[Jim Diver]

http://arguscourier.com/news/news/intruder031105.html

Police cautioned residents about trying to take matters into their own hands if they confronted the intruder in their house. Their advice was to keep doors and windows locked and call 911 -- not buy a gun and shoot the prowler.

"If you lock your doors, you don't need weapons," Hood said.

[xenophon]

<homeowner> "Mr. Badguy, you aren't supposed to be in here, my doors were locked!!!"

<badguy> "ohhh, that's right, I just crowbarred the door without even checking the lock, my mistake, I'll leave now, have a good day."



HMMMMmmm, what's wrong with that logic?

x

[longeyes]

Was that Petaluma, California or Petaluma, Sussex?

[Old Fuff]

Methinks the cops may have some legal problems if some unarmed householder is done in after all the doors and windows are locked.

Sometimes it is advisable to keep mouth shut.

Also sometimes it is a good idea to not listen to cops.

[Mark Tyson]

If you can use your guns properly, you don't need cops.

[greyhound]

She said it is important to allow children to express their fears, to spend more time with them, give them all the facts appropriate to their level of understanding, reassure them, make bedtime a comforting routine and limit their exposure to news sources.

Nonsense; buy them a .22 and start teaching them about self defense/gun safety!:cuss:

Though I agree with "limit their exposure to (leftist) news sources".:D

[tyme]

Police cautioned residents about trying to take matters into their own hands if they confronted the intruder in their house. Their advice was to keep doors and windows locked and call 911 -- not buy a gun and shoot the prowler.
I'm confused. The police want residents to lock the doors after the intruder is already inside? Otherwise, what's the point of the second sentence? The issue is what to do if someone has already broken in, right?

[P95Carry]

"If you lock your doors, you don't need weapons," Hood said. OMG!!! How damned assinine can these people get.??:rolleyes: :fire: So - every householder MUST, by default ... be unarmed, have a home like Fort Knox ...... at all times .. and thus I assume NEVER even answer to door to ANY caller . EVER. ''Quality of life'' .. forget it .. just be defenceless and a prisoner in your own home?? I don't think so.

Geez .. gimme a break ... this is so absurd as to be almost funny ...... and we all know (no disrespect to good cops) .... the cops will be there, won't they ........ in an instant .... to avert any chance of disaster.... NOT!!

Oh my oh my oh my ...... (struggles for breath due to hyperventilation thru frustration and head banging ..... :banghead: ).

I mean .. this is how they seem to want it in the UK ... except there too, the cops will rarely if ever be where needed in time ... just go along and ''mop up - and measure up''!:rolleyes:

This guy needs meds .... even referring to ''if confronted'' .... call 911 and wait for the cavalry .. can people be this niéve ... really? So the perp just takes a seat ... ''yeah sure - call 911 . I'm in no hurry'' ......... and ''sure I won't shoot anyone till the cops arrive ... gotta keep things fair and sqaure.''

Any wonder some of us get so incredulous, when we hear $hit like this.:rolleyes: :cuss:

[greyhound]

If you lock your doors, you don't need weapons," Hood said.

Yet, we're supposed to believe that "rank and file" LEOs support gun ownership/self defense and its only the "brass politicians" that want only soldiers and LEOs to be armed. I can only see so may examples of just the "brass" supporting "civilian" disarmament before I start thinking that "civilians" being disarmed would make life easier for LEOs.

But I still don't believe that all LEOs want us disarmed, just that many "rank and file" (but not all) want it too, as well as the "political chiefs".....

[Standing Wolf]

As I recall, Petaluma is where Polly Klaas (sp?) was abducted and murdered at the age of about twelve in 1992 by a parolee named "Richard Davis.

Households without firearms are like households without candles, lighters, first aid kids, flash lights, radios, batteries, water, food, and assorted other emergency supplies: unprepared.

[MJRW]

I appear to be doing it all wrong then. I figured any determined thug can get into my house no matter how well I lock the doors. A good saw will take him right through my walls, if he wants. So I decided not to make my house a fortress. Instead, I don't worry about them getting in. With 150 pounds of dog (a weimaraner and a shepherd), my 870 w/ light and GP-100, and my fiance's .22 mag, I feel bad for the guy that DOES get in here. I mean, I'll call 911 and all, ya know, to be polite and I don't mind the back-up if need be. But by the time the police get here, the job will already be done. That's my theory on protecting a home.

