I'll start this writing with these words of advice: Keep your doors locked.
I've been around guns since I was young, I am now 27 and own several weapons. I have a concealed weapons permit. I keep a gun in my bedroom and in my second room (office). I've never had to use any of my guns in self-defense before, but I run drills in my mind on how I would respond to various incidents.
I learned a valuable lesson tonight. It doesn't matter how comfortable you become with your confidence, when you are under stress (adrenaline) it is a very different circumstance than what had been envisioned in your mind.
The story...
Around 10pm and my girlfriend is in the bedroom asleep (or I thought so) as she needed to wake up early the next morning.
I wasn't tired so I was listening to some music (headphones) and playing a video game, while drinking a beer
I can't hear much other than the music and I am totally focused in on the video game.
I feel and smell cold - a draft of wind. I immediately become suspicious and pull my headphones off. I hear some noises (jumbling) and think my girlfriend must be having trouble sleeping and went outside to get a book from her car (she is a teacher).
That seemed completely rational until I noticed the bedroom door was completely closed.
My level of paranoia raised. I got out of my chair to inspect, but took only a moment to double back (I only stood up) to get my Walther PPK that I leave on my desk. This proved to be a wise decision.
My desk chair is only about 4-5 steps from the doorway of the room, which then has my bedroom to the immediate left and the main entrance door off to the right.
I enter the doorway with my trusty Walther at my side and look down the hallway in to my living/dining area and see the face of a girl looking back at me. I was momentarily confused, deciding if that face was my girlfriends or not. It looked ghostly - surreal. This was NOT my girlfriend.
I immediately pull the slide back on my Walther and draw upon the target and yell "What the f!@# are you doing in here?".
No quick reply.
A very quick moment later a MAN appears from my kitchen!
I immediately focused my aim on the new target and yell the same question.
I can not remember the exact words, but it was some sort of apology to which I yell the same question for the third time.
The man then says they are in the WRONG apartment.
My brain is trying to decipher the statement while trying to maintain a close visual on the suspects.
They both continue to apologize, with their hands in the air and the fear of god among them.
I ask them if they are high several times. The man says no, and keeps apologizing. He says they thought this was his mom's apartment. He is sweating and panting at this point, and apologizes more.
I draw my weapon down, as I see no immediate threat (their hands are empty and bent upwards).
I question them as to what apartment they thought they were in and they answer with a plausible number.
I asked them again what sort of drugs they were taking and the girl says they smoked some pot.
Bull****, but I let it slide. I have smoked pot in my younger years and have never been that much out of my mind to stumble in to the wrong apartment.
The man puts his shoes on (he took them off, a good sign he did indeed walk in to the wrong apartment) and I escort them out of my place.
I did not follow, closed my door and checked on my girlfriend - who heard the entire exchange and can't sleep now!
I am now really wishing I had verified their story, but I wanted to remove myself from the situation. I have the apartment number they gave me, which I can verify tomorrow. This area is known for a lot of meth addiction, and I would put little by an addict in need.
Things I realize I should have done differently:
1. Trust your gut. I knew it was odd that my door would open (feel/smell the cold breeze) when my girlfriend should be sleeping, but I tried to rationalize it.
2. When investigating, keep a bullet in the chamber. Had the suspects been armed, I might not have had time to react.
3. LOCK MY DOORS AT ALL TIMES
I'm glad it all ended without any one getting shot. I really am. This has been a valuable "training" lesson for me to better prepare for future encounters (hopefully none!).
I did managed to get a nice slice on my hand from my quick slide pull to chamber a round, so we can't say no one got injured
I felt remarkably calm and in control of the situation after the first few seconds. I am very surprised by that, since this isn't what I anticipated it to be like.
Enjoy.
EDIT:
Forgot one more lesson, that I am now regretting. Call the police. They seemed genuinely scared and confused, but it could have been a rehearsed gimmick. You never know with addicts.
