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Someone breaking into your house wakes you up... what do you do?

What's you plan of action during a break-in?

  • Try to hide - hope they go away without harming anyone - call police ASAP

    Votes: 9 5.4%

  • Stay hidden but try to locate and identify them - possibly take action if odds look good.

    Votes: 47 28.0%

  • Rack shotgun (etc) - give verbal warning from a distance.

    Votes: 48 28.6%

  • Move immediately to surprise and defeat them.

    Votes: 64 38.1%
  • Total voters
    168
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I've thought this through many times. After having my stereo stolen out of my car twice, and my wallet stolen out of a locker at the gym, I've had it with the lack of respect this type of person shows for others. WHAT, POOR BABY NEEDS ANOTHER FIX? TOUGH LUCK!!!! I EARNED MINE, GO GET A JOB!!

You say my stereo, TV, computer aren't worth a life? Maybe not, but I say the underlying principal of the matter is. The lack of basic respect for others in society today makes me sick.

Sound harsh? The sanctity of my home is worth any price.

Think on this:
This person most likely started out with petty theft, then moved on to burglary, now they're getting bold enough to come in when you're home. The next step will be flat out armed home invasion, as they've gained confidence while the danger involved in the type of crime committed has escalated without punishment. The next time, if he gets out of my house in 1 piece, He'll take that next step at your house, when you're wife's home but you're not.


I live alone, so I've got it easier than most: anyone else moving is a threat, period. If they missed the "steal here, die here" signs that were placed so they are the first thing seen when coming through either door, they get one verbal warning. After that, if they don't make a quick exit: 911 on the cell, hunker down with the shotty, and shoot on sight.
 
Quote:
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You say my stereo, TV, computer aren't worth a life? Maybe not, but I say the underlying principal of the matter is. The lack of basic respect for others in society today makes me sick.

Sound harsh? The sanctity of my home is worth any price.
---------------------------------------------------

The person who robs you, or enters your home steals more than a stereo or a wallet. He steals your basic humanity. And, yes, that IS worth a life.

That's why I'm glad Arkansas has a law saying it is state policy that ANY force used against a home intruder or arsonist is presumed to be reasonable and lawful -- and if you face charges, the judge is required to read the law to the jury.
 
I live a considerable distance from help, so I will be dialing 1911 before I dial 911.

I complain that the two big labs growl at anything and everything, but at night they have roaming priveleges in the house. They may not take a bite out of crime, but they will provide adequate warning for me.

The flashlight/light attachment is an absolute must. Identify. Then act accordingly.

If the BG comes in my house, he will be leaving in a black bag with a zipper.
 
That's why I'm glad Arkansas has a law saying it is state policy that ANY force used against a home intruder or arsonist is presumed to be reasonable and lawful -- and if you face charges, the judge is required to read the law to the jury.
Click to expand...
Vern, is this the Arkansas version of a "Make My Day" law? Can you cite a source for this, so I can rest assured that I wont get my butt in a sling if I have to use my boom stick?

Thanks,
 
My dogs sleep in our room and can open the door themselves. They'll probably be there before me. Like Evil Ed, my plans changed when I had kids. Soon we'll move upstairs where their room will be next to mine, and it'll change again. At that point my wife and I will simply cross to their room and I'll cover the approach while she calls 911. The approach to their room then will be a stairway landing and a door that leads to the rest of the upstairs (there's a back stairway) both of which can be covered by one person in the doorway.
 
Interesting thoughts,all. My dog (80lb lab/shep mix-black as death itself-except the TEETH!) is gonna be BG's first and only warning. One dog not as good as two, BG may be able to shoot one but "dogs of war" are gonna keep him busy while the maglight or surefire tells him his problems have just begun!

If you rack or give verbal warning, the BG may decide to splash a little kero or gas around, or some other evil trick. Once the sights and light are on, his choices are 1:run, with dog attached; 2:hands up, with dog attached, and hope I can call him off; 3:die, with dog attached.

Our house is Tactically "poor". MB at end of hall w/ no easy way out except through the fire. A quart jar of gas would be a helleva weapon for the BG.
Fortunately, home invasions are practically unheard of in this area (the country), maybe because the chances of living to do it again are slim; most everyone has at least a shotgun and deer rifle and a dog.

Stay safe.
Bob
 
Call the police/sheriff, advise them a retired armed federal officer is in residence dressed and walking around like a SWAT operator.

Put on my III vest, slap on my Level IV vest, put on IIIA helmet with IIIA face shield, take shotgun with lightmounted, grab my mp5 and go searching.
 
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Vern, is this the Arkansas version of a "Make My Day" law? Can you cite a source for this, so I can rest assured that I wont get my butt in a sling if I have to use my boom stick?
--------------------------------------------------

Arkansas Public Law 5-2-620. Use of force to defend persons or property within the home.

(a) The right of an individual to defend himself and the lives of persons or property within his home against harm, injury, loss by persons entering or attempting to intrude thereon is reaffirmed as a fundamental right to be preserved and promoted as a public policy of this state.

(b) There shall be a legal presumption that any force or means used to accomplish such purpose was exercised in a lawful and necessary manner unless that presumption is overcome by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

(c) The above-state public policy shall be strictly complied with by the courts, and appropriate instructions thereof shall be given to juries sitting in trial of criminal charges brought in connection therewith.
 
Okay, first things first: If you go searching for an intruder in your home, you are going to get yourself killed. If you don't believe me, get a friend and a couple of airsoft guns and play a little hide-and-go-seek in your house, preferably with all the lights off. See who gets 'killed' more often, the searcher or the search-ee.

Got that out of the way? Good.

