Home defense-don't fight if you don't have to

[pittpa]

I was considering starting a thread on "who has a plan for a response to a possible break-in" when this video from Thunder Ranch came to my inbox. I've seen some threads with the poster's request for advice on this subject in the distant past. You may live alone, or have kids. Your neighbors may be near or far. You may have an alarm or not. What happens when the glass breaks, the door is hit hard, or the alarm sounds? Will you wake up with a practiced plan or will you groggily decide what to do as your heart rate increases astronomically?
https://youtu.be/nu61yMsvDH4

 

[crazyphil]

Find the NRA class: Personal Protection in the Home, and either attend, or
if your not able, buy the manual from NRA (About $20). Lots of good
information. I teach it in my area and it is much more than the name implies.

 

[cmort666]

I have no "secure" place once somebody's in my home. A five year old could kick in my bedroom door, even if I did lock it. I'd have to react IMMEDIATELY, as there's virtually NO distance between me and any likely point of entry. I doubt I'd have time to call the cops BEFORE I confronted an intruder.

My plan:

1. Call police IF POSSIBLE.
2. Grab whatever gun I carried that day, these days usually an M1911, and a flashlight.
3. Tell any intruder "LEAVE".
4. If he advances on me or displays ANYTHING that could be used as a deadly weapon, he gets shot.
5. If he neither leaves nor advances, hold him at gunpoint until police arrive. Be prepared to shoot on an instant's notice.
6. If police not yet called, call.

 

[Motorsporting]

My wife and I heard a loud and unusual "thud" the other night. We both heard it, but she was worried sick. I checked the security cameras and that the alarm was in fact set (via our cell phones), made sure our dog was awake, double checked the bedroom door was locked (it is thin and easily breakable, but it would slow someone down a few seconds), made sure my nightstand weapon was in the correct place, rolled over and slowly went back to sleep. Between a securely locked and well-lit exterior, the alarm, the dog, etc., I was confident nobody was in the house. Trying to get in - now that may have been a different story. And yes, my wife and I have a plan if/when we truly hear/know of a break-in. Luck favors the prepared ...

 

[cmort666]

My wife and I heard a loud and unusual "thud" the other night.

That happened to me about ten years ago.

Turned out that an overloaded shelf in a cheap bookcase collapsed, dumping books (and the shelf itself) all over the living room floor. Did I mention that I have a LOT of books?

If I called the cops every time I heard a noise, at the LEAST they'd stop coming. More likely, they'd probably try to charge me with something.

 

[pcgunner]

The NRA book is really a good idea:
NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection in the Home Official Store of the National Rifle Association

Lots of stuff that makes you go "Hmm that makes sense".

 

[Cal44]

That happened to me about ten years ago.

Turned out that an overloaded shelf in a cheap bookcase collapsed, dumping books (and the shelf itself) all over the living room floor. Did I mention that I have a LOT of books?

If I called the cops every time I heard a noise, at the LEAST they'd stop coming. More likely, they'd probably try to charge me with something.

One night I woke up to a crash with glass breaking.

Turns out a framed picture with a glass front decided to fall off the bathroom wall and smash on the floor.

Stuff happens.

I like cats better than dogs and we travel a lot and cats take care of themselves better, but there are times like that when I wish we had a dog -- or a much bigger cat.

 

[crazyphil]

I walked over to the office of the motel we were staying in very early one morning, I think it was Wells, Nevada. The front door was all glass, but it
was locked. Well a full grown mountain lion (Cougar) met me stood up
at the front door and stretched in the rising sun beams. I assume it was
combination pet & guard cat. Now that is the kind of bigger cat you need. As for me I hurried back to my room to change my underwear.

 

[Old cop]

Sage advise on that video. I am a trained professional, cleared many houses during my 30 year LEO career but would NOT do it now if I had another way out. I'm pushing 70, walk w/a cane and move very slowly. In short I'm not the man I once was.

 

[Sconnie]

-- or a much bigger cat.

Here kitty kitty!
http://animal-picture.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Big-cats-5.jpg

May have to make that my avatar pic.

 

[EGAD]

This is certainly a worthwhile topic. A corollary to it might be to address the plan for after the event is over. I'm sure that all the legal aspects of this have been covered at length a number of times, so I am purposely not addressing them now.

What I'm referring to is "what to do when the cops leave?" Or when you go home afterwards? Of course I'm using a positive survival outcome. An opposite/ negative outcome scenario would have too many variables to address here.

Things I'm thinking of are; repair - securing the compromised door, window, etc., clean-up - you may be faced with a disturbing amount of bodily fluids, biological matter, etc.; those there in an official capacity do not typically help with clean-up (I used to try, but some stuff involves more that picking-/ scraping-up); psychological aftercare; PTSD is a very real consequence of a near-death or deadly force situation - even if you win. Most police departments have tons of resources for the officer involved in such a situation, plus the officer is usually provided with them at the department's expense. Would your insurance policy help with this? Would your family doctor be able to provide you with the referrals necessary? Then, multiply this times the number of family members involved - especially the kids.

