Had to prevent my drunken stepfather from committing aggravated assault.

[moriah]

In my mind, as a gun owner who does not carry, there are only four reasons to take my gun from where it is stored:

1) If a friend wants to see it, after I have safety-checked it and have had them safety-check it before they start examining it.
2) Taking it to the range.
3) Cleaning it.
4) Using it to defend my life or the life of those around me.

My stepfather was drunk and decided that a fifth reason, "waving it around to scare someone who had not been aggressive" was a good one.

The person he was intending to intimidate was a very dear friend of mine who had attended my grandmother's very recent funeral as my brother-in-spirit. I saw him going toward the back of the house purposefully and saw the look on my stepdad's face, and told Mom that I thought he was going for one of his firearms. She said "Oh, he'd never...." but sure enough he came out of the back bedroom with one.

I had 911 on speed dial when I saw the look on his face, and got between my stepfather and the front door to prevent him from going outside with the firearm. I vocally got my friend to get completely off of the property. I then ordered my stepfather to put the gun down -- my mother's pleas were having no effect. He finally listened to me. Waving a gun at someone who is standing in your front yard is aggravated assault here,

Needless to say, I won't be going near that house again and have had the discussion with my mother. I love her to death and anytime I am in town we can meet and do lunch, but her home, the house I grew up in since I was three, is no longer safe for me in my opinion. Alcohol and firearms do not mix, and her husband crossed a line with me.

-----

Is there another way you can think of for a person to handle such a situation? It added to the PTSD I am dealing with and it's going to be one more thing I have to work through in therapy. I'm not talking about my decision to not enter that home until one of the two elements -- the booze or the guns -- are gone. I'm talking about de-escalating a situation that had escalated to firearms being drawn.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Considering that you successfully de-escalated the situation I wouldn't try to second guess

what you did.

[moriah]

2. Thank you.

I appreciate that.

[Trunk Monkey]

3. You can't

and since you can't you did th eproper thing and removed yourself from the situation.

[TPaine7]

4. Sounds like you acted perfectly. Your instincts were apparently spot on. n/t

[moriah]

5. It was pure instinct, and scary as fucking hell.

Nasty way for a negligent discharge to happen, and the only thing I wish I had done better was figure out a way to pantomime to my mother to get far away once his attention was on me. Since he listened to the commanding tone in my voice and put down the weapon it was a happy ending, but it's idiots doing shit like that that cause negligent discharges.

[NBachers]

6. I applaud you for your correct and direct action; you defused a difficult and dangerous situation

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. I am confused. If and when did you present your gun into this situation?

Sorry, I do not understand all of the circumstances and time of events here. Thanks for any clarification.

[moriah]

8. My own gun was home as it should have been, locked up.

This was more of dealing with other people's stupidity.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. thanks for clarifying. interesting. n/t