Grinds my gears...

[Uberdummy]

SO.. There I am this afternoon after returning from the grocery store, flipping through an issue of guns & ammo at the living room table ( a dining table, since we have a den). I'm looking through it, enjoying myself pondering my first handgun purchase for my 21st birthday next year. I hear some guys talking outside (front door open), look up to see a kid through my front window, not any older than 18, pull a 1911 out of his waist band and jokingly point it at his friend and younger brother. They are stopped out in the street talking to each other. The ******* keeps putting it back in his waist band and pulling it out again, randomly pointing it in different directions. At one point was even pointing it at my window (he couldn't see inside, we have one-way shades).

Crap like this just pisses me off! When we have underage "homie" wannabees walking around in broad daylight showing off their new weapons to people, how can anybody say that gun laws work at all? I've seen this kid before and know he doesn't drive, nor his friends. He bought it locally or had it brought to him.
I relieved my tension by grabbing my AR and putting 5 rounds in my pocket to keep with me the rest of this evening around the house.

I hate urban California.

[prkprisoner]

police

why didn't you call the police?

[Uberdummy]

Around here they tend to be slow to respond even though they are three blocks away. They would have come (even if they were here within 5 minutes), they wouldn't find them, they would leave.

[glockk9mm]

why didn't you call the police?

Yep. That

[TonyNorCal]

+1 to calling the police. Usually a 'man with a gun' will get their attention.

[Uberdummy]

For years I would have agreed with you. Next time I will try it again (there will be a next time). In the past we have called the police 5 times for the same thing. They get here anywhere between 5-10 minutes, don't find them, and leave.

[grammaton76]

For years I would have agreed with you. Next time I will try it again (there will be a next time). In the past we have called the police 5 times for the same thing. They get here anywhere between 5-10 minutes, don't find them, and leave.

What if you take pictures/video?

[Uberdummy]

I was actually going to do that this time, but all of my AAs need to be recharged and my video batteries were dead from the days worth of green screen shooting I had at school. Definitely keeping some charged at all times from now on.

[VeryCoolCat]

What if you take pictures/video?

Yea, take a picture of a bunch of "gangstas" knowing well that one is armed.

Just call the cops and say "THERES A MAN WITH A GUN"

If you live in Los Angeles. Sometimes dialing 911 gets you on hold for over an hour. I once saw a bad accident hit and run, and this guy was on his phone on hold calling 911. I didn't see it as an emergency and dialed 877 ASK LAPD and got a response like twenty minutes before he even got on the phone with them.

[grammaton76]

Yea, take a picture of a bunch of "gangstas" knowing well that one is armed.

You're forgetting the part about him being behind one way glass inside of a building. They couldn't see him.

[kantstudien]

Move...now...

[Rivet]

DRAW DOWN!!!! j/p

[NeoWeird]

5-10 minutes for a 911? Damn, you guys are lucky. Living in the boonies has gotten some pretty random stuff around our house/ranch. Grand thefts, burglaries, home break ins, loonies, a lady walking in off the freeway claiming her ex husband pushed her out of the car and tried to run her over, and even a dead body in our front yard once. In the dozen or so times that I've either been there as a witness or called them myself the best response time we got was about 20 minutes, average was about 3 hours, and at least two of those occassions they didn't even bother to come out. Keep in mind these were ALL 911 calls as the criminal act was happening (or supposidly happening with the lady). Let's just say that I started taking protecting your right to 'life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness' took on a whole new meaning after that.

I hate to say it, but I just can't trust cops anymore. Not because they are bad, but because they just aren't there; at least not where I live.

[NorCal MedTac]

If you live in Los Angeles. Sometimes dialing 911 gets you on hold for over an hour. I once saw a bad accident hit and run, and this guy was on his phone on hold calling 911. I didn't see it as an emergency and dialed 877 ASK LAPD and got a response like twenty minutes before he even got on the phone with them.

Cell phone 911 calls usually go to CHP which is notorious for having long hold times. Its a good idea for those that only have cell phones these days to find out the other numbers for their local dispatch centers and save them into their phones. I know; 911 should get you a response immediately but it doesn't always so be prepared. Since many area use dispatch centers that dispatch different agencies (PD, FD, AMR, park services) all from one location if you know one of the numbers that go to say the park service pod you'll get through immediately. That person I would say 95% of the time dispatches the others pods also and will get you the help you need then. They also have direct contact with local agencies that aren't dispatched from their location.

[ghettoshecky]

you know all these stories remind me why I own guns. Police are limited in the ways they can prevent crime, but sure can respond in an untimely fashion. A family friend of mine was being robbed one day, and him being the gun enthusiast grapped his pistol and chased the guy out. He calls the police who just like u guys said 30 mins later and the first thing they do is demand to see his guns. No they didn't worry about the safety of him and his family, but the guns that were legally bought by a responsible citizen. I wonder now what would have happened if he did not own guns.... maybe the thief could have done worse than steal some tools....

Now I live in SD, used to live in LA. I've heard that the police are underfunded and watched that commercial where a SDPD officer complains that on the busiest nights they only have like 30 odd something officers on duty. I've noticed that in that I haven't received one traffic ticket down here, unlike the six I received up North. (FYI in my driving life I've lived down here longer). To me expanding a PD's budget would only lead to larger useless bureauracracy like the example of LAPD's gun unit. Don't get me wrong I really do respect law enforcement, and some are my friends are former and active law enforcemnet, but sometimes police are really limited in what they can do.