carry in the home?

[slabuda]

Well I dont but may be changing my mind. Or at least keep a pistol nearby so I can have it to hand if I need to answer the door.

Here is why. It involves my father. A retied cop about a decade ago.
He lives in NW Indiana, right next to Gary a crime mecca. Our town is good and safe but people (criminals) still come over to steal stuff. Like their van 2x was stolen by someone from Gary (locked both times). Well he answered the door to a solicitor in uniform with ID asking to join on to an AT&T plan. He wasnt taking no for an answer and decided to open the door for some unknown reason. Well at that time my Dad's dog nearly took off the guys hand. My Dad gave the guy quite the shove and down the porch he went and high tailed it out of there.

Now my father is not the man he was when he was a cop as he is older but still is an ornery old fella, but may not have been "tuned in" like he was when he was working. And what if the dog wasnt there, or the guy was bigger etc and not legit? He didnt know what his intentions were really. Some people are really not that smart and some salesman can be quite pushy/forward. Since he has been retired he really hasnt carried much anymore but if he did have the pistol at hand before he answered the door im sure this guy would have had it right in his face. It wouldnt be the first time it has happened. Once he got off duty and had some religious folks try the same thing (open the door) and came in when my mother answered the door. They didnt want and warned them if they dont leave they would be in trouble as he put his hand on the pistol. But it wasnt said quite nearly as nice as that.

He saw the guy later the next day and then called it in to the dept so they could look into turns out he was legit but just stupid.

Come to think of it this happened to my grand parents a while back too a guy pulled a similar stunt and actually came in the house.

This got me to thinking. Times are tough. Tougher even in NWI and people get desperate. This could be a good ploy to distract someone and get a foot in the door for a home invasion with bogus ID etc. So I think the plan now is to at least have the pistol in back pocket etc before I answer the door to a stranger etc. Look through the peep and ask what they want through the door. That way I have a better chance to defend myself if needed.


SO question is what do all of you do?

Carry all the time?
Grab a pistol after looking out the peep hole before you answer the door?
Speak through the door?
Dont answer?

 

[Bullnettles]

I voted grab a pistol and check the peephole. I don't say anything as I do this and make it very silent. No need to get shoot through the door. NOW, that being said, I still answer the door if they look legit, hand on pistol, foot blocking a fast opening of the door as I unlock. Not worried, but not going to be caught off-guard either. Goofy times we live in.

 

[orvpark]

I'm no rambo but I have kids and a wife to think about.

I answer the door anytime I am at home, use the peep hole, and keep my doors locked anytime we are not walking in or out. My general rule of thumb is if my pants are on, my gun is on. At first I was a little uncomfortable playing with the kids on the floor and such, but a GREAT holster and a GREAT belt solved that.

 

[Enachos]

I carry when I'm in the home. Sometimes i wonder if it's a little extreme but then again, I have been a victim of house break-ins numerous times.

 

[2RCO]

I carry at home close to 100% it's the safest/easiest/quickest way to keep a loaded gun in the house with a small child running around. I initiated the policy about a year ago when a local guy was killed in a home invasion with one of his own guns (story is that the burglars got to it before he did).

 

[Resto Guy]

During the mid 90's my daughter was stalked by a guy who was wanted for several 1st degree Breaking and Entering cases. By 1st degree, I mean these were crimes that happened at night while the homeowners slept. I learned that this low life was also watching my home. The S.B.I. and 2 county Sheriff's departments could not locate him, even with televised coverage and rewards being offered.
Not being raised as a member of the sheep family, I let it be known to his parents, brother and associates that if he did not immediately "disappear" from the lives of my family, I would track him down. He did not take me seriously, and he served ten years of a twenty year sentence because of that mistake. He knows I am the reason he was caught.
I was and still am prepared. I will leave it at that.


BTW, from what I understand, he does not like me.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Pistol in hand and look in the peep hole. If I don't like what I see I stand and watch them leave if not I call out to them to Beat it.

 

[Mr. Whimsy]

Is it paranoid to walk around your own house with a concealed weapon? Moreover, do you carry in the shower? That's when the crazy knife-wielding maniacs always attack you know ... ooh just gave myself the shivers.

 

[Cornbred]

Up till a couple of weeks ago, I kept my pistol on my shelf in my room. I have always felt safe in my home. I felt I had pretty quick access if I needed it, but didn't feel the need to have it on my hip.

