Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Mid-May, 2006...During The Height Of Last Season's Gator Frenzy...

BRADENTON, Fla. — "A woman has shot an alligator that came into her home and attacked her dog.

The alligator was only 3 feet long, but Candy Frey wasn't taking any chances. When the reptile came into the lanai of her home east of Bradenton Saturday and attacked her golden retriever, Frey went and got her gun.

After Frey and her daughter managed to push the gator out of the lanai through the dog door, she blasted away at it four times.

"I was running on so much adrenaline," the 48-year-old former U.S. Marine aviation technician told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "I just freaked out and shot him — boom, boom, boom, boom."

A neighbor called deputies and the state sent a wildlife officer to investigate.

The alligator barely bled from gunshots to the neck and shoulder, Frey said, and wildlife officer put it back in the lake.

The deputy gave Frey a warning citation for hunting without a license..."

Check out the related stories if you've a mind to, but unlike Ms Frey, try to remember to use enough gun. Last I heard, the scuttlebutt was offering that she plinked away with a .25 automatic, but 9 mm's barely get even a small gator to take notice he's being shot. Small brain, dense hide, prehistoric pain tolerance. No. I'm not talking about Hillary. Be extra careful around alligators. The right .40 caliber handgun ammo will work in a pinch, a hot-loaded .357 is even better, but think of them as sidearms and not what you'd prefer to use for such reptilian goings on. Hate to say it but a .45 ACP is just too slow to get in deep enough to do damage that will end a confrontation then and there. The experts tell me that hitting them in an eye, behind the head at the base of the neck, or damaging some dental work is the best way to stop an attacking lizard. Fast, HARD bullets.

And lets not even make mention my reaction to the lady receiving a warning from officer Fife.

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