Quote :

"you want me to call a shotgun a tool? That seems foolish."

According to Merriam-Websters

Quote :

"a handheld device that aids in accomplishing a task"

Seems pretty cut and dry to me.

12/29/2010 11:07:58 PM

Wimps.

12/29/2010 11:09:48 PM

Quote :

"A firearm on the otherhand would be in my nightstand for the sole purpose of inflicting harm should I find myself in imminent danger."

I would never keep a loaded firearm in my nightstand or anywhere that I could reach it before I was fully awake. I can manage to sleepwalk throughout my entire bedroom without waking up, so keeping a firearm within 5 feet of where I sleep sounds like a recipe for disaster.

For those of you who own multiple firearms, how did you decide which one you would actually keep loaded for home defense?

[Edited on December 29, 2010 at 11:13 PM. Reason : .]

12/29/2010 11:12:16 PM

Hmm...

All of them loaded and within arms reach sounds like the best bet to me. But then again I'm known to be insane.

[Edited on December 29, 2010 at 11:17 PM. Reason : Yeah]

12/29/2010 11:16:45 PM

I have a shotgun loaded (but not one in the chamber) that I keep in the bedroom that I would have to get out of bed to get, and then I typically have one of my pistols (either semiauto 9mm or 38sp revolver) within arms reach when I'm in bed- those are my two conceal carry pistols, so it is a matter of which one I was carrying

12/29/2010 11:27:24 PM

I don't like none in the chamber.

Silence is a virtue and whatnot.


Btw, can I interest either of you in a pair of hot pants? $50obo son.

12/29/2010 11:30:04 PM

and according to webster a weapon is

Quote :

" something (as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy. A means of contending against another "

Im not trying to engage into a dictionary war with you. A tool is something you dig a ditch with. When you beat a guy with the tool you dug the ditch with it becomes a weapon. Why? Because it was used to injure, defeat, or destroy the guy. If owners sole intent an object is to injure someone why would you not call it a weapon?

[Edited on December 29, 2010 at 11:40 PM. Reason : spellz]

12/29/2010 11:33:41 PM

HEY, ASSHOLE, I'M SELLING HOT PANTS HERE.

12/29/2010 11:34:28 PM

functional use, yo

water can be used as a knife if focused, and sprayed fast enough

12/29/2010 11:36:24 PM

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WATER IS A TOOL SON.

12/29/2010 11:38:19 PM

For those of you that keep a gun in the home for protection where do you keep it and do you keep it loaded? I know nothing of guns but i imagine that when you need one, you need it fast. One wouldn't want to take the time to load it especially when nerves and adrenaline start pumping

12/29/2010 11:39:03 PM

Already stated this but, loaded with in the chamber. All of them. Right next to me.

12/29/2010 11:40:45 PM

Also, since I did an edit on the last post on page 2

Quote :

""2nd if they get close enough to take it from you, it should be empty by that point."

The thing I worry about most, is someone being in the house and in close proximity before i notice anyone is there. Like that creeky step at the top of the staircase, if I was asleep and I woke up to someone at the top of the stairs its entirely plausible that in the time I took to reach over and pull a gun out of my drawer, I may be able to fire off a few shoots, but would likely end up in a wrestling match. Someone kicking in my front door seems far less scary because you would have more time.

[Edited on December 29, 2010 at 11:47 PM. Reason : apdo]

12/29/2010 11:46:29 PM

Pistols = loaded with one in the chamber within arms reach of my bed, ready to go in as quickly as I can grab it.

Shotgun = loaded but not with one in the chamber (need to pump it to load one)

Rest of the guns are in my gun safe locked up

12/29/2010 11:48:11 PM

Lock the bedroom door. Gives you more time son.

I take it you assume I'm not being serious about my previous responses, or you're just senile. Either way, there are no guarantees. There is always the possibility of being in a shit situation. You have to make split second decisions in these encounters. I'd say the gun gives you a better chance, but you need to know when to use it and when to go for something else. There are times where I think a knife is more appropriate (Which is why I like having both).

Generally speaking, I don't think there's any point in even having it loaded if it's nowhere near you and it's not accessible in short order, but that's me. If you sleepwalk, it is obviously not a good idea to have one next to you. Otherwise, I don't necessarily see a problem with it, although I'd never recommend it outright. You can make that decision if you'd like basically. The faster it gets into action the longer you can afford to wait basically.


Make no mistake, the encounter will be filthy in any case, regardless of who is injured/killed.

[Edited on December 29, 2010 at 11:52 PM. Reason : Filthy]

12/29/2010 11:51:58 PM

Someone has hijacked Jen's account and the results have been very entertaining.

12/29/2010 11:53:37 PM

where would a knife be more appropriate?

12/29/2010 11:54:27 PM

Extreme close range. My personal opinion is that it's more risky to attempt to disarm in many ways, but it does require skill to wield.