I've been around guns since I was young, I am now 27 and own several weapons. I have a concealed weapons permit. I keep a gun in my bedroom and in my second room (office). I've never had to use any of my guns in self-defense before, but I run drills in my mind on how I would respond to various incidents.
I learned a valuable lesson tonight. It doesn't matter how comfortable you become with your confidence, when you are under stress (adrenaline) it is a very different circumstance than what had been envisioned in your mind.
The story...
Around 10pm and my girlfriend is in the bedroom asleep (or I thought so) as she needed to wake up early the next morning.
I wasn't tired so I was listening to some music (headphones) and playing a video game, while drinking a beer
I can't hear much other than the music and I am totally focused in on the video game.
I feel and smell cold - a draft of wind. I immediately become suspicious and pull my headphones off. I hear some noises (jumbling) and think my girlfriend must be having trouble sleeping and went outside to get a book from her car (she is a teacher).
That seemed completely rational until I noticed the bedroom door was completely closed.
My level of paranoia raised. I got out of my chair to inspect, but took only a moment to double back (I only stood up) to get my Walther PPK that I leave on my desk. This proved to be a wise decision.
My desk chair is only about 4-5 steps from the doorway of the room, which then has my bedroom to the immediate left and the main entrance door off to the right.
I enter the doorway with my trusty Walther at my side and look down the hallway in to my living/dining area and see the face of a girl looking back at me. I was momentarily confused, deciding if that face was my girlfriends or not. It looked ghostly - surreal. This was NOT my girlfriend.
I immediately pull the slide back on my Walther and draw upon the target and yell "What the f!@# are you doing in here?".
No quick reply.
A very quick moment later a MAN appears from my kitchen!
I immediately focused my aim on the new target and yell the same question.
I can not remember the exact words, but it was some sort of apology to which I yell the same question for the third time.
The man then says they are in the WRONG apartment.
My brain is trying to decipher the statement while trying to maintain a close visual on the suspects.
They both continue to apologize, with their hands in the air and the fear of god among them.
I ask them if they are high several times. The man says no, and keeps apologizing. He says they thought this was his mom's apartment. He is sweating and panting at this point, and apologizes more.
I draw my weapon down, as I see no immediate threat (their hands are empty and bent upwards).
I question them as to what apartment they thought they were in and they answer with a plausible number.
I asked them again what sort of drugs they were taking and the girl says they smoked some pot.
Bull****, but I let it slide. I have smoked pot in my younger years and have never been that much out of my mind to stumble in to the wrong apartment.
The man puts his shoes on (he took them off, a good sign he did indeed walk in to the wrong apartment) and I escort them out of my place.
I did not follow, closed my door and checked on my girlfriend - who heard the entire exchange and can't sleep now!
I am now really wishing I had verified their story, but I wanted to remove myself from the situation. I have the apartment number they gave me, which I can verify tomorrow. This area is known for a lot of meth addiction, and I would put little by an addict in need.
Things I realize I should have done differently:
1. Trust your gut. I knew it was odd that my door would open (feel/smell the cold breeze) when my girlfriend should be sleeping, but I tried to rationalize it.
2. When investigating, keep a bullet in the chamber. Had the suspects been armed, I might not have had time to react.
3. LOCK MY DOORS AT ALL TIMES
I'm glad it all ended without any one getting shot. I really am. This has been a valuable "training" lesson for me to better prepare for future encounters (hopefully none!).
I did managed to get a nice slice on my hand from my quick slide pull to chamber a round, so we can't say no one got injured
I felt remarkably calm and in control of the situation after the first few seconds. I am very surprised by that, since this isn't what I anticipated it to be like.
Enjoy.
EDIT:
Forgot one more lesson, that I am now regretting. Call the police. They seemed genuinely scared and confused, but it could have been a rehearsed gimmick. You never know with addicts.
in case I ever have to detain someone I can put them in the cuffs... THAT IS ALL I USE THEM FOR, I SWEAR! 