A couple of weeks ago I got a knock on the door at about 1030 at night. I ran to get it and realized that in that short amount of time of me getting my weapon who ever was at the door could have probably busted down the door down. Anyways I put it on my hip and went to the door. I spoke to him through the door, and he fed me a line of he needed some money to get medication for his grandma. I told him I didn't have nothing for him and told him to leave. My wife was at the ready with the cell phone and told her call the non emergency line and get a cop here asap. The guy left without an arguement. The cop arrived a short time later. I had seen him going through the neighbor hood a few times looking for him. I was able to give him a very good description of the man. He informed me the burglars around here will often will do this as a ploy to get people to open the door. Once the door is open they push there way in. Another tactic is to knock on the door. If there is no answer they knock harder. Once they feel secure in the belief that no one is home they kick in the door and take what they want. When the officer came in the home, he noticed that I was carrying, and told me that I should always answer the door like that.

The next weekend pretty much the same thing. At about 1000 a knock again. This time the guy at the door was wanting money for gas claiming he had ran out of gas. There is a gas station maybe 300 yards up the road and would have better luck there gettin assistance there, so I really felt that the guy was up to no good. Again we handled it the same way.

Then last night my wife and I were watching tv when we hear the lid on our mail box on the front porch open and shut. I rush to the front door and look out the peep hole and see nothing, but the motion light was on.

So to answer your questions;

Carry all the time?

Now I do. If not on me within arms reach.

Grab a pistol after looking out the peep hole before you answer the door?

Its either on my hip or in my hand before i even get to the door.

Speak through the door?

definetely if i don't know or expect them.

Dont answer?

Not any more after being advised by the officer.

If its a girl scout and mom or dad they get the door opened and usually about 20.00 out of my wallet. (Evil little things) Even then i have the gun on my hip.

 

[mbt2001]

I usually have one within arms reach. I have worn one at home in the past. I need to get a paddle holster.

American Rifleman had an article in the last issue from Mas regarding "the Truth About Off Body Carry." It was very interesting. You wouldn't believe the number of times that not having a piece on your person all the time can result in you wishing desperately that you had.

 

[tasco 74]

jesus!!!!! where do you guys live?? if someone knocks on my door i open it and say hi to them using their name....... lived in or been around this same community of about 1200 for 40 years.......... do have a weapon i can get to in short order if needed and i will do what i must to protect myself and my wife..... (she has her own gun)........ my neighbors all know if they need me i am here and i know they will and have helped me out many times......... i'm glad i don't have such a stressful environment...........

LIFE IS SHORT.....

 

[Cosmoline]

Your poll choices are a little mixed up. The best approach is to not answer AND carry all the time.

I carry all the time or keep a rifle near me in the house. And I don't answer the door unless I know ahead of time that someone is coming over. Also the door stays locked. Pretty basic stuff, but it's the little things that screw your security plan up. Advanced alarm systems that get turned off or a home owner who just lets people come and go at all hours. Nothing good ever comes to the front door. My packages and mail come to the office or a PO box. People who know me can already contact me. So what's going to be at the door? Probably not someone giving me a million dollars. It could be a salesman, a thief or even worse an ex. I ain't opening it!

 

[thorazine]

Bah.

I don't even bother going to the door unless I am expecting someone and they always telephone first.

 

[azyogi]

In my travel trailer, the safes are next to the front door. [Hey thats where they fit] If I am RV'ing in the outback, I try to use the back door as to not reveal them. If I'm parked at my summer place, the gate is locked and it's a hike to my door. At home, there are enough blades about to equip a movie cast for an old fashioned swashbuckler. So my poll answer carry all the time.

 

[billdeserthills]

People I don't know are not welcome in my home, friends who cannot call before coming over likely are not really friends. Policemen without a warrant fall into the first catagory. Don't get caught with your pants down, Always Carry.

 

[uspJ]

generally i carry all the time except at work and where it is illegal. i don't answer the door for salesmen or people i don't know. i'm not paranoid someones going to break into my home, i just don't like people trying ot sell me stuff i don't want or losers wanting a handout to get a fix. if your a neighbor or family i'll be courteous and open the door and invite them in. i carry all the time because to me it's the easiest and most efficient way to insure i have a weapon within quick reach. do i need it? i hope not. if i do need it i'll be glad it was there.

 

[sidheshooter]

I live in a low crime area, and lead a reasonably low risk lifestyle. So I can go with low-risk (last chance hedge your bets) options and feel comfortable enough.

