# WRONG guy to pull a gun on, dumbass **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 6, 2009, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789 "2009-10-06T07:35:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/21 "2009-10-06T20:35:44Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > There are many reasons why a person may be knocking on your front door at a time when you are not expecting anyone. It seems to me highly unreasonable to threaten them with a gun before, (1) you find out why they are knocking, and (2) they refuse to leave after you ask them to leave. Yes, and I am either being whooshed or I am deeply concerned that some people don’t immediately see this. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/22 "2009-10-06T21:13:10Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I’m not aware of any jurisdiction where “stick a gun in the face of a guy knocking on the door” is acceptable. [Louisiana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshihiro_Hattori). Although in that case he didn’t just stick the gun in his face. (Upthread I misremembered this as a Florida case) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/23 "2009-10-06T21:53:20Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > There are many reasons why a person may be knocking on your front door at a time when you are not expecting anyone. It seems to me highly unreasonable to threaten them with a gun before, (1) you find out why they are knocking, and (2) they refuse to leave after you ask them to leave. Depending on the neighborhood, an unexpected knock–especially a loud and insistent knocking–at night is enough to justify precautionary measures. I’ve opened a door with a gun in my hand several times. Generally, the person outside never saw the gun, but I had it available if needed. I don’t think any crime has been committed here…other than the pranksters using telephone lines to create mischief, which a creative prosecutor could likely charge under some statute or other. Then again, I live in a Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground state, which has reasonable rules regarding self defense and defense of home. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/24 "2009-10-06T21:58:17Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I don’t think any crime has been committed here… Yeah, the cop probably knew this guy was a nutcase and he acted in a way that would scare someone already on edge. The guy was defending himself and his house. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/25 "2009-10-06T22:05:44Z")
Wow, I can’t read. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/26 "2009-10-07T00:03:08Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Then again, I live in a Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground state, which has reasonable rules regarding self defense and defense of home. Can you still “resist an illegal arrest” in Texas? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/27 "2009-10-07T03:57:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Depending on the neighborhood, an unexpected knock–especially a loud and insistent knocking–at night is enough to justify precautionary measures. …I’m confused. If someone had “ill-intent,” why would they bother to knock? 😕 And there’s a difference between having a gun in your hand when you ask who it is/open the door, as a precaution and just opening the door and shoving the gun in someone’s face. If you’re truly worried, you should stand to the side of the door and ask who it is, not just assume it _must_ be someone bad and point a gun at them. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/28 "2009-10-07T05:10:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Depending on the neighborhood, an unexpected knock–especially a loud and insistent knocking–at night is enough to justify precautionary measures. I’ve opened a door with a gun in my hand several times. Generally, the person outside never saw the gun, but I had it available if needed. I don’t think any crime has been committed here…other than the pranksters using telephone lines to create mischief, which a creative prosecutor could likely charge under some statute or other. Then again, I live in a Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground state, which has reasonable rules regarding self defense and defense of home. Considering that this was part of a prank, I have to wonder just how many times the homeowner has had to answer the door and refuse a pizza or Chinese delivery. Pranksters rarely prank just the once, they think that repeating and/or escalating the prank makes it even funnier. I’m sympathetic to both the cop/delivery driver AND the homeowner here. It’s the idiotic pranksters who need to have a gun shoved into their faces to make them realize that a joke is not funny unless both parties laugh. These kids are costing the pizza place money, they’re costing the driver money, and they’re probably costing the homeowner his peace of mind (and if he was nuts to begin with, he needs all the peace of mind he can get). ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/29 "2009-10-07T05:14:32Z")
The pizza guys out here at 40th & Plum ain’t that stupid. Heck, even the police on police business ain’t that stupid to just stand there pounding on a door. They call out what is going on. Only when they are on a for real approved bust of a dangerous type do they pound - crash & shoot with proper paper. Everybody out in the boonies comes to the door armed. Common sense to do so. To many idiots get their info from the intwarweb and it is all wrong. 😉 Of course if this is in CA, then it all makes sense as there is no common sense in CA. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/30 "2009-10-07T05:15:52Z")
