Murder in Mont Vernon (crime, house, to buy)

[CaseyB]

If you can't get a gun, get a dog.

[steveusaf]

Originally Posted by MovedfromFL

We can't really keep a gun within reach when we have two small children running around. The alarm system is a great idea, but who would think you needed it somewhere like Mont Vernon?

CaseyB - I'd like to think my dog would bark with an intruder in the house, but after she barked she'd probably try to lick the intruder to death - she's a golden retriever.

There are many quick access pistol safes on the market that provide secure protection for your handgun. Some can be opened with keypads that you don't even have to look at, and some even have biometric fingerprint recognition so you don't have to remember combos at all. I plan on having one of these safes in my NH house out in the woods, holding my gun with one in the chamber, safety on of course so I don't shoot accidentally taking it out of the safe. Of course, if I'm stationed in DC, LA, CA, or just about anywhere else down south with high crime, I'll probably buy the safe sooner rather than later.

[darylyh]

They've arrested 4 people this morning. Here's the story from the Union Leader (link), and here's the AG's statement (link). I'm shocked at the ages of those arrested (a 17 year old, two 18 year olds, and a 19 year old), and also that it sounds like it was a robbery.

I'm very glad they've caught them. I'm terribly sad for the family. I'm horrified at what this little girl went through, and must still go through. And I'm filled with sympathy for the entire community there, where the sense of safety has been shattered.

I, too, am a Mom with a young daughter, who's husband travels frequently. All the advice here regarding self-defense and weapons is very good. CrazyDave's point is very well made as well. And since we're also looking for a place in the woods, I expect we'll be updating our safe, as steveusaf discusses.

This is just a terrible, terrible story.

[Katlakat]

I feel so bad for the husband. I just know in his heart he's going to reel with emotion and saying, "if I had only been there to protect them". That poor man will have to pull himself up for their daughter. She surely will have quite a road to walk before she's well again.

My heart just breaks for this family.

We live on a hill off a private road where there are only 5 houses stretched out over maybe a half mile?

My husband trained me (a city girl) about living out in the country and protection. We have dogs that will bark if an acorn falls from the tree without permission, and we have "beware of dog" signs posted at both entry ways outside our house.

Last year, while I was home alone a lot, I would get knocks on my door and drive by trucks all day long for months. No one travels this road unless they live here, or are visiting the neighbor's teenage son. And I know their cars as well.

My landlord has a delivery truck parked in the front forest from the road, and that was the excuse they used (which could be rightfully true) to come to my door and ask, "is this for sale?". After contacting the LL, he said to give out his number, and that he would sell it. I gave out his cell number all summer, and when I asked the LL if they called, he said, "strangely, no one has called about it."

I'm talking at least 20 men in beat up old trucks, sometimes three men in a van, would come and hang out, looking at the truck, but looking over the house too.

My husband said to start answering the door with the empty shotgun in my arms, just to show them that I will take action if you try to enter this dwelling. That and when I whisper "Sunshine, get em" my dog goes into the throws of "I'm gonna rip your hair out" barking, that seems to deter visitors.

But wow, I just can't believe how easy and sneaky people can be if they are casing a house for break ins. This year, after the shotgun welcomes, not a single man has come to the door.

[BF66389]

The picture of the four animals is on the front page of the Union Leader now along with some updated information.

[Trishaluna]

