home defense question

[Smithsrevenge]

Nope. My bedroom is on the second floor, I just have one of those cheapo radio shack motion detectors with a screaming alarm at the bottom of the stairs.

Someone breaks in, they can have my wallet, my TV and the useless junk downstairs. No reason for me to go after them, Let them take it, then get arrested for it later. However, my Fiancee, I and our valuables are upstairs.

They go up the stairs, I'll know it :-D then they are endangering the lives of us, and they will lose theirs in turn for it. We are both armed and dont miss :-D

But no need to lock the bedroom door

 

[hangnoose]

DOOR CLOSED

Mainly in case of a fire, even a cheap hollow door can buy you enough time to get out alive hopefully. An open door that allows all that toxic smoke in, the fire alarm wakes you, what's the first thing you do? Take a deep breath. That could be all she wrote. I filled all my hollow doors with blow in foam insulation, yes it sound proofs which can be good/bad at times, but will buy even more time in a fire. Statistically I believe you are more likely to die from a fire than a burglary.

 

[Smithsrevenge]

Mainly in case of a fire, even a cheap hollow door can buy you enough time to get out alive hopefully. An open door that allows all that toxic smoke in, the fire alarm wakes you, what's the first thing you do? Take a deep breath. That could be all she wrote. I filled all my hollow doors with blow in foam insulation, yes it sound proofs which can be good/bad at times, but will buy even more time in a fire. Statistically I believe you are more likely to die from a fire than a burglary.

I never even thought of that and I'm on the volunteer department. Maybe I'll close it tonight :/ haha

 

[chief38]

We NEVER close our bedroom door unless we have quests staying here. First off, the b/r gets too hot with the door closed as the thermostat is located in the hallway outside my b/r.

Secondly, with the door opened we can better hear anybody trying to break in to our home.

The 3rd reason is Cody (our Golden Retriever) is better able to hear and alert us if anything out of the ordinary is going on. He's an excellent watch dog!

Last but not least, there are times I wake up and go downstairs or into my office or Shop and I don't want to disturb my wife with opening and closing a door.

 

[TexasArmed]

In Kansas, if in my house in the middle of the night, trying to bust down my locked door, they are a threat and I am legal to protect myself without waiting until they come through the door.

Same in Texas. I do not intent do have a gunfight inside my small apartment with 3 or 4 intruders with AK-47's . I have a stout dead bolted exterior door, and I sleep in front of the door, one way in. If they want in they should knock, and I will answer only if I know them. I will shoot thru the door if the
intruder is taking the door down. If I lived somewhere else I would check the law and if I did not agree I would move

But I would never shoot anyone just for knocking and going on down the road, nor would I go outside to see what they were doing. I could always move to so called safer areas but looks to me like crime travels everywhere.

 

[kozmic]

My bedroom is a loft that encompasses the entire second floor. There is no door or hallway. My great dane prefers it that way.

 

[Doug M.]

The odds of any home invasion if you are not a drug dealer or other serious criminal are really low. Putting that aside, one needs a multi-layered defense; even approaching the outside door should be ... awkward and discouraging.

I would not close the bedroom door for a lot of reasons that apply to my life, one of which being I want the landshark to be able to hear and respond. Most inside doors are so flimsy that the incremental improvement in security is virtually none.

Shooting through a door: The odds of it being a good idea with regard to an outside door are slight. If someone is in your home and does not belong there, and then they are trying to get through the bedroom or other inside door, that is a very different legal and tactical scenario, which may have a different logical outcome.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

We've discussed this before but you can install a wireless alarm system for around $ 300. Includes motion sensor, door and glass alarms, and activates a light(s). We have one with the console in the bedroom. When activated it sounds an alarm. It is also connected to the phone and within seconds dials a number and sends whatever message you recorded. We have it set to our cell phone for when we're away and it sends a message "home alarm system has been activated". Never have needed it but it's cheap insurance. Other options include fire and a low temperature alert. There is also a fob you can carry that will activate the system. I can't understand why people won't spend a few hundred dollars on something so easy to install.

