A Goodlettsville, Tennessee woman was having an alarm system installed in her home yesterday because her ex-boyfriend continued to walk through restraining orders to abuse her. He was apparently watching the home and slipped into it when she went to see a neighbor for a few minutes. When she returned home, he surprised her… and she surprised him right back when she opened fire.

It happened just before 3 p.m. in the 200 block of Shevel Drive.

According to police, the man entered the home, which was having an alarm system installed, while she went to a neighbor’s home for a few minutes.

“She was warning me about her ex-boyfriend and not to let him around me or my home,” a neighbor told News 2.

Police told News 2 the homeowner shot the man in self-defense and will likely not face charges.

Police said the woman had a restraining order against him and that he had three outstanding violations against that order. He will be charged on those outstanding warrants and more charges are pending.

“Good for her!” neighbor Mary Alice Lovell said. She told News 2 she has seen police cars over the victim’s residence before.

“In this case, if he was trying to abuse her and she had a gun and she had a restraining order against him, then she has to protect herself,” Lovell said.

A restraining order is just a piece of paper, folks. It is only strong enough to stop someone who cares to obey the writing upon it.

A firearm, on the other hand, is a bit more persuasive.