House lazed! What would you have done?

General discussion - Feel free to discuss anything you want here. Firearm related is preferred, but not required
User avatar
MNMGoneShooting
VGOF Bronze Supporter
VGOF Bronze Supporter
Posts: 729
Joined: Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:36:40

House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by MNMGoneShooting »

I know I'm opening myself up to some couch quarterbacking here, but had an interesting experience the other night that I thought I would share. Interested on thoughts of what others would have done.

My family and I were watching TV at around 9PM when our house was lazed from across the field. The way the house is situated, our family room has a sliding glass door that faces the field, and our sitting area is right in front of it. When the laser showed up, it was just above my daughter's head.

We called 911 and evacuated the room, I retrieved my weapon and determined where the laser appeared to be originating from. The laser stayed on for about 45 seconds, turned off about a minute, then another 45 seconds. That was it.

Deputy arrived 20(!) minutes later. Of course, the event had been over for a long period, so I asked him to just check it out - probably a kid playing type thing. He went over to investigate and then departed. I did not get feedback on what was discussed.

My obvious key concern was that the laser was pointed at our sitting area. Not the roof or another inanimate object, but us.

Beyond that, what could have been done? Over-reaction, under, or just right?

[ Post made via Mobile Device ] Image
If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower
User avatar
MNMGoneShooting
VGOF Bronze Supporter
VGOF Bronze Supporter
Posts: 729
Joined: Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:36:40

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by MNMGoneShooting »

Attached is he picture of the laser path, my house is on the right side of the picture.

Image
If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower
User avatar
crossfireltd
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 133
Joined: Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:54:13

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by crossfireltd »

I think you did the best thing at that particular moment. With that said and it happens again, then I would do my own investigation.
:cool:

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
User avatar
GeneFrenkle
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 1738
Joined: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:19:07

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by GeneFrenkle »

It looks like there's a building near the field end point. Do folks live there, and do they have a kid? Maybe the other buidings further to the left? Might be worth bring up to them and reinforcing that it was takenas a threat to life.

I do not consider it overreaction. Police would consider it an active threat if they were lased.

I'm not really into lasers, but from what I understand and have seen with boresighters and pointers, you could probably get an idea about the distance based upon the size of the dot on the wall.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ] Image
And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!
User avatar
MNMGoneShooting
VGOF Bronze Supporter
VGOF Bronze Supporter
Posts: 729
Joined: Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:36:40

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by MNMGoneShooting »

GeneFrenkle wrote:It looks like there's a building near the field end point. Do folks live there, and do they have a kid? Maybe the other buidings further to the left? Might be worth bring up to them and reinforcing that it was takenas a threat to life.

I do not consider it overreaction. Police would consider it an active threat if they were lased.

I'm not really into lasers, but from what I understand and have seen with boresighters and pointers, you could probably get an idea about the distance based upon the size of the dot on the wall.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ] Image
Where the line ends, that is a house with a 12 year old kid there. I'm not sure if that is the originating point of the laser, or if it came from further back. The dot was rather large.
If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower
User avatar
GeneFrenkle
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 1738
Joined: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:19:07

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by GeneFrenkle »

Sounds like that might be a reasonable starting point. If it was the kid, there needs to be an understanding that the behavior can be harmful... Even if unintended.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ] Image
And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!
User avatar
arkypete
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 141
Joined: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:08:30

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by arkypete »

On the way to the kitchen I would have drawn the drapes amd caome back with my cup of coffee.

Jim
User avatar
MNMGoneShooting
VGOF Bronze Supporter
VGOF Bronze Supporter
Posts: 729
Joined: Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:36:40

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by MNMGoneShooting »

arkypete wrote:On the way to the kitchen I would have drawn the drapes amd caome back with my cup of coffee.

