Home Security On my mind again

[MossRoad]

Ours has gone off once in 22 years and that was because someone broke into the garage

Moss,
I was wondering about the garage door. Our house has an attached garage so if you are in the garage you are almost in the house and you would be out of sight. How did they get through your garage door?

Chris

It was a fiberglass door. They just twisted the latch and it broke the fiberglass. Then when they pulled the latch out, that pulled the cables that pull the latches at both ends and up it goes. I had an infrared emitter/receiver on one side of the garage that bounced off a reflector that was attached to the door, then back. It also covered the service entrance door. If the service door opened in, it broke the beam. If the garage door went up, it moved the reflector. Covered two doors with one device. I also had an extra siren mounted in the garage on the ceiling. That probably scared the carp out of them (if they were fish eaters, of course ).

 

[RoyJackson]

Ahh.. you must not live in a self defense friendly state that gives extra rights to the victom, vs giving extra rights to the attacker.

That's why i live in Florida... gun owners and victoms still have a few rights here...

Soundguy

Actually, Pennwalk and I do live in a gun friendly state. It's quite easy to get a CCW and buy a firearm (which is why I questioned the background check...should only take a few minutes, once the form is filled out).

In PA, one needs to be in imminent danger (an assailant or intruder in your home fits the bill), but once the intruder retreats, the fight is over. You can't go after him or her. If you do shoot, once the assailant is down and incapacitated, the fight is over.
At this point in time, unless we're in our home, we have to try to retreat before we use deadly force.
The laws allow for defense of others too, but I'm not going to go into the PA laws, since they wouldn't mean much to most folks on TBN. And, I'm not a lawyer...but I do watch Law and Order.

I like the Florida laws, but I don't see that happening in PA until the current governor is sent out to pasture.

 

[pennwalk]

The guy at the gun store said I would fill out a form and they would call in to the police for a background check. He said it would only take a couple of minutes so it probably isn't a background check.

Chris

 

[RoyJackson]

The guy at the gun store said I would fill out a form and they would call in to the police for a background check. He said it would only take a couple of minutes so it probably isn't a background check.

Chris

Yep, that's correct...

Have you decided which shotgun you're going to buy? BTW, what shop are you dealing with?

 

[pennwalk]

Have you decided which shotgun you're going to buy?

What I think I want is a fairly short barrel pump. I like the feel of the Benelli nova and the weight of the Remington 870. I don't think it makes much sense to get the gun without learning to shoot it. I haven't yet nailed down how I am going to secure the weapon and still have it ready if I need it. I am finding the idea if a lethal weapon a sobering responsibility. The boy in me thinks shooting guns is fun but as far as home defense goes there is no room for that. It seems to me that with firearms there is no room for emotion. You can't go out and teach your brother in law a lesson and you can't "eat your gun " if you are feeling a little down. I think people need to think hard about if guns are right for them. So I'm thinking. There are a lot of different opinions about how to go about defending your family. Issues with the shotgun are the blinding flash when firing in the dark and the deafening sound when fired inside. Those may be addressed by training to keep one eye shut in the dark and keeping your mouth open to save your ears. Also the shot that will surely stop a bad guy will blow through the walls so you need to hit what you shoot at and at the distances inside there will not be very much spread so careful aiming is necessary. What I get out of it is, like everything else in home defense, nothing is simple. Training and practice, practice, practice are necessary to use a gun.

Chris

 

[pennwalk]

what shop are you dealing with?

I liked the Sportsmans shop in New Holland best so far. Some of the other places were a little too gung ho for me one place was sure what I really needed was a revolver and one for my wife too. I was surprised that there is a lot of conflicting information at the different stores. I like a guy that knows what he is talking about and knows his merchandise.

Chris

 

[RoyJackson]

what shop are you dealing with?

