Grab a flashlight or turn on the house lights?

[Drjones]

Most "bump in the night" posts usually start out with, "I grabbed [insert gun of choice here] and my [flashlight of choice] and went to see what was going on."

While a flashlight is definitely a very valuable tool that you should have on you at all times, especially when investigating a bump, wouldn't it make a lot more sense to just turn on the house lights?

The main advantages to simply turning on the house lights as I see it are:

1) You don't have to worry about missing a spot with your flashlight.

2) If someone is in fact breaking into your home, the lights coming on will let him know that you heard him. Since criminals generally like easy targets, there's a good chance (IMO) that he'll "see the light" and take off.

3) You have both hands free to operate your weapon properly. This is crucial if your HD weapon is a long gun, particularly a pump shotgun.

So what does everyone here think?

 

[Preacherman]

A few points:

1. You (should!) know the layout of your home and furniture, even in darkness. Intruders probably don't. Turning on the lights lets them manoever more easily.

2. In the dark, intruders can't see you if the lights are off. If they can't see you, they can't shoot at you. You, on the other hand, can illuminate your chosen target(s) and shoot without hesitation (provided you ID them as strangers in your home).

3. By switching on the lights, you're going to blind yourself for a few seconds as your eyes adjust to the light. Why not use your already-dark-accustomed eyes to see what's out there first?

 

[ChiefPilot]

If the sound is outside, then yes - house lights go on in addition to the motion-detector activated lights.

If the sound is inside (and this has only happened once), my weapons-mounted flashlight (Streamlight M6) stays off. Assuming I've been sleeping or in the process of getting there, my night vision will already be good enough that I could use the weapon light to blind any would-be intruder. The visible laser illuminator on the M6 will hopefully preclude the need to discharge the weapon.

I think that turning on the flashlight just to search around is really just advertising my presence and revealing my location to any unwelcome guests.

 

[45R]

There is a way to preserve your night vision. Incoming PM.

 

[TheeBadOne]

What Preacherman said.

 

[clubsoda22]

I'm getting one for my USP .40 Tactical.

Allows two hands on the gun and at 90+ lumens, more than enough to temporarily blind an attacker.

 

[Kamicosmos]

Another nod to Preacherman.

I have a large 3 D-cell Maglight in the nightstand. It's big enough to use as a club if need be. Although I need to pick up one of these uber bright small LED 'combat lights'.

 

[voilsb]

So, um, what's the way to preserve night adjusted vision, 45R? Just use red or green lights in your house? Wear sunglasses?

 

[Amish_Bill]

No interior house lights.
Exterior lights are OK.

If the noise is inside the house, as another said, you know the layout of your house and can move in the darkness much easier than a bad guy. A flashlight will both blind the target and allow you to IFF. (Identify Friend/Foe)

If the noise is outside the house, leave the lights off and check it out again. I have to assume that some part of checking out the outisde disturbance is actually looking out a window/door or going outside. If you have the house lights on, you are making yourself a lit target for any no-good-niks in the area. Exterior lights will illuminate the area and anyone outside. Looking out froma darkened area will make you all but invisible.

Tactically, darkness is your friend. What the other person cannot see, they cannot effectively respond to.

 

[cool45auto]

The light switch for the bedroom is right beside the door leading into the living room. I'd be on top of 'em as soon as the lights come on. It'd be cool to have a switch in the bedroom that turned all the lights in and outside the house on at the same time!

 

[JamisJockey]

I'd grab my trusty Security Six, then I'd go across the hall and grab my son. Then I'd give him to the wife, close the door, call the police, and stay out of thier field of fire.

 

[Ed Brunner]

Amish_Bill has it right.
Outside lights are good because they backlight anyone coming in.
Since you know the layout, you have the advantage in poor light.

 

[techmike]

Atc1man has the right Idea.

I'd grab my trusty Security Six, then I'd go across the hall and grab my son. Then I'd give him to the wife, close the door, call the police, and stay out of thier field of fire.

But would you use a flashlight or turn on the lights while retrieving your 6 y.o.?

 

[sm]

Agree with Preacherman.

I have also used the exterior motion lights, kept small lights on throughout the house ( overhead stove, small/tiny theatre style that plug into wall outlets, decorative ) , remote control to "pop" a light behind to startle BG. I also like those small disposable lights that you can palm, flip on and toss across a room( BG follows the sound and light. Basically I want to be hid and not illuminated, BGs illuminated and caught off guard.

