Do you answer the door or not?

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We're on a hilltop behind a locked gate up a 1/3 mile road surrounded by many acres of oak, pine, sagebrush, etc. If someone knocks on the door they are either on foot or have crashed the gate. It did happen one night. Two kids, about 13, holding skateboards had come from the cemetary (on the other side of the hill). They were lost, scared, and it was dark. I kindly walked them down to the gate and showed them the way back into town. On the walk, quail in the brush were disturbed and rustled around. The kids were afraid the sound was mountain lions. :p

There is an institution for the criminally insane some 7 miles up the river, which in on the other side of the hill, across from the cemetary. Every once in awhile somebody escapes. That could be problematic if they showed up at our door.

If I lived in a high traffic urban area, I think I would invest in a closed circuit camera to cover the front porch/door area.
 
Always depends on the situation, but one thing that I never change is answering the door with gun in hand but out of sight.

Factors in the answer/do not answer problem:
-Time of day.
-Demeanor. This includes general physical appearance and any chemical abuse.

I have a roommate, and since we maintain generally seperate lives, it's always possible that the other person could be having company over without both of us being aware. I won't open the door for salesmen, but Jehova's witnesses are always invited to stop over. I always offer a beer right off the bat, or have a couple guns out for cleaning, or just engage in tomfoolery for my own amusement.
 
Sure, use the sign!

My wife didn't like it.

Ours says:

No Solicitors:
Solicitors may only be seen at our Hong Kong Office
<Valid Hong Kong address I can't remember & am too lazy to go read>
Office hours 9:00am to 3pm HKT

Actually had one guy knock and ask if we really did have a Hong Kong office--another knocked to tell us he liked our sign... :rolleyes:
 
Thought of this thread tonight.

Around 7:30 I had a very light knock at the door. Not expecting anyone I looked out the peep noone there, but noticed some lights across the street. Checked back a few minutes later still lights. Checked back again but this time I could make out a delivery truck. UPS was running late and ahd droppepd off my amazon order.

Before reading this thread I probably would have just opened up.
 
Our front door has a row of four small windows across the top. I'm tall, so I can look to see who knocked. My sons friends would step back and wave to me. Salesmen are refused through the door. Never had one get "huffy" but the first one might get to inspect the muzzle of my .45 ...for a second.
Problem is wifey is short, so she just never opens the door. If they go to the back they'll see her ready with her .38 watching the kitchen door. I work 6 miles from home and truck will get me home quick...I'm on speed dial.
Mark.
 
I feel fortunate to live in an area of low crime where the houses are close enough to each other ( 1 acre lots) to act as a deterrent to any miscreants sneaking around in hopes of plying their trades. Most of the neighbors have large dogsallowed to run loose in their fenced yards, PS, they love the taste of hot sweaty flesh produced by BGs trying to outrun them.

As for me, no dogs but an attack cat named Bubba who makeas a god awful sound upon spying a stranger, makes him seem much larger. Meanwhile I simply draw my carry piece, 357, 45acp,40 S&W, or 9mm, or the ever reliable PPK , and approach the door 9 Not from head on either. After checking the peephole, I will open the door unlss there are multiple individuals. I will offer any help possible, while constantly watching their hands and eyes for hostile movements, living by the code that says any hostile act towards me or my family places me in fear of Death or great bodily harm and which will receive the appropriate response
 
When I buy my own home, I plan on installing one of the metal security screen doors. We installed one for my wifes grandmother several years ago. Pretty nice set-up. No, it's not the magic security blanket as someone could shoot you through the screen mesh if they wanted, but the darn thing would definately stop a bum rush.
 
For the all or mostly-glass door I'd install some of that film that 3m sells to keep the glass from shattering during a bomb blast and put up a short curtain rod and drape over the glass so noone can see in. Worked pretty well in the place we had in FL.

When I do answer I check the peep hole so I know what's out there, always answer fully clothed with SHOES on, blocking the door with my foot, gun ready but hidden and the door only slightly open.

Dare I say that if someone tried to follow me into my own home or tried to keep me from closing my own door, I would interpret that as a sign of aggression and, since I'm in my own home, would not hesitate to produce the 1911 in full view to help "motivate" them to leave. :evil:
 
I deliver pizza, and occasionally have no choice but to knock on a door I have only a pretty good idea is the right one....often after midnight.

I DO worry about my safety and hate the stress I might cause by knocking on the wrong door....but if you don't have easily visible (in the dark) house number posted somewhere you are asking for it.

Something to think about.
 
the sight of a 300 pound nekkid redneck waving a bayonetted rifle around would very likely preclude the need to actually FIRE the rifle.
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At least the Jehovah's Witnesses will never bother you again. :p
 
Of course if they try to force entry after bedtime, the sight of a 300 pound nekkid redneck waving a bayonetted rifle around would very likely preclude the need to actually FIRE the rifle.
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I'm shaking in my boots just thinking about it.
 
