Answer the door unarmed?

[thekingofpain]

I also have a bat---all aluminum and it swings nice---if someone is at my door that means they jumped my fence with the electronic gate I release from inside the pad---I also have a "bat backup" close at hand and a spankin new 12 million dollar copshop about a home runs distance away, I feel safe...

[Terminal23]

Never hurts to be prepared. You never know.

[daveleau]

You don't have to have a CCP to have a gun in your home. Anyone, at any age, anywhere in the US is allowed by the Constitution to have guns in their home.

I have one in the closet next to the door, one next to my bed and one in my office and all are loaded with safeties on. A lady was killed in our apartments when a guy climbed up to her 3rd floor apartment balcony and snuck in. He stabbed her repeatedly. I live on the 3rd floor as well. It is not a bad neighborhood, but you can never be too careful and crime happens everywhere. In this practice, be sure that the guns are not locked, because a locked gun is no better than holding a hammer or a small club in defense. A burglar is not going to wait for you to get your keys to unlock your firearm. When you have children, be sure to teach them NOT to touch the guns unless under your supervision. People think this is impossible, but a well taught disciplined and obedient child will do what they are told, especially if you show them what a gun can do (take them shooting pumpkins and to the firing range regularly) , so they know it is very powerful and not a toy.

My wife carries her .40 Cal Glock everywhere. I don't carry yet, because the 3 guns in our home are not easily concealable, like my wife's mini-Glock. Texas is trying to pass legislation to allow CCP holders to carry guns in ALL public buildings including government buildings. I think this is great because someone who has passed the background checks to get a CCP are the least likely to harm anyone, yet are the most likely to take down a would-be mass-murderer or violent disgruntled employee/ citizen.

A bat is a decent backup, but not a good form of primary defense since a person with a knife can defeat you easily after you swing and miss and you would be helpless against a criminal with a gun.

Remember that the police rarely protect people against home invasion. They usually investigate the crime after the fact. Police, provided you can get to a phone, dial 911 and get your message across, usually take between 5 and 20 minutes to respond. 5 minutes is an eternity when you are faced with an armed criminal. I live literally across the street from the police station and the chief of police lives in our complex, yet crime happens here as frequently as in other areas of town. The police did not save that young woman on the 3rd floor here. You are the person responsible for you and your family's safety. Relying on the police is dangerous and irresponsible (the latter being IMO).

[darrelld]

I've never been able to understand how people live in such fear and paranoia . It cracks me up to see someone walk into a convenience store, while at the register they're about 10ft. from their car, yet they not only lock the car they set the alarm too.
Anyone that has enough balls to bust the locks and hotwire a car with several people watching nearby probably won't be slowed down by an alarm, besides, IT'S ONLY A CAR!! If you can afford the car, you should be able to afford the insurance too, I gaurantee the manufacturer who built your car made more than one and would be more than willing to let your insurance co. give them money to get you another one.
This makes about as much sense as answering the door with a baseball bat and you should seek help, and hurry before someone sells you a gun! This is the kind of thinking that gets innocent people killed.
Unless you're involved in some criminal activities, or live in the slums of some large city then I don't get what you are scared of. I don't think I've ever heard a story about someone being attacked while answering their door, and I'd be willing to bet it's rare. I have however, heard many stories of killings from legally owned weapons getting into the wrong hands.
If I were you I wouldn't leave the house at all, after all you can never be too safe.
How do you sleep at night?

[Mntsnow]

A CCW is a major PIA in real life!

I as a CCW holder and carrier would say your statement is full of BS and spoken like a true "Kalifornian"

As a CCW it basically gives me no additional rights in a shooting than anyone else (including an officer) ...Thus a CCW doesnt hurt nor help you in a legal issue. Where a CCW helps is in the having the ability to protect your loved one's and yourself when out in the general public.

btw I usually am armed when I answer the door. and I always look thru the peep hole of the side door or out the side bay window of the front door before unlocking and opening it.

[daveleau]

Yeah, I never answer the door armed. I don't live in that much fear. I do have stuff handy if needed, but these precautions are not really part of my daily thinking. I merely know they are there if something should arise.

I see your point darrelld. I often leave my windows open when I go into a conv. store. Granted my car is junk, but... I think a lot of people's actions in regard to their cars might be a force of habit rather than paranoia.

Mntsnow, that is too much common sense for many to handle.

[willy_ph]

Umm. I don't answer the door with anything. Maybe a smile on my face. Then again, I don't lock my doors either. Even when I go out, or when I go to sleep. It's nice not having to live a paranoid life where I feel the need to have a weapon handy in case some guy comes to my door.

[Mntsnow]

Let me clarify as well. I probably have had someone come to my door at night (other than Halloween) in the past year like under 10 times and thus I'm usually dressed like I was for work and thus I have my firearm still on me. So if you were to come to my home say tonight at midnight and I've been in bed, chances are I wont have my firearm in my hand but I will also go on to say if I don't recognize you the door won't be coming open either and we will end up communicating thru the door

I bet the people that have someone come to their door that doesn't recognize them & after getting a excuse such as "I need to call a tow truck" will just happily open the door and invite them in...In that situation I would tell them "hang on let me grab the cordless phone for you or let me call a tow truck for you...meanwhile they are still on the porch OUTSIDE...during which time I would get the phone & my sidearm before opening the door.

Stories of people asking to use the phone is one of the most common excuses that criminals of home invasions use! And remember that criminals that are willing to do a home invasion KNOWING that you & or your family is in the home are more than willing to do bodily harm to your family and you to commit the crime!!

I dont consider myself "Paranoid" and neither would my friends or neighbors and I'm far from being an extremist.

I wholeheartedly believe in the ability to protect one's own family and self as I have many friends that are in law enforcement and even a relative who is a chief of police and he and the others will be the first to tell you that with the police being so far under staffed all they usually are able to do is take notes after someone is killed/maimed/raped or how ever else victimized. The first line of defense is YOURSELF !!!

Happy Kows kome from Kalifornia *moo*

I don't have a bat or gun or a peephole, but I check out the window. The windows are securely locked partially open in the upper slider rail and below, and if they are not recognizable, I ask who it is and what they want.

If they're gonna break the door in or break the windows to get in, they'll get sprayed with pepper and hit with my big Mag Lite ;-)

*btw, I don't think you or anyone is weird for answering their door armed. Better safe than sorry, you just never know.

[Chuckiechan]

By PIA I meant, the actual physical hassel of carrying, declaring*, cleaning, etc. Being careful how you sit, so you don't flash it or knock it loose. (A PPK in a ankle holster is the best, by far!) Being aware that there are places where you can't carry, and where they are. Having people see you are carrying, and get nervious, or worse yet ask you to sign off a fix-it ticket! Having to wear a jacket on a hot day. The problem is keeping it concealed.

Both of my son's carry, I gave mine up some time ago!

I like the idea of everyone being assumed to be legal to carry unless proven otherwise.

*Court house, airports, police officers, many public buildings.

EDIT: Utah dosen't treat law abiding citizens as a "cash - crop". California is trying to disarm everyone to make the place safe for Democrats!