Besides my wife and my kids, this is the only time I have told this. I guess I wanted to share that responsible people do responsible things. If I had a handgun, I would not have brought it out, the actions did not warrant that. I felt comfortable that if this dirt-bag did reach for something that I would have controlled him, being that I was 2 steps from him and I would have bull-rushed him if he started reaching. It could have gone bad for me, but it was the girl I was concerned about. How much of this abusive behavior goes on? That is when I became depressed about humanity. I usually just focus on things in my private world, helping institutions that help others (local food pantry and Rockford Rescue Mission). I had / have no intentions of being a "protector" of a situation like I fell into, but it became something that had to be done.

Lets say you break into my home, without a weapon, I hear you busting through the door, I grab my .45, slap in the clip, slide the action back it is now ready. I do not know you, you broke into my home, you do not have a visible weapon, I'm still shooting. If you physically break into my home, I am not going to take the time to ask of your intentions, nor am I interested in "scarring" you off into the darkness. Semi-automatic means one shot per trigger pull. I would think a single shot handgun would be stupid. You break in, followed by another thug and maybe a third through another access. Semi-automatic with 10 rounds is the min. you need. Will this ever happen to me? Probably not...it is about being prepared.
When you break into my home, no conversation will happen, and hopefully it will be the last criminal act you will ever commit.

great....I love it

I do not carry as in my state (Illinois) does not allow open or conceal carry. Since I am a law abiding citizen I do not carry.
My firearms are for home only and enjoyment of shooting at the firing range.
If someone breaks in my home and all they have is a baseball bat I am not going to look for my baseball bat, I will stop them with a firearm. I will not say, do not come in my house, I will not say stop or I will shoot. You break in you made your choice to accept what happens.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Take a moment to read the following
http://www.inquisitr.com/442192/columbine-father-darrell-scott-echoes-sentiments-over-sandy-hook-shootings/

I get up at 3:15am Monday-Saturday so I can be at work by 4:30am. I like to leave my home by 4:00am.
Before I woke up one morning I had a dream that burned into my brain, as most of my dreams I forget what the dream was when I rise out of bed, but not this one. My dream was that my wife and I went into a small greasy spoon type of cafe. We sat at a table and I was facing the entry door. Two men walk in and I get bad vibes but I do not look at them for long, then another walks in with a long fiberglass stick (kinda like a fishing pole) he eyeballs me and I know bad things are going to happen. He meanders behind me and starts flicking me on the side of my face with his stick. I know I am out numbered and my biggest fear was that my wife would be assaulted and maybe murdered. I swing up and grab the stick man and shove his face/head into the edge of the counter and he is down and I took the others down with calm and deliberate moves. I wake up and think that most of my fight dreams end up with me not being able to throw a punch and my feet feel like they are in mud.
Now to my trip to work.
I am a routine guy, but this morning I had to stop and get gas for my truck, out of my routine. I am thinking I'm 10 minutes out of whack. As I start back to my drive my dream is going over and over in my head. The shop I work at is not in the best of areas in Rockford, IL. I stop at a 4 way stop. look to my left, no car coming but at the corner is a parked car and a woman with long blond hair in walking to the drivers door and I think to myself how this young lady looks like my daughter-in-law. I look to my right, no car and I take one more look to my left and the woman is to the door and all of a sudden a man comes flying from the front of the car and punches the woman square in the face. The next thing I know is that I am confronting this dude. The woman is on her back in the street crying, I can see her with my side vision while her attacker is in front of me. He is jacked up and starts yelling at me "Whatcha gonna do?!!!" I just hold my ground. He seems to understand that I am not impressed with his peacock squawking. So he does his best to make me understand what is going on, "You don't know, she's my bitch" He tells me this twice, I tell him, "You're not hitting her again" I am aware of everything, I see the woman getting herself up without looking at her, I see the madness in his eyes, I'm watching / waiting for his hands to either strike me or reach for a weapon. He does neither. A part of me wanted to ram his face into the curb, but I will not do anything unless he strikes me or the woman. By now the girl is up and is able to get in her car, start it and takes off, he hears the car door slam and turns his attention to her and punches the drivers window, she's gone. Again I wanted to finish this guy but she made it out safe and he doesn't advance on me. I get back in my truck and go to work, my routine was way out today.
After I had time to think about this event, it really bothered me. One, I know that if I hit him, it would have been bad, bad for him even though I probably would not be charged by the police, that would not stop his family from taking me to civil court. Two, if that would have been a black woman getting the crap kicked out of her would have I been there as quick as I was when this white girl was getting hit by this black guy? I would like to think so....
My wife said "you're not going to do that again are you?" I told her I didn't know I was going to do it this time. I could have sat in my truck and call the police and wait...wait for this girl to breathe her last breath.
Did my dream prep me for this? I have to say yes. If I did not get gas that morning, that girl may have taken more punishment, or maybe another person may have stopped.
After another reflection I felt depressed about our humanity.

I bought my first semi-automatic firearm 2 years ago. I am 55, law abiding, one marriage 36 years, 2 kids (both 10 years in the military) work full time my entire adulthood execpt for medical time off (4 months 1998). I have never hunted nor do I desire to.
When the founding fathers of our country made the decision to break away from the tyranny of England, it was necessary for everyone to have a firearm not only to help repel the invaders from England but for day to day living (hunting and protection from Indians, low-life marauders etc) Also as stated earlier it may be necessary to revolt again if the government goes against the will of the people. Of course I believe a fight against the United States by the people of the United States would be futile, but that does not take away our rights, regardless when it was written.
If I grew up in a country where guns were banned, I too would be in amazement to why people would be so fascinated by their firearms.
It is a right established and part of our heritage. In an obscure view that I have I ask, what is the fascination of having tea and crumpets? That is a part of someone else culture / heritage. It was / is ingrained in your upbringing.
Assault weapons are banned from most people in the U.S. But I am planning on getting a semi-automatic rifle that looks like an assault rifle. Why? No other reason than it is my right and in our Country if you do not exercise your rights, you may lose them. Both of my kids (son and daughter) have semi-automatic rifles that look like assault rifles and each have their semi-automatic handguns. We all plan of getting tactical style 12 ga. shotguns for home defense. Why would we get a shotgun when we have handguns? Shotgun pellets will not travel through the walls of our homes and injuring someone in another room like my .45 may do. Shotgun gives a wider pattern and sight accuracy is not as crucial.
To see a video on what is and is not an "Assault" rifle click on the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yATeti5GmI8&feature=share

I had just found phototube by accident. I sent the link to my wife. Thanks for sharing for everyone.

Thanks for the link

I love this. I'm a machinist by trade and a diy'er at home. This rig will be something on my list to make. Thanks for the link.

welcome...
i like the shot...with the garbage can.

welcome...nice shots of the kids

I also did not feel the need to be armed but that is starting to change for me. If teachers were allowed to have a firearm available maybe not so many children would have died. Personal choice for everyone to make. I have a .45 acp handgun and my wife was not a fan. During the past year she has changed her mind. She wants to get a handgun and learn to shoot. In Illinois we have to get a Firearm Owner card from the state police, then she would be allowed to legally own her pistol. We are in the process of joining a gun range in Janesville Wisconsin, where they have NRA instructors. Will she ever need to use it?. I hope not. If the situation arises, she will be ready to save her life or someone else. Whether you are in Wal-mart, McDonalds, movie theater, school, wherever you don't feel the need for a handgun is probably the time you may really need one.

the first one is good as the ferry gives some depth
the second one makes the ship blend with its background
the third (my favorite) gives us so much to look at and enjoy.
Great shots