Fire blanks or not during home invasions to deter the criminal?

[BigRobT]

I'll have to concur with the majority of folks here. It's a REALLY BAD idea. I'm of the mindset that IF I am forced to use my weapon, I intend on dispatching whatever is in my sights. There is no "shoot to stop the threat" in my mind. It's all or nothing.

 

[Byron Quick]

I'm sure I've heard of a dumber idea, I just can't really remember when.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

Big Rob, It doesn't mean "shoot 'em in the leg ! If you practice for the event, should it happen, is pretty much "all or nothing"..................

 

[Werewolf]

It's late...

... I'm at work and getting ready to leave...

......I've not read the entire thread......

Someone else must have already said it but just in case they've not!

Firing blanks during a home invasion?

That's got to be at least #2 on the top 100 list of dumbest ideas ever proposed.

 

[Deanimator]

I'm sure I've heard of a dumber idea, I just can't really remember when.

How about a fake gun? There used to be a little nitwit on usenet rec.guns who used to advocate that.

 

[Uglyoldpoorman]

This is the we live in a real world and use real bullets forum. Maybe you need to find the we fire blanks forum then all get up and go home after making boom boom noises forum.

Bottom line if some fukker comes in my house without and invite I am going to try my best to kill him with whatever I can find. I don't have blank knives, blank ballbats,etc.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

The way I see it is, if you are willing to draw a firearm on another human being with the possibility that you may have to fire at them, then you better have your gun loaded with the real deal, live ammunition. Using blanks is a good way to get yourself or another household member killed if the intruder is armed. It's just not a smart idea.

 

[Gottahaveone]

I see that in about the same light as telling an LEO that you are a Secret Agent to get out of a speeding ticket. Somewhere, sometime, it might work out for you but the majority of the time it's going to see you having your derriere handed to you...

 

[Hardtarget]

If I have to defend, its to the max. If I miss and he runs,I'll fix the wall or buy the wife a new curio cabnet.

Hope it never happens...I also hope I'm the survivor if it does.

Mark.

 

[Huddog]

The thing I noticed is that this group has an opinion on everything. No undecideds here.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Reason enough to shoot is reason enough to destroy.

Someone in my house without invitation must convince me they mean no harm, I am under no illusions I need determine their motives. When a person enters my home with evil intent they are putting my children in an unasked and unknown danger. If they expect a fair fight, if they expect mercy or even thoughtful consideration they will be sadly mistaken. My children's lives are far more important than the expectations of scum.

 

[cliffy]

Better to use a butter knife than a blank

Hoping to give a vicious killer a heart attack via firing a blank is assine, stupid, and ludicrous. That sort of craziness will get you Seriously Killed. Drug-Powered assailants feel no pain, even with the real fare. Rapists are the lowest form of human life, yet they stalk our American streets. cliffy

 

[Byron Quick]

How about a fake gun?

Yes, that would be sillier.

I can't believe there are actually four members of this site who have voted for doing so being a good idea.

I sure hope they have decided not to carry concealed for they obviously don't have a clue as regards when and where to use lethal force morally and legally.

 

[tpaw]

polizei36 Writes:

Question:
BUT, Did anyone ever consider firing a blank as a warning shot in such situations first? Then if that didn’t scare the bad guy off resort to deadly force using your firearm?

You have just reduced a firearm to a cap gun. If that's your cup of tea, so be it. I will use my firearm for it's intended purpose.

 

[Claude Clay]

how will you know if you missed?

 

[mgregg85]

Blanks are good for training dogs and starting races and thats about it.

Buckshot is the answer, preferably 00 or 000. If you want to give a warning shot, shoot it into a safe backstop somewhere. Keep a nice big sand bag in your closet and shoot that if you feel the need to 'warn' a bad guy.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Why, heavens NO!

 

[Jeff White]

If you aren't prepared to use deadly force, then you should look at some other means of self defense. A firearm is deadly force. It doesn't matte rhwta it's loaded with.

Jeff

 

[B yond]

That's an overwhelming no.

 

[ants]

Going into a gunfight with an empty chamber is not wise. It tips the advantage toward the opponent.

 

[rfurtkamp]

I'll shoot the first round as a blank, if a Looney Toon "Bang!" flag comes out.

If you can make that work, I'm all down for firing a second shot!

 

[JWarren]

I prefer to live through the break-in.

Put me in the category of this being one of the dumber things I've heard in my life.

-- John

 

[MinnMooney]

Yelling out “I have a gun and I will use it if you don’t leave”

I would do this if there was any chance that the person in my house MIGHT BE someone that I know. This is dangerous, though, because then the BG will know where you are.

 

[leadcounsel]

If there was ever a dumb idea in self defense, this is it! :banghead::banghead::banghead:

Why, Why, Why, would you ever do this? There is NO good reason. It will most likely escalate the situation and could get the home owner and his family killed.

 

[Eyesac]

Just get a fake dog..

Hahaha! I always pick blanks for self defense, along with rubber knives and a fake dog! hahaha! Toss in a couple fake gernades and you got yourself some serious firepower!