question for you gun owners

[Jeff Kleb]

I live in GA so I can go to jail for shooting an invader in my home if they have a good lawyer....

In Georgia? Wow - I figured that would at least be one of the states with a "Castle Doctrine" law on the books, where you don't have a duty to retreat from an attacker if you are in a place where you are legally permitted to be (i.e., your own house).


Here in VA, we are not allowed to use deadly force to protect property; but we are allowed to use deadly/lethal force to protect our own life or the life of another innocent person (family member, etc.). Obviously, when someone deliberately forces entry into an occupied dwelling, you should easily be able to articulate being in fear for your life. It probably depends upon your county or city of residence, but I am fairly sure that an innocent homeowner in my county would not be convicted by a jury of his/her peers if they killed a home invader (not just a mere burglar).

As for shooting an intruder, you'd stand less chance of his lawyer coming after you if you ensured that the intruder did not live. That is why most calibers smaller than a .357 probably won't get the job done. The old axiom about peace through superior firepower remains true as ever, sir. The .45 ACP is another good home defense round - large in size with a slower muzzle velocity.
:biggrin2:



"Only two groups of people fear armed citizens: criminals and tyrants!" -- R. Wayne LaPierre

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

take a class...take as many classes as you can...there are plenty out there if you look...educate yourself before you get a firearm..there are alot of grey areas regarding firearms and home safety...did I mention take a class??? you'll be amazed at what you will learn...

 

[00Spork]

No no no, you guys have it allllll wrong, this is the gun you want!! Its called the Taurus Judge, too bad Obama got elected, so you cant buy one, but check this video out anyways...

If I ever see one available, Im gonna pick it right up.


http://www.taurususa.com/video/taurus-theJudge-video.cfm

 

[leftyguns21]

Re: Handgun

Oh, by the way, the thing that holds the ammunition in a semi-automatic pistol is known as a magazine; not a clip! Also, firing it sideways 'gangsta style' will increase the chances of a jam or other malfunction.

bummer...i was gonna come blazin down the stairs on a perp and bust a cap in him gangsta style...how embarrassed would i be if the gun jammed

thanks for all the info everyone...next step go to a shop and look into a course first.

 

[G.I.G.]

Green Mountain Family Shooting Center

This is where I took my basic pistol course.

http://www.gmfsc.org/

I know it's a bit of a hike for you, Chris. But it's a one-day, all-day course so you would only need to make the trip once. It's good a course to learn if you're a beginner, and it's a good refresher course if you already have experience. You shoot a .22 Rouger at the end of the day to qualify and to get your certificate. As I had mentioned this course also allows you to apply for your CCW permit if you so choose.

To CSL's point, shotguns do make great home defense weapons. I've read that a lot of people load their self defense shotguns with the first two rounds of bird shot, then the third round is buck shot. This way if you don't stop or deter the intruder with the first two shots, you can drop them with the third. Not to mention, one of the most unmistakable sounds in the world (especially to intruders) is the sound of a pump-action shotgun being cycled! :

I had an interesting experience of my own just two weeks ago......

I was working in my basement on a Saturday afternoon and I saw someone walk by the window inside our fenced yard. I immediately grabbed my gun and threw it inside my waistband before I went to our back door to see who it was. I was home alone and was not expecting anyone to come by the house. Our gate is latched shut but not locked and our back yard is completely enclosed.

So I go to the back door with my gun concealed to find a cable guy standing in my backyard. Nothing distinguished him other than a tool belt that anyone could be wearing. I know Comcast contracts out some of their installs in our area but that means anyone can walk around with a tool belt and some coax cable in their hands and pose as a "cable guy". I saw foot steps in the snow leading up to my back door but he never knocked. I opened the door and asked him what he was doing there and he said installing cable for our neighbors and needed to access the box in our backyard. Way to knock on my front door first to tell my you would be performing work on my property, jacka$$. :bash:

I kept an eye on him until he completed the work and it turns out he was legit, but you just never know.

Also, the reason why I choose a handgun vs. a shotgun for self defense is because I can easily take it with me camping, hiking, in my car, etc. If you are only going to use it for home defense, than a shotgun might be a good choice as well.

