Loaded Firearms In The Home

[Brians356]

Define "loaded gun" please.
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[snert]

Good ideas. And if in a restaurant sit towards the rear and know where the exits are. If anything happens, go out the back through the kitchen. Same in a store or mall. They all have rear doors and passageways. Many people would try to run out past a shooter because there was a sign that said "Employees Only".

And in your home, run through the drill. Practice while a family member is the home invader and then reverse the rolls. Considering the bad guy may shoot you on site, consider how you would use or not use a light, announce yourself, or try to locate them. I've always considered just laying down a pattern waist high through the wall from the bedroom into the living room and hall. (There is only my wife and me.) No one else has keys or a reason to come in unannounced. I keep electronic earmuffs near the bed and there are lights on the guns. Without hearing protection, you won't be able to hear anything after the first shot. I know which directions I can fire without hitting a neighbor's house and if I have time to think, will shoot waist high and a slight downward angle. Body armor won't save them. Best afterwards to lay on the floor (incase they return fire through the wall) and call 911 and let the police clear the house.

Nothing ever goes as planned and it would be mind numbing scary to wake with someone in the house or standing over you. I keep an under-pillow gun. A .40 caliber Taurus PT100 (with a light) that is chambered but decocked with the safety on. As a last resort I could bring it into action with only one hand while maybe fighting someone off with the other. Maybe I think too much but better than figuring it out in the middle of a crisis.

Target ID applies to self defense just as it does hunting...for reasons that really are logical. While I understand (to a degree) the emotion and then reasoning behind this plan, I have to tell ya that the physical evidence is going to bury you (in litigation, debt, bankruptcy and guilt) when the corpse on the other side of the wall is your neighbors 16 year old kid who came home (to the wrong house) drunk. I get it...shouldn't be there, etc etc. Castle doctrine etc. And I am empathetic. But I have also been there when the body is still dripping and the steam is still coming off it, and I know that what I am telling you is from someone who has been there. Don't shoot thru walls at an unknown "threat" cause it sure would suck to kill an alzheimers patient, or some stupid kids pranking the wrong house, or even your drunk buddy....and I am NOT making up these scenarios...I responded to calls JUST LIKE this, sans the shooting. Not every idiot who violates your home should be shot for it. Really. and it doesn't make the homeowner a sissy if he doesn't shoot til he has to.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You should see the news about this “crazed lunatic” with his 11 guns and 1000rds of ammo. What would they say about some members here if you had to shoot somebody?

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/article203718109.html

 

[T-shooter]

Target ID applies to self defense just as it does hunting...for reasons that really are logical. While I understand (to a degree) the emotion and then reasoning behind this plan, I have to tell ya that the physical evidence is going to bury you (in litigation, debt, bankruptcy and guilt) when the corpse on the other side of the wall is your neighbors 16 year old kid who came home (to the wrong house) drunk. I get it...shouldn't be there, etc etc. Castle doctrine etc. And I am empathetic. But I have also been there when the body is still dripping and the steam is still coming off it, and I know that what I am telling you is from someone who has been there. Don't shoot thru walls at an unknown "threat" cause it sure would suck to kill an alzheimers patient, or some stupid kids pranking the wrong house, or even your drunk buddy....and I am NOT making up these scenarios...I responded to calls JUST LIKE this, sans the shooting. Not every idiot who violates your home should be shot for it. Really. and it doesn't make the homeowner a sissy if he doesn't shoot til he has to.

I see your point of view and agree. The last thing I want is to accidentally injure or kill someone! Yet again, I don't want to be the one walking out into 2-3 armed invaders and say "What's up guys?" Then I'm laying there dripping with some unwanted body piercing. It's a difficult call. I would hope to wait until I was sure I didn't have a choice but in any case, I prefer to the the one who lives through the ordeal. The house is always locked at night and there is an alarm system. Being out in the country, I'm at least 15-20 minutes away from any intervention by the local sheriff. I'm nearly 66 years old and not one to freaks out when faced with danger. I'm also not stupid enough to think at my age I can handle 2-3 20 year old's without a weapon. There have been houses broken in to in the area. One person shot, a couple beat up, a mid 50's woman disappeared, and an elderly woman was home invaded, raped, and murdered. All in areas that you wouldn't think was bad. Several years ago we were putting up Christmas lights. All of a sudden a helicopter comes over with a search light, then about 15 police cars and trucks. By that time I'm armed. What happened is that a mental patient escaped and made it 35 miles out into the country. He was caught 100 yards from my house across the street. He told the police that he was going to find and kill his girlfriend. It's a crazy world.

