Imaginos
Member
A few weeks ago KDFW TV in Dallas ran a story about a robbery that has been stuck in my mind ever since.
A family of four with 2 small children checked into a brand name motel on the south side of the city. During the night, several BGs wearing police-style raid jackets, with the word "POLICE" clearly marked on them, kicked in the motel room door yelling "Freeze! Police!". The BGs were supposedly armed with shotguns, handguns, and an AK 47. The family was tied up and robbed suffering minor injuries and some serious psychological trauma. The police spokesman said that there have been several similar robberies in recent past.
The victim's obvious mistake was failing to install wedges under the door, or at least angling a chair under the doorknob, to reduce the chances a sudden intrusion. Then what? Dial 911 and hope somebody shows up before the BGs get tired, bust the door, or come in through a window
Even for those of us who carry 24/7 this is a tough scenario.<br><bR>If it really is LEO kicking down the wrong door, shooting the first person through the doorway is not going to win you any friends.
If its BGs impersonating LEO, failing to shoot first could get your family killed.
Any way you cut it, a gunfight with your family in the middle would be a nightmare.
I think everyone can agree that the best defense would be a heavily wedged door backed up by a 12ga shotgun with a full magazine of buckshot. Some slug rounds in reserve might also be comforting. That was the easy part.
I have a hard time deciding how to handle the situation from there. My first thought is to fire a round into the mattress followed by a verbal warning. That will guarantee a couple of things.
1) You will have lots of attention from neighboring rooms.
2) Whoever is on the other side of the door will KNOW beyond all doubt that you are unwilling to receive guests.
If the doorknockers are BGs, that will probably convince them to go elsewhere. If it really is LEO, they will not go away, but they should adopt a more cautious attitude.
Once you have confirmed from 911 that it really is LEO outside, you can arrange to surrender peacefully. You will have some very serious explaining to do. However,
* LEO will have to explain why your door was being kicked.
* You are only out the price of replacing the mattress and your children's therapy bills.
* Everyone is ALIVE.
In the worst case if you are forced to shoot, try to move to a position as far away from your loved ones as possible. I left out the option of including the spouse as a shooter because somebody has to get the kids under cover unless they are old enough to know what to do.
Anyone have a better solution?
A family of four with 2 small children checked into a brand name motel on the south side of the city. During the night, several BGs wearing police-style raid jackets, with the word "POLICE" clearly marked on them, kicked in the motel room door yelling "Freeze! Police!". The BGs were supposedly armed with shotguns, handguns, and an AK 47. The family was tied up and robbed suffering minor injuries and some serious psychological trauma. The police spokesman said that there have been several similar robberies in recent past.
The victim's obvious mistake was failing to install wedges under the door, or at least angling a chair under the doorknob, to reduce the chances a sudden intrusion. Then what? Dial 911 and hope somebody shows up before the BGs get tired, bust the door, or come in through a window
Even for those of us who carry 24/7 this is a tough scenario.<br><bR>If it really is LEO kicking down the wrong door, shooting the first person through the doorway is not going to win you any friends.
If its BGs impersonating LEO, failing to shoot first could get your family killed.
Any way you cut it, a gunfight with your family in the middle would be a nightmare.
I think everyone can agree that the best defense would be a heavily wedged door backed up by a 12ga shotgun with a full magazine of buckshot. Some slug rounds in reserve might also be comforting. That was the easy part.
I have a hard time deciding how to handle the situation from there. My first thought is to fire a round into the mattress followed by a verbal warning. That will guarantee a couple of things.
1) You will have lots of attention from neighboring rooms.
2) Whoever is on the other side of the door will KNOW beyond all doubt that you are unwilling to receive guests.
If the doorknockers are BGs, that will probably convince them to go elsewhere. If it really is LEO, they will not go away, but they should adopt a more cautious attitude.
Once you have confirmed from 911 that it really is LEO outside, you can arrange to surrender peacefully. You will have some very serious explaining to do. However,
* LEO will have to explain why your door was being kicked.
* You are only out the price of replacing the mattress and your children's therapy bills.
* Everyone is ALIVE.
In the worst case if you are forced to shoot, try to move to a position as far away from your loved ones as possible. I left out the option of including the spouse as a shooter because somebody has to get the kids under cover unless they are old enough to know what to do.
Anyone have a better solution?