 

[leftyguns21]

when i was growing up we had a fully fenced backyard and a german shepherd, some idiot water man was checking meters and he w/o warning us went in our backyard knowing our dog was back there...my dad had to go save his a$$....what is w. these cable and water people thinking they can just go in the fenced yards w/o asking isnt it private property? you should have told the guy how close was to getting a warning shot.

a shot gun would be a little more intimidating yes, once you pump it heading down the stairs anyone who is in the house will wet themselves and leave with the quickness...but like you said its a little more difficult to store.

thanks for that link that has a lot of good info on it. i may try that may or june class.

 

[riverwolf]

Remington 870 My dad found a flavor of the 870 with 18" barrel and collapsible stock just last month for about $350 at a local pawn shop. Nice and compact when needed, less picky about point-n-click precision at 4:00 a.m.

At the risk of starting a flamefest about "cheap" guns, the Hi-Point lineup offers some solid solutions for a modest price. While currently selling for considerably more than MSRP due to the new administration, my C-9 was still less than $200 back in December.

-Brent

 

[004Gunner]

Too many replies here for me to read all, but skimming through revealed several recommendations for a revolver. RULE #1 in Self-defense: SHOTGUN is the best firearm for home defense. 12 or 20 gauges are ideal due to availability of rounds as well as cost of rounds. It is also much easier to find ranges that will accommodate shotguns as opposed to pistols. A pump shotgun is relatively inexpensive, reliable, and very user friendly. As far as point of aim and point of impact go, nothing is easier than a shotgun. In fact, the pistol is the most difficult and dangerous firearm to use for reasons I will not go into here. Another member mentioned the Remington 870 and I think this would be a great firearm for you. Bottom line: Get a shotgun and keep 00 buckshot rounds for home defense.

 

[leftyguns21]

Too many replies here for me to read all, but skimming through revealed several recommendations for a revolver. RULE #1 in Self-defense: SHOTGUN is the best firearm for home defense. 12 or 20 gauges are ideal due to availability of rounds as well as cost of rounds. It is also much easier to find ranges that will accommodate shotguns as opposed to pistols. A pump shotgun is relatively inexpensive, reliable, and very user friendly. As far as point of aim and point of impact go, nothing is easier than a shotgun. In fact, the pistol is the most difficult and dangerous firearm to use for reasons I will not go into here. Another member mentioned the Remington 870 and I think this would be a great firearm for you. Bottom line: Get a shotgun and keep 00 buckshot rounds for home defense.

i guess im a little surprised with a shotgun for home defense. i would have never considered it without all of the recommendations here [which is why im glad I asked] wouldn

 

[004Gunner]

As far as more damage to the intruder, yes and that is the point. More damage to the home, no because a shotgun round fires at a relatively slow muzzle velocity, it has less penetrability and a shorter effective range. This means that you do not have to worry nearly as much about rounds punching through walls causing more collateral damage, or worse, injury to an unintended target. With the damage to the intruder, I have to say my training is shoot to kill. You have to understand that even if you do not want to kill an intruder, shooting the intruder would be considered use of deadly force. The best thing about a shotgun is the distinctive sound a pump action 12 gauge makes when a round is chambered. This would be enough to scare off the vast majority of intruders without ever coming into contact. Shotguns are also one of the most versatile firearms you can own. You could choose less than lethal ammo for it such as rock salt rounds, flash bangs, bean bags, rubber buckshot, rubber baton, and even oc capsules (serious pepper spray). You may feel that a pistol would be more convenient and it would definitely be easier to store, but keeping a shotgun under the bed or hanging on a wall is just as convenient for what you are describing. I also feel that a shotgun is far simpler to load which is important to me since I may need to load it in the dark after just waking up out of a deep sleep. Plus, if you can't load it in time, a shotgun makes a better club than a pistol does :

 

[Hayn4R]

it is very unfortunate that we must live in such a violent society....and how the courts dont let you defend your house against punks......every state should have that castle doctrine or whatever its called....

I still stick with my original comment "Too many punk B I T C H E S with a gun"!!!

