Hello all and good evening to you all. This is my first post here and I'd like to introduce myself. (Please skip to below the dotted line if you don't care who I am or what my introduction is and you just want my question).
My name is Tom and I am currently 50 years old. I have been around firearms all of my life and even owned rifles for hunting here and there. My old man used to take me skeet shooting when the rifle would literally knock me down to the ground once I pulled the trigger, if that gives you any indication of how long I have pulled triggers. Back then I respected a firearm as much as I still do, although I no longer get "floored" when pulling the trigger on a 12 gauge. LOL
Never in my life have I even considered getting a firearm for actual protection, even though I have ALWAYS been a strong advocate for the 2ndA, until the recent events across this great nation of ours. It has mostly been for sport hunting, which admittedly, I have never really excelled at. Lord help me if I ever have to actually hunt for food.
Whenever I would go deer hunting, I would be annoyed by the noise of 17 or more turkeys seemingly toying with me just feet away. Whenever I would go turkey hunting, I would have to wait in sorrow as the plentiful families of deer walked on by and drank water in front of me. Idgit (me)! It was as if they had meetings beforehand on how to mess with me something hardcore....and it worked.
I have recently purchased a firearm for home protection, of which I will (I am sure) have questions about later on in a different forum category. With that said, here is my question.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have an 11 year old son that I would like to have "some" sort of defense while he is home alone. We have already gone through the basics of kitchen knives and securing the home to where he has plenty of options of avoiding an intruder and getting help via a neighbor or 911 (or both, depending on how much time he has). There are multiple exits in which he will be plenty far away from any entrance or exit that the intruder will come in from. The home is secured about as much as can be without having bullet proof windows both day and night.
With the recent school closures and the fact that my wife will soon have to go back to work on occasion, this will leave my son at home alone. This renders a vulnerability to our family security that eats at me at night.
This is where I ask of you all for your help, knowledge and guidance. Any and all opinions or advice will be considered as well as greatly appreciated.
I read about 8 years ago or so that a good defense for women that are scared of guns would be the use of a can of wasp and hornet spray that they keep "convenient" but out of sight. I found that the logic behind it to be very simple and straightforward. The spray goes up to 22 feet, it's pretty accurate and even a bad shot can adjust quickly because they can see the stream being belted out.
I recently thought of this when I *almost* purchased him a can or two of pepper spray to keep hidden in the areas he normally hangs out at when he's home alone.
What I would like to know from the vast knowledge of professionals and veterans of security on this forum is this. Should I offer him pepper spray or wasp and hornet killer for a situation that would give him time enough to get out of it and get help from an adult?
All of our neighbors pack (some have seemingly an arsenal), most neighbors are home during the day and we do live in a very safe neighborhood with plenty of places to strategically hide if the need arises for him but there is always that....."what if"?
Also, is there any advice against doing either? If so, what would your suggestion be?
Thanks for taking the time to read and again, I appreciate any and all input.
Tom
My name is Tom and I am currently 50 years old. I have been around firearms all of my life and even owned rifles for hunting here and there. My old man used to take me skeet shooting when the rifle would literally knock me down to the ground once I pulled the trigger, if that gives you any indication of how long I have pulled triggers. Back then I respected a firearm as much as I still do, although I no longer get "floored" when pulling the trigger on a 12 gauge. LOL
Never in my life have I even considered getting a firearm for actual protection, even though I have ALWAYS been a strong advocate for the 2ndA, until the recent events across this great nation of ours. It has mostly been for sport hunting, which admittedly, I have never really excelled at. Lord help me if I ever have to actually hunt for food.
Whenever I would go deer hunting, I would be annoyed by the noise of 17 or more turkeys seemingly toying with me just feet away. Whenever I would go turkey hunting, I would have to wait in sorrow as the plentiful families of deer walked on by and drank water in front of me. Idgit (me)! It was as if they had meetings beforehand on how to mess with me something hardcore....and it worked.
I have recently purchased a firearm for home protection, of which I will (I am sure) have questions about later on in a different forum category. With that said, here is my question.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have an 11 year old son that I would like to have "some" sort of defense while he is home alone. We have already gone through the basics of kitchen knives and securing the home to where he has plenty of options of avoiding an intruder and getting help via a neighbor or 911 (or both, depending on how much time he has). There are multiple exits in which he will be plenty far away from any entrance or exit that the intruder will come in from. The home is secured about as much as can be without having bullet proof windows both day and night.
With the recent school closures and the fact that my wife will soon have to go back to work on occasion, this will leave my son at home alone. This renders a vulnerability to our family security that eats at me at night.
This is where I ask of you all for your help, knowledge and guidance. Any and all opinions or advice will be considered as well as greatly appreciated.
I read about 8 years ago or so that a good defense for women that are scared of guns would be the use of a can of wasp and hornet spray that they keep "convenient" but out of sight. I found that the logic behind it to be very simple and straightforward. The spray goes up to 22 feet, it's pretty accurate and even a bad shot can adjust quickly because they can see the stream being belted out.
I recently thought of this when I *almost* purchased him a can or two of pepper spray to keep hidden in the areas he normally hangs out at when he's home alone.
What I would like to know from the vast knowledge of professionals and veterans of security on this forum is this. Should I offer him pepper spray or wasp and hornet killer for a situation that would give him time enough to get out of it and get help from an adult?
All of our neighbors pack (some have seemingly an arsenal), most neighbors are home during the day and we do live in a very safe neighborhood with plenty of places to strategically hide if the need arises for him but there is always that....."what if"?
Also, is there any advice against doing either? If so, what would your suggestion be?
Thanks for taking the time to read and again, I appreciate any and all input.
Tom