And frankly, I do not like people that say "don't get a gun, call the police." It is just irresponsible in my opinion to ask someone to possibly take a life if you would not do it yourself and especially if you aren't willing to defend yourself first thus putting the officer in that position to take a life. Police are not here for our dirty work.

[TekChef]

you know, I am 5'9ish and weight 135 lbs...kinda skinny guy. With my boots on, I can kick a door open, and with a glass cutter(which can be bought at a hardware store), I can cut a hole and open a window in a minute.

I can also cut phone lines and cut power with a cheap knife

Now..let's take me out, and put a criminal in there. Or how about someone amped up on meth or some other drug?

Yah..a locked door and 911 are REALLY going to save you!

the best lock I have found to work is the lock on the action of a pump shotgun locking a OO buckshot shell in place!
Deterrs about all crime!

[jimpeel]

"If you lock your doors, you don't need weapons," Hood said.
I wonder what the good Kapitan will do if the guy shows up in his house. I'm sure the first thing he will reach for is the telephone. Fer shur, like, ya know?

[P95Carry]

I'm sure the first thing he will reach for is the telephone. Fer shur, like, ya know? EXACTLY Jim ... exactly.

As ever .. it's way too easy to ''talk the talk'' .... but ....... :rolleyes:

[Cal4D4]

My folks live near there in Sonoma county. The whole county seems to be an odd blend of old apple and grape farmers who still shoot an occasional deer on their property and migratory whackos from The Bay area. Fairly rural, yet close enough to commute in.

[James Bondrock]

From Old Fuff:



Methinks the cops may have some legal problems if some unarmed householder is done in after all the doors and windows are locked.

Afraid not, OF. I wish it were true. There are numerous court cases ruling that the police have no duty to protect individuals.

[QuickDraw]

Cal4D4 hit it on the head.
Petaluma still has some rural areas,but mostly yuppified
bedroom community.Used to be quite rural,was the egg capital
of the world!Its a kick to see dairy ranchers in 4x4 pickups and
cowboy boots next to yuppies in a store:D .
Shameless local bussiness plug:Petaluma Gun and Reloading Supply!
Thats where I bought my last supply of powder and bullets!!

QuickDraw

[P95Carry]

that the police have no duty to protect individuals. Quad ........... Errat ......... Demonstrandum.:p :)

[James Bondrock]

Police cautioned residents about trying to take matters into their own hands if they confronted the intruder in their house. Their advice was to keep doors and windows locked and call 911 -- not buy a gun and shoot the prowler.

:confused: Lock the doors and windows and call 911 after the prowler is already in the house? You would have better luck throwing the phone at him! But, what do you expect? I wish the San Francisco Bay Area (where Petaluma is) would secede from the rest of California, and take Los Angeles with them.

[Cal4D4]

James Bondrock...

"San Francisco Bay Area (where Petaluma is)"

Don't mind me, I'm from SoCal and am universally despised anywhere North of Santa Barbara, but I don't think Petaluma is considered in the Bay Area by Petalumians or Bayians. Mill Valley yes, Petaluma no.

[Mark Tyson]

There are numerous court cases ruling that the police have no duty to protect individuals.

Don't let that news get out. The antis will be in a tizzy.

[standingbear]

locked windows and doors dont deter a determined lunatic.they arent going to wait for you to dial 911 if theyve already made it inside.ill dial it after theyre pooling and the dog has finished with them.

[Pilgrim]

Police Chief Tom Simms said officers have logged 409 hours of overtime since Oct. 12 when a home invasion on Saratoga Court made police take a second look at prowler and trespasser cases that had originally appeared to be isolated incidents.

He estimated that the overtime has cost the department approximately $16,000.
Look at the bright side of things. The officers' kids will have a very Merry Christmas. :D

Pilgrim

[feedthehogs]

She said it is important to allow children to express their fears
Hell of a thing to allow our children to grow up in fear of life.

They should be taught that they can protect themselves with a gun and then call the police to come mop up the mess afterwards.

