Help Me Convince My Dad To Load His HD Shotgun...

[Cosmoline]

Maybe he'd be better off with a Topper 88 and a shell holder mounted on it. He may be nervous about having to unload the tube on the pump.

Another idea--why not get some training lessons for him as a gift?

 

[JustinJ]

If and how one uses guns for HD is largely a value judgement based on perspective. Each person weighs the risk, likelihood of needing it and benefit differently. For some it's just not possible to convince keeping a loaded gun is worth while. Ask the reaons he won't, try to counter them if you have valid points and then accept it if he wont change his mind.

But personally it sounds like a haunting to me. I still say Proton Packs.

 

[Toforo]

His house, his gun, his ammo - his decision.

 

[jim goose]

I would definitely focus on him responding to incidents differently. Motion lights etc are the first thing I would recocmend to deter an encounter and give your dad time to respond accordingly. Loaded or not, you still have to know when to bring the gun out.

 

[mizzlep]

I agree with the motion lighting. Criminals don't like to be seen. You can also buy an alarm system for your house these days which don't have to be connected to any service. So, you just buy the intrusion detection equipment, etc, and you're alerted by the noise.

Another idea is a camera system, with signs stating you have as much.

Guns are always a good choice for home defense, but I believe keeping intruders out in the first place is always the best way to go.

 

[ball3006]

I went through this...

with my dad many years ago. I gave him a pistol for HD. Later I visited and asked if he shot the pistol? He said no. I asked where did he keep it and he replied the pistol was in the spare bedroom and the magazine was down in the basement in his file cabinet, ***? I asked what he would do if someone broke in and he replied, call 911. Never did change his mind....good luck with your dad.....chris3

 

[LibShooter]

Help Me Convince My Dad To Load His HD Shotgun.

You won't.

I'm assuming he's a smart guy. It's unlikely he doesn't know bad guys are out there. And it's unlikely he doesn't know it takes longer to load a shotgun than rack a slide. He just doesn't feel comfortable with a loaded gun nearby. I know the feeling. I was there until a couple of years ago. As far as I'll go now is an M1 Carbine by the bed with the mag inserted and the chamber empty. Nothing changed my mind. I just put the magazine in one night before going to bed and it's been there since.

Besides, it sounds like the collie will probably give him enough warning to get a couple of rounds in the Remington before he needs them. And get him some Snap Caps for Fathers' day and ask him to practice loading quickly. Tell him it will make you feel better.

 

[mgmorden]

His house, his gun, his ammo - his decision.

This. People do what they're comfortable doing. Keeping a loaded weapon is a CHOICE, and by definition if you want the freedom to make that choice to do so that means that others must have the choice to not do so. In the end, while I keep a loaded gun at home for protection, many, many people do not and they aren't dropping like flies.

The vast majority of them never have an incident. The reality is that the likelyhood that you'll need a self-defense gun is relatively slim (just a simple matter of statistics there). I just keep one because I don't don't want to play those odds, however slim. Others can choose to do differently.

Some people will ride motorcycles for example. Statistics show that riding a motorcycle is less safe than a car - accidents (even non-fault ones) are more common, and serious injuries are more common. That doesn't mean that a person that chooses to ride is being irresponsible - they just have chosen to accept a risk factor slightly higher than the norm, and that's ok.

 

[klutchless]

Does your mom know how to load the weapon ? Might be a good senario to convince your dad to keep it loaded . What if he's not home , or if he's hurt or fighting with an attacker always pays to have backup.If she hates guns all the better to have it loaded and ready.That way if she ever needs it all she has to do is take it off safe point and pull.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I would work on your mom, explain that after you dad is down, dead, or busy trying not to die as one or more 'bad guys' work him over to get to her and your sister, she should really learn how to use the gun

cause the only thing you dad is good for is buying her the time to get a shell or two in the tube.

 

[Sulaco]

Guys, I posted and said he decided to load it. My dad is ex-military (veteran) and knows his way around a gun. He's just never felt the need to keep one loaded around home. That's changed now due to a close call (original post) and thankfully, he's seen that it makes more sense to keep one loaded, just in case.

My mom doesn't hate guns and would have no problems using one to defend herself or her property.

I understand that keeping a gun loaded, or not, is a choice, but when something happens to show one how quickly things can deteriorate, it's pretty obvious that having an unloaded gun is pointless if you intend to use it for self defense.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Ole Coot]

I'm probably around his age and if he doesn't realize that bad things happen to good people I'm afraid you're wasting your time. We kinda get set in our ways. When we were younger we didn't have home invasions, crime in "good" areas and the old didn't bother to lock the doors bit. I've been exposed to a lot of violence and where I live is a very safe place but I am as aware as I was many years ago. He will do what he wants and the more he is pushed the more he will refuse. The dog sounds like a good alarm system. I would add more. I personally keep my defensive shotgun six in, chamber empty, safety off. Very easy to push the release, rack and ready. The sound alone to someone who knows anything about guns will recognize the sound. Demonstrate but remember you're still a kid and he knows better than you, don't push just make him aware of todays crime.

