[El Scorcho]

I have a prayer request for you folks, if you feel so inclined. I need to provide some background first, though...

I live in a older neighborhood in Lynchburg that's always been quiet. Most of the folks who live here have lived here for 30 years or more and have never had any problems. Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there was a drive-by shooting (drug related, of course) near one end of my street. I was hoping that incident was isolated and wouldn't affect me, but it appears that I'm not so lucky. Some of the youths who were on the receiving end of those shots were mingling out in the street Friday night. As I drove by (with my wife and four month old in the car), one felt the need to throw a bottle at my windshield.

Now, I've previously been completely invisible in this neighborhood, I think. I know the neighbors directly around me, but I'm not exactly livin' large over here. All the same, I don't really take well to being bullied, so I got out to talk to these kids about the bottle, as soon as it happened. I couldn't see most of their faces for the hoods over their heads, but I know who they are. They talked a bunch of trash and since I could see it wasn't going to get me anywhere, I got back in the car and left. The entire confrontation made me feel unsafe and uneasy about staying here, and if I had been a smarter man, I would have avoided it completely.

Fast forward to today. I was sitting here with my son when I heard a car honking it's horn out in the street, over and over. I finally went out to see what the commotion was about and there were two youths, hats pulled low, sitting in the car parked in front of my house. They drove away very slowly after I opened the door and stepped out.

So, that's the story. The prayer request is for safety and wisdom. I don't want to just up and leave out of fear, but I've got to be protective of my family as well. Additionally, I don't think we're really in the position to be buying a house right now, but I can make it work if I have to. I'd just rather not.

[Sly Fox]

Ugh ... I feel for your situation. Once you've got kids you view everything else in a completely different manner. I'll say a prayer for you.

[bigsmooth]

geez scorcho...my prayers are with you. i guess you are kinda torn...if you go to the police, the individuals may want retribution. if you do nothing, they may still bullt you or try to do harm to your home or vehicles. i am of the thinking of getting out of the neighborhood, just for the safety of your family, but that is me. in any regard, i will be in prayer for you my friend.

[LUconn]

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms_Res ... ealed.shtm


It's a tough balance between fighting back and protecting yourself for the sake of your family.

[El Scorcho]

Unfortunately I've been sleeping with my 9mm loaded up with hollowpoints on my nightstand for the last week. It's a tough balance, indeed. I'd much rather it be locked away right now.

[El Scorcho]

For what it's worth, I contacted my real estate agent this afternoon. We'll see where it goes.

Thanks for the prayers, guys.

[PAmedic]

Sorry to hear that you've been placed in that situation.

If you decide to stay- I'd at least speak with the police, req additional patrols for your neighborhood (up here, as long as you speak to a patrol Corporal or Sergeant they can usually approve that type of thing), and maybe even talk to a few of the neighbors you know or at least like about starting a neighborhood watch.

If you decide to leave, I'm sure no one would blame you. The problem is that type of behavior (from the little punks or your block) banks on people having that response and only gets worse for everyone.

Praying for the best for you and your family.

[LUconn]

if you do move, you should check out my neighborhood. It's close to work for you and has one of the greatest neighbors known to man. Only 2 of the houses have sold. The houses aren't all that big but they're each on about an acre of land. A couple of them have been for sale for many months so I'm sure you could get them to go down. I guess it's all about how much you could get for yours.

[El Scorcho]

Send me a PM and tell me where you're at. I'm certainly looking around right now.

Edit: Scratch that, I'll PM you.

[bigsmooth]

any new news scorcho?