A nation of cowards propagated by the police.

[XLMiguel]

Buttmunch Hood needs to visit Kenneshaw, GA.

[James Bondrock]

"Don't mind me, I'm from SoCal and am universally despised anywhere North of Santa Barbara, but I don't think Petaluma is considered in the Bay Area by Petalumians or Bayians. Mill Valley yes, Petaluma no."



It's a geographical conspiracy. ;)

[sm]

Still searching, with assistance from other agencies, this perp even enters homes with dogs...
He estimated that the overtime has cost the department approximately $16,000.
16K would buy a good selection of Police trade-ins, used guns...heck even single shot shot guns, ...betcha that would 1) "find" this perp, 2) discourage copy-cats,3) take this area off the hit list for perps of many sorts in the future.

Makes sense to me instead of taxes paying for overtime, let homeowner use that monies to save tax dollars down the road, buy a HD gun. Sell the idea to the Dept Bean Counters...I mean they seem to make other "decisions" like duty weapons, ammo, training and such...just an idea...

[jimpeel]

16,000 / 409 comes to a bit less than $40/hr. It costs twice that to have your car worked on these days. By that standard, they are a cheap date.

[Nightfall]

Police cautioned residents about trying to take matters into their own hands if they confronted the intruder in their house. Their advice was to keep doors and windows locked and call 911 -- not buy a gun and shoot the prowler.

"If you lock your doors, you don't need weapons," Hood said.
Because the only intrusions that ever happen are to people who forgot to lock their doors. Goodness knows, never has anybody broken some glass, or picked a lock, or so on.

It's going to be a sad day when this sick little ‘prowler' gets a bit bolder, and we see a report of some now childless mother sobbing into news cameras that all the doors were locked, how could this have happened.

[saddenedcitizen]

These elitist morons live in a fantasy world of their own
making.
If locking the doors & calling 911 worked
why the he!! doesn't the genius leave his
weapon in the cruser/office etc. ??????????
Nope.
He's got his protection and the rest of us
can just cower/whimper and call 911
and hope because he is highly trained
and Scotty will beam him straight into
our home if something goes awry.
No disrespect for the higher quality LEO's
out there but this kind of STUPIDITY caused
by myopic self rightousness makes my blood
pressure skyrocket.

[greyhound]

Kinda says something when the police leadership in that town are more worried about the safety of burglars rather than the victims.

[BOBE]

Someone wrote that the courts have said that the police are not required to protect individuals but the community in general. If this is the case, then the Kapitan is either stupid or lying through his teeth, In either case he has no business holding his position!!

[makarov1]

Outside of La La Land, the world is a dangerous place. Inside LaLa Land, the world is even more dangerous with really bad advice from LEOs. On a clear day, I can see Kennesaw Mountain from my house. If a local LEO gave the same advice here in North Georgia, the general reaction from the local population would be something like "What planet is that LEO from?" I can't imagine a Georgia LEO making such a dumb statement. Having said that, if such a statement was made, virtually noone would take it seriously. In California however, the sheeple take profoundly stupid statements from LEOs as the Gospel. The LEOs in Petaluma are putting the sheeple in even greater danger, as they are less likely to be able to think for themselves (having been indoctrinated in California Public Schools) and would handle a potentially fatal scenario poorly. HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY, and this particular LEO in Petaluma is suggesting the best strategy is to lock the doors, call 911, and hope for the best. Good Luck.

[Sportcat]

Anyone have an e-mail address for this "expert?"

[Mark Tyson]

I wonder if the good chief keeps his own service weapon available at home.

[P95Carry]

I wonder if the good chief keeps his own service weapon available at home. You can bet your a$$ .... he does!!:p

[Don Galt]

I'll consider this advice when cops start carrying around cellphones instead of pistols.

[foghornl]

I don't dial HELP! 9-1-1...

I dial SP(ringfield) 1911.

My doors, etc were locked when I was "home invaded" in 1980. Must have taken the BG's about 15 seconds to pry open the gap on those cheapie thin aluminum frame "double-hung" windows and flip open the latches.

Since then, I don't rely on the local PD to keep me safe.

