rotty
Regular Member
Chris and I became friends in 1985 when he moved from Detroit into the home next to my parents to live with his aunt and uncle. We got in a lot of trouble, partied way too much, and did what most kids of the time did - screw off as much as possible, party as much as possible, and just have a good time as teenagers.
Years passed and friends drift. I myself still reside in MN and Chris moved to California to pursue his acting career and eventually met a woman and started a family. We have always kept in touch and tried to get together whenever work would allow which for me was quite often.
This last Friday, 10/15, I was having a conversation with my friend on the telephone about the battle for open carry and permitting in CA and asked him if he was going to try to UOC due to a nasty custody battle he was in. His reply to me was " if I carry it unloaded and something goes down, what if I don't have time to get it loaded ? "
To that question, I did not have a good answer. I tried to explain to him that even having the ability to protect himself could someday save his life. If I had only known what was going to take place in the next 24 hours for my friend maybe I could have changed his mind.
As many know a custody battle is an ugly thing. And in the state of California it is almost impossible for the father to gain rights under current laws much less WIN custody completely. Well after 2 years of fighting, harsh unfounded allegations, lie detector tests, depositions, and countless hearings and fees my friend DID WIN.
The morning his daughter was to be brought home I awaited a call from him so I could say hello to her and welcome her home. The call never came.
At approx 10AM on Saturday October 16th, my friend was brutally attacked in front of his home in a gated community in Anaheim CA. He was beaten so badly that he was unrecognizable and left for dead. Multiple skull fractures, nose, eye sockets, jaw, neck damage, and bleeding in the brain.
The city has listed this as a Felony assault on it's website however we are being told that the police are investigating it as an attempted homicide.
Would he have had a chance to load and possibly protect himself ? I do not know.
Would the sight alone of a handgun have made his attacker think twice ? I do not know.
I don't know why I posted this on the site other than the fact to let people know that you need to be aware. Even in broad daylight, be aware. At home when you think you are safe, be aware.
I have very real issue with these states that do not allow us to protect ourselves and personally can not imagine living somewhere that I am not afforded that ability in some reasonable context.
Years passed and friends drift. I myself still reside in MN and Chris moved to California to pursue his acting career and eventually met a woman and started a family. We have always kept in touch and tried to get together whenever work would allow which for me was quite often.
This last Friday, 10/15, I was having a conversation with my friend on the telephone about the battle for open carry and permitting in CA and asked him if he was going to try to UOC due to a nasty custody battle he was in. His reply to me was " if I carry it unloaded and something goes down, what if I don't have time to get it loaded ? "
To that question, I did not have a good answer. I tried to explain to him that even having the ability to protect himself could someday save his life. If I had only known what was going to take place in the next 24 hours for my friend maybe I could have changed his mind.
As many know a custody battle is an ugly thing. And in the state of California it is almost impossible for the father to gain rights under current laws much less WIN custody completely. Well after 2 years of fighting, harsh unfounded allegations, lie detector tests, depositions, and countless hearings and fees my friend DID WIN.
The morning his daughter was to be brought home I awaited a call from him so I could say hello to her and welcome her home. The call never came.
At approx 10AM on Saturday October 16th, my friend was brutally attacked in front of his home in a gated community in Anaheim CA. He was beaten so badly that he was unrecognizable and left for dead. Multiple skull fractures, nose, eye sockets, jaw, neck damage, and bleeding in the brain.
The city has listed this as a Felony assault on it's website however we are being told that the police are investigating it as an attempted homicide.
Would he have had a chance to load and possibly protect himself ? I do not know.
Would the sight alone of a handgun have made his attacker think twice ? I do not know.
I don't know why I posted this on the site other than the fact to let people know that you need to be aware. Even in broad daylight, be aware. At home when you think you are safe, be aware.
I have very real issue with these states that do not allow us to protect ourselves and personally can not imagine living somewhere that I am not afforded that ability in some reasonable context.