I'm sitting here in a hotel in Farmer's Branch, Texas - 5:30 am, having been awakened at 3:30 this morning by the sound of my hotel room door being handled as someone tried to enter. I'm a VERY sound sleeper, so it was a pretty intense attempt.... Given the time, I figured it was a drunk idiot at the wrong door. A few minutes later, the door "pops" open against the security lock. I go to full SHTF alert, roll out of the bed, grabbing my Colt Double Eagle as I do so.
Funny what goes through your mind at times like this. As I rolled out, my mind was cataloging my choices - the P238 or Colt - obviously, the Colt won due to size and round capacity. But even more surprising was that I was perfectly aware that I was picking up a double action vs. one of my SA 1911's, so I knew there was no reason to cock it - which helped (in my mind) alleviate a reflex shot until I KNEW it was time to shoot. I back into a corner by the phone, touch dial the front desk to tell 'em what's going on, then call 911. Needless to say, I keep my voice *very* low, inform the dispatcher as to room number, general room location and the fact that I am an armed CHL holder.
Within minutes, the dispatcher is telling me she has 2 officers outside my door, and to please come out and leave the gun in the room. I tell her I will as soon as I put pants on. Cops are cool - I hand 'em my ID and CHL license, and one stays with me while the other one clears the area further. We talk "shop" a bit (I'm former SO, 2 BIL's a nephew and a son are current LEO's), and his partner comes back and tells us the front desk had screwed up and checked someone else into my room!
Coming up out of deep sleep like that isn't conducive to proper deductive reasoning - I readily admit to being on "autopilot", but it's a scenario that I've played out after 30+ years of being on the road, and have only had one other incident back in the late 70's - THAT time, it WAS a "bad guy", but he backpedaled as soon as that old 357 of mine nailed the doorjamb next to his head (yeah, I missed). I'm just glad that I didn't pop a cap on the guy the 2nd time. Can't say exactly *why* I didn't, other than my subconscious said it wasn't time to start the dance yet - and I'm glad I listened. The cops were pretty interested in the DE - neither had seen one before, and were surprised that Colt had made a DA 45. Me, I was glad to have had it - no worries about manually cocking it, or grabbing it up coming out of a deep sleep like I did and accidentally triggering off a round on a cocked SA.
In retrospect, I wasn't scared - I was ready to take it to the next level if needed, but I stayed in control and took the proper steps. I have no doubt that it's because I've played the scenario out countless times in my mind, but I was still grateful to find that my instincts kicked in and executed my mental plan.
Front desk called shortly after the cops left, and there's no doubt that the young lady realized just how badly she'd screwed up, and how close it came to being a deadly mistake. Profuse apologies and a comped room for both nights (even though I told her it wasn't necessary) - and it was obvious the cop had impressed on her that I was armed and prepared to shoot, because she kept saying "Thank you for not shooting him!"
Oh, well - I'm too ugly ta need much "beauty sleep" anyways.....
Funny what goes through your mind at times like this. As I rolled out, my mind was cataloging my choices - the P238 or Colt - obviously, the Colt won due to size and round capacity. But even more surprising was that I was perfectly aware that I was picking up a double action vs. one of my SA 1911's, so I knew there was no reason to cock it - which helped (in my mind) alleviate a reflex shot until I KNEW it was time to shoot. I back into a corner by the phone, touch dial the front desk to tell 'em what's going on, then call 911. Needless to say, I keep my voice *very* low, inform the dispatcher as to room number, general room location and the fact that I am an armed CHL holder.
Within minutes, the dispatcher is telling me she has 2 officers outside my door, and to please come out and leave the gun in the room. I tell her I will as soon as I put pants on. Cops are cool - I hand 'em my ID and CHL license, and one stays with me while the other one clears the area further. We talk "shop" a bit (I'm former SO, 2 BIL's a nephew and a son are current LEO's), and his partner comes back and tells us the front desk had screwed up and checked someone else into my room!
Coming up out of deep sleep like that isn't conducive to proper deductive reasoning - I readily admit to being on "autopilot", but it's a scenario that I've played out after 30+ years of being on the road, and have only had one other incident back in the late 70's - THAT time, it WAS a "bad guy", but he backpedaled as soon as that old 357 of mine nailed the doorjamb next to his head (yeah, I missed). I'm just glad that I didn't pop a cap on the guy the 2nd time. Can't say exactly *why* I didn't, other than my subconscious said it wasn't time to start the dance yet - and I'm glad I listened. The cops were pretty interested in the DE - neither had seen one before, and were surprised that Colt had made a DA 45. Me, I was glad to have had it - no worries about manually cocking it, or grabbing it up coming out of a deep sleep like I did and accidentally triggering off a round on a cocked SA.
In retrospect, I wasn't scared - I was ready to take it to the next level if needed, but I stayed in control and took the proper steps. I have no doubt that it's because I've played the scenario out countless times in my mind, but I was still grateful to find that my instincts kicked in and executed my mental plan.
Front desk called shortly after the cops left, and there's no doubt that the young lady realized just how badly she'd screwed up, and how close it came to being a deadly mistake. Profuse apologies and a comped room for both nights (even though I told her it wasn't necessary) - and it was obvious the cop had impressed on her that I was armed and prepared to shoot, because she kept saying "Thank you for not shooting him!"
Oh, well - I'm too ugly ta need much "beauty sleep" anyways.....