Wow, this story is blowing my mind. I know these things can happen anywhere but we're right outside Boston and thinking of moving to Hollis/Brookline and have looked at Amherst in the past as well. I can't believe what I'm hearing. According to the article, one of the kids (the 19 yr old, from Brookline) showed up at the kid from Amherst's house with a swastika inked on his forehead. What???? What is wrong with these parents? My husband's jewish so I can't even imagine the insanity of that happening in my home but this kid was going around like this??? Also, the kid shows the dad from Amherst a knife (the night of the murder). This is a kid that the dad supposedly does not like and knows is a troublemaker (already been arrested) This kid from Amherst is 17 and a Sr at Souhegan, it seems he started hanging around with this kid from Brookline last year. I'm sure its hard to control your 16 yr old but if that is who my kid was hanging around with I would send him off to boarding school. I'm sure there are bad kids there as well but maybe he'll make some new friends that aren't racist and apparently homicidal maniacs. Also, I'm sure drugs play a part in this. That's the first thing I thought of... a robbery gone wrong. Ugh, it sickens me....that poor father/husband. My DH travels allot for work...when he heard this he said "if we move, we are getting an alarm system". It's so isolated in certain areas, very scary. I feel so sad about this.

[MovedfromFL]

I'm about to cry as I read this. I'm so incredibly sick of things like this in today's world. There is NO safe place, period. Something like this happened in Virginia just 2 weeks ago, when a guy made friends with a girl on Facebook, then visited her house and killed her entire family. There is something going horribly wrong with the youth today and it scares the daylights out of me.
I read about sick stuff every day in Orlando and Atlanta, but the randomness and violence of this crime still shocks me.

I know one thing for sure: we are getting an alarm NOW on our house here in GA and we are getting that pistol safe that the other poster mentioned on here. Our house is surrounded by trees and is pitch black at night, which has always made me nervous anyway. We have two dogs who will bark, but they are only 10 lbs, so that's the extent of it. My husband always answers the door with a knife in his hand (behind his back) and I don't open the door for anyone at all during the day, period.

I feel so sorry for this poor man. I hope the little girl recovers and is able to receive some kind of help.

[CaseyB]

This was not your average burglary, it sounds more like the Dartmouth murders. According to this article, the suspects were determined to kill anyone they found in the house.

[NH2008]

Originally Posted by Trishaluna

What is wrong with these parents?

Exactly. The dad quoted in the article knew his son was palling around with a kid who displayed a swastika on his face, he allowed his sons' friends to show off their knives in his home, he knew his kid was out driving around at 4 a.m. and apparently did nothing about it. Admittedly, you can't control every move your teenagers make, but you can certainly control who has access to your home and your car and you can talk about values. At least some of these kids are probably stone-cold sociopaths, but how about the parents? Where is the father's remorse? Does he not question his own role in this at all?

I am totally sickened that these "kids" showed so many warning signs for so long and no one picked up on them. I'm sickened, period.

[sgthoskins]

Originally Posted by CrazyDave

The hardest part for me about being pro gun ownership I realize that there are a great many people out there ( myself included) who should not own guns. Which is why I personally will not take all of your advice, I know the possibility of me using a gun in the heat of passion so I will not own one. But for those who can keep a cool head yes GO GET YOURSELF A WEAPON. Learn to use it, learn to use it well. Hone your skills and reflexes. Make up a course if you can where you must quickly choose between a potential threat and a non threat. Widen your scope of possible threats. Learn to think outside the stereotypical. Some of the nastiest sickest criminals wear suits, and are clean shaven, even handsome..or pretty.

If like me you feel you cannot trust yourself with a weapon, consider a knife. I always carry, it's always legal ( the knife size that is ). Keep it sharp and in good order. Practice with it regularly, just like you would with a gun.

Dave I enjoy your posts but this post is pretty hypocritical. First you say you can't trust yourself with a gun because you might use it in a "heat of passion."

Then you advise carrying another deadly weapon (knife). There is nothing more inherently safe about a knife over a gun. If you think you might snap and shoot someone in the heat of passion why would you not use a knife in the same fit of rage? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

IMO the biggest problem is recommending a knife to someone is in order to use a knife you have to be in "arms reach" of the bad guy. This also means that you are in "arms reach" of the bad guy. If you don't know what you are doing it's going to end badly for you.

Keeping a loaded firearm in your bedroom is a much safer bet.

If you don't want to keep a gun in the house that's great but don't advise others that a knife is a better option, it simply isn't.