Bean...if someone, salesman or otherwise, followed me or my wife into our house uninvited, they would be met with force for sure. I'm not saying I would fire, but they would have no doubts at all that they were not welcome and that it was unacceptable to go into my house without an invitation, and they would get to experience looking down the barrel of a firearm! Sometimes I can't believe the nerve of some of these "salespeople." My neighbor had an altercation with one a few months ago while I was not home. I don't want my wife to have to deal with anything similar.
 
I have found a way to keep from ever having to answer my door for a stranger. I put my chows dog house right on the front deck, and chained him to a support pole. He has full run of entire deck, and about 10 feet of yard leading to it. No one as of yet, that doesn't 'know' the dog has approached my porch. Seems to work very well, as he is a VERY protective dog, and will let a stranger know RIGHT AWAY that coming closer to him would result in a bad time for them. Anyone that comes here usualy sits in car and blows horn till I come out.... :D
 
At my apartment, I answer the (heavy, steel-covered, dead-bolted) door with a 1911 in hand during "normal" hours since its a kinda shady area. After the sun goes down, I upgrade to a 590A1 12ga. :evil:

Once I get all the paperwork done on my house (<40days to go), I'll leave the security door locked 24x7, along with the front door. That way I can open the front door and still have a barrier between them and I. I'll probably follow the .45/12ga routine there too, but at least I'll have a dog and more windows overlooking the entrance than just the peephole I have now.

Kharn
 
My 2 cents...

Both my wife and I don't just answer the door anymore. If the door bell rings or there is a knock on the door, our first line of defense is our Yellow Lab Brook, who usually starts barking as soon as our "unknown visitor" hits our wooden front porch. ( Good doggie ). Then it's to the peep hole in our all steel door to see who's there. If it's night time, the motion sensor lights the porch before the dog starts barking. If we don't like the looks of the visitor, we don't answer. ( of course, the "parlor gun" is always at hand )The wife won't let me install a PA system, in which case I would say something like..."step back away from the claymore mines"...or "you have 5 seconds to leave before I release the dogs"....something like that ! :evil:
 
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My front door is solid, with a peephole. I scope out the knocker and the street from another window. If there's a delivery truck matching the uniform on the porch, I open the door. Otherwise never---anyone else is a solicitor who is arrogantly or ignorantly disregarding my "no" sign.
 
I always look out the window first to see who it is. If I don't know I usually watch and see if they knock again or start looking in the windows. They are always surprised to see me come around the side of the house with a gun in my hand.
 
always ask 'who is it?'

btw, you really dont need to answer the door nekkid for Jehovahs Witnesses, unless you know, thats your bag or whatever. :D

simply ask them to write your address down as one they should never visit. or write a letter to the local Kingdom Hall asking them not to visit you when they go through the neighborhood.
 
simply ask them to write your address down as one they should never visit. or write a letter to the local Kingdom Hall asking them not to visit you when they go through the neighborhood.
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Answering the door naked while holding a bronze knife and saying; "Hi! Come on in, you're just in time for our lunar goddess ritual!" is a lot more fun though! :neener:
 
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Lots of good advice here in this thread. One point that someone mentioned here already, is this - NEVER worry about how the solicitor (or whatever they turn out to be) feels. His feelings, should he turn out to be legitimate, are secondary to YOUR safety.

We have always had a strong, decorative style iron screen door, installed with long bolts. Sure, they're not as nice in appearance as a beautiful wood front door, but safety is first in this aspect.

When strangers approach and knock at our door I look for certain cues - some were mentioned already.
- Time of day, light or dark outside
- how many are there, single or multiple
- age, general size and condition
- appropriate dress for a solicitor
- are they identified by some sort of ID badge for their company
- clipboard or sales materials present?

All of these may be "faked" but they do help me make decisions. Normally, I will peek out a window to see who they are, and then if I choose I will open the inner door, leaving the iron screen door closed and locked. This door is difficult to see through from the outside, and many times I have had solicitors feel uncomfortable and ask for me to open this door because they can't see me. When I open the inner door and then ask them what they want, if they are a solicitor I usually send them on their way. If they are uncomfortable in the least, I could not care one bit. Whenever I'm asked to open the screen door, I simply say no, and that's it. I've told off several solicitors for approaching my door after dark, I consider it poor taste, and not very smart. I consider it an invasion of privacy. Not very empathetic? Not my concern, my concern is my own and my family's safety.

One additional point I feel is important, and some may view differently - when my wife is home alone and someone knocks at the door, I've told her to do the same as I do above. Her initial response was to not even approach the door, but I feel that this is the last thing you want to do. Many burglaries start by casing the home, and may include acting like a solicitor to confirm whether someone is home or not. In all cases (burglaries, not home invasions) when someone is home, then they'll try another house, or another time.

One can always approach the door, and open the door with a handgun behind a folded newspaper/book/etc, using the method where the thumb traps the object against the frame of the handgun, but keeps it hidden behind it. Instantly useable, but out of sight. One doesn't want to be accused of brandishing.


EricO
 
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