(poll) Do you answer the door with a gun?

[Big Boomer]

Strange thing happened yesterday, after dark (about 6:30) I get a knock on the door. Not that I usually do this, but I was not expecting anyone, and the neighbors that normally drop by unexpectedly were out of town.

I decided that I better grab my pistol before answering the door. There was a young kid wearing baggy clothes and a hoodie with a backpack on that was at the door. I had my gun behind the door. First he said hello XXXX your neighbor told me your name and that you like guns a lot. (at first I was like how in the hell do you know my name and *** are the neighbors telling people that I like guns for! ) I kept that to myself.

I didn't know what to respond with I was rather taken back. I fumbled for something "um, ya I guess, sometimes...WHY?!"

I took was not sure if he had friends around the corner or what but boy oh boy he stepped back for a second and reached into one of his pockets and jumped off to the side and readied my weapon, scared the hell out of me. Then he produced what was one of those things for magazine subscription and rattled on about gun's and ammo and such. He saw that I was "heightened" if you will and said that he was sorry to alarm me. (I was like you have no idea) He got a little grumpy when I told him that I already had a 2 year subscription and did not need anything else.

I did not display my gun but he did think it odd that when he reached to shake my hand I shook his with my left hand while the other was hidden behind the door.

So the question is, how many of you answer the door with a gun? Does your wife too? I am thinking of instructing my wife to do just that from now on as will I.

 

[TomB7777]

I always conceal carry, even at home. Usually a S&W 642 in an Uncle Mike's IWB holster clipped to the wasteband of whatever pants I happen to be wearing. So I answered yes, I always answer the door with a gun on my hip.

The real question should be, do you open the door for people you don't know? Unless I recognize you through the peephole, or you have called ahead and have an appointment, we don't answer the door at my house. It doesn't matter what time of the day it is.

 

[sacp81170a]

I answer the door with a gun if I haven't seen and identified the party through the windows as they are pulling up. My wife answers the door with a gun, especially when I'm not home. We do have a peep hole in the door covered from the inside so there will be no difference detectable from the outside when the cover is moved and the peep hole is being used. I'm considering putting up a camera.

Not paranoid, just used to occasionally meeting up with folks that I've arrested.

 

[andrewdl007]

I voted "I do not answer the door with a gun," but I have done it once or twice. The only time I remember doing it was when a "meat truck" pulled into my driveway. I hapened to be cleaning an old .32 I have and put in in my pocket. A really sketchy guy got out of the truck asking if my parents were home (I was a Sr. in highschool when this happened). I said no and at that moment my yellow lab finaly realized there was a stranger and went crazy. the guy then left while I tried to restrain my dog. When my parents got back, neither knew any thing a bout a traveling meat vender.

 

[S&Wfan]

I surely see no harm in being armed. Then again . . . I guess I'm singing to the choir here.

 

[Noxx]

I carry at home, so when I go to check the door I'm armed, but I rarely "answer" the door in the usual sense, I just don't open the door for someone I don't know / expect.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

We always answer the door at our house and we are never armed when doing it. There have been instances of home invasions here but they are EXTREMELY rare. It's just not something we worry about very much.

 

[DMK]

I'd talk with your neighbors about how that little comment compromised their security and yours. At the least, it could invite a burglary that could arm some punk kid.

This kid was probably just interested in guns himself and trying to chat about a common interest. Maybe it came up with the neighbor because one of the magazines was Field and Stream or G&A. As far as the clothing, the kids all look like that. There isn't a wolf behind every bush.

But to answer the question, I have a CCL and carry whenever legally possible. I'm definately always carrying at home. If I'm in the shower or bed when the doorbell rings I just drop a J-frame, Keltec or SP101 in my pocket. Better to have and not need then need and not have.

 

[glockman19]

Our property is gated & fenced. If you're knocking on the door I'm greeting with a gun. You need to be Buzzed in.

 

[shadowalker]

I carry my Sig almost all the time so I do answer the door with a gun on my person, if I felt the need to have one in my hand I wouldn't open the door.

If we are not expecting someone and we don't know the person the door doesn't open, whether it is night or not.

 

[jad0110]

I pocket carry 24/7/365 at home, so I guess that answers it.

if I felt the need to have one in my hand I wouldn't open the door.

Same here.

 

[politicalgeek]

Voted No, I do not...however...

