Wife was followed home yesterday....and I am deployed overseas

[cuban11182]

Well I spoke with my wife. She was on her way home from work last night in Franklin, Va to where she is staying while I am deployed, Murfreesboro, NC, and was followed home by a strange man. She said she was driving home and he was tailgating her. So she slowed down and moved over so he could pass. After he passed, he slammed on his brakes and my wife swerved to avoid hitting him. She then sped up to get home. Well this Jack@$$ followed her all the way back to her parents home. He didnt stop or anything but my wife called 911 and gave the cops the guys license plate. Funny this is, I just told her to go get a couple of pistol permits (need them to buy hand guns in NC) and get herself a gun since mine are all in a safe in Pa. She was kinda skeptical about purchasing one because of her inexperience with them. I told her just to go to the gunshop with her dad and pick out a 9mm that she liked and felt comfortable with. One that she can CCW.

Crazy thing is...I'm overseas in a warzone and I can't do a damn thing.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Bluegrass Holsters]

Well I spoke with my wife. She was on her way home from work last night in Franklin, Va to where she is staying while I am deployed, Murfreesboro, NC, and was followed home by a strange man. She said she was driving home and he was tailgating her. So she slowed down and moved over so he could pass. After he passed, he slammed on his brakes and my wife swerved to avoid hitting him. She then sped up to get home. Well this Jack@$$ followed her all the way back to her parents home. He didnt stop or anything but my wife called 911 and gave the cops the guys license plate. Funny this is, I just told her to go get a couple of pistol permits (need them to buy hand guns in NC) and get herself a gun since mine are all in a safe in Pa. She was kinda skeptical about purchasing one because of her inexperience with them. I told her just to go to the gunshop with her dad and pick out a 9mm that she liked and felt comfortable with. One that she can CCW.

Crazy thing is...I'm overseas in a warzone and I can't do a damn thing.

Scary situation to have to be in...for both of you. Let me suggest something which you have already probably advised to your wife....don't ever stop at your home, or anyone's home if you think you are being followed.

First, call 911 while you are driving and give them the situation and where you are currently. Hopefully the police will witness a traffic violation or other reason to pull over the offender.

Second, keep driving in an area which is well lit and very public. Remember your surroundings, especially at traffic lights as the offender could well exit his vehicle and charge hers, leaving her at a tactical disadvantage.

Last, in that situation you should already have your firearm ready. This time of year I tend to have a coat on and travel seat belted....not making for a fast deployment of a firearm. In this situation I would ditch the seatbelt, draw my firearm, and place it somewhere securely in my reach.....perhaps under my right leg. Replace seatbelt and continue until police arrived.

Another alternative would be to go into a public place (store, restaurant, etc.....or even a police department!) and wait out the offender. The problem with this scenario is that you leave the offender with time to plan their next move and to hide from you...and possibly attacking you on your departure.

I would strongly encourage a firearm for your spouse and that she carry for her protection. Be safe while in the sandbox!

[jongle]

Maybe your dad has friends he can call on to watch out for the Missus.

We have military families up here (near Camp Grayling). If we found out that something like that had happened, even if we didn't know the woman, she'd have several folks volunteering for "escort duty".

[Ipack]

Bluegrass makes goog points to follow. Hate to hear of your situation, but glad she is staying with parents. I hope they have drilled in case of home invasion. I know it's a tough situation for you, but it sounds like your taking care of the things by getting her armed. Thank you for your service, prayers to you and your wife.

[f8lranger4x4]

The best thing you can do is not go home. That is the last thing you would want this person knowing because of the fact he could come back later for you. I would call 911 and advise them of the situation and give tem an up to date location of where I am. They will stay on the phone with you untill an officer arrives. with a situation like this it probley would not take long for an officer to find you.

[cuban11182]

Im trying to convinnce her now on AIM to get a gun

[ccw9mm]

... was followed home by a strange man.

Some things to think about: (a) an unknown assailant knows where to find her, or at least knows where to find someone who knows her; (b) she does not know the assailant; (c) she does not know whether the assailant knows her previously, or it was random chance on the road.

