Iowa congressman, family safe after home invasion

[Remmah2]

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A home invasion at Rep. Leonard Boswell's Iowa farm ended when his 22-year-old grandson fetched a shotgun and aimed it at the intruder, according to a statement from the congressman's office. No one was seriously injured.

As they struggled, Boswell's grandson, Mitchell Brown, got a shotgun from another room. When he pointed the shotgun at the intruder, the man fled into the fields around the house outside Lamoni.

The way it should be!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivuioxwudNah4eyAVbJSi9FP-ZMA?docId=8491924cd9fe4e93885aeeca0a269eb2

[applegrove]

1. Let's all now have a fantasy about saving the day and being a big hero. Then we can make plans to go

out and buy a gun. :sarcasm:

[Blown330]

2. Only someone such as yourself...

...would equate self defense as being a hero. Very sad for you.

[DonP]

3. That truly sucks as a comment - but is actually pretty indicative of your attitude

You'd rather see them injured or dead, rather than use a gun to drive off a home invader? That's sure as hell what it sounds like.

You are either a thoughtless idealogue or a generally rotten and heartless human being if that's how you truly feel about this story.

[beevul]

19. Now theres a distinction without much difference...

"a thoughtless idealogue or a generally rotten and heartless human being"


Of course, that describes...I would say...the bulk of the anti-gun movement.

[spin]

5. A home invader is a serious threat ...

The incident started about 10:45 p.m. Saturday when an armed man came in through the front door, attacked Boswell's daughter, Cindy Brown, and demanded money, the statement said. Boswell, 77, heard his daughter's screams, came into the entryway and attempted to disarm the intruder.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivuioxwudNah4eyAVbJSi9FP-ZMA?docId=8491924cd9fe4e93885aeeca0a269eb2

Notice that the intruder was armed, although the newspaper report doesn't say what the weapon was. Also note that this 77 year old Democratic congressman struggling with the intruder and attempting to protect his daughter.

Had the 22 year old grandson not been present and had access to a shotgun, this situation might have became a tragedy.

Fortunately things worked out well and no one was hurt.

Buying a firearm is an individual choice that requires a lot of consideration and thought. Owing a firearm involves great responsibility and the owner should have the safety training necessary to handle the firearm safely. In experienced hands a firearm is an excellent self defense weapon and a shotgun is one of the best.

But I don't recommend that everybody run out and buy one.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

12. A very serious situation, indeed.

Acquiring a firearm for self-defense use and the planning and training for that defense is an intensely serious situation. I agree with you, it is not for everyone. Many LEOs are only required to train once a month which is not optimal in my opinion. A some retraining should occur along with any life changes like a move to a different type of residence or adding or removing household members.

[Xela]

45. self-delete

oops

[slackmaster]

7. I'm not even slightly worried about a home invasion, and I bought a gun yesterday anyway

:hi:

[RSillsbee]

9. C'mon man dish

what'd you get?

[slackmaster]

10. Customized stainless Smith & Wesson 626 revolver, .44 Magnum, 4-inch barrel

Custom solid wood hand grip, action job, champhered cylinders, Magna-ported, and engraved. Includes a Bianchi leather holster and two speed loaders in their own holster.

The original owner carried the gun as his sidearm when he was doing MP duty while in the Navy, including when he was stationed in Japan and held a guard post that was once manned by Lee Harvey Oswald. The engraving includes the original owner's initials, so if he is ever famous (which is possible) the gun has historical provenance.

Collecting firearms is fun!

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

13. Make my day. ;) n/t

[slackmaster]

18. I won't be able to do that until June 27 because of California's silly 10-day wait

For those unfamiliar with the process of doing a private sale of a used firearm in California other than a curio or relic long gun, here are the basics:

- Buyer and seller must both appear in person simultaneously at the place of business of a federally licensed firearm dealer, with the firearm.

- Seller presents ID (California Driver License, California-issued non-driver ID; or a military ID or US Passport plus proof of residence in the state.)

- Buyer presents ID, same as above but additional proof of residence is required regardless of ID type. I used the registration card from my command SUV.

