Alarm System or Shotgun for Home Security?

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JLStorm

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I really wanted to get the laser shield for our 2nd story condo http://www.lasershield.net/, but my wife is completely against the idea of getting an alarm system because she says she will forget to arm it, the cats might set it off, and she will eventually get so tired of it she just wont bother with it. I then said listen honey we are either going to get the alarm system or a shotgun, pick one. To my complete shock she said, get the shotgun, just dont spend a ton of money on it. I was so sure she wouldnt choose the shotgun that I didnt have anything to say back to her other then "ok, I'll get a shotgun".

I am not worried about our posessions being stolen as they can be replaced, Im worried about a break in while my wife is home and I am not, as I travel frequently. An alarm system can monitor the front door and windows which are the only way in and out while she is in the bedroom sleeping or the kitchen for instance. A shotgun on the other hand is obviously more effective than an alarm as long as she can get to it in time, which would requite that it not be locked in the gun safe, which would be another issue entirely.

When I told my wife that she will need to practice with the shotgun she simply said "oh please...it is a shotgun...you point and shoot"...she has never even shot a shotgun before...:cuss: At the same time...it is sort of hard to argue with her logic.

I want to make an unbiased decision...its pretty hard to do though with the thought of getting to buy a new gun lol, which is why I am asking for opinions before I run out and buy another gun...and before you mention it...no, I cannot buy both, its one or the other guys.
 
without reading your post and answering only the topic question, get BOTH.

Better to be safe than sorry, if the alarm doesn't spook em the sound of a shotgun sure as hell will.:evil:
 
If she won't practice and familiarize herself with the shotgun, it's doubtful that she would use it in an emergency, let alone use it effectively. It appears, from what you state, that she has little interest in protecting herself if it requires any effort on her part. The technical term for people like her is "victim".

Sorry to be so blunt, but that's how she comes across from the information in your post, especially from her reaction to the proposed alarm system.
 
I'm not sure the costs of some alarm systems, but your property will be protected when noone is home.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...60&kwCatId=2032060&kw=alarm&parentPage=search
A buddy got this set up for $70 at Radio Shack and I was very impressed. wireless sensors, calls your cell phone if tripped (directly, doesn't go through a answering service), motion sensors for outside, powered only by a phone jack, damn loud.... I'd say a perfect compromise of the two, or a cheap test to see if she'll get attached to it and use it. Also comes with a remote! :what: can't get much easier
 
Cant get both and No dogs allowed (that would be my first choice).

And yes, she does have a "victim" personality, but in her defense she was completely anti-gun and "it cant happen here" when I met her. She wouldnt even look at a gun when we met, now she has a 357 of her own and while she wouldnt wake up on a saturday and plan on going to the range to practice with the shotgun, she would go to the range if I said I am going and she needs to practice because she hasnt for a while.

She has also made it quite clear that if I get the alarm system she will simply stop using it the first time she forgets to disarm it (even with a remote) and has it go off when she enters the house. She also said she knows she will forget to arm it...this I believe...While I have finally convinced her to always lock the door to the condo when she is there, she still doesnt even bother to lock her car doors...ever. Its not an ideal situation any way I look at it, which is why I am asking for opinions I suppose.


BTW, the shotgun would probably be a Remington 870 Express 18" 6 + 1.
 
...which is why I am asking for opinions I suppose.
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Given what you have stated so far, I'd suggest you invest in a LARGE life insurance policy on her. I just don't get the 'I won't do anything to protect myself' schtick, but if she is going to insist on being that way there's little I know of you can do to change her mind. Term life insurance is pretty cheap, you might as well spring for a policy. That might help a little bit to convince her to take a little better care of herself, the idea of you cavorting with the proceeds of said policy if something unpleasant did happen to her.

Of course, she might well just refuse to sign for you to get the policy too 8^).

lpl/nc
 
Get both. When the Alarm goes off you'll have time to grab the shotgun.
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The SG and alarm serve both purposes, so yeah get both. The alarm is nice if for no other reason it beeps each time the door opens. Have key pads in key locations (each keypad beeps) and nobody will sneek in even if the door is unlocked/other wise opened and the alarm is off.

