Thoughts on Home Defense (Long)

[Kamicosmos]

Excellent Post!!

 

[okjoe]

In one of my former and short lives as a worker bee, I was involved with a company that had a joint venture partner in Estonia. Guess who was listed as the operations manager of "international" operations.

We sold them computers and some shotguns via Belgium.

They had a very nice gun store in Tallin that sold a variety of first rate arms when the Avg Yrly salary in Estonia was about 700 bucks.

On an overnight trip to and from, I stayed at one of the principals house which was very nice, but not that very nice by our standards of rich.

Given jet lag, I couldn't sleep and went downstairs to watch some TV (even if in a foreign language).

I didn't want to awake the family which was on the first floor, so I did not turn on the lights.

In the semi dark, I bumped into their in home security system (not an electronic system like we have here), It was a former Russian Army or KGB Commando) who didn't cut my throat or something as fun as that, since he (I guess "it" was a he as I could not see him), knew I was to be there.

He muttered something in Russian or Estonian, in a polite tone, and I also did in English.

He disappeared back into the night.

I turned on the TV, watched for a time, and went back and tried to get some sleep, as I was to leave the next morning.

Just a FYI story of what did happen once upon a time.

As to lights on or off. I say turn em on, bright and white.

You never know when there could be an Ex KGB or Russian Army Commando, or nowadays some no good bumb or terrorist type who is just waiting to slit your throat ( Why shoot you and make a noise that will awake the family? )

And if that is their intent, you will be at a distinct disadvantage with the lights out, unless you are some type of Ninja who is an expert in night work.

 

[Richard.Howe]

If you hear a noise, then arm yourself, and go looking..... you are almost dead certain to be arrested and have to defend yourself. That shows intent to force an armed confrontation, and if there is ANY option to avoid it, we are required to use it.

Good heavens, I'm glad I don't live where you do.

If my only alternative is to pull the sheets up over my head, how can I ensure the safety of my children across the house?

Blackhawk, nice post. This is the third time I've happened across your ideas and I believe you're what THR is all about...don't let the turkeys get you down.

Rich

 

[Blackhawk 6]

Thanks for all of the feedback. While I did not expect everyone to agree with my comments, I am glad some of you found them useful and/or thought-provoking.

 

[bountyhunter]

If you hear a noise, then arm yourself, and go looking..... you are almost dead certain to be arrested and have to defend yourself. That shows intent to force an armed confrontation, and if there is ANY option to avoid it, we are required to use it.

Good heavens, I'm glad I don't live where you do.

If my only alternative is to pull the sheets up over my head, how can I ensure the safety of my children across the house?

Your point is 100% correct. If you have family members in other rooms, you have no choice but to lock and load and go verify the house. It's a very dangerous thing to do, but what you must do if your children are at risk.

BTW: you are right about not wanting to live in this idiotic state of California. We had a guy who heard his kids yelling and got up with a baseball bat to go see, and found a pervert trying to take one of his kids. The homeowner chased him and they ended up in the back yard where he whacked him in the head and fractured his skull. The home owner was arrested and charged with ADW because the DA said that once the perp was outside he was no longer a threat. That case came to the attention of John Walsh (America;s Most Wanted) who told it on his show and then looked in the camera and asked: "Mr. (DA's name), what the hell were you thinking?" The charges were eventually dropped.

We had another heinous case in Oakland where an 80 year old man in his home hid in his bedroom with the door locked while some thug was ransacking his house. Being it was Oakland (he was black and lived in a bad part of town) the cops took their time to respond. The old man got out his Army surplus .45 and hid behind the bed... as the thug was breaking through the bedroom door with a crowbar, the old man fired a single shot killing him. The owner was arrested and charged with murder because the perp did not have a gun. The local news ran the story. We got the DA's phone number and melted his phone line, the charges were eventually dropped but the old guy did a few weeks in county lockup because he couldn't make bail.

Kali has a very clear message for it's citizens: if you think you have the right to protect you life, you better move to another state. We lock people up for that.

 

[shooting time]

Well in my house I know the only things that belong in my house in the middle of the night should be my 2- 100 lb Dobermans and my wife, anything else gets shot.

 

[lodwick]

What an outstanding post - thanks.

 

[armedandsafe]

When I was in SoKal, I would occasionaly teach a "interior defense" class. Sometimes it would be for a business location and others would be in a private residence. I taught many of the same points brought up here, with the addition of motion lights in all areas except the ones occupied by the gun holder. One couple in North Hollywood had only a pair of blackpowder revolvers available and were not going to acquire anything else. We set up a successful defense pattern using those weapons.

About 18 months later, I was called up and informed that the hardening of the residence had slowed the invaders long enough for the revolvers to be capped and that 2 BGs would not be appearing in court, ever. It is a good feeling to know that one's efforts have been successful.

Pops

 

[silverlance]

kali HD plan (just to share)

darn

message removed due to good suggestion form a number of thr that this isn't a good idea... HD plans should be kept secret.