I would like your opinion about how I reacted to this situation.
I moved into my home about a year and a half ago, I live north of the Tampa Bay area. The homes are very close together. I live on a corner lot with only one neighbor on one side, I met my neighbor before I bought the home, and from that time on I thought I was lucky to have him as a neighbor.
While he and I were standing in my driveway, he was describing a story when he reached in his pocket and pulled out his hand gun, he then waved the gun back and forth while continuing to tell the story. When he was waving the gun back and forth. The gun was pointed at me several times. When he put the gun back in his pocket. I explained to him, quite calmly, that what he did was something I did not like, and not to do it ever again. He said he was sorry, but not to worry as there was no bullet chambered. I reiterated what I had said. He said sorry and okay.
Months later, I am returning from the store (Walmart) where I had purchased an air soft handgun (I plan on shooting the squirrels that torment my cats). I see my neighbor, we say hi and start talking about stuff. He goes into the side entrance of his garage which is mere feet, say, about 4 feet from the edge of my driveway and returns with a fishing rod and reel. I say that's a great rod and reel. It even has braided line on it. Everything is great. His son was visiting and he told me he had to go back inside to do something with the son. Just then his son comes out of the side door and smacks my neighbor on the arm with a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll. At least that's what I think it was, and he said come on dad lets go, and as he turned to walk deeper into the garage. My neighbor took the rod and made the motion of stabbing him in his but while saying this sure would hurt. In a very short moment the son returned to my view as he was still in the garage and my neighbor was in the doors threshold. The son has a handgun pointed at my neighbor's head (his father) and I am pretty much in the line of fire, looking down the barrel of his gun. It look like a Kel Tec PF 9. I quickly stepped to the side and out of immediate harms way. The sun made the joke that this sure would hurt. Since I could not see him any longer. I assumed he put the gun away and went back to whatever he was doing.
My memory is a little blurred. At this point because I started to get very angry. I remember something like my neighbor saying sorry and me saying that was totally messed up. Not only did he put you in danger. I was in danger as well. He went back inside and returned just a moment later apparently trying to apologize some more (this is where I feel I may have overreacted or not) , I told my neighbor. I did not want to discuss it any further, I said he's lucky I'm not calling the police and to please stop talking to me now, because I am very angry. And we've had a good relationship and I may say something that I shouldn't. I turned and walked into my home.
I just feel maybe I was a little hard on him for his son's actions. He has been out of town since this happened and I have not spoken with him. I'm not as angry as I was. Or let's say I am more calm now.
Did I overreact. Should I just told him, hey, do you mind not pointing a handgun at me?
Thank you for any comments and suggestions.
I moved into my home about a year and a half ago, I live north of the Tampa Bay area. The homes are very close together. I live on a corner lot with only one neighbor on one side, I met my neighbor before I bought the home, and from that time on I thought I was lucky to have him as a neighbor.
While he and I were standing in my driveway, he was describing a story when he reached in his pocket and pulled out his hand gun, he then waved the gun back and forth while continuing to tell the story. When he was waving the gun back and forth. The gun was pointed at me several times. When he put the gun back in his pocket. I explained to him, quite calmly, that what he did was something I did not like, and not to do it ever again. He said he was sorry, but not to worry as there was no bullet chambered. I reiterated what I had said. He said sorry and okay.
Months later, I am returning from the store (Walmart) where I had purchased an air soft handgun (I plan on shooting the squirrels that torment my cats). I see my neighbor, we say hi and start talking about stuff. He goes into the side entrance of his garage which is mere feet, say, about 4 feet from the edge of my driveway and returns with a fishing rod and reel. I say that's a great rod and reel. It even has braided line on it. Everything is great. His son was visiting and he told me he had to go back inside to do something with the son. Just then his son comes out of the side door and smacks my neighbor on the arm with a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll. At least that's what I think it was, and he said come on dad lets go, and as he turned to walk deeper into the garage. My neighbor took the rod and made the motion of stabbing him in his but while saying this sure would hurt. In a very short moment the son returned to my view as he was still in the garage and my neighbor was in the doors threshold. The son has a handgun pointed at my neighbor's head (his father) and I am pretty much in the line of fire, looking down the barrel of his gun. It look like a Kel Tec PF 9. I quickly stepped to the side and out of immediate harms way. The sun made the joke that this sure would hurt. Since I could not see him any longer. I assumed he put the gun away and went back to whatever he was doing.
My memory is a little blurred. At this point because I started to get very angry. I remember something like my neighbor saying sorry and me saying that was totally messed up. Not only did he put you in danger. I was in danger as well. He went back inside and returned just a moment later apparently trying to apologize some more (this is where I feel I may have overreacted or not) , I told my neighbor. I did not want to discuss it any further, I said he's lucky I'm not calling the police and to please stop talking to me now, because I am very angry. And we've had a good relationship and I may say something that I shouldn't. I turned and walked into my home.
I just feel maybe I was a little hard on him for his son's actions. He has been out of town since this happened and I have not spoken with him. I'm not as angry as I was. Or let's say I am more calm now.
Did I overreact. Should I just told him, hey, do you mind not pointing a handgun at me?
Thank you for any comments and suggestions.