knows I may need it. As does the El Cerrito homeowner above, whose post-DGU story below [via sanfancisco.cbs.com] is instructive . . .
A family member of a burglary suspect shot by an elderly El Cerrito homeowner showed up at the man’s door to confront him after the shooting.
The burglary suspect was shot in the head after he and an accomplice kicked in a back door to the man’s Cutting Boulevard home late Wednesday morning.
He was still able to run away but police caught up with him about 15 blocks from the home – with the bullet lodged in his head.
The suspect, 34-year-old Shawn Mulberry from Oakland, was hospitalized in stable condition. A second suspect got away unhurt.
The homeowner, identified only as “Harry” was later visited by on his front doorstep by a relative of Mulberry’s, according to police.
“It’s an intimidation of a witness,” said neighbor Neil Swendsen. “That’s all it is, pure and simple.”
The confrontation led police to station an officer at his home.
Shooting people pisses them off. Not just right then and there, but forever. And not just them (should they survive). Their friends, family and what we’ll euphemistically call their business associates. While your DGU will [hopefully] be fully justifiable for you and the legal system, the bad guy(s)’ acquaintances are likely to disagree. Perhaps violently.
We’ve talked before about the need to scan for threats in the immediate aftermath of a defensive gun use. I can’t stress enough the importance of remaining hyper-vigilant, not to mention the possibility of leaving the scene entirely – as you are legally allowed to do if your safety is at risk. Remembering to call the cops ASAP.
This is different.
If you divide potential attackers into three groups – opportunistic criminals, professionals and crazies – a post-DGU attacker could fall into both of the latter categories. That’s an ambush of not good. Professionals know when, where and how to attack. Crazies can be incredibly patient and psychotically violent. Combine those two characteristics and you’d be forgiven for watching your back for years to come after an incident. As well you should.
Take steps to protect yourself. Make friends with a police officer or prosecutor familiar with your DGU and gather information about your attacker – whether he’s assumed room temperature or not. If he’s incarcerated, keep tabs on his release date; a grudge nurtured in prison is a bad, bad thing. But above all, raise your situational awareness as high as it can go. Recruit neighbors as watchdogs. Change your travel patterns. Increase security. Don’t let your guard down.
Sad to say, a DGU can be the beginning of a nightmare, rather than the end. Keep calm and stay armed. No matter what. [h/t SH]