Unfortunately, many deadly force encounters are dynamic, and aren't as cut and dried as we'd expect them to be. Often the person with the least immediate comprehension of what happened is the "good guy" who had to pull the trigger.

I think that many people stop planning once the bad guy's been vanquished, the cops shake your hand, and you ride off into the sunset. However, much of this basic stuff requires immediate action, and adding it into your defensive scenario might be helpful in the unfortunate event you are forced to use deadly force ... thanks

 

[Xfuzz]

I think there is a big difference between
a thud or bump in the night vs. someone
kicking in your front door.

I'm sorry but if someone has forced entry into my home
the dance has started.

 

[Inusuit]

I have no "secure" place once somebody's in my home. A five year old could kick in my bedroom door, even if I did lock it. I'd have to react IMMEDIATELY, as there's virtually NO distance between me and any likely point of entry. I doubt I'd have time to call the cops BEFORE I confronted an intruder.

My plan:

1. Call police IF POSSIBLE.
2. Grab whatever gun I carried that day, these days usually an M1911, and a flashlight.
3. Tell any intruder "LEAVE".
4. If he advances on me or displays ANYTHING that could be used as a deadly weapon, he gets shot.
5. If he neither leaves nor advances, hold him at gunpoint until police arrive. Be prepared to shoot on an instant's notice.
6. If police not yet called, call.

In the NRA Personal Protection in the Home and the NRA Basic Pistol Class, we teach "Grab your firearm first." Then if time allows, call the police. Dialing 911 and keeping the line open is a good idea. AFTER you have a firearm in hand.

 

[cmort666]

In the NRA Personal Protection in the Home and the NRA Basic Pistol Class, we teach "Grab your firearm first." Then if time allows, call the police. Dialing 911 and keeping the line open is a good idea. AFTER you have a firearm in hand.

In my case, the gun and the phone are practically touching when they're not on my body, and the maglite clone is within arm's reach.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Well.. someone could beak in through my front door, back door, bedroom door, laundry room door, or break in through any number of windows. Could be one armed bad guys or multiple bad guys. I might be awake during the day, asleep at night, awake at night or snoozing during the day. I might be alone, or just me and my wife or a house full of family. Maybe the bad guys will already be in my home and I'll walk in. Or my wife and I walk in. Or maybe me and a couple guys from the Club will walk in... Or fill in the blank x1000.

The only thing for sure is if my pants are on I'll have an LCP in my pocket or a 1911 on the nightstand if in bed. I'll do my best to figure it out from there.

 

[StakeOut]

Having survived a number of shootouts I highly recommend:
Practice,Practice Practice....no gun or bullet will take the place of marksmanship
Never Ever give up your gun....NEVER!
Never frame yourself in a door way
Aim for the largest area center mass
Be mentally prepared to kill
If you survive speak only through your attorney

 

[Rustyt1953]

At night my gun and phone are on my nightstand. Ruthie's gun and phone are on hers.

The drill is: I control my weapon two handed. (light attached)

Ruthie calls 911, transfers phone to weak hand and picks up her pistol.

During the day, like Phil, I have an LCP in my pocket.

 

[Protected One]

I have no "secure" place once somebody's in my home. A five year old could kick in my bedroom door, even if I did lock it. I'd have to react IMMEDIATELY, as there's virtually NO distance between me and any likely point of entry. I doubt I'd have time to call the cops BEFORE I confronted an intruder.

My plan:

1. Call police IF POSSIBLE.
2. Grab whatever gun I carried that day, these days usually an M1911, and a flashlight.
3. Tell any intruder "LEAVE".
4. If he advances on me or displays ANYTHING that could be used as a deadly weapon, he gets shot.
5. If he neither leaves nor advances, hold him at gunpoint until police arrive. Be prepared to shoot on an instant's notice.
6. If police not yet called, call.

A decent list, but mine would have items 1 and 2 reversed, #3 would not be on mine.

I do have a plan for my wife and I in the event of an intruder in my house. I won't be shouting any commands because they already know they aren't suppose to be here, so now its down to consequences.

Had an interesting talk with instructors of two different classes I took. One instructor is a proponent of shouting commands (I'm armed and prepared to defend myself, leave my house now, etc..). The other teaches NOT to give away your location in such a way; they are in YOUR house uninvited. I adhere to the second philosophy, and an intruder in my house won't be given ANY advantages by me.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've got several plans. They all depend on where I am and what the bad guys are doing. I'm ready for them. Are they ready for me?

 

[shotgun693]

I was a Cop 35 years. I saw a lot more bad stuff that happened when the victims gave up than when they fought back. I'm not counting bad stuff that happened to the bad guys.