To open the door - Or NOT to open the door - that is the question

[packnrat]

when i lived in a city i had a cam and mic along with a speaker. i could see and hear them and they could hear me.

just looked at the display and told them to go away.

if they took to long the sprinklers somehow came on.

if it was a salesman, i never said anything....just the sprinkles would somehow turn on. the :banghead: timers. always coming on with people at the door, also need to fix that one sprinkler head right by the door, as it sprays the doorand walk way, not the plants.

now that i live in the hills a long ways from paved rd's nobody bothers me.




.

 

[rainbowbob]

packnrat:

Now THAT ^ is a system!


It's now running about 80/20 in favor of "almost never/make [really] sure"

 

[Armueller2001]

Nah, probably not. I'll wait for em to start kicking the door.

 

[Huckle2]

Quote:
My 92lb German Shepherd always beats me to the door.

I'm sure that works well for solicitors. My concern is that a determined invader could neutralize your beloved dog in a flash.
__________________
Best regards,
Rainbowbob

Agreed! Then I am 100% sure of their intentions, the next flash comes from my little J-Frame that is always very close, even/especially, at home.
People I know do not come calling at my house at midnight and they sure don't ring the "front" doorbell.

Guy came to my backdoor one night around 9. My dog went nuts and rushed the door. I almost laughed when the guy jumped off my stoop! Turns out he was just trying to sell "vacuum cleaners", he explains as he is leaving rather quickly. Now, my dog has only acted this way on 2 occasions, the other was with a cable repair man. While I trust my dog's instinct better than my own, I do not depend on him to save my life.

The element of surprise is priceless!

I open my door depending on time of day, who I see, is a vehicle parked in my drive or at the road, time of day. All these things run through my mind. I am going to be prepared, but I REFUSE to be paranoid.

 

[azwizard]

Couldn't say either way, I mostly know who's at the door long before they get there anyway as the animals have usually busted any stealthy approach. The Exception is the kids stopping by late at night, the dogs don't even act like they care if they come or go. I think it's an act on the dogs part, i.e. abandonment issues when the kids moved out.

Anyway I always scope it out and become armed if I don't recognize the people at the door. However the WIFE Never looks no matter how many times I yell at her about it. Drives me nuts! Anyone got any ideas on how to convince her she isn't invincible?

As far as my official vote it depends.

 

[Win75]

I have been in this situation three times with after midnight knocks on the front door. "I am broke down, can I use your phone" and two "I am in the ditch, can you come and pull me out".

My answer at the door with left foot used as a door stop and 357 in right hand in plain sight was in all three cases, "I will call someone for you, what's the number".

"Never mind". Gone.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

I have, for years, told friends they are always welcome and to announce themselves LOUDLY after 10 PM.

Risks I would take (ie. opening the door for a stranger at night) are modulated by the fact that I have a wife and kids also. When it was just me I was more inclined to take a chance to help someone out.

 

[foghornl]

I DO NOT open the door without knowing who is on the other side.


A couple of years back, I kinda freaked out the "Gas Company" guy..They were going door-to-door, relighting pilot loghts...there had been a major gas service interruption.

He went into the basement, and relit water tank pilot. Coming upsatirs, he saw the butt of my 1911 sticking out of my hip pocket.....

 

[rainbowbob]

Agreed! Then I am 100% sure of their intentions, the next flash comes from my little J-Frame that is always very close, even/especially, at home.

I don't want to dissuade you from doing what works for you...but I have to wonder why you open the door at all? And if the j-frame isn't in your hand - your probably too late if attacked. You might be too late anyway.

 

[IllHunter]

I recently hade cause to rethink my response...

As I live high in a multi family condo, I use the mic and speaker, video as identifier and have several times let in a neighbor who lost/forgot his keys etc.I was not considering the other approach as the elevation keeps all but the most determined off the deck. However recently a painter climbed a ladder and started over the rail when he spotted my 75#boxer sitting quietly at the patio door. He retreated smartly down the ladder and I was called by management to "restrain my dog". After I tore them a new one for not notifying me that work was to be performed, I allowed as how the dog was legal in all respects and that dilberts of all forms should ask permission before entering my abode. "Nevermind the dog, beware the human"

 

[TallPine]

It depends ....

We probably only get 2 or 3 unexpected visits per year. Most people call first before they come over.

I've had everything from very disreputable folks that I ran off, to folks genuinely broke down or stuck, to a guy reporting a wildfire up the road a mile.

Who knows ...? The person banging on your door might be there to tell you that you have flames on your roof.

The dogs usually let us know if anyone comes up our 1/8 mile driveway, and I will take a look and usually meet them outside if it is daylight. At night I will go out another door and come around the corner of the house with light and gun. I've intimidated some folks that way, which is not always a bad thing

You just have to use judgement and caution. But opening your door blindly to anyone is foolishness.

 

[ochmude]

I'm suspicious of ANY knock on my door. I credit it to being a boot PFC in the barracks in the Marines. If someone knocked on your door, there was a 90% chance it was an NCO coming to stick you on a working party. Nowadays, any friends or family that come by always call ahead and I unlock the door for them when they are near. If I hear a knock at the door, I check for a UPS truck or something like that, otherwise I am extremely hesitant and cautious about answering.

 

[Sindawe]

Since I tend to a reclusive sort, if I don't know 'em the door don't open. Even if I DO know 'em it is most unlikely the door will open since I HATE drop in visitors.

