Tactics-would YOU have opened the door to these thugs?

[pittpa]

Here is an NRA video, from a link on my LGS web page, about a homeowner shooting some thugs...would you have opened the door?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/w8Sbf_piIQQ?feature=player_detailpage

 

[Smoke]

It's always better to avoid a confrontation with a criminal than to win one

Standard answer

Massad Ayoob "Don't Answer The Door!!!" - YouTube

I’ve seen this discussed on other forums and it seems to cause a lot of debate when it comes up.

I found this video by Massad Ayoob on youtube in which he explains how he deals with a stranger at his door and there’s not much I can add to it except maybe my personal experience.

I am convinced that I stopped an attempted robbery at the front door of my home several years ago by simply not opening the door.

A stranger showed up at my door around 9 pm saying that he wanted to give me a free Denver Post. This was back when I owned a home and I looked through the front window and he had no newspaper in his hands.

He spent 10 minutes trying to get me to open that door; nothing else was going to do. I finally ended the conversation by telling him I was calling the police. I am aware that there are any number of things I could have done better but it was almost 10 years ago and I’ve learned some since then.

I believe it’s prudent not to open the door to a stranger if for no other reason than I don’t want to hear a pitch for meat or a vacuum cleaner or encyclopedias or magazines or an invitation to your church. By not opening the door for anyone I don’t know I automatically am never faced with a situation where I open the door to a criminal.

If it is a criminal I want every advantage I can have. Why put myself in a position where I have to fight them at the door when I can just not open the door and avoid the fight entirely?

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[haywood]

My Kitchen Window is next to the Man Door in my Garage. This is the only door that gets answered. I open the window, witch is Two Feet higher than they are, find out what they want, and proceed from there. If I'm not interested I tell them and shut the window. The front door has a sign, USE SIDE DOOR, I never use the front door.

 

[Gamecock]

I never open my door for anyone. Could be a process server.

 

[okiegtrider]

Here is an NRA video, from a link on my LGS web page, about a homeowner shooting some thugs...would you have opened the door?
https://www.youtube.comembedw8Sbf_piIQQ?feature=player_detailpage

This link working for anyone else?

 

[pittpa]

Try again. I re-pasted it.

 

[okiegtrider]

Try again. I re-pasted it.

Working now. Thanks.

I like a story where good guys win!

 

[swsig]

I never open my door for anyone. Could be a process server.

Amen to that. Even though we live in a low-crime area, friends and neighbors who want to visit know to always call first. We NEVER answer the door otherwise.

 

[Protected One]

I am amazed that a police officer would open his front door in that situation!!! Simply amazed.

 

[vytoland]

if i dont know who is on the other side....the door is NEVER opened.........force your way in and i have the police on the phone in one hand and a loaded S&W revolver in the other.....

 

[Smoke]

I never open my door for anyone. Could be a process server.

When we first moved in here we had process servers & Repo agents looking for the previous tenants for a couple of months.

I told my wife to tell them through the door that So And So no longer lives here and you're welcome to verify that with the office but we're not letting you in our house.

The only exception was when a guy from our church showed up to repo their car. Him I opened up for

 

[pittpa]

I am amazed that a police officer would open his front door in that situation!!! Simply amazed.

That is what I was thinking when I saw this. Could he have been looking for trouble?

 

[jimmib]

I always look through the peephole before I open the door....I would told them through the door that I was calling 911 and if they would have tried to break the door down I would have shot them through the door...I have a locked storm door they have to get open to get to our front door

 

[Gamecock]

Amen to that. Even though we live in a low-crime area, friends and neighbors who want to visit know to always call first.

Same here. And my phone number is unlisted.

Neighbors gripe about solicitors. It's their own fault. Don't answer the door, and they'll go away.

Because of the MO of some burglaries in the area a few years ago, when the doorbell rings, I grab a gun and move to cover the back door.

 

[getoff]

we had a problem last year with an atempted home invasion type deal. 2 rather surley and agitated fellers pounded on my door around 10:30 pm. NOBODY knocks on my door after 8:00 as they know my lil's are getting in bed, and I don't go down long after. they got louder and louder insisting I open up so they can use my phone first, then the potty, then maybe just a drink of water. after they heard my trusty 870 slide rack a round, for some reason they simply hauled butt... before they hit the landing down stairs, i heard car tires squeal, and 3 car doors slam. not 100% sure they were gonna kick in the front door, but it probably wouldn't have ended well for them... long answer, NO, do NOT open the door, EVER!!!

 

[Protected One]

I always look through the peephole before I open the door....I would told them through the door that I was calling 911 and if they would have tried to break the door down I would have shot them through the door...I have a locked storm door they have to get open to get to our front door

I DON'T tell the thugs I am calling 911 - my wife has already called them... and I want them "right there" when the cops arrive!

 

[Moe Mentum]

In these times, I would never even consider opening the door unless I know the person on the other side. Thugs will even go so low as to have little kids ring your bell, so they can barge in when you open it.

 

[Protected One]

In these times, I would never even consider opening the door unless I know the person on the other side. Thugs will even go so low as to have little kids ring your bell, so they can barge in when you open it.

I don't open it for little kids either...or old people...or seemingly injured people...or, well you get the idea. Too many "scams" going on to risk my life.

 

[Rastoff]

Well, we can't really answer the OP's question. He didn't know they were thugs until after he opened the door. So, no, I wouldn't open my door to any thug.

However, this raises the question, if you feel you have to open your door with your gun in your hand, why are you opening the door? If you're coming to my house to do harm, you'll have to break in.

 

[Smoke]

Well, we can't really answer the OP's question. He didn't know they were thugs until after he opened the door. So, no, I wouldn't open my door to any thug.

However, this raises the question, if you feel you have to open your door with your gun in your hand, why are you opening the door? If you're coming to my house to do harm, you'll have to break in.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/concea...-your-door-armed.html?highlight=Open+door+gun

I actually started a thread on this and offended a couple of people because they felt it wasn't my place to question how they live their life.

IMO opening the door with a gun in your hand adds a lot of unnecessary drama to the process. I suspect that some of the people that do it like the reaction it provokes