cautiously answering a door knock

[misswired]

My 'old man' job has me visiting homes and knocking on doors. Without a uniform or vehicle markings, I've always been amazed how people will nonchalantly open the door to a stranger. Over the years family and friends have learned to knock on my back door...a knock at another door means stranger, answer with caution.
Our small community of Cullman Al. had a rare home invasion this week. A prominent businessman was gunned down by a certified mental person(Google) leaving his 71 year old wife in a physical life or death struggle. She won the struggle, killing the assailant with her bare hands( broken flower pot shard). Thankfully, she's recovering in intensive care. Am I the only one that answers the stranger' knock armed?

If you googled our little Cullman hamlet...check out our soon to open nations largest above ground indoor shooting range. While cruising round town you might checkout CullmanUnderground....our entertaining local gossip forum. It's mostly political arguing if you're into that. You can post anonymously without registering or logging in...and when you 1up the 7 or 8 local wizards, they'll talk nasty to you. Pose as a Democrat for immediate attention... HeHeHe....

 

[GeoJelly]

I live in a retirement community, and it continues to amaze me how many folks won't invest in a security/storm door for their entrances. Granted our door was almost 2k so they aren't cheap - but it looks innocent enough. I imagine a determined home invader would prolly be inside in less than a minute anyway - but this puts some safety glass between us and the riffraff walking the streets ...

Edited to add: I just scanned the original post and didn't notice the question about answering the door armed. That is, I guess, pretty much neighborhood-dependent. I certainly don't answer the door armed here - not to say it couldn't happen but there have been no home invasions in the 10 years this community has been open. I had two knocks at the door today - one from the neighbor next door and one from the (also) elderly lady living across the street. Again, if I lived out in a regular neighborhood I'd probably have to be more careful. And, a knock at the door after 10PM would cause me to be a lot more cautious...

Edited again: Forgot to say - good post OP! It's been interesting and good info to see how others handle the knock at the door situation. It's also refreshing to see, so far anyway, that no one has criticized other folks opinions and MO...

 

[pharmer]

If'n I don't know you're coming, I'm behind the door with pistol in right hand. Anytime. Lemme know who you are and I might open the door. Unless I owe you money, then I'm not here. Joe

 

[BE Mike]

I'm pretty much always armed, so that should answer your question.

 

[Old cop]

I was an LEO for 30 years and learned to be careful all the time but especially when a stranger knocked on the door. This habit carried over into retirement, even though we live in a retirement community. In answer to the Q, when I'm not expecting anyone I do put a J frame in my pocket when there is a knock at the door.

 

[Smooth1]

I've got 2 German Shepherds that always answer the door with me. We don't get many people at the door though

 

[misswired]

Maybe home invasion was the wrong term.
The mental bad guy showed up with premeditated intent.
Terrible, terrible tragedy that has shocked the community.

 

[gunnails]

I like most people I know have never answered the door with a gun, most of my guest just let themselves in.

Perhaps I am to comfortable with my surroundings.

 

[CATI1835]

Have a J frame inside a recessed shadow box frame next to the front door. Always grab it when I receive an unexpected knock at the door.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I can see who is at the door as one of the 4 security cameras shows that.
I am armed all the time...

 

[Watchdog]

If'n I don't know you're coming, I'm behind the door with pistol in right hand.

Never stand behind the door when someone knocks or rings the doorbell. Never, never, never.

Doesn't matter if you have a pistol in your hand or not.

 

[misswired]

Come to think of it, I've never shot a door knocker myself!

 

[g17]

I have a camera at my front door so it's rare I'll answer a knock if I don't know who it is but if I do, I have a gun.

 

[Watchdog]

Nobody better knock on my door after dark, I'll tell you that right now!

 

[Rustyt1953]

I have a peep hole, an LCP in my pocket and enough cats to give any unwelcomed guest a severe case of static cling.

 

[haywood]

I have a window next to the door that I open and ask, "what's up". I never answer the front door. There is a sign directing them to the side door. I'm always armed that's just normal.

 

[pharmer]

Never stand behind the door when someone knocks or rings the doorbell.

OK next time I'll be out front. Joe

 

[GRUMPY247]

My wife had an incident recently with a gentlemen who insisted that he could save us money on having our driveway resealed wouldn't take no for an answer asked if the man of the house was home she said no but my son is she called Katco he's a Belgian Mialinois retired K9 never seen the guy again.

 

[Watchdog]

I have a peep hole, an LCP in my pocket...

That's all well and good, but to look through the peephole, you gotta stand right behind the door and put your head right up against it.

If your house is like most, you have windows flanking the door...or at least one on one side of it. Don't you?

I have blinds on my windows. What I do is open the blinds on the window next to the door (they're usually left that way)...just enough to see out but not let anyone see in. Then I look at the door from an angle...and far enough away from the door to avoid detection or trouble.

I don't have any cats, though. I would consider getting some if they could all be like this one.

 

[Arik]

I open the door all the time.....when I'm home. I have a 642 in my pocket but my area has no crime outside of DUI on weekends or the occasional kid stealing an iPhone from a car with open windows. To give you an idea....we had a murder last year and it was actually right off my street. It was a love triangle gone wrong. First murder in 30 years. Break ins are unheard of, car theft is unheard of. Drugs..... outside of kids doing pot....is unheard of, unless you have some billionaire lawyer type buying coke in quantity directly from Columbia, is unheard of. Annual income here is about $200k/year per family. Crime in this area is one of the lowest in the country.

Dispute living in PA, a large portion of the victims in the twin towers in NYC on 9/11/01 were from my area. Middle to Upper Bucks County PA

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