I liked the Sportsmans shop in New Holland best so far. Some of the other places were a little too gung ho for me one place was sure what I really needed was a revolver and one for my wife too. I was surprised that there is a lot of conflicting information at the different stores. I like a guy that knows what he is talking about and knows his merchandise.

Chris

Being a gun enthusiast (also, ex military), I'm quite comfortable around firearms.
Your choices for a shotgun are quite good. And, since it's "quite sobering" to you, that's a good attitude. Quite a few gunowners (me included) go a little "Rambo". Not a bad thing...depends upon one's personality and aggressiveness. I tend to shop at "gung ho" shops. My favorite is Freedom Armory, in Glen Rock.

You pick the one that you think will fit best, and, if you want to use birdshot...well, the intent is to stop an intruder, not necessarily kill him. However, always keep in your mind that it's him or you. Don't ever think about shooting to wound...shoot to kill. The odds are you'll only wound him, but as long as you keep in your mind that your intent is to stop a home intruder permanently, you'll do fine. Remember also that the effect of shotguns you see in the movies are special effects, not reality. You're not going to blow the guy out a window and 2 blocks down the road.

BTW, I keep 5 rounds of low recoil 00 Buckshot in the tube (magazine) of my shotgun. The chamber is empty, the safety is off. Also remember the intent is to protect your family. Someone comes in, all go to one room, dial 911, have the shotgun ready. Not necessarily in that order.

Does your wife have any interest in learning the shotgun?

Do you have kids in the house?

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. FL finally got self defense laws where they shoul be.. on the side of the victom. Here, if we are in a place we are legally allowed to be, we have no 'duty' to retreat before using deadly force for defense.

I was always bothered by the concept of the law telling me I had to turn my back on my attacker and run.. thus giving him the upper hand and placing me in much greater danger. I'm glad they finally corrected that matter.

Soundguy

Actually, Pennwalk and I do live in a gun friendly state. It's quite easy to get a CCW and buy a firearm (which is why I questioned the background check...should only take a few minutes, once the form is filled out).

In PA, one needs to be in imminent danger (an assailant or intruder in your home fits the bill), but once the intruder retreats, the fight is over. You can't go after him or her. If you do shoot, once the assailant is down and incapacitated, the fight is over.
At this point in time, unless we're in our home, we have to try to retreat before we use deadly force.
The laws allow for defense of others too, but I'm not going to go into the PA laws, since they wouldn't mean much to most folks on TBN. And, I'm not a lawyer...but I do watch Law and Order.

I like the Florida laws, but I don't see that happening in PA until the current governor is sent out to pasture.

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. probably a form 4473 and then a NICS.. unless he has a local point of contact thru the state.. etc... ( at least that's what it looks like in my ffl packet..)

Soundguy

The guy at the gun store said I would fill out a form and they would call in to the police for a background check. He said it would only take a couple of minutes so it probably isn't a background check.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

Roy is giving you good straight advice. Also.. once yo have fired your new weapon a few times.. you may find out that that 'blinding' flash is not much more than a 'small' flash not even 1/4 the intensity of a camera flash.. probably less than a 1/4.. etc.

And the sound? well.. I think you will also find that with practice.. it becomes like any other stimuli that you are used to and are expecting.

I wear muffs at gun ranges.. but have fired plenty of times with no muffs. Yep.. it's loud.. but it's not deafening.. Of course.. it's a matter of perspective... and what side of the muzzle you are on. I'm sure there are some profound psychological impacts from seeing a muzzle aimed at you.. seeing a flash and hearig the loud bang, and then feeling some numb spots across your body in that first split second. So.. yeah.. for the person being shot.. the blinding flash and deafening bang is a whole lot more 'real' than the guy pulling the trigger.

Do get familiar with your weapon.. fire it enough so that you aren't flinching, or 'squeezing' shots off...

Soundguy

. Issues with the shotgun are the blinding flash when firing in the dark and the deafening sound when fired inside. Those may be addressed by training to keep one eye shut in the dark and keeping your mouth open to save your ears. Chris