 

[jad0110]

However the WIFE Never looks no matter how many times I yell at her about it. Drives me nuts! Anyone got any ideas on how to convince her she isn't invincible?

See my previous post, #4 :banghead: .

I don't know your wife, obviously, but if she is anything like mine, it's not that she thinks she is invicible. She is just naive. My wife used to be a flight attendant. She would wander the streets of Oakland, New York and L.A. after midnight, alone . Totally oblivious to the fact that it could happen to her. She has gotten better now. After many conversations, she now accepts that yes, bad things do happen to good people like us, even in good neighborhoods. So she is at least more aware of her surroundings now. No where close to gettting a CCW, but at least she has taken the most important step in the right direction.

 

[VegasOPM]

I couldn't open the door most of the time if I wanted to, 4 big dogs prevent it. I usually yell through the door to ask them what they want. It is almost always salesmen.:banghead: I tell them to slip their card under the door and I'll call them if I need anything. If I am interested in talking to them I'll go out through the garage and meet them- picking up a pistol or leashing the pitbull along the way if it seems at all dodgy. Having a 75# pitbull on a leash in the garage keeps conversations short and sweet- and at a distance.

 

[KarenTOC]

I never open the door for a stranger. Well, to be honest, i never open the door for anyone, even friends. If i'm not expecting a visitor, I don't even go to the door, so I'll never know if it was friend or foe knocking. I am not a fan of unexpected company.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Well, I guess I am an exception... I won't even open the door for someone I know unless they are invited. I just don't care for "surprise" visits.

As for strangers, I definitely won't open the door. I have no reason to. If they have an emergency, they need to pull out their cell phone and call 911. It is not my job to "save" anyone.

I realize that there may be extreme situations in which I may bend my rules. However, I would not let my guard down when doing so. I know it sounds selfish, but I am ok with that.

 

[Guns and more]

I wouldn't trust a woman at the door either. Too many work with their boyfriends just out of sight. It would have to be a little old lady.
I never open the door wide enough for anyone to see inside. They may be checking you out for later.
Too bad our lives have turned to this, I blame the drug culture.

 

[Geno]

It’s 1:00 a.m., a drug-head woman hides a pistol behind her back. Woman's drug-head boyfriend remains hidden out-of-sight holding a shotgun. She pounds on my door.

Woman: Help us! Help us!!

Me: Stay right where you are...I just called the police! They'll be here in 60 seconds!

The two drug-heads run down the street.

 

[athlon64]

I never open the door to anyone I don't know.

 

[bleachcola]

Not the smartest thing to do but I just go with my gut instincts. If something seems off then leave the screen door closed so that there is something between you two to slow him down for at least a couple seconds. Long enough to raise your weapon. I know this is going to sound stupid but there something else that plays into it. Around these parts, breaking and entering is practically never done while the house is occupied. When the bad guys pick out a target they scope it out and then wait for the inhabitants to leave. They realize that many homeowners in Florida are armed and will shoot them. But to get back on my point here, many of these guys scope out places where they think guns are. It's the easiest way to pick up cheap "gats" for them to shoot gangsta-style sideways. So if someone is potentially scoping out my place, pretending to be a salesman or whatever, the last thing I want to do is come across as the paranoid type who would stereotypically be armed to the teeth. I'm not going to keep the door closed and yell at him that I have a gun. For the same reason, I am always discreet when transporting guns inside and outside of my house. Handguns and shotguns are easy (break down the shotgun and put in gym bag. Rifles in their cases require a little more creativity. A number of things will suffice. But all in all, I don't want to open display the fact that I have firearms bc that makes my home a perfect target once it is empty. Except for the whole alarm system and two Argentine dogs that would try their best to kill the intruders.

 

[FlyinBryan]

my bulldogs are intimidating. 90lb male and 80lb female. the big one is skittish, or suspicious of everyone.

if its normal hours like 10pm or earlier, the dogs and i will open the door after we get a visual and a clear voice response to the question "whos there?" if i feel ok about the reply.

in the middle of the night i call the fuzz and remain silent. when johnny law finally shows up we can all discuss the nature of the visit together.

 

[TAB]

If its some one I know, I would open the door. If not, most likly not.

if they want in, there is a nice low window( about 26" off the ground) that they could come with in 3 inchs of the door bell. So rather I open the door or not means very little.

 

[bleachcola]

I couldn't just leave someone sitting on my porch in the middle of the night. Obviously, use precaution and be prepared for anything. But that person may need immediate assistance. What if a couple were leaving a late night party in the area and the wife suddenly has a diabetic seizure and there's no carbs in the car? All of a sudden you have a large, nervous man on your porch who may look suspicious but is just trying to save his wife's life. I wouldn't wait for the cops. I guess I'm just not jaded enough with our society to risk letting someone die just so I could feel 100% secure in my home.

 

[Joe Cool]

It depends ...

on whether:
it's really late, is it one person, did I see them pulling up before me, is my dog growling, am I home alone, etc, etc... there are many, many variables.

Probably the foremost in my mind, is whether it appears there is nobody home and they aren't expecting anyone to answer. If that's the case I look out from another area of the house quickly to see more than just what's presented at the door. Of all the times I have had someone at the door late at night and unexpectedly, only once did I not answer because after the doorbell I heard running footsteps outside. I saw through a window and saw it was teens horsing around. But I had glanced just because I was heading for a weapon and passed near a window...