- Buyer presents California Handgun Safety Certificate card. Mine expired last year, so I had to take a ridiculously easy test and pay $10. (At least the HSC card requirement will prevent a total moron from being eligible to buy a handgun.)

- Dealer and buyer complete federal Gun Control Act form formerly known as Form 4473. This used to be on yellow paper, now it's computerized for data collection only, and gets printed out. That's the part that is supposed to weed out felons, fugitives from justice, live-in lover beaters, people discharged dishonorably from the military, illegal aliens, etc.

- Buyer pays California Dealer's Record of Sale (DROS) fee of $25.

- Buyer pays private-party transfer fee, amount regulated by the state at $25.

The store was busy but the man who helped us was very efficient. We walked out about 35 minutes after our arrival. I drove my friend home and wrote him a check for the amount, and talked about me possibly selling him a Mosin-Nagant rifle.

It's such a hassle and expense ($60) transferring a firearm legally in California that I must assume that many people blow off the whole process and just transfer weapons for cash and keep quiet about it. Curio and relic long guns are exempt from the whole thing.

Now my revolver sits in the safe at the gun store. The 10-day wait makes no logical sense in my case, because I already own more than 50 functional firearms including concealable ones.

When I go to pick up the gun, I'll have to bring a state-approved locking device. Now only cable-type locks are approved by the state, so my big Ziploc bag full of old-fashioned trigger locks is worthless.

I'll also have to sign a declaration that I own a state-approved gun storage device. I bought my safe in December 2004. It cost me almost $3,000 with delivery and installation. I think people should get a federal tax break for that kind of investment.

[beevul]

21. No cat pics with the safe slack?

Samantha was it?

[slackmaster]

22. Sam the Beast as a kitten per your request

[Atypical Liberal]

32. OMG!!!!1!!! An Arsenal!!111!!! n/t

[oneshooter]

38. Not an arsenal, proper term is "armory". n/t

[Hoopla Phil]

35. How well do the velcro pistol holders work?

I notice that they seem to be placed on a section of loop pile carpet. If this is correct do they stay well secured?

I ask because my vault door has loop pile carpet on it (custom job) and have been considering velcro holsters like in your picture.

Thanks.

[slackmaster]

36. That's "industrial strength" Velcro, not like the stuff used on clothing closures

It's very strong.

My safe's manufacturer (Liberty) doesn't advertise them as available, but here's a place that does:

http://www.deansafe.com/aco-acornpistolholsters-5pack.html

[Glassunion]

23. Did you bolt that bad-boy to the floor?

It 4 hours and 2 trips to Home Depot. I ended up with one burned out drill and one sheared masonry bit to get mine bolted in.

[slackmaster]

25. Yep. Safe installers did that. They had a Hilti hammer drill, bits, and anchors.

I was envious of their accoutrement.

I did manage to hammer drill holes to bolt my milling machine to the floor of the garage. I burned out two bits in the process, but the machine hasn't moved or tipped even during the Easter 2010 earthquake.

[Glassunion]

30. I have a perfect spot in my basement...

It is tucked into a closet with the only access being in the front. The right wall is against my foundation wall and the left side is next to a drywall wall of the closet, however the wall is load bearing so there is only about 12" of space on either side of the support for a criminal to work on it. Of course they would have to rip the entire wall down to do that. It would take hours and an ass-load of tools.

[MicaelS]

26. How did you do that?

Remove the interior, and drill straight through the bottom?

[Glassunion]

27. My safe came with anchor holes already in it.

I just had to buy the anchor kit when I bought the safe. The anchor holes are under the removable floor panel.

[MicaelS]

28. Thanks n/t

[oneshooter]

37. I really hate to say this but, DAMN I'M GLAD I LIVE IN TEXAS.

Go to the shop, find what I want, fill out Federal Form, show my CHL, pay the man, leave with happy package.

So much simpler!

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[slackmaster]

41. Even simpler for a private-party transfer

Cash on the barrel head.

Of course it's still illegal for you to sell a gun to a person who is prohibited from owning one, but you probably have no way of determining that.

[oneshooter]

44. I have a friend in the Sheriffs Dept. he can, and will run a quick BG check for me. n/t

[SteveM]

40. 4-inch? Wood grip? Instant arthritis.