Remote that operates a battery powered [emergency] light is also good with a radio, TV recording. Say you have it rigged in an unused downstairs room, BG may be drawn into or away ...this gives you an edge whilst upstairs getting family in a safe room.

Think like a thief, how would YOU view and attempt to successfully beat your layout. Ask a trusted family member to do same...kids see things adults do not , their viewpoints are just as valuable.

 

[JamisJockey]

Neither....

But would you use a flashlight or turn on the lights while retrieving your 6 y.o.?

Neither. I'd have to scoop the rugrat with one arm, and carry the piece with my other hand.
I've also got a huge tactical advantge (see pic).....

 

[45R]

So, um, what's the way to preserve night adjusted vision, 45R? Just use red or green lights in your house? Wear sunglasses?

Not in my house. Wearing sunglassses would make everything appear even darker for you.

 

[garrettwc]

Preacherman's comments are right on the money.

Since you can't tell if the bump came from inside or outside until you find the source, err on the side of caution.

 

[BerettaNut92]

My roommate is a klutz, has no job, and likes to roam around the house with the lights off (to save electricty ). Sometimes he's just standing in the kitchen playing with the trash or sitting on the sofa looking at the TV (while it's off). Instead of turning on the lights, I give him a dose of Mr SureFire

 

[Gabe]

There is a good article in one of the current month rags, GWLE I think that discusses flashlights in a dark building. Turning your flashlight on basically turns you into a target. The guy hiding in the dark has all the advantage. If you must use a hand light they recommend flashing and moving, never keeping the light on continuously.

 

[pax]

Gabe,

That's true: if you must use a flashlight, the basic rule is 2 seconds, 2 steps. That is, never have the light on for more than 2 seconds, and always take at least two steps off line (not forward or back, but to one side or the other) immediately when the light goes off.

All,

I am going to go against the tide here. I think it is better to turn your house lights on if possible. The guy hiding in the dark has all the advantages -- even if you know the territory.

Before arguing with me, try this. After dark, turn off all your house lights. Then have the rest of your family members go hide in the darkened house (you got kids, right? A tolerant and bemused wife? A shooting buddy who's willing to come experiment with you?) Find someone or someones willing to play hide and seek with you.

Tell the hiders that they are simply to stay in one place and watch for you and that if they can see you for two seconds, they are to say, "bang -- you're dead." If you spot them before they spot you, you get to live.

Do this with all your house lights off, and then do it again with the lights on.

Then come tell the rest of us how it went.

pax

In life, as in chess, forethought wins. -- Charles Buxton

 

[MrFreeze]

I have yet to practice any tactical home defense situations in the dark, so I could be way off base here. Nor do I have extensive experience in target ID (in the way of shoot/no-shoot). However, in the complete dark at home, I would think the BG would have an advantage in that he will be engaging anything/everything that comes into sight. Obviously, I can't just start blazing away at noises with a wife in the house, friends over occassionally, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that a BG doesn't need lights to shoot. I do. He can shoot on hearing me turn a corner, bump a lamp, etc. Although that would definitely be a trigger-happy BG. Turning on the lights seems to put us on more level ground.

That said, I do agree with many of the other points about keeping the lights off. I'm still undecided.

Travis

 

[Amish_Bill]

It's your house that you've walked through thousands of times. Unless your flooring squeaks a lot, you should be able to move much more quietly than any casual visitor.

Just for the giggles, the next time it's dark and you need to be in another room, try doing it in the dark. (Pretend you are your kid trying to sneak around)

 

[MrFreeze]

Well, part of my prob with moving quietly is that we live in a two story townhome. For some reason, the up-stairs is very creaky after you make it up the stairs and walk the hallway to our master BR. I imagine that a BG would hear me as soon as I take a few steps upstairs, unless I snag a pair of those MallNinja® Wall-Walking Sneakers.

Travis

 

[Amish_Bill]

ok.... squeaky flooring changes the situation a little... maybe all house lights on and a banzai run down the steps?

(I'm starting to think good thoughts about those X-10 remote control lighting systems...)

 

[MrFreeze]

(I'm starting to think good thoughts about those X-10 remote control lighting systems...)

I checked out their catalog last week...and they've got some cool wireless video options as well!

Travis