She might want to be a bit more circumspect, with regard to cars behind her. Randomizing the route taken both to and from work, errands. Taking a couple of extra streets that can help clearly show whether someone is following. Never, EVER, stopping at a place the person will remember in the future, if she is certain she is being followed. Increased awareness is going to be useful for awhile, until she gains the ability to classify those behind her.

Acquiring a gun is great, assuming it can be used effectively. But, just as importantly, she needs to acquire situational awareness skills. A good instructor can help with some of that, but mostly it's going to take some time and dedication.

[Ti Carry]

That's sucks feeling helpless like that, I feel your pain, bro.

I also agree that going home was the wrong answer. Next time (if there is one) she should get on the phone with 911 and have a trooper or deputy respond asap while things are happening/developing or just drive to the station while on 911 and have the cop's waiting for her.

Getting her a ccw is a good thing but she needs training too. Many times a trainer will give free classes to women in groups or if I were you, I'd contact as many trainers as you know or can find near where she is at (living) and tell them your situation (over sea's, fighting the war, you know, defending our country, feel helpless, etc) and i'd bet many will offer to step up and help you and your wife out. I know I would if I was a trainer and was near where she is.

With good training, she could become very good, very fast if someone would take her under her wing like that.

Any trainers in North Carolina willing to help out?



Ti

[bobcat35]

talk to rear-D there ought to be someone there that can help with your situation. maybe help with the paperwork to get the permits or something. and yes i realise most units put their least usefull personell on rear-D but they gotta put a few high speed joes there or nothing would get done.

[NCHornet]

I agree never go home. When we move to a new area I always show my wife how to get to the nearest PD she has been followed several times and this has worked each time. Next, unless she is a resident of NC she will not be able to get a gun purchase permit. Even if she did get a pistol purchase permit this doesn't allow her to legally carry the weapon, she must then get a CC permit. If she is now a resident of VA my advice is to go get the VA permit to carry, this is easier in VA then NC as they don't require shooting a weapon, this will also make purchasing a gun easier. The VA permit is recognized in NC and many other surrounding states. The purchase of a gun is not a magical protection force field, she needs proper training on how to use the weapon, so she needs to take some of the above advice before running out and buying a gun.
BTW. Thank you for your service to our country and my children.
God Bless
NCH

[SIXTO]

That has to be tough for you. Maybe convince her to take a look around here... I'm sure we can help her out, esp. the ladies that hang out with us from time to time.

[RobbW]

+1 on the "call 911" comment. My wife was followed in her car one time. Fortunately, she was near a local Police station. I told her to drive there, and her follower couldn't get away fast enough.

Never drive anywhere you don't want the criminal to remember. Drive in the opposite direction of home, or wherever you are really headed, until the Police show up, or you can get to a station.

Be safe, thanks for your service, and I'd be interested to know if they ever catch the follower.

[cuban11182]

well i know that just buying a gun doesnt make everything better. But since my gun is in Pa she doesnt have a gun to practice on. I wish she could get the gun in VA but she is a resident on NC. She wont get her CCW till i get back but at least she will be decent at shooting it. As far as carrying in NC, You can carry Locked and loaded as long as the gun is in plain view. If you cover it they its considered concealed. I may just have her have some of the bills sent to her aunts house right over the border in va so that she can apply there. Or just have her shoot her gun for practice and her an i can get the permits together. \

I was a little confused about the whole story. She was leaving work and getting onto the onramp to get to freeway. Guy gets on her ass, she moves, he pulls ahead and stops on the onramp, wife calls 911, guy speeds off, she follows him like 10 cars back (had to, only 1 way home), gets into town, he pulls into chinese buffet, pulls back out 2 cars behind her, she goes to grocery store where she can see 2 cops, one turns out to be family friend, she gives him licence and description and he goes out looking for him. no word on what happened after that. she will call him later today to see. I kinda have a warm fuzzy from this guy. i met him before i left and he hooked her up with a speeding ticket that she got (what can i say...women driver)

[tegemu]

Suggest that in the future, your wife drive to a Police or Fire Station or a well lighted gas station where he won't bother her - never home. That just tells the BG where she lives. I would also suggest that she check out Cornered Cat . That site is by a very savvy woman for women about guns.

[cuban11182]

She is going to the Sheriffs today to get her permit. When she gets it I am going to have her order a taurus Mil Pro 9mm from gunbroker.