 

[Brians356]

Define "loaded gun" please.
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Serious question. No interest? Is a pistol with a full magazine in the frame but not fully inserted, and an empty chamber, a "loaded gun"?
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[JRS]

Serious question. No interest? Is a pistol with a full magazine in the frame but not fully inserted, and an empty chamber, a "loaded gun"?
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The definition varies by state.

 

[Brians356]

The definition varies by state.

Sure, but I meant in the context of this thread, and the OP's "I was just wondering if my having a half dozen loaded firearms around the house is an unusually high number or, if other members followed the same practice as myself."
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[Snuggie]

My grandma's advice was an unloaded gun is not even as good as a club in your hand. Better off with a baseball bat. I have one loaded handgun strategically located in my house. When I camp or put myself in an area where a criminal element is present, I have a loaded firearm close by.

Yep! My dad said the most useless thing in the world was an unloaded gun. I took his advice!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Sure, but I meant in the context of this thread, and the OP's "I was just wondering if my having a half dozen loaded firearms around the house is an unusually high number or, if other members followed the same practice as myself."
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A half dozen firearms of any kind would label you a crazed lunatic when they put the intruders 6th grade picture on the news

 

[hogpatrol]

A half dozen firearms of any kind would label you a crazed lunatic when they put the intruders 6th grade picture on the news

Yeah, the poor guy. He was only one burglary away from getting his life turned around.

 

[284winner]

Yesterday, I decided to do some housekeeping and organize the safe as well as update the file I keep which lists all of the firearms I own. During the process, I made a mental note of the firearms I have that were loaded. At the end of the day I noted that I had one rifle and five handguns that were loaded, five of them that were not in my safe. I keep my H&K P2000 40 caliber and my Herstal 5.56 in the bedroom. The other handguns were in the TV room and in my reloading room.

I'm divorced and live alone so there's no issue with safety issues with children, The only time children are an issue is when the grandchildren visit and then I put everything in the safe. The guns are not visual, they are kept in discrete locations. I was just wondering if my having a half dozen loaded firearms around the house is an unusually high number or, if other members followed the same practice as myself.

Can't use em for defense if there not loaded. Scenario: Say your in your bathroom sitting on the throne and someone kicks your door in and proceeds to your location. What are you gonna do ? That friendly weapon between your legs won't help in this scenario. That Glock that's in the bathroom vanity will. It's a tactically sound decision having guns in various locations of your dwelling in this type scenario. If a bad guy is casing your home and knows your routine, what a better plan than to be prepared with an equalizer to cease his assault. Just my .02.

 

[ED3]

Serious question. No interest? Is a pistol with a full magazine in the frame but not fully inserted, and an empty chamber, a "loaded gun"?
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In Minnesota:

A firearm with a round in the chamber, or a loaded mag in the firearm is legally 'loaded', for purposes of the law regarding leaving firearms where they might be reasonably accessible to a minor.

Locally, there is quite a a controversial incident brewing related to this:

Vadnais Heights couple, son charged in weapons and threat case; machine gun among firearms listed

One of the charges is that the parents left loaded firearms accessible to their autistic son who was charged with making violent threats at his high school.

I say controversial because the sheriff, for purposes of giving himself a highly publicized pat on the back, made a real ass of himself.