[slackmaster]

42. Not with the Magna-Port and moderate loads

This is a different model but the port on the right side of the barrel is similar to the ones on the gun I bought.



I have fired it several times. Recoil is not bad, and lift is minimal.

[SteveM]

43. Ah, Hogue to the rescue. Have to use it on a steel Ruger .357.

[RSillsbee]

8. Sounds good

Think you could talk the mrs. into letting get a new one?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. To a (New Yorker?) like you, a hero is some type of weird sandwich...

...not some nut who takes on three Tigers. ;)

Crap!

I love movie quotes.

[Atypical Liberal]

31. Let's all now have a fantasy where every victim of violent crime is at the mercy of stronger people.

[SteveM]

39. Sorry. Not a "fantasy" to the Congressman and his family...

Another in the hundreds of thousands of self-defense measures used by gun-owners EVERY YEAR.

[ileus]

4. I've been thinking about a HD shotgun, but I don't know what I want.

Pumps are cheap, but I know there's been times I haven't cycled the action and jammed my other pumps while either hunting or shooting clays.

I'd like a semi auto but reliable ones you can trust your life with aren't cheap.

Maybe a "tactical" over under or a side by side...

[spin]

6. I own a 12 gauge Stoeger Coach gun ...

The short barrel length makes the firearms easier to handle in close quarters and it's simple to load quickly in an emergency.

[ileus]

11. I like the mossberg HS12

[spin]

14. That's a very impressive looking weapon. (n/t)

[DonP]

16. I'll Second on the Stoeger Coach Gun

It's very inexpensive and built like any other Russian firearm - "peasant proof". Takes a little work, or a lot of shooting, to loosen up the lock but it's as reliable as any mechanical contrivance can be. It's pretty hard to think of an unpleasant social situation where 2 rounds of 00 and a quick reload won't do the job. FWIW the Stoeger is a lot a whole lot of fun shooting trap as well. It's so light it swings and points really well.

[spin]

17. I lucked out on the Stoeger that I bought ...

I had read that the lock on these firearms was initially very tight but when I looked at the one I bought at a gun store, it broke open easily.

Since it was a display model, it is possible that the store owner had done a little work on the shotgun.

[DonP]

20. I did a little lock work on it

The lock on mine was tight as a tick when I got it and a pain to crack open to reload. I had to do some fluffing and buffing to loosen it up but it's fine now.

I also added a fiber optic "pipe" to the front sight. It stays in place with 3 magnets that fit right over the brass bead. That really makes a difference for trap or any other application where getting on target fast is critical.

But it gets no respect from the wannabe Fudds with their Citori's, Benelli's and Superposed with custom, adjustable stocks. How dare I hit that many clays with a russian cheapie import! I lay awake nights worrying about what they think of me and my shotgun. Ha!

I'm just real happy that young man had access to a shotgun in Iowa when they needed it the most.

[Euromutt]

34. Hey now, I own a Benelli!

Admittedly, it's a SuperNova "Tactical" with an 18.5" barrel, ghost ring (night) sights and a pistol grip stock. And a 2-round mag extension with an Insight M3 bolted on.

And even though I reconfigure it as a turkey gun a couple of times a year (22" field barrel, red dot sight, camo tape applied to stock and receiver), it's probably hardly comme il faut at the trap range even in that configuration.

[DWC]

24. Anyone who says Democrats oppose guns

Just needs to read this OP about an 8-term Democratic US Representative.

Democrat, Republican, Independent, just does not matter. Support for the 2nd amendment and the right to armed self defense is virtually universal in the USA.

Semper Fi,

[PavePusher]

29. Support for the 2nd amendment and the right to armed self defense is virtually universal in the USA

Sadly, that is demonstratably not the case.

[friendly_iconoclast]

33. We have an occasional poster who is very vehement on the subject.

Of course, he was also on record as being against super-sekrit "terrah watch lists" before he was for them....


When the notion of using them to prevent those on the "pre-crime" lists from buying firearms came up- he suddenly

thought the lists he had previously denounced were now just fine and dandy...

[Xela]

46. NRA's Armed Citizen...

I shared this story with the NRA's Armed Citizen column. I haven't seen it published yet.

Anyone knows different?

Xela