Post by: gregormeister on July 23, 2008, 07:20:19 AM
I am a mature adult who takes pride in his gun ownership and would never do anything to wreck that, but at the same time I got a wife and a son who I dont care to see harmed. So I post this little story to see if anyone would care to shed some lights on this and I throw some humor in there to lighten it up a bit and not bring on the paranoid pro-gun whack-job persona that I did anyhow. For that I apologize......but I asked a couple honest questions about home invasions and how to prepare....
I get answers about tigers, go-away mats and even a kind soul who suggested maybe I was dabbling in para military magazines a little too much and that type of humor....good to see vets get that image thrown at their faces and only one person cares to answer seriously. Now for anyone who would care to answer me in a serious question, WHAT IS A GOOD WAY TO PREPARE INCASE HOME INVASION OCCURS? I.E. WEBSITES? BOOKS? INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS? HONEST OPINION....PLEASE DON'T REPLY WITH SMART ass COMMENTS. THANKYOU
Post by: K Frame on July 23, 2008, 07:36:30 AM
You can put those into your own messages by occasionally hitting the key marked "enter" on your keyboard.
It makes your post easier to read and helps increase the effectiveness of your overall message.
Now...
The reason you got so many "smart ass" answers is because your initial post seemed to be so over the top.
There are no sacred cows here. We'll roast anyone.
Now that you've backed off a bit from your wild eyed "I'LL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU BASTARDS IF YOU TRY TO COME IN HERE AND GET ME!" stance, we can talk.
The best way to prepare for a home invasion is to craft a plan to keep them the hell out of your home in the first place.
The best way to do this is create a layered defensive perimeter, and it doesn't have to be expensive, just intelligent.
Things like proper landscaping that won't hide someone trying to either case or enter your home.
GOOD locks in properly prepared doors.
Locked doors and windows.
Good lighting.
An alarm system or territorial dog.
Things like that.
Post by: Brad Johnson on July 23, 2008, 08:15:47 AM
Brad
Post by: Nick1911 on July 23, 2008, 08:18:21 AM
Post by: Perd Hapley on July 23, 2008, 08:23:41 AM
Post by: gregormeister on July 23, 2008, 08:30:34 AM
Now say an invasion is attempted on the house? I keep only one loaded gun in the house on account of my son and its my 357. snubby held via magnet on the inner closet ceiling. All other handguns are unloaded and in a lock box as well as rifles. Is it practical "if safely stored" to have more guns in various locations around the house loaded. My wife knows I'm safety concious about the loaded guns and all but even if forced at gun point to the bathroom I'd like to have a piece of mind..
I don't know if you get where I'm going with this but...any suggestions?
Post by: mike on July 23, 2008, 08:55:26 AM
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on July 23, 2008, 08:59:06 AM
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Now say an invasion is attempted on the house? I keep only one loaded gun in the house on account of my son and its my 357. snubby held via magnet on the inner closet ceiling. All other handguns are unloaded and in a lock box as well as rifles. Is it practical "if safely stored" to have more guns in various locations around the house loaded. My wife knows I'm safety concious about the loaded guns and all but even if forced at gun point to the bathroom I'd like to have a piece of mind..
I don't know if you get where I'm going with this but...any suggestions?
I don't know if you get where I'm going with this but...any suggestions?
CCW. Keep a good gun on you. Get the gun out of the stash hole and put it in your pockets or on your belt.
And, I'm not a metallurgist or anything, but I don't think I'd want to expose a firearm to extended magnetic fields strong enough to suspend it on a wall in a hidey-hole. The firing chambers are forged which compress and align the structure of the steel in a desired way. Extensive exposure to magnetic fields will re-align the metal structure of any object to complement the magnet, resulting in creating its own magnetic field. This "could" result in weakening your gun, either at the cylinder or at the barrel/frame juncture.
Maybe I have an over-active imagination regarding that, but that's my gut feeling on it.
Also, if the gun picks up a magnetic field it will attract metallic shavings from places you didn't even know HAD metallic shavings to share. That'll get into the chambers, the trigger works, and the bore. Can't be good for it, and hard to clean out if the actual gun parts are magnetized.
Post by: Manedwolf on July 23, 2008, 09:03:37 AM
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WHAT IS A GOOD WAY TO PREPARE INCASE HOME INVASION OCCURS? I.E. WEBSITES? BOOKS? INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS? HONEST OPINION....PLEASE DON'T REPLY WITH SMART ass COMMENTS. THANKYOU
Training. From a professional, not a mallninja DVD. I mean in-person training.
Check at your local range to see if any instructors offer courses like Defensive Pistol and Defense with Shotgun. They do at the ranges here.
