March 1, 2014, 0320 on an island in Texas…. Crash! Crash! Boom! Boom! Awakening to a dog in his kennel barking [a fear bark], a blood curdling bark. Once again, Crash, Boom! Crash, Boom! I nudge my husband who’s lying next to me dead asleep, “What the….” he jumps up, and rushes to the back door, no shoes, no shirt. I hear “Get out of here! Get away from my house!” I dial 911, as I hear the back door booming and the sound of kitchen plates, pots and pans crashing. Like a cartoon, where the sounds are coming from bubbles above the characters, “bam, boom, crash, bang” I am on the floor, crouching/hiding beside the bed, whispering into the receiver talking to the 911 operator, “please help, we’ve had a break in…oh my gosh, there are TWO of them… please, help.” The calming nature, the reassuring voice, my “lifeline” on the 911 call, dispatcher, Ms. Melissa, who held my hand on the telephone until help arrived. There are no words to describe the lifesaving heroic deeds of the dispatcher and GPD provided us that morning; the morning which changed my life forever.
Long-time AG & AG member, Ashley Krenek, heard about our situation, and suggested that I learned the art of shooting (you know, to protect yourself). Is she talking to me? Me, who doesn’t believe in guns, me, who just doesn’t get it, me – the peace, love, and no war from the 60s girl? I thought to myself, ok, I’ll give it a shot (pun intended). At her invitation, I also attended (as a spectator) her match at an outdoor range, and was so impressed with her accuracy and talent on the course, I knew right then and there, I wanted to be just like her one day. And so it began; I joined AG&AG. I’ve purchased additional handguns since my initial revolver, and I’m totally hooked on NEVER BEING A VICTIM IN MY OWN HOME AGAIN, EVER, or anywhere else for that matter.
It’s been a few years since the change in my philosophy about guns as well as the personal improvement of my accuracy and readiness. I can only thank my mentors, and my firearms/safety & defense teachers for leading me on the course I am presently on. It’s a good, solid, skilled, knowledgeable path. The camaraderie of AG & AG Members, the sharing of information and knowledge is immeasurable. There are no words to describe the lifesaving skills AG&AG has provided me over the last two years – a far cry from that morning which changed my life forever. Thanks for being there for me!
As you now know our journey began (and almost ended) the morning of 1 March 2014, when we had a home invasion with assault at 0320 while we were both sleeping. At the time, neither my husband nor I owned a firearm, nor did we endorse those who did. I can tell you; a home invasion will change those beliefs — at least they did for us.
There is so much that has transpired since that fearful morning in our house on Galveston Island. So much. Although, to this day, I credit the quick acting police officers who responded to my 911 call for saving our life, and will forever Back the Blue, no matter how many years pass. (Listen here, not for the weak: https://youtu.be/Co7mGbACZwM).
Aside from the immediate rescue from danger, the judicial system failed us. Yes, it did, failed us immensely.
1. The District Attorney’s office, in their great wisdom, bonded the perpetrator out within 48 hours to an address less than 100’ from our back door.
2. The perpetrator lived freely in our neighborhood all throughout the year that it took for the courts to prosecute and sentence him.
3. In its all-infinite wisdom, the Galveston courts (after 4 continuances) did sentence the perpetrator to 3 years, of which, he served less than a year. (Note: This is a repeat offender, with many other felonies on his record, and has been prosecuted many times in the County of Galveston.)
4. The Victim’s Assist program also failed us. The State of Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program’s mission is: Crime victims and their families may need information, resources, or financial assistance. We’re here to help. NOT! Through countless mailings of receipts for physical care for my husband, the amount to repair the broken-down door and its window, a visit to a counselor for me, the cost of trauma and having to move to a safer city, well, we received not one penny from this Compensation Program from the State of Texas.
All of that aside, one benefit – help from my friend Ashley, who introduced me to an all-women’s shooting club called A Girl and A Gun. Yes, this little left-winger, who never believed that private law-abiding citizens owning a gun was a good thing (they are meant for Law Enforcement or Military only), stepped up to the plate and attended a meeting of AG&AG. I shot a gun for the very first time (except for the gun I had to shoot in boot-camp), it was the first time I understood why I might want to own a gun. We were very lucky the morning of 01 March 2014, in which the response time from our local Police Department was quick, however, six minutes, when your life is in danger and at stake seems like a very long time.
Since that time, I have acquired a firearm or two (they’re like potato chips, you can’t have just one), and I practice and rehearse often, very often. I have taken core concepts and safe handling of a firearm instruction, cleaning workshops (I can break it down, clean it and put it back together), malfunction classes, pistol skills classes in the form of private lessons, pistol defense lessons, I’ve also taken home invasion scenario classes (in a shoot house). And safety classes, don’t forget about being safe! If you own it, respect it and secure it. I now am a certified AG&AG Facilitator and Instructor, NRA Pistol Instructor, USCCA Instructor, and I also am vetted to teach the Texas Department of Public Safety LTC (License to Carry) classes.
I attend workshops, and annual conferences, I shoot competition through USPSA (United Practical Shooting Association) and also participate in IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) matches. I admit, I’m not the fastest gun-slinger on the team, but I sure believe I can defend myself and my husband, animals and my home in less than 6 minutes (the average response time for authorities is 12 minutes). Besides, it’s a great sport and it’s Fun with a capital F.
For those of you who are non-believers in firearms, I understand, I’ve been there. However, now you know why you see posts from me on the range, and why I do what I do. I just hope you are never a “sitting duck” in your own home, or anywhere for that matter, as were we. Training may not make perfect, but training sure prepares you for the good chance that should you ever be in a situation where you need to defend yourself or your loved ones, you can.
Keep shootin’ ‘em straight!
-kat