Guns hidden throughout the home

Guns hidden and spread about the house for quick access does not seem like an advantage for me. However, guns hidden and spread about the house for concealment does seem like a good idea.

Having your guns in a large, visible safe, which can be seen by any number of house guests or contractors doesn't seem to be a good way to protect your firearms. If there was anybody that would have access to a large truck, or other equipment to defeat a safe, it would be the typical inside the house contractor such as HVAC technician or plumber.

Since it was local to me, the Byrd and Melanie Billings home invasion often comes to mind in these discussions. In this example, the home owners had cameras all over the property, and a large safe with cash/valuables inside. A man who had done some contracting work for the homeowners, and had been an invited guest in their home at some point, came back with an armed crew, and van, and executed the home owners and took their safe. I can't help but think this may not have happened if the valuables were stored in a less conspicuous location.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Byrd_and_Melanie_Billings

The cameras were effective in convicting the perpetrators, but not in stopping the crime.

For what it is worth, the alarm companies have a backup system if you lose your power, internet or both. It lasts for 24+ hours. So, if your internet is down the system still operates as it should.

JTQ said:

The cameras were effective in convicting the perpetrators, but not in stopping the crime.

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Important point to remember.

Just remember, you are not always sitting next to your gun, which seems implied in this method. While you might have a gun in a secure place, having one on you is better. In bed, the shower - that's different.

The second rule of gun safety is get one and carry it or have it near by.

748 said:

The second rule of gun safety is get one and carry it or have it near by.

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Hmm. Rules must have changed since I learned them.

There are things to stash other than guns. A cutlass is a well-proven close-quarters tool suitable for indoor use. Another effective anti-boarding implement is the pike. Within most modest-sized homes, a shorter pole-arm can be very effective at controlling a doorway. The super-sized cans of OC spray are another option worth having. Don't forget flashlights.

There was an attempted home invasion in a nearby town last week. Basically, a belligerent, violent, drunk dude who was high out of his mind tried to get into the wrong house. He was shot dead by the homeowner who did not know him. Any of the tools I mentioned would have been suitable (although the OC spray is not guaranteed to work, and it would not have been necessary to try, it would have been a valid first attempt). I'm not saying the homeowner's choice wasn't valid, but that if they had a pike, an English bill, or a boar spear near the door, they wouldn't have been ill-prepared had they not been carrying their firearm or if they had not stashed it at-hand.

I remember a K9 handler telling me about a large aggressive stray dog that invaded their house one time. This person wasn't irrationally scared of dogs, but they were acquainted with the kind of damage they can do. They responded with a 1911 that was at-hand. They did not end up discharging it, but were able to get the dog out the back door, get back inside and close the door. Had they discharged, they could have damaged their hearing, the hearing of other people in the house (in this case they were alone), and there would have been an investigation and report for discharging-in-a-residential-area, etc. etc. A tiger fork would have been a welcome alternative, though it's not clear that they could have accessed anything that was not on their person.

Now in some imagined fantasy scenarios, one might ask oneself why they'd want to be holding a cutlass, halberd or OC spray when they're being fired at with a 9mm handgun. Home invasion and other at-home threats can be as simple as "bad guy tries to come in" or they can be quite complex and they can evolve from unexpected circumstances. Not every problem is a "nail" and it's better to have more than a "hammer."

I suggest tools like the ones I mentioned that can be thrust. There are also chopping tools like pole axes, Tomahawks, machetes, smatchets, war hammers, clubs and bats. These depend more on the strength of the person wielding them, the opportunity to get a good swing, and they generally have a shorter range. I have nothing against stashing these, but I would probably prefer the former type around the house. The latter may be preferred for in the car, boat, or plane because they have more utility.

Just the Wife and I, so yes, several, all in 'full hot' mode.
No high dollar ones stashed, just the 'less expensive but time tested' models.

I have a 9 year old son, so leaving guns easily accessible isn't an option. That said, I do have a couple strategically placed as well as one that's never more than arms reach from me (when I'm not wearing it). Everywhere I've placed a firearm I also have a flashlight to accompany it.

Electricmo said:

I have a sign by the door entering from the garage that says there is nothing in this house worth dying for. Enough said

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Bad idea, I think. First, no sign, especially a dorky one, is going to discourage a determined burglar from breaking into your home when you're obviously away. And, secondly, all the sign does is informing the burglar that there's likely guns in the house to steal.
My sign reads: "Warning. Due to the price increase for ammo, do not expect a warning shot." Now that's a sign that will keep the riffraff at bay.

jeepnik said:

It's also likely to be a bit embarrassing to explain to the office how your stolen firearm was so well hidden no one could find it as he does the report.

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I'm not going to feel the least bit embarrassed reporting to investigators that my firearm (or any other item of value) was stolen by a thief, whether it was in plain sight or hidden. Victims of crimes are not fodder to be made fun of, no matter the circumstance.

I considered staging handguns around the house several years ago, but after getting beat up on a forum for the idea I rethought that plan. Certainly everyone has the right to make their own choices on what’s best for their circumstances.

I did sufficient research (plenty of actual video footage is on YouTube) to determine that if I were to ever need a firearm, I’d better have it on me. Criminals do enough planning to surprise and overwhelm victims.