Doesn't take long for a determined BG to crowbar/hydraulic jack open a door, or a window, or toss a cinder block through the "sliding glass patio door". (ex-wife parents home was burgled that way...miscreant tossed a 'cinder block' through the sliding patio door. First person home that evening tripped over cinder block)

[RustyHammer]

:banghead:

[Kinsman]

YIKES!!!
There is more than one Petaluma????

[HankB]

Police cautioned residents about trying to take matters into their own hands if they confronted the intruder in their house. Ummm . . . if the intruder is already "in their house" . . . isn't it too late for anyone else to handle the matter?

You've heard of Darwin Awards? Maybe we should create an "Official Doofus Award" and give it to people who make inane statements like the one quoted above.

[romulus]

My folks live near there in Sonoma county. The whole county seems to be an odd blend of old apple and grape farmers who still shoot an occasional deer on their property and migratory whackos from The Bay area. Fairly rural, yet close enough to commute in.

I moved from Sonoma back to Milwaukee because it just ain't so...the apple farmers(very few left) and "grape farmers" are wealthy yuppies now - even the few chicken farmers left in Petaluma. Overall, it's a mix of pompous "enlightened" nouveau riche and clueleless potheads. As soon as I was told that I had to remove the bayo from an SKS and register as a "private handgun importer" or some such, I was out of there. I sure don't miss my $2,000/mo. 2 br. hovel...

[deanf]

Anyone have an e-mail address for this "expert?"

The best I could come up with is policeadmin@ci.petaluma.ca.us

That address apperently goes to the chief.

Of course you could try steve.hood@ci.petaluma.ca.us or shood@ci.petaluma.ca.us

Based on other resources, it appears they use the fist initial/last name format before the @.

[Partisan Ranger]

I normally hold a high opinion of LEOs, but that has to be some of the most ignorant gibberish I've ever heard! If you lock your doors you don't need a weapon? Oh? What's the reponse time on 911 in your neighborhood? It's 5 minutes in mine. Do you know what a criminal savage could do to you in those 5 minutes?

It seems that many anti-gun bigots look to the cops as the last word on guns and self-defense. And many cops are reflexively anti-gun because they've seen what guns do to people. What a disservice to the law-abiding community.

[Mute]

Does this mean a homeowner can sue the Petaluma PD when (not if) this ill-advised suggestion proves to be ineffective?

[Don Galt]

Partisan-- I have another theory for you. Cops are anti-gun because they want control. A disarmed populace is less likely to threaten their power.

One thing police states can always count on is the support of the police.

[alan]

30 plus years ago, when I lived in California (Berekley and Oakland), Peteluma was also known as The Artichoke Capitol of the World, or so proclaimed a large highway billboard one passed going north on Route 1, shortly after having crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. They might not grwo produce there today, I couldn't hazzard a guess.

In any case, re the admonition from the local PD, the following question comes to mind. Do the police there leave their sidearms at the station house??

[MarkDido]

"Police cautioned residents about trying to take matters into their own hands if they confronted the intruder in their house. Their advice was to keep doors and windows locked and call 911 -- not buy a gun and shoot the prowler. "

Sounds more like the police are buying themselves a little extra insurance against getting shot during a no-knock warrant at the wrong address.

[deanf]

Here is Capt. Hood's response to my email to him:

"Dean:
One sentence, taken significantly out of context, in response to a question from a woman who did not want to have to buy a gun.

-----Original Message-----
From: D. Fuller [mailto:dean@fullerzone.net]
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 12:35 PM
To: Hood, Steve
Subject: You actually said this?


"If you lock your doors, you don't need weapons," (in this article: http://arguscourier.com/news/news/intruder031105.html)

Please tell me this quote was taken out of context.

Please tell me you do support the right of everyone to takes steps to defend themselves in their own homes, in the unlikely event that a prowler enters, even when all the doors are locked.

-Dean Fuller
dean@fullerzone.net"

[Sportcat]

Weak, very weak response Capt. Hood.

[alan]

Re response from police capt.:

Just about what one would expect from a police bureaucrat.

[P95Carry]

''Out of context'' - my a$$ ........ sheesh.

What a lame, crock of s*** response ........... hardly worth wasting time on someone like that ..... their views are so narrow and entrenched it seems.