My apartment is set up such that my bedroom faces right across from the front (and only) door. Theres a peep hole, and we keep it double locked and at night when we get settled, chained. My S&W 10 sleeps next to the bed, an easy grab of about 10 feet or so if the need arose and now my 20 gauge single shot. Only once have I felt the "need" to answer with a firearm. Same type of situation as the OP, 9:30 at night. Never have visitors and the only person knocking on the door on a Sunday night is my roommate if she is bringing a load of stuff from her parents. I hear a knock, check the peep hole and no one is there. I'm slightly disturbed, so I got my revolver in the holster, undid the thumb break and pulled it slightly out, laying it on the kitchen counter next to front door, but out of view behind the wall that separates both. Chained the door and undid the bolt to have a quick look. Turns out my mom had surprised my roommate and I with one of those boo bags for Halloween.

 

[Floppy_D]

My TV is to my immediate left when I open the door, with a 229 on top of it. (big tv, prevents 3yo from reaching it right now). I can open the door with my hand on it at any time. When the knock is unexpected, I have a peephole/dog/alarm system/motion light to help. I like layered defense. I feel no need to carry 24/7, though I admire the discipline of those who do.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Sometimes. I can hear people coming up the wooden steps to my 3rd floor place and can tell if they know their way around and if they're my neighbors by how they walk.
If they sound unfamiliar and I get a knock, I am armed. Otherwise, no.

 

[Hardtarget]

If I'm not home, wifey talks through the door...not opened.

If I'm home I look through the window before I open. I don't shake hands with door to door and when I accept anything from them, I take it with my right hand. I'm left handed so I never turn loose of my gun.

Mark.

 

[W.E.G.]

I would have told that kid to take a hike as soon as he started talking about what the neighbors said about my interest in guns.

For the rest of the magazine peddlers (we get one once in a RARE while), I have some sympathy for their unsavory assignment. Sometimes they get stuck with it because they are a member of some club or group. Instead of giving them my credit card number, or a check with my bank account number, I give them five bucks and wish them well -- as I send them on their way.

You gotta be stupid to give a stranger at your door your credit card info or your bank account info.

I don't answer the door with a gun unless my spidey-senses are tingling. We live in a pretty good neighborhood, so there is not much reason to fear the run-of-the-mill stranger at the door.

 

[Regolith]

No. Mostly because I don't really have a gun suitable as a "door gun". Just got a shotgun and a .22 rifle; both are not easily hidden and would be unwieldy to bring to bear in that situation.

I do answer it sometimes with a very stout knife.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Yep.

 

[geekWithA.45]

ALL unexpected knocks after dark are answered by an armed person.

And yes, I have made people I didn't recognize WAIT while I go GET a gun from the nearest safe, and yes, I have made them SHOUT through the locked door.

It's my way of saying, "who the hell are you, and what are you doing bothering me after dark?"

 

[Geno]

I carry 24/7, 365. At home the pistol is not concealed. If they don't like steel, they can walk away from my door. I also do not open the outer door. I leave it shut and locked. Only the inner door gets opened and only if I feel secure.

 

[esq_stu]

I carry at home. Sometimes concealed, sometimes open.

I often do not answer the door (when someone comes knocking/ringing, they are usually expected or invited beforehand).

When I answer, whether I expect the person or not, I put my hand on the grip before peeking through the door. I unlock it with my hand still on the grip if I decide to open it for a stranger.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I wear my weapon on me all day, and if it's past bed time, I just don't answer the door. No one has ever knocked on my door late at night so far.

 

[Noxx]

And yes, I have made people I didn't recognize WAIT while I go GET a gun from the nearest safe, and yes, I have made them SHOUT through the locked door.

I couldn't agree with you more. While I am a polite person, the fact is that an unexpected knock is from someone you don't know, didn't invite, and in short, wants something from you on some level.

I don't feel any obligation to the random visitor, 9 times out of ten I just tell them through the door to leave.

 

[JohnBT]

"Do you answer the door with a gun?"

I usually answer it with "Hello." The gun is in my pocket or hand.

We have a prison escapee on the loose this week who is reported to be armed and dangerous. Of course, I don't suppose he's much more dangerous than all the other crooks and ex-cons in town.

A few weeks ago some guy tried to steal from the 7-11 down the street and lost his billfold in conflict before he ran off. His probation papers were in his billfold.

John

 

[shooter1]

Like others have responded: My property is gated and fenced. Anyone inside the wire, will certainly be greeted appropriately, but both myself and spouse.
str1