All one has to do to disable a gun is grab it and move the muzzle before the user can pull the trigger (Not TOO difficult if you're quick and they're dumb). As you move it you can render it useless by pulling the slide out of battery on a semi-auto or pinch the cylinder on a revolver (Provided it's not in single action with the hammer already cocked back), it's not going off until something changes. It can also be manipulated rather easily like a lever in their hands.

It's much more risky to grab at someone weilding a blade in my opinion. Your hand could immediately and permanently be disabled by this action. Even if you don't kill the intruder, fucking up their hands enough will ruin most people's ability to continue an assault effectively as they can no longer grab. The disabling is instant if you take out muscle/tendon. Shooting someone doesn't necessarily stop them instantly, so at close range it may or may not help. I'd rather have a gun 95% of the time, but it's good to have a knife as a backup for that 5%.

Also, if they grab at your gun it's nice to have a backup blade to bring into the party as they're focused on the gun.

This is all random shit really, each situation is vastly different for each person. The knife thing depends upon skill and training IMO, although the gun thing does too. Your mindset and ability to think under deadly pressure is probably the most critical component of the situation.

[Edited on December 30, 2010 at 12:03 AM. Reason : It depends.]

12/29/2010 11:59:59 PM

itt Jen learns where to check first if she breaks into your houses

12/30/2010 12:01:10 AM

Yep!

12/30/2010 12:03:34 AM

1. Let territorial potentially agressive dog scare them away.
2. Profit.

12/30/2010 12:06:14 AM

1. Kill territorial potentially agressive dog.
2. Profit.

12/30/2010 12:08:12 AM

Quote :

"I don't like none in the chamber. Silence is a virtue and whatnot."

I've debated this with myself and friends, and it seems like most of them don't keep one in the chamber. But I would like to think that if I need it, I'm going to want to have it ready to go immediately, rather than having to remember to pull the slide back to chamber a round.

12/30/2010 12:42:57 AM

I think it's idiotic to assume you will have time to chamber a round, end of story. If you're going for a gun out on the street, it's generally because you need it NOW, not in a few seconds.

Now, on the street and even in your house, you also may fuck up chambering the round. Your hands will be sweaty and your fine motor skills will be fucked in situations of high stress. Do you want to risk that? If you have 1 or 2 seconds to respond and you have no round in the chamber, you might as well not even bother going for the gun because it's worthless to you at that point. Also, unless you practice drawing and chambering, you're likely to screw up. This is why I like the Glock with full mag and round in the chamber formula. Remove gun, aim, pull trigger, repeat as necessary.

I know people who carry or keep guns around with an empty chamber, but none of the people that do this are people whose opinions I actually respect. Well, I guess I do know of some people where there is some secondary reason for it not being ready to go, but those people would still have a round in the chamber if they could, it's just that circumstances dictate that they do not.

[Edited on December 30, 2010 at 12:50 AM. Reason : Repeat]

12/30/2010 12:46:33 AM

Quote :

"This is why I like the Glock with full mag and round in the chamber formula. Remove gun, aim, pull trigger, repeat as necessary."

That's why I have one

12/30/2010 12:50:27 AM

You can't do much better than that formula man. You have chosen well.

12/30/2010 12:51:37 AM

Next step is concealed carry.

12/30/2010 1:01:27 AM

Yes, that is helpful in ensuring Mr. Glock comes with you everywhere legally.

12/30/2010 1:03:19 AM

I wish we had tx law the whole trespassers can be shot on site strongly discourages theft while protecting scared and violated citizens from being arrested if they panic and shoot someone.

12/30/2010 1:28:10 AM

All I have to do is get a package through your door son..... The ninja will take care of the rest....

12/30/2010 1:31:34 AM

I had someone try to kick in my back door a few years ago. scary as fuck. granted if they'd made it in i was crouched in the corner of the room in a place they wouldn't think to look with a pistol pointed right about where midmass would be. I loudly made my presence known and that i was armed and it deterred them.

as far as advice to protection. Make sure if your'e that concerned put as many noise barriers between you and them as possible. have the gun in arms reach and make sure there's a round chambered. Don't go for that cavalier slide scaring anyone approach. if you pull a gun on someone you should pull the trigger. there's too much that can go wrong with just having one pointed at someone.

Finally if you can get away without doing any of this.... take that option. its far better to just let them have your shit than deal with the psychological damage shooting someone in your home will make for you. Self defense should be a last resort. Killing someone so they don't take your PS3 just flat isn't worth it. thats why you have insurance.

12/30/2010 1:41:36 AM

Quote :

"Make sure if your'e that concerned put as many noise barriers between you and them as possible."

This is extremely good advice.

12/30/2010 1:43:23 AM

Quote :

" something used to injure, defeat, or destroy. A means of contending against another"

sounds like it could be anything to me.

my point is, there is no reason for you, or the idiots at merriam-webster, to associate knives, clubs, or firearms with a weapon until used as such. a weapon can be almost anything, but yet you don't call most of those items a weapon.