 

[Sulaco]

I just got word that my buddy, the cop (neighbor) caught them last night. It was two 13 year old kids ringing door bells, looking in windows, just generally goofing off. He grabbed one of them and tossed him in his vehicle (state issued, but not a patrol vehicle) and took him home, giving him the third degree. He let the kid's parents have it, too. He didn't catch the other one, but knowing him, these kids won't be messing about anytime soon.

Thanks again guys, problem solved!!

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I've gone through the same thing twice and kinda sorta with my mom aswell.

When my dad started carrying, (he still doesn't all the time), He carried his Beretta 92FS completely unloaded and only 5 rounds in the 15 round magazine. I told him that he should load the magazine up to capacity but he said that he could stop someone with those five rounds. Now when he does carry, he has the mag in and filled up more but still unchambered.

My brother kept his 870 MM unloaded till I finally convinced him to load it after talking to him about it a few times and now its finally loaded.

My mom just carried chambered empty but now carries +1

 

[vaherder]

Your dad is doing what he is comfortable doing. If you dont like it sonny boy move out.

How much crime occurs in your zip code? Your dad is probably more aware of how safe or unsafe the neighborhood is then you are.

Your dad gets a pass based on his experience. You dont.

Now the sound of racking an empty 870 may or may not have scared two 13yo boys. Or maybe seeing him rack it may have had them both fouling their Big Bird briefs or their Lebron James boxers.

Problem is both were unarmed.

Chances are the punks heard the dog and boogeyed down the road. No harm and no foul.

He could load with rock salt and bacon grease. My suggestion is you raise your hand to volunteer to be the test subject.

 

[moonpie]

I just got word that my buddy, the cop (neighbor) caught them last night. It was two 13 year old kids ringing door bells, looking in windows, just generally goofing off. He grabbed one of them and tossed him in his vehicle (state issued, but not a patrol vehicle) and took him home, giving him the third degree. He let the kid's parents have it, too. He didn't catch the other one, but knowing him, these kids won't be messing about anytime soon.

Thanks again guys, problem solved!!

this is why i don't run out guns a blazin'

 

[merlinfire]

I think the most effective thing would be to politely pose the question to him "If that man had swung an ice-pick at you, what would you have done then?"

Sometimes we have scenarios in our head that, once we speak them out in the open to a critical audience, we see they don't hold so much water. Maybe you could convince him to at least keep the tube loaded, but not a round chambered?

 

[mgmorden]

Your dad is doing what he is comfortable doing. If you dont like it sonny boy move out.

I didn't see anything in his post that would indicate that he is living with them in the first place. As a matter of fact the overall tone (and reference to his sister staying with "them" rather than "us") suggests that this is explicitly not the case.

 

[rellascout]

Your Dad is a grown up and over 21.

He'll do what he feels comfortable with.

+2

Why do people feel the need to convince everyone that they need to defend themselves in a manner they are not comfortable with.

 

[merlinfire]

Have him read this from Gunblast:

Full Article


Excerpt:

The punks that just entered your home rudely and uninvited are not going to wait for you to retrieve your pistol and load it. Both you and your weapon have to be ready, right now.

.......


Certainly the weapon has to be secured from unauthorized use, but if it is not loaded and ready to go, it is of no use to you. I cannot overstress the fact that it must be within reach. If you are lying on the couch in your underwear watching some silly television show, and your weapon is in the other room, you lose. If you are awakened suddenly from a deep sleep by the sound of glass breaking, and your weapon is in the gun safe, you lose. The cops are several minutes away. They will show up later to fill out paperwork and draw a chalk line around your body. Your only hope is in your weapon and your ability to immediately bring it to the fight.

 

[CZguy]

+2

Why do people feel the need to convince everyone that they need to defend themselves in a manner they are not comfortable with.

Let's bump that up to plus 3.

I don't see the need to make everyone think the same.

 

[Taurus 66]

It's a pump shotgun. Pretty safe to keep loaded. Load the tube, leave the chamber empty and use the safety for an extra precaution. It's slow to load an 870, I don't know what he would do in an emergency. Good luck.

You may have forgotten to include "attach a trigger lock" and "keep locked away in a safe". You know safe's are "safe" right? That's how they get that name.

Sulaco: If your father is not keeping up with the fast changing times because he's still dead set in the old fashioned 1950's/1960's ways of thinking, what can you expect to say or do to make a difference? You're not exactly in a position to educate him, and I am 95% certain none of us here would make any difference. Just don't place your trust in anyone defending you "if" trouble should ever arrive. Carry your own sidearm and be prepared!

 

[merlinfire]

Let's bump that up to plus 3.

I don't see the need to make everyone think the same.

I wouldn't berate someone for thinking differently than me, but to say that there's no need to ever try to convince someone of your point of view is a bit.....well, why do we support advocacy groups?

 

[Pat M]

As Inked said: "It's a pump shotgun. Pretty safe to keep loaded. Load the tube, leave the chamber empty and use the safety for an extra precaution. It's slow to load an 870, I don't know what he would do in an emergency. Good luck."

This is what I do, along with an additional 5 rnds. on the stock. However, if I come home and an intruder is already in the house and been in my closet, this arrangement could prove to be problematic. I also would not be too quick to put someone in the ground over a property crime.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I could see a loaded magazine and the chamber empty, but completely unloaded is a little flabbergasting. But, no amount of nagging is going to convince him unless and until he wishes to.