[unf0rgiven6262]

Originally Posted by NoMoreRJ

I found my new fav tool to hold at the door when answering info about newspapers, magazines and home security people.

[aggrofish]

Paranoid people ITT

[LV2ndHome]

Originally Posted by aggrofish

Paranoid people ITT

So you're saying there is no chance of violent crime happening? It's better to be prepared and never have a need than to have a need and not be prepared.

My mother, almost 80 yrs old at the time, answered the door as it was someone she knew. As soon as she unlocked the door and started opening it, the guy burst in, knocked her down, and had a gun to her head in an instant. I am certain that advanced preparation saved her life. She lived in a very nice, upscale subdivision that had a history of being a quiet, practically crime free neighborhood.

Note that I do not believe that buying a weapon by itself is "being prepared". I believe adequate training and practice is a must as well. Otherwise the risk of accidental or unjustified shootings, or the bad guy getting the weapon away and using it on the owner, could pose more danger than the potential security sought.

[macgeek]

Originally Posted by LV2ndHome

So you're saying there is no chance of violent crime happening? It's better to be prepared and never have a need than to have a need and not be prepared.

My mother, almost 80 yrs old at the time, answered the door as it was someone she knew. As soon as she unlocked the door and started opening it, the guy burst in, knocked her down, and had a gun to her head in an instant. I am certain that advanced preparation saved her life. She lived in a very nice, upscale subdivision that had a history of being a quiet, practically crime free neighborhood.

Note that I do not believe that buying a weapon by itself is "being prepared". I believe adequate training and practice is a must as well. Otherwise the risk of accidental or unjustified shootings, or the bad guy getting the weapon away and using it on the owner, could pose more danger than the potential security sought.

So, someone she knew robbed her?

Jonathan

[aggrofish]

Originally Posted by LV2ndHome

So you're saying there is no chance of violent crime happening? It's better to be prepared and never have a need than to have a need and not be prepared.

Nowhere did I say there was no chance of violent crime happening. I said there were paranoid people in the thread which there are.

An 80 yr old is a bit different than a male answering the door with knives, guns "just in case" and harassing a bunch of relatively harmless kids trying to make a buck.

Quick someone's at the door, grab the Glock.

[macgeek]

Originally Posted by aggrofish

Nowhere did I say there was no chance of violent crime happening. I said there were paranoid people in the thread which there are.

An 80 yr old is a bit different than a male answering the door with knives, guns "just in case" and harassing a bunch of relatively harmless kids trying to make a buck.

Quick someone's at the door, grab the Glock.

Maybe that can be a Attorney's next ad campaign

"Here a knock, grab a glock"

Jonathan

[LV2ndHome]

Originally Posted by macgeek

So, someone she knew robbed her?

Jonathan

It was a tenant in a rental property that supposedly came by after hours to drop off rent owed. He was shot and wasn't successful in robbing her. As he was already known to her and made no attempt to hide his identity, we feel certain he would have killed her. There was an accomplice hiding in the bushes over to the side out of sight that immediately took off running as shots were fired. He got away and has never been ID'd or found.

My mother was prepared in advance to know not to go to the door without back up (there was someone else in the house hiding around the corner with a gun for protection. If the visitor had been legit, he would have never seen the other person or gun). The bad guy knew enough to know the other person was subject to being around and a threat to his robbery attempt, and immediately started asking my mother where "Joe" was. My mother also knew in advance in such a case to drop to the ground in a fake faint to prevent an intruder from using her as shield and also to provide an clear shot.

She was almost 80 at the time, but she was in excellent physical condition, proficient with firearms herself, etc. Still she would not answer the door at anytime herself if no one else was home, though I'm sure she could easily handle the situation if someone kicked in the door while she was there alone.

Originally Posted by aggrofish

An 80 yr old is a bit different than a male answering the door with knives, guns "just in case" and harassing a bunch of relatively harmless kids trying to make a buck.

Quick someone's at the door, grab the Glock.

I'm glad you can tell the harmless ones from the bad ones before even opening the door. Most of us mere mortals can not.

I almost always have a gun on me within split second reach when I open the door and have done so for years. But no one that has come to my door in all that time has ever even known, much less been harassed or intimidated by it. Concealed weapons are guess what... concealed! It quickly becomes like carrying a wallet. You never notice it being there, though you will quickly notice the change in feeling when it's not there. No one that comes to my door is harassed, though unsolicited sales people are immediately told I'm not interested and asked to leave.

I prefer to be prepared and not need it than to need it and not be prepared. I have an escape ladder near upstairs bedroom windows to be prepared for the possibility of a house fire, but that doesn't mean I hope my house burns. I pack insulated coveralls, blankets, and bottled water in my vehicle when traveling rural roads in the dead of the winter, but that doesn't mean I hope to get stranded. Likewise, just because I carry a gun doesn't mean I hope to have to use it or even show it.

Another reason I feel more at risk is because I'm a professional advantage player, meaning I often carry large amounts of cash, there's no way to prevent it being seen in my possession by passersby in casinos as I play, some casinos are in rural or outlying areas, and I come/go at all hours of the day or night. Also I believe that the more I age, the greater my risk as criminals typically view elderly as easier targets.

Use of a gun is a last resort for me, I've never had to pull it out, and I hope I never do. I take a lot of other proactive security measures to hopefully prevent ever needing to pull my gun. I try to pick my parking places wisely with security in mind, I carry a throw down wallet, and I usually also carry pepper spray. I may start for one door and quickly do a 180 towards a different door if I think I'm being followed after a large cash out. I sometimes ask for a security guard to escort me to my vehicle. If another vehicle follows me into my subdivision at 4am, you can bet I'm going to circle the block. Around my house, the bushes are kept trimmed short, we make sure all windows and doors are always locked, and we routinely set our alarm system.

Paranoid? perhaps. I do know for certain I have been followed before, though granted I have no way of knowing if their intent was nefarious. Was my mother guilty of paranoia by having armed protection before opening her door?

[luckpants]

I think you can never be to prepared for the unexpected. Everyone should at least have a shot gun in there house to give them a fighting chance when the time comes!

[von949]

Originally Posted by macgeek

Maybe that can be a Attorney's next ad campaign

"Here a knock, grab a glock"

Jonathan

Glen Lerner should be all over that.

[jfkIII]

This is a very scary thread. Why would people want to live like this? I know you've got wonderful weather, fantastic shows, no state taxes, inexpensive housing, and excitement 24/7...but does that justify living in fear and everyone answering their doors with weapons? Seriously...this and that other thread (Summerlin killing) make it all sound like it's a war zone!