Better safe then sorry?

[theme57]

Just recently while my family was in our apartment we hear loud explosions in the street. Being a long time airsofter and watching years worth of training videos (cant afford classes so I practice when I skirmish in airsoft and at home), I went prone on the ground and began to crawl to cover without thinking. I looked outside and saw my little sister looking out the window seeing what it was. I saw multiple flashes with continuous back and forth explosions. My Dad was kneeling down a little and when they saw me crawling he rushed to my sister and had us go to the bathroom. 5 minutes later the explosions stopped. During the whole time we were all afraid for our lives and thought we would die. I do not own a firearm and was shaking because I had no way to defend myself since if someone came in, we were too far away to from the door to attack. Its turns out after calling 911, the local school near us accidently had fireworks go off in the street. My family then becomes angry at me because since I am the only firearm enthusiast in the home, my dad and sister not wanting a gun in the home, they said I should know the difference between fireworks and gunshots. So was it appropriate that I ducked for cover and reacted the way I did even though I didnt know what the explosions were or should I have done something different?

[uhlan1]

You funny man!

[LAKings22]

When its 1 or 2 bangs, sometimes its hard to tell if it was a gun shot or fireworks. When that usually happens in my neighborhood, I take a quick look around my property through all the windows and only 1x was there an actually shooting which ended up being right in front of my house. They left the scene so fast, I had no reason to even grab my HD gun. I called 911 and with in a few minutes they arrived, closed down the street, asked my neighbors and me a few questions, collected 15 9mm shell casings, 2 cell phones (yup I guess couple of them got so scared they dropped their cell phones), took pictures of everything including 2 rounds that hit the neighbors home. Thankfully that has been the only action I have seen so close to my home and everything happened so fast that I didn't even think about grabbing my gun. So we can say all we want about I would do this and I would do that, you really wont know until it happens and when it does, its fast.

[patriot_man]

So wait did you think it was gunshots or explosions going off outside or both?

A gunshot is very distinct sound, very so often a sharp cracking noise while fireworks are more of a popping noise.

[freethemouse]

I was walking from my school to the parking lot late at night (~11pm ish) when I suddenly heard 2-3 loud explosions in rapid succession. My first instinct was that it was gunfire so I kinda ducked real quick (I go to USC, which isn't in the nicest area as you may know). I then saw that it was fireworks going off maybe a hundred yards from me. It wasn't a holiday or anything. I just stood there on the sidewalk watching the fireworks show for 10 minutes. =)

Gunshots are pretty distinct, but I wouldn't say that it's immediately discernable. Moreover, I'd say it gets harder to distinguish if the sounds are coming from a distance , or if you're in between buildings, etc.

[theme57]

I guess I over reacted then ha ha.

[Desertrat79]

I guess I over reacted then ha ha.

Not at all. like your original title, "Better SAFE than Sorry."

[durandal]

Sorry for saying this, i really am but, Your family is a group of .. Ignorant folks. They should thank you. Get a REAL gun.

[Curtis]

You did fine. The PD knew what was going on when you called because so many others also called. At least that's what you should tell your dad.

[myk]

If my family acted that way towards my interest in firearms I would disown them; thankfully, they're all dead already anyway...

[10mm]

Better safe than sorry. How old are you by the way? If over age then maybe you should go out to a shooting range and learn what a real firearm sounds like. There are many different kinds and each has it's own report. Good luck:thumbup:

[RonnieP]

Do what you have to do to protect your family, even if you have to go against them.

[cabinetguy]

Being a long time airsofter and watching years worth of training videos

Sounds like you did what your training has taught you, but you might want to go to a range to get familiar to the sound of gunshots, or just go to the 'hood.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Your resume' of years of airsofting and viewing training videos certainly saved the day.

[bombadillo]

I'll guess you're 17 and been playing with guns since 15 or so.



How close am I??