It is inarguable, at least to my mind, that it is morally right to kill in the defense of your property (assuming that you belive that it is moral to own property in the first place.) BUT, there is a big difference between 'right' and 'smart.' If you snuff some junkie as he's headed out the door with your VCR, you may well end up prosecuted for murder. Not right, not fair, but that's the way life goes, especally in our aptly named Criminal Justice System.

The best possible thing you can do when faced with a housebreaker is to get the police on the phone, get armed, get behind cover, and let the bad guy come to you. Only move if you have to go collect family members elsewhere in the house.

- Chris
 
Wildakaska: Hey, I'm just goin' ta git my dawg!!!

Seriously, I agree with Chris, except for my fear of fire. If the BG wants to head out I'm not gonna stop him, and I will try to call my dog back! & try to get a vehicle description or lic #. Wife will be calling 911 pronto.

Stay safe, and hope this all stays hypothetical!!
Bob
 
Better than airsoft, bunch of retired buddies of mine and myself got paintball guns and played paintball inside my house. I perfected my tactics and didn't get hit at all.
 
crypto: gotta watch us "old farts"!
Wildalaska: his choices are run, or surrender. If he (she)doesn't do one or the other, I'm under attack. I don't care if he leaves with my VCR, but he ain't comin' in!
Bob
 
To Chris Rhines:

Amen!

It's nice to live in a state where the law is on your side, but that doesn't help if you get yourself killed.

Nor do you want to shoot someone if you don't have to -- remember that old Mexican curse, "May your life be filled with lawyers."
 
Wildalaska: his choices are run, or surrender. If he (she)doesn't do one or the other, I'm under attack. I don't care if he leaves with my VCR, but he ain't comin' in!
Click to expand...

Thats the answert I like to see...

Ya secure yer family in a room with ya, get on 911, and yell out at him that you are armed and ya just called the police. If he tries to get to ya, o well....by by..

If he splits with your VCR, o well too.

Im just not inclined to hunt down and kill a criminal, no matter what the law allows. Besides, when ya shoot, get yer checkbook out to pay yer scheming lawyer. No VCR is worth that much.

WildbeentheredonethatAlaska
 
The BG would have to make it over the 6' fence and past the 6 big dogs (not likely, my boys kill coyotes that get too close to the horses and chickens).

If the BG actually gets to the house all of my windows and screens are alarmed.

I would be awakend for sure by the dogs or alarm.

If the BG is entering or is in the house I grab the Defender and, while making my way to the boys room, start yelling for him to leave ASAP or die now. Meanwhile the wife has her .357 in hand and is calling LE on land line or, if no service, the cell.

We practice this drill and a fire drill once a month. We are a mile off the paved road and in fire country.
 
So people don't misunderstand me: notice i said "hunker down" not "go looking"

One thing people that own split levels like mine may want to do: I put a door in the downstairs landing. This door between up and downstairs is actually stronger than my exterior doors.

Stereo, etc., are upstairs. Me the armory, and my few valuables are down. Door stays locked at night.

However, if I am upstairs at the time of invasion, all bets are off.
 
Vern Humphrey is right - the poll is very confining. Given the few choices available, I picked "Move immediately to surprise and defeat them." The reason is simple - of all of the choices available, it is the least bad. If someone has the lack of morality to not only rob my house, but to break in at night (when, presumably, everyone is sleeping and most vulnerable), then common sense and the morality of self-defense demands that I presume the worst (that the bastich is out to kill me, rape my wife and kidnap my kids) and act accordingly.

However, it makes better moral and practical sense to arm yourself and get your family to safety FIRST. I'd open my gun vault (simple push button combination), take out my .45 and give the 9 to my wife. Both have rounds in the chamber and almost full mags (1 round short in both). I'd get her and my daughter into the closet that is attached to the bathroom in my master bedroom, with explicit instructions to my wife to shoot whoever appears at the doorway unless she hears otherwise from me. Then I'd hide behind a very heavy TV cabinet/dresser that is hidden from the view of the BR door until it is wide open - and anyone who enters that door will be having an autopsy. If I or my wife can possibly call the police without endangering ourselves or our daughter, we will do so before I shoot anyone - but anyone who counts on being able to do this and fails to prepare (mentally and physically) for the worst case is an irresponsible fool.

As others have said, I'm much less concerned in a situation like that with the mere theft of property than with some goblin getting at me or my family.

Note that Texas law allows one to legally shoot someone who is committing a felony on your property at night. This is, IMHO, enough LEGAL justification for shooting anyone who is in your house at night without permission. Whether it is enough MORAL justification is a facts-and-circumstances question.

Vern's also VERY correct about not going outside waving a gun when cops arrive.
 
When things go bump in the night, I'm up with the Pony and Surefire and make a recon without light through the house. If nothing found, I use the Surefire to check the backyard then without light come around to the front which I've checked once through the windows.

Sometimes I take the Glock 23 from the nightstand rather than the Pony, but the rest is pretty much the way it goes. If I were to encounter someone, I'd backup and get my cell phone and do a 911 so they could record what went down next. That can save your bacon in court as a fellow named Saustraup learned in Austin TX a couple of years back. If it hadn't of been for the 911 tape, the anti-gun DA might have gotten a manslaughter conviction.
 
I live alone and have multiple locked doors between myself and an intruder breaking in. As soon as I know something's up I'll grab the 12ga, the Surefire and the cell phone. 911 for the police, they can come and get him. If he makes off with property, so be it, that's one reason I have insurance. My stereo system isn't worth defending the civil suit some crackhead's family will no doubt hit me with.

If he attempts to come through the bedroom door (or window), he's after more than pawn shop money, and I'll use appropriate force to stop him.
 
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