 

[leftyguns21]

As far as more damage to the intruder, yes and that is the point. More damage to the home, no because a shotgun round fires at a relatively slow muzzle velocity, it has less penetrability and a shorter effective range. This means that you do not have to worry nearly as much about rounds punching through walls causing more collateral damage, or worse, injury to an unintended target. With the damage to the intruder, I have to say my training is shoot to kill. You have to understand that even if you do not want to kill an intruder, shooting the intruder would be considered use of deadly force. The best thing about a shotgun is the distinctive sound a pump action 12 gauge makes when a round is chambered. This would be enough to scare off the vast majority of intruders without ever coming into contact. Shotguns are also one of the most versatile firearms you can own. You could choose less than lethal ammo for it such as rock salt rounds, flash bangs, bean bags, rubber buckshot, rubber baton, and even oc capsules (serious pepper spray). You may feel that a pistol would be more convenient and it would definitely be easier to store, but keeping a shotgun under the bed or hanging on a wall is just as convenient for what you are describing. I also feel that a shotgun is far simpler to load which is important to me since I may need to load it in the dark after just waking up out of a deep sleep. Plus, if you can't load it in time, a shotgun makes a better club than a pistol does :

you make several great points. thanks for the info. this clears up the shotgun concerns and gives me something to think about when i decide

 

[MikesToy]

Yeah, that would be scary if you have nothing to defend yourself or to fight with other than a knife. I own a Colt .45 gun with 3 clips. Why a .45? I grew up with .45's. Everyone in my family (dad, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc.) owns one. My house is alarmed. So if any of the windows or door opens/breaks, the alarm sounds off. The alarm is loud enough that it could wake up the whole neighborhood (LOL) so you need to wear some type of earplugs when it goes off. I also have motion detectors all around my house just in case the window/door detectors fail.

 

[jwyshrek]

The other night I had a little home invasion scare. I was sleeping and about 5am I heard some noises coming from downstairs and my dog took off barking. living alone I was a little startled and all I kept thinking was "please don

 

[jwyshrek]

x2 on the shotgun...best home defense firearm there is.

A short barrel (legal), 8-10 shot, 12 ga, pump action...loaded with buck shot.

 

[alaskaman]

my nickel.

In any situation you want to maximize TIME. In a home invasion this is crucial. For this reason and thinking that no possession is worth killing for or getting shot for I recommend ways to maximize safety by increasing your defensible time frame. The best way I know is to increase several factors in your home

1) Glass breakage alarms. Any door window gets jimmied the shreak is ON. enough to wake the whole neighborhood.

2) A room in your home which is defensible made popular by movies like Panic Room. This room has a metal door, metal shutters on windows (all obscured when not in use).

3) A cell and land line in that room.

4) A gun safe with electronic combination and key entry options with a loaded weapon inside.

In this way you provide a way to "lock down" yourself and the family. You also have time to call police, to get your weapon and to wait until the intruder leaves and/or is apprehended.

Now if you and the Mrs and the kids are watching TV and something wicked rocks your world, you can all go to that room safe and protected.

Just my nickel.

 

[Thai]

my nickel.
1) Glass breakage alarms. Any door window gets jimmied the shreak is ON. enough to wake the whole neighborhood.

2) A room in your home which is defensible made popular by movies like Panic Room. This room has a metal door, metal shutters on windows (all obscured when not in use).

Although these ideas are good, they are also impractical.

I agree with #1. Make sure that your alarm system is MONITORED. Unmonitored alarm is fairly useless because your neighbors will just brushed off the alarm noise and do nothing. There are have been many studies looking at this...NO ONE DOES ANYTHING. Think of it this way...when you hear a car alarm go off in a big parking lot, do you go and check it out??? I would bet that 99% of the time, no one does. People will assume either that your alarm system is cheap and goes off with anything OR that someone else will help you (so they just go right back to sleep).

In addition, in most neighborhoods (including mine), either HOA or local authorities does NOT allow for a loud blaring alarm to be installed. Thus, most modern installed alarm only makes noise that can be heard if you are in really close proximity of the house. This is to prevent waking up the whole neighborhood for nothing. Modern alarms are designed to sound loud as hell INSIDE the house, but not outside!