Some areas have larger training places like SIG Academy and the Lethal Force Institute here. Nothing substitutes for a live instructor telling you what you're doing wrong before it becomes a habit that is hard to break.
Post by: never_retreat on July 23, 2008, 01:28:52 PM
I just put 2 gigantic halogens on a friends house last weekend. They look like the 500 watt type on roids.
They are 1500 watts a piece. The only draw back is they require a 240 volts, and you can't get a motion sensor that can handle the voltage or the wattage of one let alone 2. So I wired a standard motion sensor to a large relay mounted in the basement to handle the current of the lights.
Let me tell you when they come on you think the yard is ready for an NFL night game.
The only way a perp would stay around now would be if he wants to work on his tan.
Post by: Leatherneck on July 23, 2008, 02:01:43 PM
I did pick up that: (a) you have a .357 "hidden" but accessible, and (b) you have a Son. Bad Juju there, my friend. Sons are incredibly curious and nimble. You do not want a tragedy. Secure the weapon in a way only you and your wife can unloose and put into use. Please.
TC
Post by: cambeul41 on July 23, 2008, 02:25:02 PM
Post by: Balog on July 23, 2008, 03:49:56 PM
Post by: The Annoyed Man on July 23, 2008, 04:28:09 PM
Secondly have a plan and practice it. Learned motorskills do not require upper level cognizance and as such just happen when presented with a environmental trigger (home invasion). Play scenarios over and over in your head. Mental imaging will coalesce the physical with the mental and like Tiger you will be hittin the long ball every time.
Good luck and Remember "Training mistakes are written up in post action reports. All others are written in HEADSTONES" Rommel
Jim
Post by: Perd Hapley on July 23, 2008, 06:51:26 PM
A home invasion discussion? Didn't anyone refer him to http://thehighroad.org/ -- or did I miss that somewhere?
I was about to, but with all due respect to Master Greg, I thought better of it.
Post by: RadioFreeSeaLab on July 23, 2008, 07:59:58 PM
Mike pretty well covered all the bases. There's only so much you can do without turning your home into an ungainly and inconvenient-to-live-in urban fortress.
Brad
I don't know, an urban fortress sounds pretty awesome to me.
Brad
Post by: Antibubba on July 23, 2008, 10:44:30 PM
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PLEASE DON'T REPLY WITH SMART ass COMMENTS. THANKYOU
You should have lurked a bit longer--smartass is our specialty.
Post by: seeker_two on July 24, 2008, 01:34:23 AM
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PLEASE DON'T REPLY WITH SMART ass COMMENTS. THANKYOU
You should have lurked a bit longer--smartass is our specialty.
If it wasn't for smartass, we'd still be posting on THR....
Post by: xavier fremboe on July 24, 2008, 03:56:26 AM
Thanks for a better second post.
Post by: Lennyjoe on July 24, 2008, 04:42:05 AM
1. Select an area to withdraw to. This can be somewhere defendable and has a secondary exit like a window that's not on the second story. Or, if it is, a way to get out and down to the ground safely. For my family, it's my bedroom. The room is set up to where I can use the closet and the wife the bathroom. We have good field of fire directly to the entrance door. Only way in for the bad guy is the door. (window too but not as easy to get into) Once inside your sanctuary, call 911 and don't let anyone in without confirmation first.
2. Children, teach them to withdraw to the same location as you and the wife are or a secure/hidden location within their bedroom if access to that location is cut off. You and the wife need to be cognizant of the angle of fire should the child go to the secure/hidden spot. Dry wall doesn't stop bullets very well.
3. Two firearms are better than one. One for each and a shottie for back up. I have my .45 and my wife her .357. Keep your firearm on your person when not in bed. Close by when you are snoozing. Have a shottie sitting somewhere in the bedroom that you can access. Keep it unloaded but have the shells somewhere close so you can load after you withdraw to the safe location. This keeps the kid from getting to a loaded firearm but one that you can load if need be.
4. Your withdrawal location should have the door mounted to where it would take a battering ram to knock down. The door itself should be solid in nature, not one of them cheap, flimsy door used on normal houses.
5. Cell phone should be kept on hand or in withdrawal location.
6. Practice your withdrawal plan with all family members, not just you and the wife.
That sums up my inputs. Others may vary but that seems to work best for us. Thank God I haven't had to actually use it yet, but at least we're ready if need be.
Post by: Manedwolf on July 24, 2008, 04:54:56 AM
Keep your firearm on your person when not in bed.
That seems a bit extreme and borderline paranoid to me...
