Attemped home invasion at my house last night!
Ok, so here is what happened, followed by what I have learned from this experience.
I had just laid down about 3:30 AM from reading when I heard a loud bang coming from my 10 year old son's room. The bad guy had apparently tried to break out the window with his bare hands. I jumped up and grabbed my pistol and ran down the stair to his room. I am not sure if my feet even touched the steps on the way down. The house was completely dark. The first thing I see is a shadow coming around the stairwell. It was my son. He was awakened by it, and came to tell me that he had seen a big man standing outside his window. I ran into his room and covered the window. My wife turns on our bedroom light and the hall lights and the perp gets scared and runs into the night. We called the law right about that time. My wife suggested I go outside to investigate in case he was breaking into the shed to steal. I told her that stuff could be replaced, and that I was staying in the house where we were safer, so that I could make sure her and the boys were protected. I just let the police do what they do, which is police. The police arrived on scene about 5 minutes after the call was made. We saw him through the window scoping the place out, circling the house for about 5 more minutes before he came to the door. As soon as I saw the police car outside the house, I put away my gun(wouldn't want to be confused for the bad guy.) After the cops came and took the report, we went outside and found a large hand print on my son's window.
What I have learned from this experience:
1. I now have no doubt whatsoever that I can do what needs to be done in a self defense situation. I always thought I could, but you never know until you are in that situation for the first time.
2. I need to get my CCW Permit Asap. I have already been planning on this pronto, but it just underlines the need.
3. The adrenaline dump phenomenon is real, and it's hard to shake even after the threat is gone.
4. I need lots of training. My son coming inbetween me and the bad guy really underscored this for me, especially since I couldn't see him at first. I am thankful that I had the forethought to not draw down on him by accident.
5. I need a good security system ASAP.
6. God is watching over me and my family.