Almost Chris No More (long)

Was very excited to get to actually fish on Saturday after these last couple
of weeks of work. It was very nice out, maybe a little chilly, but great to
just be out.

Well I decided to go in and fish some largemouth's in a large channel system
I have fished about 1000 times before. I had just entered the channel, I'd
say I was about 30 yards off the lake and into the channel by this time.

I want to say before I type this, this all happened within a fraction of a
second. I started moving up to a dock , to fish it had my jig rod in hand,
when all of a sudden I hear a pop, so I look up to where the pop came from
to see birds scatter, and then a whizzing sound, and then leaves rustling on
the other side of the channel. I then turned back to where the pop came
from, and here is a handle cranking the window closed on a house, no more
than 30 feet away from the center of the channel where I am. Again, this
all happened in the fraction of a second, yet I can still see , feel, and
hear it all as if it is in slow motion and happening right now.

Well, needless to say, I can put two and two together, and as I stood there
stunned for what seemed like eternity, I finally snapped out of it, threw my
rod down, and jump on the outboard and got the hell out of there, and out
into the main lake to gather myself, and strap everything. I then decided
to run around the point to see if I could see this houses address, but It
was too far away. Mind you , this channel system is VERY residential,
houses lining both sides, and very nice houses. I was still in shock after
I went around the point, and just kind of motored around aimlessly till I
finally decided to just leave and pull my boat out. I had my cell in my
pocket, and had about 4 numbers dialed before I would just close it and say
forget it. I just couldn't believe that this really happened.

I ended up at home, and actually slept great Saturday night, I kind of wrote
it off as a kid with a BB gun. I then talked to some friends who hunt a lot
, on Sunday. I told them step by step what happened, and my feeling of what
had happened. They proceeded to inform me that the loudness of the pop led
them to believe it was either a high powered pellet rifle or a 22.
Especially with the whizzing sound coming and going. I have friends who
were in the first Gulf War that tell me that Bullets make a very distinct
whizzing as they go past. It all happened so fast. And as fast as the
"person" cranked that window closed told me the story. How close would it
have to be for me to hear it!

I won't go into all the emotions I have been going through over the last few
days, but Sunday night I had nightmares , pretty much my mind going through
every possible scenario on the negative side. Getting hit in the head at 35
feet with a 22, or in the eye, or in the chest and falling overboard, and
drowning, or in the head and getting knocked overboard, but being able to
grab my boat, but I bleed to death because nobody can help me in time.

So this continued on Monday night, so Tuesday I said screw it, I am going to
call the cops. I called the county sheriffs department. They sent out an
officer to my place of employment and we talked about what happened. He
proceeded to inform me, that outside of this guy coming out and admitting
that he took a shot at me , there was "NOTHING" he could do to this
"person". Which, not only ****ed me off, it sent me into an even worse
spiral. So now, it is alright to take a shot at a fisherman, with a weapon
that could very well be lethal at 35' , and as long as I do not have a
witness and as long as they are on their property, there is nothing you can
do????? I know that it is easy to say, "at least you are all right
(physically), and that "they are not stalking you, so get over it", or "time
will heal". It doesn't excuse the fact that there is no consequence for a
situation like this! That kills me, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my
wife, friends, and family. Especially not because some idiot thought it
would be cool to see how close he could get to a fisherman.

I apologize for such a long post, I haven't slept more than 2 hours since
Sunday, I don't know what to do. I really am lost.

take care guys,

Chris

Chris

As a gun owner and volunteer firearms safety instructor, you have
my sincerest condolences. There is absolutely no reason for that
incident to have occured.

The person who did this to you is a complete idiot.

I understand your outrage and frustration - but I also understand
the position that the officer you spoke to is in. Its your word
against that of the person in the house w/o a witness having
seen anything. Your notification to the authorities though has most
likely gone on the record, I would guess that they will be watching
for other incidents from the house/area.

Hug your wife/SO, dog etc, you are still with us.

Jim

On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:06:13 -0600, "chris rennert"
wrote:

Was very excited to get to actually fish on Saturday after these last couple
of weeks of work. It was very nice out, maybe a little chilly, but great to
just be out.

Well I decided to go in and fish some largemouth's in a large channel system
I have fished about 1000 times before. I had just entered the channel, I'd
say I was about 30 yards off the lake and into the channel by this time.

I want to say before I type this, this all happened within a fraction of a
second. I started moving up to a dock , to fish it had my jig rod in hand,
when all of a sudden I hear a pop, so I look up to where the pop came from
to see birds scatter, and then a whizzing sound, and then leaves rustling on
the other side of the channel. I then turned back to where the pop came
from, and here is a handle cranking the window closed on a house, no more
than 30 feet away from the center of the channel where I am. Again, this
all happened in the fraction of a second, yet I can still see , feel, and
hear it all as if it is in slow motion and happening right now.