Post by: Lennyjoe on July 24, 2008, 05:23:36 AM
Post by: Manedwolf on July 24, 2008, 05:31:58 AM
So I'm assuming that when your home you don't CCW?
Uh...um...Let's see.
No?
If your home is that insecure, go drive down to Home Depot and buy a steel front door with a good deadbolt. Then call a security company and have this new invention called an "alarm" installed. It makes a noise if someone tries to force a window. Magic of technology.
Post by: MicroBalrog on July 24, 2008, 05:35:01 AM
There's no discomfort at all involves. So why not just continue carrying a pistol (which comes with no added cost or discomfort to you), rather than spend extra on more security features?
[For the record, my appartment has a steel door]
Post by: xavier fremboe on July 24, 2008, 05:37:07 AM
As far as I know, when you're carrying a pistol in a proper holster, it's light enough for you to forget about the weight of the weapon.
There's no discomfort at all involves. So why not just continue carrying a pistol (which comes with no added cost or discomfort to you), rather than spend extra on more security features?
[For the record, my appartment has a steel door]
Did you furnish that, or was it supplied? Just curious as to the cost...
There's no discomfort at all involves. So why not just continue carrying a pistol (which comes with no added cost or discomfort to you), rather than spend extra on more security features?
[For the record, my appartment has a steel door]
Post by: Manedwolf on July 24, 2008, 05:37:54 AM
And hell yes I'd notice. Unless you're one of those people who goes around their house always wearing their full belt, shoes and all and only take any of it off before going to bed, you'd notice.
If your house is that insecure, secure it. If you can't make your way to a gun in the time it takes someone to beat down a deadbolted steel door, then you REALLY need to hit the gym.
Post by: MicroBalrog on July 24, 2008, 05:53:02 AM
It'd only be paranoid to wear a pistol at home if it somehow were uncomfortable or very heavy.
Post by: Tallpine on July 24, 2008, 08:10:35 AM
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Unless you're one of those people who goes around their house always wearing their full belt, shoes and all and only take any of it off before going to bed, you'd notice.
Um, yeah - that's me. I have chores to do morning and evening and sometimes in between, and I don't undress/dress six times a day.
But then I don't live in a basement and eat cheetoes either
Post by: seeker_two on July 24, 2008, 09:32:44 AM
I feel uncomfortable not fully dressed, and remain dressed outside of an erotic situation, the shower, or sleeping.
Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see your girlfriend?.....
Post by: MicroBalrog on July 24, 2008, 09:35:50 AM
As far as I know, when you're carrying a pistol in a proper holster, it's light enough for you to forget about the weight of the weapon.
There's no discomfort at all involves. So why not just continue carrying a pistol (which comes with no added cost or discomfort to you), rather than spend extra on more security features?
[For the record, my appartment has a steel door]
Did you furnish that, or was it supplied? Just curious as to the cost...There's no discomfort at all involves. So why not just continue carrying a pistol (which comes with no added cost or discomfort to you), rather than spend extra on more security features?
[For the record, my appartment has a steel door]
Steel doors are very common in Israel, but I'm not sure the cost is the same as in the US.
Post by: freakazoid on July 24, 2008, 09:44:51 AM
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Because it strikes me as silly and absolutely paranoid, to be honest.
Some people would say the same thing for simply wanting to carry a firearm, and some people when someone thinks that they need a backup, or a spare magazine.
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And hell yes I'd notice.
I didn't much notice carrying the Glock 19. Even if you notice it still isn't any burden.
Post by: Manedwolf on July 24, 2008, 09:46:03 AM
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Because it strikes me as silly and absolutely paranoid, to be honest.
Some people would say the same thing for simply wanting to carry a firearm, and some people when someone thinks that they need a backup, or a spare magazine.
No. There ARE potential bad guys on the street.
There are not ninjas who will get into my home without me noticing.
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on July 24, 2008, 09:48:15 AM
amidatly i live in the country, so its a bit eaiser for me, but you don't pull up to my house without me knowing.
i don't carry while at home, but then again, by the time bad guy reaches the house i know about it, and can get my gun and the phone, and i don't have any kids to grab it. my dad does carry around the house and property, but his hearing isn't so great, so he has less reaction time.
Post by: freakazoid on July 24, 2008, 10:11:14 AM
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No. There ARE potential bad guys on the street.
Yeah, just like there are POTENTIAL bad guys who could break into your house. What are the actual chances that you would ever need to use your firearm to ward off some punk to begin with?
Post by: xavier fremboe on July 24, 2008, 10:46:38 AM
There are not ninjas who will get into my home without me noticing.
Thank goodness you don't live in Modesto!
Post by: Antibubba on July 24, 2008, 08:58:25 PM