Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

Several years back I fished a weekly night tournament on Wheeler lake in North Alabama. After one night’s fishing the club members noticed one of our members had not shown up for weigh-in, his truck and trailer wasn’t in the parking lot so we assumed he had a bad night and left early. Normally we fished the same type water he did and I had seen him in a creek about a half hour before weigh-in. This seemed odd to me so I gave him a call just to check on him and make sure he got home okay. When he answered I could tell something was wrong he was jabbering on almost incoherently for just a minute, my signal dropped out and he was gone. Trying to call him back I noticed a Police car pull up in the parking lot and drive straight over to some of the guys in the club. The police told us he had called and they only got he was on Wheeler before he dropped a signal and couldn’t get him back on his phone. Knowing where I say him last I told the Police I’d go back over and see if I could find him. One of the officers hopped in the boat with me and off we went. We found him standing on the bank close to where I saw last and picked him up. This is where we found he had been robbed. He said a boat pulled up to him in the dark, flipped a bright light on, blinding him and told him to get out of the boat. They took his keys and left him standing on the shore where we found him. Back at the parking lot he found his truck gone, so the thieves had stole his boat, truck keys and went back to the ramp and got his truck and trailer to boot. Now I almost always carry a pistol with me I have a CC license and just feel a little safer.
About two months later I went fishing one night and thought I’d try the spot in this creek close where I had found my friend. Around 2:00 AM I just happened to notice another boat coming into the mouth of the creek and just as they got to where they could see my anchor lights they shut their running lights off. I didn’t think a lot about it but kept an eye out for the boat. I noticed they were not running their big motor but slowly trolling toward me. Well they took their time but slowly got closer and closer to where I was fishing. Deciding this just didn’t seem right to my I pulled my trusty S&W semi auto out and set it on the deck next to me. These guys just kept getting closer and closer and soon they were almost on me. I waited until I was sure they could hear, held my Smith up and racked a shell into the chamber. Now anyone who has ever heard that rack can’t mistake it for much else. I heard one of the guys in the boat say “he’s got a gun” a couple of bumps in their boat the motor started and they we’re off and gone. Little did they know my Smith holds 16 rounds and if a bright light had come on I was gonna unload it and my second clip into their boat. I’m very glad that didn’t happen but I’m almost sure it was the crooks.
This is certainly the kinda gun control I like, didn’t have to fire a shot, hope I never do, but if the bad guys know you’re toting, chances are better they aren’t gonna bother you.
About 6 months later the police found my friends truck, beat all to pieces and stripped but to this day still no sign of his boat.
We heard a couple more reports like this until one night they hit the wrong man. This guy had left his phone in his truck while he fished. He had recently installed the find a phone app. on his phone. The Police followed it right back to these guys house, arrested them and we haven’t had any type trouble since.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Now that was a happy ending. Well written Ivey, thanks for telling it.

Jeremy Loc: America

I'm guessing they just had stupidity for weapons. There is not much fishing that is legal in Oregon at night but its open carry and concealed is legal too. It is also legal to shoot and k**l someone that is endangering you or anyone else.

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

Can't night fish in Oregon??? Hope they never do that in Tennessee. As far as shooting someone I hope I never have to but you can bet if I ever do, they won't live to tell their side of the story.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I have a cc permit also. The only place I carry though is in TX. I really don't think that it is necessary to carry here but my youngest thinks that I should, so, I do. He knows and understands this area better than I do. He carries his 357 right on the dash of his truck and his security dog sits right alongside him. He lives in Fenton MO., which s a suburb of St. Louis, and works in TX., Arkansas, OK., MS., Mo., & IL. His dog even flies with him on the plane. The company that he works for, bought and trained a Belgian Malnous that only obeys commands in German or Danish. He had to go to school right along with the dog in order to learn the commands and to learn how to handle her. Where ever he goes, she goes. She is a super-smart dog and will not even eat unless he tells he tells her to first, in German or Danish. He leads a life that I would not care to.

JimRed Loc: Coastal New Jersey, Belmar area

Unfortunately there are states in which self-defense without a shot fired is considered a crime; brandishing. Scare off a criminal, face prosecution.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

That's why we have gators Jim.

Smokypig Loc: Cheyenne, wyoming

I once explained these differences between Wyoming and California to a guy from L.A. I told him our head is in a different space.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

It is legal to openly carry in California if you are hunting or fishing unless you happen to be somewhere where it is illegal to carry at all (state or national park). I alway carry when I'm fishing unless I'm somewhere that I know I shouldn't be carrying. I've encountered state police and game wardens and I always let them know as they approach that I'm armed. I've never been questioned, other than "is it loaded"? Stupid question, but there you go.

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

I've been ask is it loaded too, I so much wanted to say I might as well be carrying a rock if it weren't but ..
my good sense kicked in.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Yeah - here's your sign.

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Regardless of legal
repercussions, it's "better to
be judged by twelve than
carried by six" ! Self-defense
first - answer questions later !

Smokypig Loc: Cheyenne, wyoming

You guys have it right. Also a 45 is a polite pistol. It is just rude to shoot someone twice.

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

When it comes to self-defense,
'rudeness' takes a definite back
seat to survival ! Also, depending on caliber, size of opponent and shooter's accuracy (or lack
thereof), some people may take
several rounds to be stopped !
One man, in a shoot-out with police, survived being struck
19 TIMES by police bullets, as
none hit vital areas/organs !
Caliber is a matter of choice/
preference; the original model 1911 Colt in .45 ACP holds
seven rounds, and some new model 586/686 S&W revolvers (.357 Mag.) ALSO pack seven rounds ! Some newer semi-autos basedon the 1911 can now carry
14 rounds; the Desert Eagle in
.357 Magnum can hold 10
rounds ! Number of rounds may help in dire circumstances, but accuracy/proficiency with the weapon is preferred ! The
concept of one shot - one k**l (make every shot count) is far better/more efficient than
wasting ammo due to inexperience/ineptitude with
the weapon ! If you're going to bother carrying, be at least very familiar and practiced, if not proficient; otherwise you may
just as well be throwing rocks instead ! Know your weapon !

JimRed Loc: Coastal New Jersey, Belmar area

There's always "shoot, shovel and shut up", too.