Well, needless to say, I can put two and two together, and as I stood there
stunned for what seemed like eternity, I finally snapped out of it, threw my
rod down, and jump on the outboard and got the hell out of there, and out
into the main lake to gather myself, and strap everything. I then decided
to run around the point to see if I could see this houses address, but It
was too far away. Mind you , this channel system is VERY residential,
houses lining both sides, and very nice houses. I was still in shock after
I went around the point, and just kind of motored around aimlessly till I
finally decided to just leave and pull my boat out. I had my cell in my
pocket, and had about 4 numbers dialed before I would just close it and say
forget it. I just couldn't believe that this really happened.

I ended up at home, and actually slept great Saturday night, I kind of wrote
it off as a kid with a BB gun. I then talked to some friends who hunt a lot
, on Sunday. I told them step by step what happened, and my feeling of what
had happened. They proceeded to inform me that the loudness of the pop led
them to believe it was either a high powered pellet rifle or a 22.
Especially with the whizzing sound coming and going. I have friends who
were in the first Gulf War that tell me that Bullets make a very distinct
whizzing as they go past. It all happened so fast. And as fast as the
"person" cranked that window closed told me the story. How close would it
have to be for me to hear it!

I won't go into all the emotions I have been going through over the last few
days, but Sunday night I had nightmares , pretty much my mind going through
every possible scenario on the negative side. Getting hit in the head at 35
feet with a 22, or in the eye, or in the chest and falling overboard, and
drowning, or in the head and getting knocked overboard, but being able to
grab my boat, but I bleed to death because nobody can help me in time.

So this continued on Monday night, so Tuesday I said screw it, I am going to
call the cops. I called the county sheriffs department. They sent out an
officer to my place of employment and we talked about what happened. He
proceeded to inform me, that outside of this guy coming out and admitting
that he took a shot at me , there was "NOTHING" he could do to this
"person". Which, not only ****ed me off, it sent me into an even worse
spiral. So now, it is alright to take a shot at a fisherman, with a weapon
that could very well be lethal at 35' , and as long as I do not have a
witness and as long as they are on their property, there is nothing you can
do????? I know that it is easy to say, "at least you are all right
(physically), and that "they are not stalking you, so get over it", or "time
will heal". It doesn't excuse the fact that there is no consequence for a
situation like this! That kills me, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my
wife, friends, and family. Especially not because some idiot thought it
would be cool to see how close he could get to a fisherman.

I apologize for such a long post, I haven't slept more than 2 hours since
Sunday, I don't know what to do. I really am lost.

take care guys,

Chris

Sorry this happened to you Chris. I haven't run into this fishing but
I have had a guy threaten me while hunting on public land. Hopefully
you can find a way to bring closure to this so you can enjoy fishing
again.

Gary

I would have called the cops right away. If they took the time to visit the
house they might smell the pwoeder in the house giving them probably cause
to search and parafin test the persons in the house. Whikle they might stil
come up with a good story to get out of it atleast they would then know that
takign a scare shot at somebody is illegal. Even if they did the, "we are
just taking a pots hsot out the window and didn;t see him," story they might
be chargeable with a number of other crimes such as firing a gun in
proximity to occupied buildings opr wreckless disharge of a firearm (a
felony in some states). Of course hindsight is 20/20. I am very sorry this
happened to you, and I firmly believe as a gun owner that irresponsible gun
owners should be severley punished.

--
Bob La Londe
http://www.YumaBassMan.com

DUDE! Thank God you weren't hurt.

WW

"chris rennert" wrote in message
.. .
Was very excited to get to actually fish on Saturday after these last
couple
of weeks of work. It was very nice out, maybe a little chilly, but great
to
just be out.

Well I decided to go in and fish some largemouth's in a large channel
system
I have fished about 1000 times before. I had just entered the channel,
I'd
say I was about 30 yards off the lake and into the channel by this time.

I want to say before I type this, this all happened within a fraction of a
second. I started moving up to a dock , to fish it had my jig rod in
hand,
when all of a sudden I hear a pop, so I look up to where the pop came from
to see birds scatter, and then a whizzing sound, and then leaves rustling
on
the other side of the channel. I then turned back to where the pop came
from, and here is a handle cranking the window closed on a house, no more
than 30 feet away from the center of the channel where I am. Again, this
all happened in the fraction of a second, yet I can still see , feel, and
hear it all as if it is in slow motion and happening right now.