Jim
In my case, it was a glass of wine.
If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Mindflayer
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 1966
Joined: Tue, 18 May 2010 20:54:35

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by Mindflayer »

I'd wander off to the house, ask if the kid has a laser, and very kindly tell him pointing it at someone's house is 1) dangerous 2) seen as a threat 3) impolite.
User avatar
mamabearCali
VGOF Bronze Supporter
VGOF Bronze Supporter
Posts: 2753
Joined: Thu, 19 May 2011 16:08:25

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by mamabearCali »

Yeah...most likely he is just a stupid kid, but I would have been seriously annoyed. Now if any of the nonsense that is on the cusp of breaking loose ever does I would consider that an immediate threat.
"I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend."
User avatar
VACoastie
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 641
Joined: Wed, 16 May 2012 14:16:13
Location: Currently - Suffolk, VA

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by VACoastie »

I remember being the same age and I pointed a laser at someone in Va Beach. That would have been 13 yrs ago. The guy gave a good bark at me and ever wince then I've never pointed a laser at anyone. I didn't know at that age how lasers could be perceived as threatening like I know now.

It was probably a police officer or military guy that I lazed out of uniform now that I recall his tone of voice.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ] Image
User avatar
moss20
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 1423
Joined: Mon, 18 May 2009 23:37:55
Location: Shen. Valley

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by moss20 »

I would have gone to another room, opened a window and lit the area with my own laser ( not saying what laser is attached to).
Improvise, Overcome, Adapt

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
T Jefferson

4-H Certified Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, Archery & Muzzleloading Instructor
NRA/ATA Shotgun Coach
User avatar
GeneFrenkle
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 1738
Joined: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:19:07

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by GeneFrenkle »

Lasers are dangerous in and pf themselves. There's a reason pilots and the FAA goes ape when airplanes get lazed. Blindness is easy to cause.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ] Image
And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!
User avatar
Jakeiscrazy
VGOF Silver Supporter
VGOF Silver Supporter
Posts: 3519
Joined: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:06:02
Location: Chesterfield, VA

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by Jakeiscrazy »

They can be dangerous, I think I would have closed the blinds, continued on watching tv. Stupid kids doing stupid things, but not like they're vandalizing stuff.
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
-Winston Churchill
User avatar
misawa
On Target
On Target
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat, 29 Sep 2012 10:34:18
Location: Goochland, VA

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by misawa »

Sounds like you did right. If nothing else it helped reinforce what to do when/if something does happen.
I ain't from 'round here...
User avatar
Jakeiscrazy
VGOF Silver Supporter
VGOF Silver Supporter
Posts: 3519
Joined: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:06:02
Location: Chesterfield, VA

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by Jakeiscrazy »

Or you could you could have picked up the nearest mirror!
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
-Winston Churchill
User avatar
thekinetic
Sharp Shooter
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 1753
Joined: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:51:23
Location: Springfield, Va

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by thekinetic »

Are you sure of the angle of that line? Because it would seem to me that the beam would of came straight across from the dormer on the other house.
'Some may question your right to destroy ten billion people. Those who understand realise that you have no right to let them live!'
-In Exterminatus Extremis
User avatar
Reverenddel
VGOF Gold Supporter
VGOF Gold Supporter
Posts: 6422
Joined: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:43:00
Location: Central VA

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by Reverenddel »

I paraphrase Mel Gibson from "Lethal Weapon" when they're in the garage:

"Do what I do when God Laze's you... laze him back."
User avatar
MNMGoneShooting
VGOF Bronze Supporter
VGOF Bronze Supporter
Posts: 729
Joined: Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:36:40

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by MNMGoneShooting »

thekinetic wrote:Are you sure of the angle of that line? Because it would seem to me that the beam would of came straight across from the dormer on the other house.
Pretty sure I have the angle right. It was right outside the south side of the dwelling.

I love these responses all!
If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower
User avatar
Palladin
VGOF Platinum Supporter
VGOF Platinum Supporter
Posts: 4154
Joined: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:06:43
Location: Louisa

Re: House lazed! What would you have done?

Post by Palladin »

How much motion did the beam have - or was it steady?
The second 45 seconds, was it painting the same location? :confused:
Now is the time for all good men to get off their rusty dustys...
Post Reply

Return to “General Discussion”