12/30/2010 7:30:44 AM

Quote :

"Unpossible. I'm such a light sleeper that if a mouse farts downstairs I wake up."

This made me laff.

12/30/2010 9:02:50 AM

Saab made some good points about when a knife could be more advantageous than a gun. The biggest disadvantage to using a knife is that a person wearing carhartt style overalls and coat would effectively be wearing body armor, so you'd probably be better off fighting bare-handed in that situation than occupying one of your hands with a knife.

12/30/2010 9:16:33 AM

Quote :

"they're desperately trying to steal from a world that stole everything from them"

12/30/2010 9:20:28 AM

I would hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your kids, hide your wife, and hide your husband.

12/30/2010 9:28:38 AM

weave a series of strings throughout your house as trip wires, all leading back to your bedroom, tie the strings around your wrist before you go to sleep, that'll stop 'em!

(i saw this on a movie once when i was 5, except it was human hair rather than strings)

12/31/2010 1:16:50 AM

it scares the shit out of me when the dogs bark at night

1/2/2011 1:26:36 AM

Quote :

"Breaking and Entering is a felony, so if they are already in your house then they have already committed a felony."

actually, breaking and entering is a misdemeanor. larceny is also a misdemeanor. however, if you commit both at the same time, they both become felonies. isn't law fun

[Edited on January 2, 2011 at 1:42 AM. Reason : <$1000]

1/2/2011 1:37:52 AM

^^ sounds like you should get rid of the dogs and sleep easy

1/2/2011 1:42:46 AM

dogs barking = someone coming to get ya!

BE THE VICTIM

1/2/2011 1:49:29 AM

1/2/2011 3:23:26 AM

Quote :

"Breaking and Entering is a felony, so if they are already in your house then they have already committed a felony. BLAST AWAY!"

uh, check it bro. not a felony.

1/2/2011 11:44:57 AM

I just scanned this thread cause I kept seeing so much stupid.


first off, Castle Doctrine protects you, shoot them. "better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6"

dude that said "silence is a virtue" dumb- the sound of racking a slide will scare off most intruders.

Keeping one in the chamber is foolish, and asking for trouble should someone pick up your gun. dont tell me it doesnt/ wont happen.


As the last couple posters said. B&E is not a felony. Two misdemeanors at same time become felonious.

Doors/ locks are not difficult to break. I break into at least 10 foreclosed homes a week. It takes me about 30 seconds to do it without breaking something, 10 if I dont give a shit about the house and feel like kicking in a door. (doesnt always open the first kick! haha@me)

Mcdanger is such a pussy

1/2/2011 4:45:36 PM

Quote :

"I break into at least 10 foreclosed homes a week. It takes me about 30 seconds to do it without breaking something"

Well that's scary. Are these deadbolt style locks your opening up that fast?

1/2/2011 5:37:11 PM

I keep a loaded and chambered glock beside me on the night stand.
I keep a pump shotgun loaded but not chambered under the bed, or in my office depending on what what has been going on, who is home, if the wife is traveling and what not.

I keep it un-chambered for a few reasons, and way down the scenario line. If someone does manage to get inside my house, and doesn't run away after I warn them that I am armed and in fear for my life, then they are not of the normal smash and grab variety. The sound of a shotgun racking may or may not have a 'scaring' effect, but it get the gun ready for the fight. I already have the glock, so I'm not loosing time. The noise is just a positive side affect. Another reason, is that the wife is not as familiar with the shotgun, and the empty chamber is just a precaution with her. ((she is fine with it as well)(she has her own Sig at her night stand))

1/2/2011 5:45:46 PM

Quote :

"first off, Castle Doctrine protects you, shoot them. "better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6" dude that said "silence is a virtue" dumb- the sound of racking a slide will scare off most intruders. Keeping one in the chamber is foolish, and asking for trouble should someone pick up your gun. dont tell me it doesnt/ wont happen. "

1) Not exactly true. "Castle Doctrine" in the true sense doesn't exist in this state, but you are allowed to shoot an intruder. True castle doctrine would limit or inhibit liability from lawsuit if the shoot is justified. In NC you are not granted that protection, therefore even a "perfect self defense" carries a serious legal liability.

2) Highly subjective. I'd rather have it ready to use as a real deterrent than as a potential one, but you will find plenty of people in both camps on this one.

3) Only if you improperly store your firearms. Anyone picking up and fingerfucking a weapon without at least a cursory chamber check deserves what they get, and any owner who negligently leaves one in that position deserves the liability for doing so. The benefits of keeping a loaded weapon far outweigh the risks for any responsible owner.

1/2/2011 5:46:20 PM

I got a shotgun rifle and a 4-wheel drive ..... And a country boy can survive

1/2/2011 5:51:50 PM

1/11/2011 8:50:02 PM