Well, needless to say, I can put two and two together, and as I stood
there
stunned for what seemed like eternity, I finally snapped out of it, threw
my
rod down, and jump on the outboard and got the hell out of there, and out
into the main lake to gather myself, and strap everything. I then decided
to run around the point to see if I could see this houses address, but It
was too far away. Mind you , this channel system is VERY residential,
houses lining both sides, and very nice houses. I was still in shock
after
I went around the point, and just kind of motored around aimlessly till I
finally decided to just leave and pull my boat out. I had my cell in my
pocket, and had about 4 numbers dialed before I would just close it and
say
forget it. I just couldn't believe that this really happened.

I ended up at home, and actually slept great Saturday night, I kind of
wrote
it off as a kid with a BB gun. I then talked to some friends who hunt a
lot
, on Sunday. I told them step by step what happened, and my feeling of
what
had happened. They proceeded to inform me that the loudness of the pop
led
them to believe it was either a high powered pellet rifle or a 22.
Especially with the whizzing sound coming and going. I have friends who
were in the first Gulf War that tell me that Bullets make a very distinct
whizzing as they go past. It all happened so fast. And as fast as the
"person" cranked that window closed told me the story. How close would it
have to be for me to hear it!

I won't go into all the emotions I have been going through over the last
few
days, but Sunday night I had nightmares , pretty much my mind going
through
every possible scenario on the negative side. Getting hit in the head at
35
feet with a 22, or in the eye, or in the chest and falling overboard, and
drowning, or in the head and getting knocked overboard, but being able to
grab my boat, but I bleed to death because nobody can help me in time.

So this continued on Monday night, so Tuesday I said screw it, I am going
to
call the cops. I called the county sheriffs department. They sent out an
officer to my place of employment and we talked about what happened. He
proceeded to inform me, that outside of this guy coming out and admitting
that he took a shot at me , there was "NOTHING" he could do to this
"person". Which, not only ****ed me off, it sent me into an even worse
spiral. So now, it is alright to take a shot at a fisherman, with a
weapon
that could very well be lethal at 35' , and as long as I do not have a
witness and as long as they are on their property, there is nothing you
can
do????? I know that it is easy to say, "at least you are all right
(physically), and that "they are not stalking you, so get over it", or
"time
will heal". It doesn't excuse the fact that there is no consequence for a
situation like this! That kills me, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my
wife, friends, and family. Especially not because some idiot thought it
would be cool to see how close he could get to a fisherman.

I apologize for such a long post, I haven't slept more than 2 hours since
Sunday, I don't know what to do. I really am lost.

take care guys,

Chris

While my brother & I have fished the canals on St. Clair dozens of
times & have had to face dozens of extremely rude & thoughtless
homeowners we have yet to face any gunfire!! Maybe you should attach a
note to his dock & let him know that you reported the incident to the
police. It may be just enough to stop him from a second "attack" on the
next guy. It may even alert a parent to question an idiot youngster
that may be responsible.

No Chris, the answer is quite simple. You simply need to carry
superior firepower with you! I guarantee that if you would have
responded with, say fifty or sixty rounds from your favorite assault
rifle into the side of that ass#%&s house, that would have been the
last time he would have ever pulled anything like that again! And he
might even warn his dumbass friends to boot! )

Glad to hear that your ok.

Heavy

He wouldn't have top warn any of his friends. The moment you shoot one
ass@#_$ the word gets out. I love it when ass(&%* and bullets meet.


"Heavy" wrote in message
oups.com...
No Chris, the answer is quite simple. You simply need to carry
superior firepower with you! I guarantee that if you would have
responded with, say fifty or sixty rounds from your favorite assault
rifle into the side of that ass#%&s house, that would have been the
last time he would have ever pulled anything like that again! And he
might even warn his dumbass friends to boot! )

Glad to hear that your ok.

Heavy

Jerry Barton wrote:
He wouldn't have top warn any of his friends. The moment you shoot one
ass@#_$ the word gets out. I love it when ass(&%* and bullets meet.

Well yeah, but if you shoot an a**hole you're gonna have
to share the love behind bars. And if you value your own
a**hole you don't want to be sharin' no love behind bars,
if you know what I mean.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Chris, that is a scary thing! It happened to me on the Colorado River
one time. I know I would avoid the channel from now on...but I would
pursue it further, I would contact the District Attourney in your area
and give him a full report with addresses and such. If they did not at
least investigate the situation, I would contact the local newspaper and
give them the story! Someone should respond to your concerns!!!!
If you raise enough fuss, the idiot that did this might just get the
message!

John K