My neighbor's son got beat up on his front lawn this PM

[Squatch]

My wife was home to witness it. Three kids (with ties to gangs, it was later revealed by the police officer who responded) followed my neighbor's kid home from school and jumped him on the front lawn.

My wife said that, at first, it just seemed like they were horsing around. Then, she noticed that he was on the ground being kicked in the head and torso.

Luckily, another neighbor (a pretty big guy) say this going down and ran down the street to break it up. The kids fled and my neighbor's son suffered a broken nose, broken ribs, and numerous lacerations and bruises.

All the while, I'm at work. My wife is at home with our 10 month son, in a neighborhood we chose on its assumed safety.

I've never felt a need to arm myself, but I am going to buy a pistol for my wife. I am going to teach her how to use it under stressful conditions, we're going to put it in an easily accessible, quick opening safe, and we're going to pray that this kind of violence never visits this cul-de-sac again.

Fuck, man. Whatever happened to kids hanging out and playing catch or street hockey?

[undeterred]

1. Thank goodness the neighbor was there to break it up

Maybe your wife should get his number so that she could call him if something like that happened again.

[Squatch]

2. It was a fluke...he just happened to get off work early.

Pretty much every adult on this street works during the daytime. My wife is one of the only ones here during that time.

[BikeWriter]

3. I hope they get some jail time for that. Get them off the street.

[Squatch]

4. The LEO knew exactly who they are and my neighbor is pressing

charges. My wife has already said that she'll take the stand in a trial.

[TexasLady]

5. that pisses me off

dear god, that pisses me off!!!

stupid little shit-asses.


my son (whos 21 now and weighs 220) was picked on by this one boy a lot. At the time, my son was small(first or second grade) and the bully was much bigger.So one day, the boy pushed him down in the boys bathroom so hard my son fell. My son said he saw red, and lost it. He said he beat his butt so bad the bully cried. My son cried too..The teacher knew what was going on with the previous bullying, and my son didnt get into trouble, and the 2 even became friends.

However,my other son, when in second grade, kept getting messed with by a fourth grader. Big ol kid. Laughed at my son's glasses, etc...I didnt know anything about it until I got a call from the principal, saying" your son is in trouble because he locked one of the fourth graders in the boys bathroom and turned the lights off":D

but THIS? this is disgusting.:mad:

[Squatch]

8. I'm livid.

You're supposed to feel safe in your own home, you know?

They're nothing but a bunch of thug lowlifes who are probably going to have very short lives. One of the kids is a repeat offender...like repeat, repeat, repeat offender.

Fuck, I hate violence.

[Deja Q]

13. Try never feeling that way. In any home. Ever.

Don't ask how I survive and retain my moral qualities. (Though 9 months ago I did get a word to describe it: I'm an Aspie, it's comparatively easy TO do so despite it all...)

[Squatch]

17. That sounds dreadful.

You have to be able to feel safe someplace, yano?

[Deja Q]

21. Well, comparatively safe.

But I don't feel safe generally anywhere... long story...

I do feel "most safe" in my home. But even still.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

20. This is a lesson for people to learn!!

"my son (whos 21 now and weighs 220) was picked on by this one boy a lot. At the time, my son was small(first or second grade) and the bully was much bigger.So one day, the boy pushed him down in the boys bathroom so hard my son fell. My son said he saw red, and lost it. He said he beat his butt so bad the bully cried. My son cried too..The teacher knew what was going on with the previous bullying, and my son didnt get into trouble, and the 2 even became friends."

[thinkingwoman]

6. if your wife doesn't know how to use a pistol...

get a shotgun instead.

It's easier to defend yourself with under stress and, besides, many people are remarkably intimidated by a woman wielding a shotgun.

I come from a rural red state and shotguns are the home defense weapon of choice for normally non-gun-weilding females. You can place the shotgun (unloaded) up high and place the bullets in a secure but easy to access location. The act of loading and pumping the shotgun will scare off most anyone.

That's what we bought 6 years ago when a stalker moved in next door to us.