Lounging around the house late in the evening is one good reason why God (and of late, kel-tec and Ruger) invented extremely light pocket pistols. Something like an LCP stuffed in a pocket holster is so close to nothing at all from a covenience perspective (when in your own house) that it may as well be the same thing.

Obviously, even if you hate the .380 cartridge, an LCP (or similar) is so far ahead of nothing at all as to not even be the same thing.

I therfore see no downside. There are more powerful options within reach, given even a bit of reaction time, but today's technology allows for the pain-free exercise of poll option #1, so far as I am concerned.

 

[Enachos]

Wow! I'm pretty surprised by these poll results... glad to see I'm not the only one who carries about 100% of the time. I guess you can consider that responsible gun ownership.

 

[Girodin]

I would rather being carrying a gun around my home than leaving it sitting out somewhere. A few reasons why:

1. If the gun is in a holster on my hip it is secure. I know where it is and have much better control over who has access to it.

2. Odds are you will never need a gun for SD, but if you ever do there is a very good chance that you will need it ASAP. If I am going to keep a gun for SD then it only makes sense that it be available to do that job.

3. I have a comfortable secure carry rig and it really puts me out nothing to wear it.

 

[Prion]

jesus!!!!! where do you guys live??

Seriously! Carry in the home? My neighbor hasn't locked his car or house since 1963! I lock at night, most peoples' homes are open during the day, dropping by is welcome as is letting oneself in. Hard to hear someone knock in these big old farmhouses and they might be in the barn! Of course we have a nearly zero crime, lots of gun owners, space, low population density, and a lot tough farmers that don't put up with any bull from outsiders or locals that start acting up or causing ruckus.

 

[Lonestar49]

...

Well, my set up is user friendly, in that, my office is right next to the front door, so when someone knocks I simply ask "who is it.." out the window thru the semi-closed (but can see out) shutters and they step away from the door into my view and I take it from there.. At night, porch light on, lights them up as they step back and away from door to answer where my voice, to their right, is coming from..

If I have to open the door, for pizza delivery, at night, I simply take my gun and put it right on the table behind the door out of sight of whomever it is.

Also, I have the wife stay in the Kitchen, in sight of the front door action, yet she can't be seen and there is her pistol rdy if necessary..

Never in 20yrs, here, have we needed to activate to a higher level of threat other than rdy, on stand-by, mode..

Very thankful,


Ls

 

[DeepSouth]

Living where I live there is only one way in and the only people that ever come up my driveway are family. I can tell who it is by the sound of the vehicle 90% of the time. The other 10% I have my hand on the gun in my pocket when I go to the door, people never get the chance to knock, I met them at the door. But the simple way to answer your question is always carry a 45 on my person, except when I shower or sleep.

 

[The Tennessean]

I don't get many people knocking on my door. That said, I have several loaded firearms in my home ready to rock and roll 24/7.

My home is situated in a small clearing surrounded by woods on 50 acres of my land. My driveway is loooong and is gated 95% of the time. I leave the gate open if I am expecting FedEX, UPS, USPS or a family or friend to stop over, but I always know this in advance so the gate stays closed the rest of the time.

Anyone knocking on my door is certainly unexpected 95% of the time and I greet them as such. I can't remember the last person I got at the door. I did have someone come ask if they could hunt which I politely refused. There is all kinds of public hunting areas, my land is for me, my friends and my family. Strangers be damned. It was damn decent of the guy to come ask though, he could have done what 95% of people do and just trespass and hunt anyway, perhaps not knowing where my home is and perhaps firing in my home's direction. These people piss me off to no end, so much that next year I'm going to fence the entire property. It's going to cost a lot but with no trespassing / no hunting signs posted every 30 yards or so NO ONE can claim they wandered in lost.

Even with you live up in the mountains you still have to deal with stupid people now and again.

 

[xXxplosive]

Never really carried at home before but times have changed with the economic situation this administration has brought upon us. People are out of work and crime is up. In my area which is pretty low crime, they just busted a B&E ring doing homes in my neighborhood......Sooooooooooo.

I've been carrying for the past 4 months morning till bed.....ya just never know anymore.....and I stopped answering the door except for people I know.

 

[navyretired 1]

When I get home there are no kids there so I put my handgun on top of bookcase near door. If I answer after dark I alway's take that weapon with me to door behind my leg and I keep shoulder leaning against door. Unless it's someone I know I just say NO and close the door.