In addition to having the alarm monitored, you have to make sure that your alarm system has a WIRELESS TRANSMITTER. If it does not, then it is again absolutely useless. A robber can just cut the telephone line (which is OUTSIDE) to your house and you are screwed. No land line for telephone = no transmitting of alarm to proper authorities. Thus, a wireless transmitter (more expensive) is absolutely necessary...it is basically a cell phone that they install.

Panic room is cool in movies and in mega million dollar homes. However, for your average Joe's house, there is no such "option" when you either build a house or buy one used. Panic rooms are wildly expensive to build...because you have to support that all-metal structure...so, the room itself is expensive already, but now you gotta reinforce the WHOLE house to support that ONE room. Unless you have millions of dollars, this ain't gonna happen!

I agree that you should have some sort of communication device (cell phone or land line) in your bedroom. But, remember, any half-witted thief will cut your land line to your telephone first...so, don't depend on that. And forget about having a secret telephone line (like in Panic Room movie)...again, not practical nor cost effective. But, if you already have a MONITORED alarm system, the call for help should be automatic, requiring no action from you.

Again, these are must-haves in any home alarm system:
1. Alarm system of course
2. Monitored by a security company (ADT, Comcast, etc.)
3. Glass breakage sensor along with door opening sensor
4. Wireless transmitter
5. Backup battery to run the alarm system for at least 24 hours (in the event of power outage or robber cutting power to the house). These batteries are usually rechargeable and will alarm you when it is no longer holding charge.

Yes, some of these may cost a little bit extra at the time of installation, BUT this is a lot cheaper than a panic room...and is a worthwhile investment. However, any alarm system can be defeated by a professional burglar...just like any car alarm system can by bypassed by a smart car thief. Nothing in life is free of faults...so, it is nice to have a shotgun or handgun by bedside.

 

[Thai]

4) A gun safe with electronic combination and key entry options with a loaded weapon inside.

Yes. Don't go cheap either! You get what you pay for! Take it from me, i went cheap with a gun safe and that thing failed on me within 1 week! Luckily, i was constantly checking it to make sure that it was reliable when it failed. Now, i have a brand-name safe and it has been flawless. The safe should be in the same room that you sleep.

Remember, you (and family) will "lock down" in the room that you are in under most circumstances...you should NOT be wondering the hallways of your house if you hear noises outside your room! You stay put...unless you have to go to other rooms to pick up your children. However, in such cases, it is probably better to yell out to them (if they are older and able) to lock their doors and hide in a closet or under bed...either way, tell them to lay low. But where YOU sleep, you need to have the gun safe (or shotgun) and cell phone.

 

[leftyguns21]

a panic room is not really an option for me living in a townhouse so if i need to i can hide in my closet i suppose. i dont really think for now ill need a gun safe because its just me...isnt the purpose of a gun safe to keep kids out of it? i do want to get an alarm eventually but for now my dog is pretty alert. any extra noise he lets me know about it. if some glass breaks he will wake me up. i always keep my cell phone in my room [its my alarm clock] its hooked to my wireless router too so i have two options for phone service if i dont get cell service my wireless router will pick it up.

i dont live in a high profile area so the types of thieves coming through the area will be a little less than intelligent and just looking for some quick cash. im hoping the townhouse community, the no quick way out of the area, and a dog barking will have them look elsewhere but the extra safety will be eventually some sort of weapon

 

[alaskaman]

a panic room is not really an option for me living in a townhouse so if i need to i can hide in my closet i suppose. i dont really think for now ill need a gun safe because its just me...isnt the purpose of a gun safe to keep kids out of it? i do want to get an alarm eventually but for now my dog is pretty alert. any extra noise he lets me know about it. if some glass breaks he will wake me up. i always keep my cell phone in my room [its my alarm clock] its hooked to my wireless router too so i have two options for phone service if i dont get cell service my wireless router will pick it up.

i dont live in a high profile area so the types of thieves coming through the area will be a little less than intelligent and just looking for some quick cash. im hoping the townhouse community, the no quick way out of the area, and a dog barking will have them look elsewhere but the extra safety will be eventually some sort of weapon

A gun safe is also to keep bad guys from getting your gun. If you are able to give yourself 30 seconds extra behind your door you can call the police, have your weapon and fire from cover.