P.S. You might also buy a large dog (it doesn't have to be a "guard dog"...size matters). We have a huge black lab that is so friendly but strangers are absolutely intimidated by him when he barks. Such a dog would make a great protector for your wife and son (as he gets older).

Just my 2 cents from living with real and present danger for the past 6 years. Good luck.

edited to correct bad typing. :eyes:

[Squatch]

7. We have both shotguns and a large dog

I am a duck hunter and have a couple shotguns. I keep them locked away in a safe. I just don't think she would be able to unlock the thing quickly if, God forbid, something happens.

She knows how to shoot a pistol...but not quick-action type shooting.

We also have a large dog...but he'll be useless. He's just a big, friendly labrador retriever that doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

If something like this happens around this neighborhood again, I think we'll pack up and move along.

[NMDemDist2]

9. your lab might surprise you, esp if he knows the neighbor kid

my big bubba (85# border collie) is the sweetest guy on the planet UNTIL

we were walking to the mail box one day and a teen age kid aggresively (walking fast yelling "Hey Lady, HEY!) came toward us

bubba went BESERK! growling and barking and lunging and showing his teeth

I was amazed! never did find out what the kid wanted, he took one look and RAN!

here's the big bubba, just look at that face....

[Squatch]

11. I can't take my eyes off the sleeping gown. Yikes!

Holy flowers! LOL :evilgrin:

[NMDemDist2]

19. it's light, loose and cool in our AZ summers

works for me

I love being an old broad.....

:rofl:

[thinkingwoman]

23. well I understand what you're saying

and I'll only give you one last piece of unsolicited advice: trust your gut.

When our stalker incident occurred, we knew what we had to do to feel safe. We got a LOT of advice from other people who had never faced anything like it. We listened to everything, and then we did what we thought was right. Looking back 6 years later, I know we made the right decisions.

Good luck and hopefully nothing like that will ever happen again!

[IronLionZion]

10. Squatch, get a big shotgun

my Grandma had a shotgun when she was living alone. It scares people without even being loaded. Hell, you don't even need bullets. Just load it with blanks and have your wife fire it into the air when these assholes come over. And call the police too.

If you really want to get a pistol, be prepared for the consequences: your kid getting it, the bad guys taking it, God forbid actually shooting someone,...

[Deja Q]

12. I recall getting beaten up in front of a neighbor's house. She saw it all

and decided to keep watching; didn't bother to call the cops or anything. (the bully also had the vain audacity to connive the principal to suggesting I started the tussle; saying I egged him on (an outright lie). x( )

Our society is content with these animals running about unchecked. What's left to say?

[nini]

14. If they followed that kid home - they had an issue with HIM

the odds of them causing problems with anyone else is unlikely.

Getting a gun won't help in that situation. If you were having trouble with breakins etc.. then I could see your concern. This type of thing, while scary shouldn't cause you to want to get a gun on itself.

Getting a gun won't help you if they're driving by shooting etc.. Stepping in during that would only put your family in more harm's way.

If you chose the home on its assumed safety then get a neighborhood watch together and address that incident with the police.


Good luck.. This is my opinion of course and I don't mean to dismiss your fears, but think about that gun again after you've had a chance to calm down a bit.

[Squatch]

16. That's really good advice.

My wife and I have already thrown around the idea of neighborhood watch. That could be a good idea.

While the cop was next door, he said that the city council down here is turning a blind eye to gangs and gang-related violence as it will upset the city's development plans. So, we (members of the neighborhood) are going to raise hell at the next town hall meeting.

[nini]

18. Definitely do that.

In addition to getting on city hall's back do this -- the police should have a community relations guy for your area. Meet with him - he should be the one to drive the neighborhood watch group. If the police know you have organized, they'll work with you better. You'll get the patrols you need if you make noise. I know this from experience.


At the very least the neighbors will step in and watch out for each other more and that alone will be a good thing.



good luck.

[richmwill]

15. Wastes of life...

The only thing that makes me smile in this story is of how "tough" these kids will be when they go to prison. GOD, I wish I could hear them crying when they go...

[Kali]

22. at least it wasn't a shooting

kids been beating each other forever (still not right) - only lately starting to shoot each other