Armed Homeowner Drives Away Intruder, Police Say

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

A Tampa man faces felony armed burglary charges after a home invasion in Lake Wales this morning.
Police said two children, ages 3 and 3 months, were inside the home at 1261 Grove Ave. about 10:30 a.m. when a burglar pried open a rear sliding glass door with a crowbar. The startled homeowner fired off seven rounds from a .380 handgun.
"It's a disturbing scene especially with children inside. I know the homeowner is shaken up right now," said Lake Wales Assistant Police Chief Christopher Velasquez.
The bullets hit the suspect, 45-year-old Michael Collins, in the head and arm, police said. Collins had parked his van in the home's driveway and tried to drive away but crashed a couple hundred feet away in an orange grove, they added.
Officers apprehended Collins, who was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Hospital for treatment for his injuries. He is expected to recover.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/18/armed-homeowner-drives-away-intruder-police-say/news-breaking/

[CoffeeCat]

1. Is it me, or are there an awful lot...

...of stories lately about homeowners fending off would-be criminals with guns?

I've seen a lot of these stories lately.

Are more homeowners packing heat...or are more crimes being committed?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. More posters playing broken records.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

3. The only problem with your argument is that they are new events, not old events brought back up.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

5. But they all sound the same.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

6. All very different if you actually read them.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

8. Yes, I remember the stories of the robber emerging victorious.

Wait, you never posted those.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. Other people here take care of those.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. I think they are being reported more often.

Hard to say whether they are occurring more often or not. They certainly seem to refute the notion that you are more likely to be killed with your own gun if you confront a criminal.

David

[depakid]

16. That's because a gun proliferation advocate's been posting them at an impressive rate

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

19. Thanks, I'm glad you were impressed.

If by gun proliferation you mean advocating for the law abiding citizens right to choose to possess a legal firearm then I guess I am for that kind of gun proliferation. I'm sure that's not what you mean though.

David

[MattBaggins]

17. Lots of more posts about it

Part of the silly war here in DU between the gun snatchers and the gun huggers. We all get the daily treat of watching them snip at each other for a few hours. Get some pop corn and enjoy the show.

I am surprised that we got this post though. Usually if the intruder wasn't killed it isn't good enough for posting; all though this one does reference a head shot which I am sure is giving at least a few folks around here some woodys.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

20. Four of the last five haven't involved anyone dying.

I post them as I find them. I take no joy in anyones death or injury. I am glad when the perpetrators are arrested though.

David

[L0oniX]

30. "gun huggers" ...you mean you think we want to own guns for defense? That's crazy.

I am sure most would rather not feel like they have to own a gun for defense. I would rather not have a gun for defense but with all the criminals having them and the police taking at least 15 minutes to answer a distress call I'd rather take the responsibility to protect my wife and myself. Don't lump us all into a generic group that hugs guns because that's bull shit!

[Ex Lurker]

24. A lot of desperate people out there

maybe if homeowners would leave some food outside their door they wouldn't feel compelled to shoot at the hungry and destitute.

[mitchum]

26. Or maybe they could just leave their TVs, laptops, etc... outside their door

maybe they wouldn't feel compelled to shoot at motherfucking thieves

[L0oniX]

31. ding ding ding ...yep ...clip a $20 on your front door ...that'll keep em away ....hehehe

[L0oniX]

28. ...just as many as the stories about postal idiots and morons shooting people.

...and yea more people are keeping defense weapons in the home and on their person ...like me.

[1]

7. some like stories where the intruder is driven off by a gun owing "potential" victim...

and some like stories where the intruder uses a gun to create "actual" victims.

personally, i don't like actual victims and i love it when that is dissuaded. others apparently feel better the other way.

keep reporting, dave. truth to power!

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

10. Preach it brother.

I've noticed people here have stopped saying that guns are almost never used defensively. I wonder if these near daily post have had anything to do with a change in perception?


David

[1]

11. you can't wring your hands (and cluck) when the good guy prevails, you can only clap them together..

some don't like clapping. it doesn't forward their agenda...

[quickesst]

12. Damn....

"Police said two children, ages 3 and 3 months, were inside the home at 1261 Grove Ave. about 10:30 a.m. when a burglar pried open a rear sliding glass door with a crowbar."

I applaud anyone who puts the safety of their children, grandchildren, and loved ones in general over a flawed ideology. Sadly, some see it as a risk that's worth the potential price. Thanks.
quickesst

[Statistical]

14. There are quick open "safes".

It is possible to store guns for self defense in a manner that is both safe and prevents unauthorized access.

I use the quotes on safe because most of these quick open lock boxes are only useful to prevent casual theft, or accidents. A determined thief will break one open if matter of minutes with prybar.

[Mike Daniels]

15. I'm sure the safety of the family was top of mind for the criminal as well

otherwise why was he breaking into an occupied house? (sarcasm).

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

18. You have some evidence that the children were in danger from someone other than the criminal?

[aikoaiko]

13. Gun owners, like me, own guns so that we have a fighting chance agains criminals like that.

I'm not naive -- I realize its a lot easier for a criminal to get the best of me before I can get to my gun in its lockbox at home.

But if there is a chance that I can get to it, then I want to have one.

There are several DUers who claim that one wouldn't be able to get to their gun in a home invasion situation, but this story proves that isn't necessarily so.

[rvablue]

22. I go back on forth on this issue, but as far as your argument goes

one would think that it would take the burglar at minimum 30-45 seconds to pry open a glass door.

That seems more than enough time to me for the homeowner to run to the bedroom, grab the safe off the top shelf, unlock it and run back.

It's his house. It's his safe. It's his gun. Gives him the upper hand on reaction time. Wouldn't take long especially if it was a fairly small house.

[Seeking Serenity]

37. "it would take the burglar at minimum 30-45 seconds to pry open a glass door"

"That seems more than enough time to me for the homeowner to run to the bedroom, grab the safe off the top shelf, unlock it and run back."

The would presume, though, that the homeowner was alerted to the potential burglar when the burglar first started his break-in efforts, and that the homeowner could quickly analyse the as-yet-unknown situation, understand what was happening, and retrieve his firearm.

Can people analyse and react that quickly?

[WI_DEM]

21. That is one of the consequences of doing the crime

[mitchum]

27. Yes, it is an occupational hazard

seems like someone would accept that before going into the crime business

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

23. Too bad the guy's expected to recover

[FudaFuda]

25. My only problem with this story ...

is that the homeowner shouldve had something bigger than a .380

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

29. I don't find that cartridge appropriate for home defense either.

[L0oniX]

32. A 380 +p hollow point would be good enough.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

33. I'm more a fan of .40 S & W or the .357.

[FudaFuda]

34. Or a 12 gauge. n/t

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

35. I have lots of dogs, I have a 12 gauge but I wouldn't use it for home defense.

[L0oniX]

36. SW M&P 9 here ...but ammo is so hard to find I'm thinking of changing to an M&P .40.