Massad Ayoob Video "Don't Answer That Door"

[Girodin]

Is there some kind of tacit agreement here with the burglars of the world? Do you WANT the burglar to come when you're not there? It seems to me if someone is going to break in, you'll want to be there to take measures like calling the cops immediately and defending the gun safe. There's no duty to cooperate with these people or to make it easier for them.

Well in my professional experience most of these are not super planned out burglaries. Rather they are crimes of opportunity. Its often tweekers looking for indicia that people aren't home, knocking on the door, and then if no one is home they head around back and make forced entry.

I'd rather say hello via the intercom (and again it might well be someone I know) than have them decide to make a forced entry and then have to potentially use lethal force.

 

[nepa]

I've had a hysterical tweaker pounding on the door of my new apartment the very first night I moved in, while my guns were securely unloaded and packed away where I couldn't access them. I also had my girl's jealous ex show up at my door when I was on the other side of the door with her and a 12 gauge. Both times the person was hysterical and it could have ended very badly. Both times I wisely did not open the door. Everyone lived. I'm happy with that outcome.

 

[Sol]

Yeah this guy has a good point I'm not answering my door when a stranger knocks. Every time I do....a lesson in revelations and a fresh copy of "the watchtower" magazine. That or Elder Paul is trying to work his way in my house, asking about hosting an educational seminar about friends of the church, Jesus Christ church of latter day saints.

A home invasion is more than possible, but probably won't happen...ever.

 

[GBExpat]

These are cheap. Whenever this sort of topic comes up I mention them because it's cheap insurance and a cheap upgrade to any door. They force a door kicker to make a lot more noise if you're sleeping and allow you more safely get a look through the peep-hole before opening the door.

Reminds me of a time long ago ('70s) when I had a one bedroom apartment in VaBeach and was working graveyard shifts.

Since I was sleeping during the day, I warned the apartment management (verbally & in writing) to always call before sending any kind of maintenance worker to enter my unit.

For extra security, on the single door to the 2nd Floor apartment, prior to going to bed I reversed my K98k BringBack and tucked it tightly under the doorknob.

I awoke with a start one afternoon to a loud noise outside of the open bedroom door. As I pulled away the sheet with my left hand, I reached up on the headboard shelf and grabbed my Colt Combat Commander .45 and rolled out of bed into feet spread/2-hand-grip position in the bedroom doorway facing down the short hallway towards the front door.

A service guy who had just pushed&pushed&&pushed on the door to get it open was just stepping over the large rifle that he had dislodged ... he had a puzzled look on his face ... until he looked up and saw the naked guy standing 20' away pointing a large-bore pistol at the center of his face ...

... he left so fast that he may have come close to making it down the stairs to parking lot before the toolbag that he dropped hit the carpet.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I answer my door with a 45 but I never open the door. I taught my wife and teenaged daughter the same thing. About 10 years ago I left to make a 9pm store run for some Momma things and 2 large men showed up at the door my wife grapped my 357 and stayed quite while the knocked on the door she called the police and the pair ran off when the cops rolled up. That was before I had a cell phone. We never open the door to folks we don't know. It is an unnecessary risk in my book.

 

[rgwalt]

I have a 2nd floor balcony that over looks my front door. If I'm not expecting someone, I answer the door by walking out on the balcony and talking to whoever is down there. People find it surprising and off-putting. They expect someone to open the door and talk to them, not someone hollering down from 12 feet above. Frankly, I love it. It is easy for me to retreat back inside and out of aim by taking a few steps back.

 

[CA Raider]

No easy answers.

I've got UPS guys coming to my door who need a signature.
What am I going to do - not take a parcel? I ordered it
We can't go round being dominated by fear.

Most of the time ... it's not the boogeyman at the door.
If you have a concern - install a surveillance camera.
there are always solutions.

CA R

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I never open my door to anyone. I'm not scared, I just don't waste my time with people selling something or trying to preach the word of God in my ear.

I have a small window next to the door, so it's easy to see who knocked.