Yes. Now that the kids are grown. I also review with the wife, locations and actions of each pistol, every couple of weeks. (Not sure she really listens though)

cc-hangfire said:

but after getting beat up on a forum for the idea I rethought that plan.

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That's never a good reason to necessarily rethink anything.

Every home and situation is different.
The right answer is the answer that works for you in your specific situation..

Makes a little sense to keep a few around in case you need them, but never assume by hiding them all over the house you will fool an experienced burglar. I just had a basically empty house broken into that I'm getting repaired and ready to rent. There was nowhere in that house that wasn't searched. Because there is an old range set up behind the house, I assume someone thought there would be guns in the house. There is furniture still in the house and it was tossed and the mattress was thrown off the beds and even the box springs turned over. Cops told me under the box springs is a favorite hiding place for guns. Even took the top off the piano which is another favorite hiding place. If there had been so much as a .22 derringer in the house it would have been found. I have a buddy who works construction and is out of town for 4-6 weeks at a time. He had a huge safe but it wasn't bolted to the floor since it was so big. I believe he said it weighed around 600 lbs. Obviously he was being watched because the last time he left, 4 guys broke in and rolled his safe out on a furniture dolly.. They were prepared and did it in the middle of the day. Got great video, but until someone can identify the crooks by the pictures, video does no good.

Skgreen said:

No high dollar ones stashed, just the 'less expensive but time tested' models.

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They're not exactly "stashed," but my wife and I do have a NEF "Partner" model .410 shotgun, and a H&R "Handi Rifle" .17HMR standing in a corner by the back door. Both were relatively "less expensive," and both have been "time tested" over the years - we use them for pests in the garden and berry bushes.
But I guess "utility guns" standing in a corner by the back door is kinda off topic. Nevertheless, in our house they've been there since long before the internet was invented. That means they were there before there were "experts" on the internet telling my wife and me that we have to either be wearing our guns or have them locked in a safe at all times. Otherwise, we're risking a home invasion, a child getting hold of one of our guns, or someone stealing our guns and using them for illicit and/or illegal purposes.

We don't carry while in the house but there is usually one of our EDC's within arms reach until bed time when they get tucked into their night stand beds. Living on the top floor of the building dead center it makes us less likely for a home invasion than the neighbors, and neither of us is in a line of work for being a potential target. However going beyond the front door for any reason even just to toss the trash, we are armed.

One gun in my night stand. The rest are locked up in my safe. I use to be able to have a pistol, shotgun or rifle anywhere in the house. Now since marriage I have acquired four stickie fingered rug rats that are in my house two to three times a month. No piece and quiet and guns are under lock and key. The most disturbing word I have ever herd “grandchildren”.

Kleanbore said:

NO IT IS NOT!



Study this:

Read before Posting: Legal Considerations of Posting on the Internet

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No thank you

I live alone, I am on a fixed income and do not have the economic ability to have multiple guns let alone enough to hide around my 900 square foot house.
I just carry the one self defense pistol with me as I go about my business.

South Prairie Jim said:

Tweekers gotta worry about me cause we got tons of land up here and an excavator handy for digging deep holes

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In the highly unlikely event that you get into an armed conflict with would be robbers , shooting your mouth off online like this will likely come back to haunt you.
This is The High Road , not a low budget remake of Deliverance.

cc-hangfire said:

I considered staging handguns around the house several years ago, but after getting beat up on a forum for the idea I rethought that plan. Certainly everyone has the right to make their own choices on what’s best for their circumstances.

I did sufficient research (plenty of actual video footage is on YouTube) to determine that if I were to ever need a firearm, I’d better have it on me. Criminals do enough planning to surprise and overwhelm victims.

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I think most people dont have a realistic view and/or understanding of things, and really havent thought things out, if at all.

I also think a lot of decisions seem to made on things people see on TV and in the movies and stories theyve heard.

If you dont have a gun (or weapon) on you, you dont have it, period. Youre either armed or you arent, its just
that simple. And it amazes me people dont understand that.

If someone kicks in your door, and has a gun, and yours is 5 feet away (and not to mention, your brain has only just started to process whats going on) who do you suppose has the upper hand?

Even if you were wearing the gun, they still have the upper hand. But at least you do have the gun and dont have to go looking for it, besides everything else thats going on.

As hangfire mentioned, go look around at clips of real life things actually happening in real time, and see how things "actually" go down. Often times, even when people see it coming, they are still in denial and dont react as they should, or say/think they would.

Then theres the other elephant in the room, your actual skills and competency. All this is pretty much meaningless if you arent used to shooting in a manner thats going to be required here.

Eddietruett said:

He had a huge safe but it wasn't bolted to the floor since it was so big. I believe he said it weighed around 600 lbs. Obviously he was being watched because the last time he left, 4 guys broke in and rolled his safe out on a furniture dolly.. They were prepared and did it in the middle of the day. Got great video, but until someone can identify the crooks by the pictures, video does no good.

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My safe is spec'd at just over 900 lbs. Last month I got it up on furniture dollies and moved it to a new location by myself. It wasn't easy, and I had someone help me get it off the dollies and slid into it's new spot, but I was amazed how much I could accomplish by myself. Of course I wasn't able to budge it until I removed the nuts that had it bolted into concrete. 10 minutes of time and a few bucks is all it takes to make a safe secure.