If you wife is not great with setting the alarm, get an alarm with a remote. Get her in the habit of using it and then it won't be a big deal. Women actually seem to get more into using security system once the beeps and whatnot start going.

Also get dual mode pet friendly motion sensors and your cats wont set them of. The pet friendly passive IR sensors are good as long as your cats stay on the floor, but we have cats that like to get on the counter tops and would set the kitchen passive IR motion off. We replaced that one with the dual mode, and the cats have never set a motion off again.

Alarms are best for protecting your stuff when your not there, get the SG for when you are.
 
It's like asking whether shoes and pants are more important. Both are needed and are best utilized when combined.
 
If you have pets, don't get an alarm based on motion. Get a portal-entry type system that will alert you to windows or doors being opened.

Alarm means "call to arms". So get the shotgun. You've got to have those arms when the call comes.

Alarms are good for home defense. They'll scare off a portion of intruders right away, and if they don't scare them away, you can always tell the jury later that "he kept coming even after the alarm went off!"
 
Suarez said it, just get something that connects to the windows and front door. The cats can't trip those, and they're loud enough to make the 870 magically appear in her hands at 3am.
 
i have 4 very large dogs (2 lab mixes, 2 great danes) so my knowledge on security systems is limited to "It Takes a Thief" but they are always touting security systems that can be armed and unarmed with a key fob that looks just like your car delocker.
they recognize that the primary problem with a security system is owner compliance. supposedly these handy activators are really good at countering that.
 
JL,

contact me VIA PM, I can get you an alarm system that is all wireless and has a pet immune motion detector (won't help if you have 5 or more cats), it can even be monitored if you like.
 
she simply said "oh please...it is a shotgun...you point and shoot"...she has never even shot a shotgun before... At the same time...it is sort of hard to argue with her logic.
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It's ignorance, not logic. You won't see any spread at indoor distances. An she won't hit anything if she hasn't trained for the recoil.

If you have another gun, I'd get the alarm. Except it sounds like your wife won't bother with that either. So get yourself a shotgun and, like Lee suggested, get insurance for her.

Its not an ideal situation any way I look at it, which is why I am asking for opinions I suppose.
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Find a new wife.....
 
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I don't understand. If she already has a 357 why can't she use that instead of the shotgun? :scrutiny: It seems like the next logical choice is an alarm system.
 
get a big dog . a shotgun wont hurt either and is the ultimate firearm in home defense. take her out shooting to get used to it. alarm systems are a pain in the a$$ when you get false alarms all the time.
 
Basically you can either take home and personal security seriously or not. When something goes bump in the night and you wake up you are disoriented, and thrown into a situation with an intruder who is probably aready expecting trouble. An alarm system not only alerts you to trouble, but can also help in medical emergencies, and protect your house when you aren't there, a shotgun is a last line defense against an intruder, thats about it, and it is near worthless if you do not know how to use it well, or can't get to it. You can always play the odds though, after all your chances of being robbed are still somewhat low, it's just bad enough if it were to happen that most of us here don't want to risk it. Just out of curiosity Does she wear a seatbelt while driving? and do you have smoke detectors in your home?
 
"oh please...it is a shotgun...you point and shoot"
Click to expand...

That's a common misconception. Some time ago, I measured the distance from our master bedroom to the front door. This is the furthest "line of sight" distance in our home. It was 25 feet.

I took both my Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 Cruiser (cylinder bore) to our friendly outdoor range and measured out 25 feet. I consistently saw 4" patterns from 12 ga Winchester 00 Buckshot (full power) from both shotguns.

I'm sure other loads pattern differently, but the shotgun is certainly something that will require more than "pointing" at home-defense distances.

I urge you to measure and test this for yourself.

Steve
 
After thinking about it for a while...like you guys said if she isnt willing to take the time to set an alarm or train with the shotgun, she may be hopeless BUT...at least I get a free pass to get a shotgun with no compliants about spending money lol. Any maybe, she will learn to like the shotgun and practice with it when she goes to the range because she made the choice to get one...and if not...like I said..I still get a nice shiny new shotgun...:evil:
 
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