Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: aMorePerfectUnion

The first thing to do is look objectively at your situation.

1) Is a local crime analysis available for your area? It is a big help if your local paper publishes one. Just a quick look will tell you if there are lots of burglaries, car thefts, vandalism, or other crime in your neighborhood. This is a good way to calculate risk, and from what direction.

2) If crimes are minor, and peripheral to your home, surveillance cameras and motion sensitive lights are a good start. Such crimes are often local juveniles, who are easy to dissuade.

3) If the main crime is burglary, then your defense should be burglary oriented. That is, an occupied looking house is a lot safer, because burglars will usually avoid it. Your local police will also give much advise on burglar-proofing your home.

If the problem is violent crimes and home invasion, then you need to consider much more serious and expensive measures. Metal instead of wood doors are helpful, as well as things like double paned windows, security shutters, or even bars. The purpose is not to stop them completely, but to slow them down enough for you to respond.

You have to assume murderous intent with a home invader or invaders, so do not rely on a dog. Many home invaders are incoherent with drugs and alcohol as well.

This means a gun and a cell phone are essential. But as you pointed out, a gun is probably not going to be handy in your day to day life. So start by putting a big canister of pepper spray next to your door.

If you answer the door to an incoherent and violent person, a blast of pepper spray in the face may be just the thing. The same if they try to push their way in. It is just so you can close and secure the door. Then cell phone and gun time. Shout warnings to everyone else in the house, and be ready for them to come through a window or back door at any moment.

As soon as you call 911, you have defeated most of what an armed home invasion gang can do. So your emphasis is to protect yourself and your family until they arrive. Optimally, they will run off. However, a maniac does not care about the police, and if armed, may be resistant to even bullets, so if you shoot him, insure he is dead.

From that point, your biggest risk is being confused with the home invader by the police, so have a care.


32 posted on 01/26/2008 4:51:10 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

You’ve already made one mistake in that scenario.

You opened the door.

FYI, a determined assailant can fight through the pepper spray to get to you.


35 posted on 01/26/2008 4:53:25 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies ]

To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Another problem:

“However, a maniac does not care about the police, and if armed, may be resistant to even bullets, so if you shoot him, insure he is dead.”

As practical as this is, this is also ILLEGAL and will get you tossed in jail for murder. You shoot only until the threat stops. If the threat continues, you keep shooting. If there is no clear threat, do not shoot.

Modern forensics is more than good enough to tell if you shot someone while they were lying on the ground to finish them off.

Simple rules of engagement. However, if you should go for center of mass followed by headshots and if that should “happen” to kill them while they are upright, that’s another story.


36 posted on 01/26/2008 4:56:20 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies ]

To: yefragetuwrabrumuy
From that point, your biggest risk is being confused with the home invader by the police, so have a care.

To be more specific, make sure you tell the 911 dispatcher you are armed, and while you're waiting for the cops, you'll do what you have to if the burglar breaches the door. If you repel a burglar, don't pursue. It would suck to survive a burglar and get shot by a cop.

It doesn't hurt to have a safe room. Not necessarily one of these elaborate shelters you read about, just one bedroom with a sturdy door that locks from the inside. The idea isn't to withstand a prolonged siege, just to buy you and the cops time.

46 posted on 01/26/2008 5:16:24 PM PST by ReignOfError
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson