Need your input on what to do in case SHTF

[silent knight]

This has been bugging me for the longest now. You could call me paranoid (that's what my friens do) but i'm just concerned. I have a 2 year old boy running around.. when he does catch a glimpse of the stuff i own, he says "dada" and points at it, doesn't get near it, if anything stays clear from it. Still.. you never know.. even with my 11 yr old.. he knows to stay away from it, you want to trust them but things happen all the time. There's been a few home invasions, robberies around my area (Sherman Oaks CA) and i just want to be ready when SHTF. "What if this.. what if that..".. that's all that runs through my head. I'm a light sleeper but there are times where i'm knocked out.. what worries me is someome breaking in without us knowing and waking up to a masked man holding a knife to my wifes neck or something.. i guess all this paranoia stemmed from watching a documentary of Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker). Believe it or not, my old boss a few years back was the son of two of his victims. Some of his victims were gun owners that had no time to react.. one ctually had a chance to do something.. she played dead while he ate in the kitchen.. she walked up with a 12 gauge but the story said that it didnt go off.. it just "clicked" no further details were mentioned about the gun whether she racked it or what.. anyhow he quickly shot her a few times and took her outs out.

Anyhow, how close is close by when you say "i keep one
close by".. what do you do when you have kids around in the same room with you.. my two yr old sleeps with us.. i want to keep my gun close to me without putting any of my kids at risk.

Scenario:

Your room is at the far end.. the closest room(s) to the entrance (front) door are both your 11yr and 13yr olds room. You hear something, almost positive that it isn't a good thing.. do you go for your gun and call 911 right away and stay put (i've been told that before).. or.. do you go outside to make sure that everything and everyone is okay (clear rooms). The minute you open the door to our room, you wont seen anything but a wall in front of you, a door on your left side and a closet wall to your right (hallway closet that blocks the view of hallway leading to my kids room and down the stairs). Even if i was to stand on the hallway, you wont be able to see my kids room because you have to turn right because on the closet door on their side.

Need your input.

 

[shadowalker]

Our plan is pretty simple, protect the kid and ourselves. My wife and I both have rapid access pistol safes on our side of the bed, mine is left open at night.

I also have a SureFire within reach, a Mossberg 590 within a few seconds and two protective German Shepherds.

In the case that we are alerted to someone attempted to make entry we grab the handguns, the Mossberg if there is time and head up the stairs where she will enter her son's room and call 911. I will wait at the top of the stairs with in a superior position, if a threat emerges I will stop it, if it gets past me it gets to deal with my wife.

We both also have concealed weapons licenses and if I'm awake I'm carrying.

As far as keeping weapons out of the hands of little ones for handguns look at something like the GunVault, you can get rapid access containers for long guns as well. Don't forget to educate them about gun safety.

 

[tbtrout]

I have a gunvault pistol safe within arms reach of my bed. A few presses of the butttons and Mr Sig is ready. I wake at the slightest out of place noise. Would never hear the baby cry at 2am, but I will hear the twig brush against the house. Plus the dog helps.

 

[B.D. Turner]

If you believe something is wrong.
#1 Arm yourself with weapon and a flashlight.
#2 Call 911, Have someone stay on line with 911 if possible. Giving updates to police or EMS.
#3 Go get your kids and family into a designated safe room where there is a phone.

 

[thexrayboy]

The best most cost effective method of protecting yourself from visitors in the middle of the night is a dog. Milennia of breeding has turned our former competitors for food into a valuable asset that can save our lives. A dog will
give you warning so you can react appropriately.

 

[Stretchman]

A few things about HD.

If it's your time, it's your time. Nothing that you do on this earth is going to prevent that. However, it is still an option to take out most BGs with you when you go.

You cannot kill a man without possibly sacrificing ( not eager ) to give up your own life in the process. Anything less is murder. Cold blooded premeditated murder. IF the guy is posing no threat to you, then there is no reason to kill. Understanding that is rudimentary to understanding the process with which you employ a legal form of self defense.

Running through scenarios is a uselss waste of valuable time for planning and evaluating. IF there was going to be a BG in your house, how would he get in? Door? Window? Can these be secured? If there is a BG in your house, how do you get out? Door? Window? Other exit?

What can alert you to the presence of a BG? Alarm system? Dog? Kids? Wife?
What have you?

Start outside your house. Look for the obvious. Can anyone walk up to your front door without going through a gate? Can someone easily approach your windows from outside without being detected? Illuminated? IF you are at the point where you cannot reasonably envision yourself safe insde your home when there is no reason to believe that you aren't, then maybe you need help.

IF you think that no matter what you do, you're going to see a serial killer eating a ham sandwich in your kitchen, thern nothing that I say will make sense to you. But if you take the time to look around your property, and do what is needed, not only will you be safer, but the peace of mind it gives you will stop you from dumping adrenaline all the time, and make it worth something when you really need it.

Maybe you need to sit outside more. Interact with your neighbors. Think about crime watch. Read some books on home security, and perimeter security. Take the time to understand that there are things you can do that, while not apparent, will make you a harder target. Think about a fence with aluminum or iron posts, instead of a chain link. Motion lights. Cactus, and other thorny bushes under windows. Secure ladders to prevent 2nd story access. Think about a monitored alarm system. If contacts break, then you will get an audbile alarm which will wake you. This works on doors and windows. Put in cctv cameras if you want to be able to see outside. Have an escape route out of the house, because if someone attacks your property, and you're not there, where will they look for you?

Above all, learn to relax. Dumping adrenaline gives you tunnel vision, and you stop noticing things around you, because you are tense. Situationally aware does not mean that you have to be in condition zero at all times.

Stretch
Quit cigs 1M 1W 1D 20h 16m ago. So far saved $239.06, 1,593 cigs not smoked and counting ...

 

[Kingcreek]

I thought this through 18 years ago after being a victim of theft.
I now have controlled access with layered security. 2 dogs- one inside and one out, a good quality security system, and a few other things I'll not mention here.
I sleep very, very well these days. I don't like surprises, especially in the middle of the night, but I think I am pretty well prepared.

 

[hso]

Why is the first thing we think of what gun do I need to deal with a monster in the house instead of how do I keep a monster off my property?

If you can keep trouble from getting into your home you've succeded.

Do you have a fence with gates? Do the gates have annunciators that sound in the house?

Do you have motion sensor lights that activate if anyone approaches the house or when the gate opens?

What do you have for doors and windows? Are they resistant to being broken? Are they alarmed?

Do you have a dog? An inside and an outside dog (you know, the one that runs around inside the fence?)?

Are you willing to remodel so that the monster has to get past your room to get to your kids so that you can hold the hallway while your wife goes through the connecting bathroom to get the kids?

 

[DesertShooter]

What Stretchman stated...."If it's your time to go, it's your time to go!". You can run scenarios through your head until the end of time, but when the REAL thing happens, it's probably not going to be one that you ever thought about.

If you dial "911", do it on your LAND-LINE phone, unless your cell phone will connect you with your local police (LAPD in Sherman Oaks). By using the land-line, it flashes your home address on the emergency dispatch screen. Even if you can't speak after dialling "911", a police unit will be sent on an "unknown trouble" situation. Of course, if you can speak, try to give as much info as possible, and do it CALMLY as possible.

Most of the other suggestions that were given to you were great. Just try to remain calm as possible, try to place yourself between your family members and "whoever" might be in your home. If at all possible, try to get the lights on in the rooms where "whoever" might be....but do so without compromising yourself, AND try to stay in the darkness of whatever room/hallway you're in.

AH, one last thing! If you've "barricaded" yourself in, say, a hallway, and you hear the police outside, that means that you'll need to open the door for them. Go for the door as quickly as possible WITHOUT your firearm in hand, and quickly identify yourself as the home owner. Tell the police where your family members are AND where you heard the strange sounds coming from. Just don't greet the police with your firearm in one hand!

 

[hso]

No, don't go from a place of safety to let the Police in. Have a spare key ready on a flashlight or strobe or light stick and toss it out the window and tell the dispacher where you tossed it. That way the Police can let themselves in without the risk of breaking in.

 

[griz]

Keeping a gun safe but accessable is not tough, get one of those keypad entry safes that can sit beside the bed. Put a good flashlight by it. That will keep the gun away from the kids and let you get to it in about 10 seconds.

For the second question, if you think something is wrong, I don't see how you can leave your kids to fend for themselves. Have one parent call 911 and go to the kids as carefully as you can do it without taking forever. And careful is important. There is a real chance that your kid may have awakened to the same noise and is out in the hallway. ID is so important in that instance that it takes priority over speed.

Try to know what you are going to do ahead of time so you don't spend time thinking about options.

 

[silent knight]

For the second question, if you think something is wrong, I don't see how you can leave your kids to fend for themselves.

I wouldn't do that, the children are my first priority, i've heard though to "stay put" if someones out there wandering around your living room.. i disagree.

 

[davhina]

Anyhow, how close is close by when you say "i keep one
close by"..

Close by for me is the on night table next to the alarm clock, with a flashlight on the floor next to the bed. I however, no longer have children at home to worry about. I also have a home security system, that eases my mind.

 

[sm]

hso and I are on the same page.

Making the home safe from Serious Situations does not always mean firearms.

One should take steps to make the home, and property as secure as can.
Now I realize everyone's situation is different and everyone has different finance resources.

Keep in mind as well, investing in time with family and keeping practice, lessons and game plans need to be shared to the youngest, weakest person of the household's level.
It could be a baby, child, Elderly person, or even someone physically limited.

Flexible Plans for when someone is sick, recovering from injury/ surgery, expectant wife and even guests.

THINK. Think how you would gain entry to your home, business - even a hotel room while on vacation.

VERY IMPORTANT! Securing to keep someone out - Can - mean making evading, exiting or other problems.

Example. Fire.

Let us say you invested in Iron bars on Windows, and doors.

1. Can Fire Dept and Rescue Personal gain access to assist those inside?
2. Are these bars going to impeded exiting though a window if need?
Yes I know some of these designs are supposed to "break-away" from the inside, but will they?
Can a Three year old assist a elderly eighty year old in a back area needing to exit a window?
Will this impede YOU being able to reach a family member in case of fire?


Tornado.
I live where there are tornadoes. Now we have some different wrinkles as to what a Serious Situation is , with concerns of kids, elderly, and physically limited.

Flood, sorta rare here, still plans in place for these other Serious Situations did work when heavy rains caused historic flooding years ago. Neighbor blind from birth.
WE had a plan, we being the lady, and some of us Apt neighbors. I left my apt with water up to my knees...


Firearms are great. Not the only tool.
Invasions , break-ins and such are real concerns, and should be addressed.

Serious Situations have to be accessed for each individual and plans made, practiced, re-accessed, practiced and have back up plans - with the weakest, smallest , limited person in the home.


Why do some of my close friends have a small compressed marine air horn, bandannas, flashlights, lockable boxes with keys to residence (give dispatch the code for LEO, Fire, Rescue), flashlights , motion detector lights, enhanced door frames , locks, furniture 'strategically' arranged for shooting zones (incoming/ outgoing).fire extinguishers, boxes of baking soda, faucet wrench for outside water faucet ...etc.?

Serious Stuff happens -

I am the eldest of 4 . Civil unrest and Parents were away from the home with another emergency.
Front door is being brick batted in.
I am not quite a teenager yet, and I am in charge of smaller, sibs, I guess the youngest would of been almost 2 at this time.

Oh heck yeah I had a plan, a practiced one! Practiced LOTs!

Short version - yeah we survived. Front door looked like hell, front porch was sorta bloody and all too.

Sibs, naturally scared, crying, and hunkered down in safe areas as practiced.
Just this time, no giggles, not a game and there was some different noises and people and stuff going on.

Serious Stuff can happen in the blink of an eye.
It did that night.
I'm typing so that means I survived, and I will share the sibs did as well.

 

[Alexfubar]

Criminals get to choose their targets. Targets don't get a warning.

Make the criminal choose to go elsewhere.

Lock your doors , buy a dog. I have two , and they alert me to everything from someone at the door to squirrels minding their own business.

I know personally & very well , an ex-convict burgler. Homes to avoid were any with a dog. Twice he encountered home owners with firearms and left ASAP. Eventually he went to jail for 16 years.

Crazy murderous Freddy Cruger types will still alert the dog , and "close enough" should be withing reach of the bed , along with a phone a light and glasses if you wear them.

 

[glassman]

lots of great ideas here

The only thing I have to add is to make sure and take your cell phone to the bedroom. Use your land line first to call 911 but have the cell in case the BG cuts the phone line.