As to terminology used, the guns were described variously at times as a "cache of weapons", or wait for it: "an arsenal"

 

[Richard Coody]

I see your point of view and agree. The last thing I want is to accidentally injure or kill someone! Yet again, I don't want to be the one walking out into 2-3 armed invaders and say "What's up guys?" Then I'm laying there dripping with some unwanted body piercing. It's a difficult call. I would hope to wait until I was sure I didn't have a choice but in any case, I prefer to the the one who lives through the ordeal. The house is always locked at night and there is an alarm system. Being out in the country, I'm at least 15-20 minutes away from any intervention by the local sheriff. I'm nearly 66 years old and not one to freaks out when faced with danger. I'm also not stupid enough to think at my age I can handle 2-3 20 year old's without a weapon. There have been houses broken in to in the area. One person shot, a couple beat up, a mid 50's woman disappeared, and an elderly woman was home invaded, raped, and murdered. All in areas that you wouldn't think was bad. Several years ago we were putting up Christmas lights. All of a sudden a helicopter comes over with a search light, then about 15 police cars and trucks. By that time I'm armed. What happened is that a mental patient escaped and made it 35 miles out into the country. He was caught 100 yards from my house across the street. He told the police that he was going to find and kill his girlfriend. It's a crazy world.

sounds like a rough neighborhood. i would fence my yard and get a dog or maybe 2. At least a barking dog would alert you if someone is approaching the house. For some reason bad guys don't like to deal with dogs.

as for going outside to confront trespassers i believe using your house for cover and waiting for them to walk into the ambush would be a better idea. just make sure of their intent before opening up. A splintered front door crashing open or a shattered window is clear intent.

if possible i believe i would sell the place and move.

 

[T-shooter]

sounds like a rough neighborhood. i would fence my yard and get a dog or maybe 2. At least a barking dog would alert you if someone is approaching the house. For some reason bad guys don't like to deal with dogs.

as for going outside to confront trespassers i believe using your house for cover and waiting for them to walk into the ambush would be a better idea. just make sure of their intent before opening up. A splintered front door crashing open or a shattered window is clear intent.

if possible i believe i would sell the place and move.

It's not that bad. If you were here you'd probably think it is the last place that anything would happen. 25 miles from a large city and 15 miles from a small city and 2 miles from a major interstate highway. A back country road surrounded by farm land and maybe 20 homes. No gangs, no groups of teens running around, and no minorities. Still crime happens from time to time. It's people from outside the area that cause most of the trouble. Pays to stay alert no matter where you are.

For instance here is one thing that happened a few years ago. A doctor had a nice home on several acres about 1/2 mile off the interstate. Some felon ditched his car running from the police, jumped the fences and made it to that house. The residents were on vacation. He broke in and there was a standoff with police. He finally killed himself in their home and the place was all shot up.

A lot of robberies and home invasions are not done where the criminals live if they have access to cars. You go where the money is, nicer neighborhoods, and no one looks for you 25-50 miles away in another city.

And a little farther down the same road I live on, some people bought a house on 5 acres. They put on a new roof, built a large pole barn, kept the yard and field mowed and looking nice. Just some nice people that lived there a little over a year, right? We found out that they were working with a few other guys and were stealing mowers, ATV's, boats, and anything else of value and storing it in their barn. Most of this was done at night, never saw anything going on in the daytime. They also only stole from joining counties and nothing within 20 miles of here. Also no armed robberies, just cased homes & buissnesses and took things when no one was home. One day I saw about 25 police cars, a wrecker, 2 flat bed trucks, a crime lab truck, and a helicopter that were part of a police raid right down the road. They didn't give any armed resistance. Funny, you just never know.

 

[joshb]

I have three dogs in the house. Two are large dogs that keep a constant watch. It's a pain sometimes but the slightest sound sets them off. One starts growling when she's suspicious before she goes postal. She's always by my side. She can hear the post man walking up the driveway from inside the house. I used to keep Doberman Pinchers. Smartest dog I ever met and very comforting to have around. Most people fear them but when properly trained they're pussycats.

 

[terraMODA]

All my guns in my house are ‘technically’ loaded. However, my rule is, only handguns and shotguns are chambered. Rifles have loaded mags in them, but I don’t chamber them in the house. When I leave the house, guns are locked up. My dog is always fully loaded!

 

[M-61]

Two English Mastiffs. Brother and sister. Gentle giants (195# & 165#). Good to remember their names are Bonnie & Clyde. Intimidating to look at and impressive when they crush golf balls with their molars. I sleep well. Unfortunately they (like me) are getting old.