Disclosure time here: one of my neighbors had a bad habit of knocking on my door between 7 and 8 AM. I had explained to her that I was asleep at that time, every day, but she persisted in knocking and ringing on the doorbell until I got up and answered the damn door. No, it was never an emergency, she just wanted to know when my husband was going to cut the grass or something stupid like that. If I asked her, politely, to make sure it was afternoon the next time she had to tell me something, she’d smile, nod, and agree…and next week, she’d be ringing on my doorbell, letting me know that my car needed washing (it didn’t, for the record, she was just retired, bored, and needed something to do). The next time, I answered the door with a long gun in my hands. I didn’t point it at her, I didn’t mention the gun at all, and neither did she…but by Og she NEVER knocked on my door again. I’m sure she thought I was a nutter. If it kept her away from my door at 7 AM, that was fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/31 "2009-10-07T11:39:14Z")
Ah, but see, **Lynn** , you didn’t point the gun at her. The guy in the OP shoved the handgun into the delivery guy’s face. That makes all the difference in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/32 "2009-10-07T12:45:25Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Considering that this was part of a prank, I have to wonder just how many times the homeowner has had to answer the door and refuse a pizza or Chinese delivery. Pranksters rarely prank just the once, they think that repeating and/or escalating the prank makes it even funnier. > > I’m sympathetic to both the cop/delivery driver AND the homeowner here. It’s the idiotic pranksters who need to have a gun shoved into their faces to make them realize that a joke is not funny unless both parties laugh. These kids are costing the pizza place money, they’re costing the driver money, and they’re probably costing the homeowner his peace of mind (and if he was nuts to begin with, he needs all the peace of mind he can get). Basically you’ve taken the words out of my mouth. Also as you say these sorts of "pranks"are usually part of a campaign,I wonder if this man has received "Prank"death threats or threats of physical assault ? This resulting in his OTT behaviour? ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/33 "2009-10-07T16:10:54Z")
Simi Valley is probably about the worst place to pull something like this – IIRC, lots of LAPD officers live there. I remember that tidbit being brought up during the first Rodney King trial, which was held in SV – at the time I was living in Thousand Oaks and working in Santa Barbara. During the riots after the Simi Valley trial, I saw several convoys of National Guard vehicles heading south/east on the 101 as I was driving to work. Didn’t see any real violence where I was, but some friends lived not far from the riot area and were a bit freaked out by it all. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/34 "2009-10-07T18:32:43Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > …I’m confused. If someone had “ill-intent,” why would they bother to knock? 😕 To get you to open the door and/or deactivate a burglar alarm. Particularly if the person answering the door appears to be elderly and/or otherwise fragile. If they can get such a person outside the “castle wall”, so to speak, then they can easily force their way inside for nefarious purposes. So called “home invasion” robberies work this way sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/35 "2009-10-08T01:23:01Z")
It looks like a bunch of Somali pirates made a similar sort of [oopise](http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091007/wl_africa_afp/somaliapiracyshippingfrance_20091007151820). ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/36 "2009-10-08T01:29:18Z")
just an innocent french boat full of french men wearing striped sweaters. nothing to see here. i gotta admit that news story had me cracking up. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/37 "2009-10-08T01:39:58Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > It looks like a bunch of Somali pirates made a similar sort of [oopise](http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091007/wl_africa_afp/somaliapiracyshippingfrance_20091007151820). > [@](#): > > Somali pirates attempted to storm the French navy’s 18,000 tonne flagship in the Indian Ocean after mistaking it for a cargo vessel, the French military said on Wednesday. > [@](#): > > The crew of La Somme, a 160-metre (525-foot) command vessel and fuel tanker, The flagship is a _tanker?_ Wusses. They used to have such [cool ships.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_submarine_Surcouf_(N_N_3)) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/38 "2009-10-08T02:30:31Z")
[hijack continued] > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > The flagship is a _tanker?_ . “Command vessel and fuel tanker”. Essentially [a mothership for the task force](http://www.netmarine.net/bat/pr/somme/photo26.htm). Heck, USN also does that on many missions, flagging some glorified transport with fancy comms gear. Probably has plenty of extra room and you don’t really expect l 'Amiral and his Flag Staff to bunk up in some tight compartment in a cramped destroyer, where thay may only have a 25-bottle wine chiller, do you? Not as bad though as earlier this year when the Somali Geniuses tried to board an actual French frigate w/o looking close enough to notice the rather conspicuous gun turrets. Let’s just say that bunch is also taking an unexpected trip abroad. [/continued hijack] ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/39 "2009-10-08T03:22:11Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Heck, USN also does that on many missions, flagging some glorified transport with fancy comms gear. They named a ship after the [Battle of the Somme.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme)I rest my case. Wusses. Actually, they may not have…the damn thing is in French. Wusses. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789/40 "2009-10-08T03:30:11Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > They named a ship after the [Battle of the Somme.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme). We named one after Jimmy Carter. And he’s even still alive 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-guy-to-pull-a-gun-on-dumbass/512789.md?page=3)