 

[Bartman3562]

Shooting through a door: The odds of it being a good idea with regard to an outside door are slight. If someone is in your home and does not belong there, and then they are trying to get through the bedroom or other inside door, that is a very different legal and tactical scenario, which may have a different logical outcome.

Ok, time for some clarification. No where in here, or per my CCH instructor, did I mean that I would ever shoot through an exterior door. Actually, I find the idea so absurd, I didn't think anyone would think that was what I meant. This whole thread revolves around the BEDROOM door. And where I live, if he is illegally in my house, they are considered a threat, and if trying to break down my bedroom door, I would shoot through it in a heartbeat. With the door open, without a dog, or alarm, there is nothing to keep the intruder from being beside your bed without you knowing it until to late, thus the locked door is at least a small barrier. I never thought about a home security system installed myself. I didn't want someone like ADT, but that sounds like a viable option. Being an electrician, I could get real inventive. Just a motion switch and a loud horn would scare most people off. Thanks for all the replies and ideas.

 

[Donn]

Open, always. Murphy's Laws of War #9. "Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you can't get out."

 

[Neumann]

Rule #1 - identify your target and the threat (if any).
...
Rule #n - The best ambush is laid on the easiest path.
Corollary 1 - if you know there's a threat and go to investigate, you're on the easiest path.
Corollary 2 - There's only one way INTO your bedroom, or place of defensive retreat. That's the easiest path.

 

[Smithsrevenge]

Rule #1 - identify your target and the threat (if any).
...
Rule #n - The best ambush is laid on the easiest path.
Corollary 1 - if you know there's a threat and go to investigate, you're on the easiest path.
Corollary 2 - There's only one way INTO your bedroom, or place of defensive retreat. That's the easiest path.

Rule #3 Never investigate unless you absolutely have to. That's the best way to be ambushed. Let the attacker come to you and be the ambusher yourself

Sent from my VS930 4G using Tapatalk

 

[AGoyette]

Door open

Gun down low by my headboard in a small locked gun vault, easily opened by one swipe of thumbprint.

I just lost my best warning system (also my best friend) -- my black labbie. Cancer. Her litter-mate sister is unfortunately not anywhere in the same league as far as sound goes. This is prompting me to start thinking serious about an ADT system or something.

Sorry to hear about you loosing your Lab to Cancer. I still miss our Lab. We have 4 dogs here at the house. 2 Papillions (known for having good hearing), a min-pin and a very large mutt.

As to the security system. We got one after we were robbed. (the dogs where in their crates and no body was home at the time). We use Simpli Safe. A lot cheaper than ADT. Plus I like the fact that I get text messages when the alarm is turned on or off so I know which child is home. I can also set up different sensors as delay or immediate alarm. For example, for the sensors near where the children come in, they have a 1 min delay to turn off the alarm before it goes off. They have key fobs that they can use to turn the alarm on an off, but they don't use them) and I have the sensors near other entrances set to immediately trip the alarm if they are triggered. If my alarm goes off, they first call the house (with in a minute), and if we are not home they call our cell phones.

 

[badge#7]

Hmmmm? ....miniature Yorkie (that can hear a mouse poot) on the bed, back lit bedroom doorway,(aka "fatal funnel"), 686 on the nite stand.....naw i'll leave my door open

 

[amazingflapjack]

Some tin cans and fishing line can provide some advanced notice, and those bells that hang on doors as well. I have an alarm system that I use, and most of all, I put he whole property in the Lord's care.

 

[Gunzuki]

I cannot believe anyone would give you advice to just shoot through the door. Sounds like the kinda advice you would get from Biden!!
Never shoot without knowing your target ..NEVER.

 

[AZretired]

My inside doors are not locked and are usually open. I like my dogs to have the roam of the house. Downstairs windows and doors are shut & locked.

 

[locolobo]

My interior doors are open, if someone comes in my house I will hear them.

 

[MOONDAWG]

Open, always. Murphy's Laws of War #9. "Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you can't get out."

Hrump....our back up is two furry four legged buglar alarms.

 

[Donmc01]

Doors open. Security lighting and in a word, "Dog"!