rural living & security

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by Wingfoot

As a hunter and woodsman all my long life the dark never held any terrors for me, but in the RVN I saw that it did for most people.

Of course wise to have a dog and a .357 on the night-stand and a pump in the corner.Just don't let paranoria make you hasty, most places in the USA you're going to trial if you shoot someone and having elaborate defenses that a prosecuter can bring up is unhelpful.

To me, hasty equates to panic and that's something I never do.

In any case, I would not dream of using deadly force on anything outside the house, unless they were standing out there shooting at me. But, since an actual stranger invasion is very, very rare, I don't anticipate ever having to confront that moment. However, if it does come to that, I will not be found unprepared. I don't know about your experience, but my war was one of ambush and booby traps. I came home determined never to be caught by surprise again and I haven't been.

[skinem]

Motion activated lights for me on my buildings. Also, the big dogs that so far have feared nothing are useful.
I do have one security light--basically a street light at the end of my road to my house. I have it there for one thing I haven't seen mentioned on this thread---it helps provide lighting for the couple of trail cameras I have set up there.

You can't see my house from there, but I figure if someone up to something are from the area they know where we are. If they aren't from the area, they don't know we're back there. I also have a couple of motion lights set up along the road back to my house. You can see them winking on as a vehicle comes up our road to our place.

I appreciate netwit's take on things...Dad used to leave some lights on when we lived in a remote area of NE Washington...it got cold in the winter and far between places then...

[lifelongMOgal]

Really great responses. Thank you all and please keep them coming.

In my neck of the boonies I suspect the fasted LE response would be about 20 min. . Meth. production and theft (including home invasions) to support the habit comprise a significant proportion of the local crime.

The 4-legged security is gray in the face and faded in his vision. He prefers his warm bed to actual watch duties as he knows I will protect him. A more convincing breed will be a consideration in the future after he passes.

My state law does not allow use of lethal force for anything except the fear of life. I hope to never have to use Mr. Colt in self-defense; but, paired with MK262, he will get most jobs done.

Mainly I just want to avoid becoming a target to begin with. And, lighting a homestead which has been regulary dark throughout the previous decades has been a concern in my mind.

[BrokenTap]

Reputation is the best security.

I think nothing of leaving one of our $100,000 dollar or 250,000 dollar tractors parked in a field, no houses around, unlocked for days on end.

Why?

Because people around here simply know that if you mess with it, retribution will be swift, fast and certain. That is not false bravado. It was drilled in our heads since we were kids, there are no laws when it comes to Family, Friends or Farming. Even the police here will ask, "do you want to take care of this issue, or do you want us." They know if they step back, we will cure the problem once and for all and they won't be called back again and again. They know who is who and that we have our livelihood at stake from those cows, fields and equipment.

About every 5-7 years you have to make an example out of someone, but then talk circulates around town and soon people are saying, "oh God, never mess with the Brokentap boys. One time these guys stole some firewood from their house and they decided if they wanted to stay warm, they would start a fire for them. In their fireplace, in their living room, in their basement..."

The best defense, is a great offense.

(Incidentally we have the lowest crime rate in the state, and this state has the lowest crime rate in the country...pretty easy to figure out why. Step out of line here and you justice is brutal)

[lifelongMOgal]

Originally Posted by BrokenTap

Reputation is the best security.

I think nothing of leaving one of our $100,000 dollar or 250,000 dollar tractors parked in a field, no houses around, unlocked for days on end.

Why?

Because people around here simply know that if you mess with it, retribution will be swift, fast and certain. That is not false bravado. It was drilled in our heads since we were kids, there are no laws when it comes to Family, Friends or Farming. Even the police here will ask, "do you want to take care of this issue, or do you want us." They know if they step back, we will cure the problem once and for all and they won't be called back again and again. They know who is who and that we have our livelihood at stake from those cows, fields and equipment.

About every 5-7 years you have to make an example out of someone, but then talk circulates around town and soon people are saying, "oh God, never mess with the Brokentap boys. One time these guys stole some firewood from their house and they decided if they wanted to stay warm, they would start a fire for them. In their fireplace, in their living room, in their basement..."

The best defense, is a great offense.

(Incidentally we have the lowest crime rate in the state, and this state has the lowest crime rate in the country...pretty easy to figure out why. Step out of line here and you justice is brutal)

I can see where that "reputation for retribution" may work for men and those with family ties in the same community. And no doubt there is strength in numbers when local LE is willing to turn their heads to the application of old fashioned justice. However, for a woman on her own homestead I don't think the same rules apply. Agreed about "a good defense is a good offense" it is just that your scenario is unrealistic, at least for me.

Thanks for the suggestion though. I know many who do have the ability and the kin to live as you have stated. I'm just not one of them. If I do not abide by the law I risk losing rights that are very precious to me.