Police Response and Home Invasions.

[BeachGirlFLA]

I don't have a gun now, but my father is a collector and I am an NRA member. I don't know if my roommate has one or not, but I wouldn't be all that surprised to find out that he does. I do however have two large (especially the Lab/Weimeraner mix....he's heavy through the chest like a Lab but also tall enough because of the Weimeraner part that he can rest his head on top of the dining room table or reach a tiny bit and have it on top of the kitchen counter) dogs with very loud, very deep barks in the house with me. I think they'd scare away anyone who doesn't know them.

 

[LuvOrlando]

WOW,where did you guys grow up that there was no need for locks? I wish I grew up there. My experiences were the exact opposite. I had an addict walk in, a drunk pound on our door at 3am looking for a cab, a bugler shine a flashlight in on me when I was trying to go to sleep. A friend's patio set was stolen off their deck as they slept, another had their shrubs stolen right out of the ground from his house as they slept and EVERY SINGLE PERSON on my street was robbed. Someone even broke into my neighbors house through a smashed bay window in the middle of the day. Just so you know, we were in a beautiful neighborhood.

City folk and country folk have 2 very different lifestyles. Even though I'm no longer in a city you know what they say about taking the city out of the girl.

 

[java]

WOW,where did you guys grow up that there was no need for locks? I wish I grew up there. My experiences were the exact opposite. I had an addict walk in, a drunk pound on our door at 3am looking for a cab, a bugler shine a flashlight in on me when I was trying to go to sleep. A friend's patio set was stolen off their deck as they slept, another had their shrubs stolen right out of the ground from his house as they slept and EVERY SINGLE PERSON on my street was robbed. Someone even broke into my neighbors house through a smashed bay window in the middle of the day. Just so you know, we were in a beautiful neighborhood.

City folk and country folk have 2 very different lifestyles. Even though I'm no longer in a city you know what they say about taking the city out of the girl.

Beautiful doesn't always equal safe.
I live in a relatively safe area. People did leave doors open. Then about 3 years ago a serial killer rolled through a nearby town and killed someone in their home through an open door.
We lock our door. And have a big dog!(and a tiny one)

 

[freckles and boo]

Unless there is a direct and specific threat to my family (not a general paranoia) I will never have a firearm in my home. We take plenty of reasonable precautions. I also would never TELL anyone there is a gun in my house even if I had one. Residential burglaries rates have been found to be higher in areas where gun ownership is known to be higher because they are desireable loot. They are portable, profitable, and easy to unload.

 

[JoanGirardi]

My husband and father don't carry off-duty, and I'm glad of that. I think it's unnecessary. Having guns in your home is a personal choice--(we do), but carrying your gun everywhere invades other peoples choice in my opinion.

 

[Hercules10]

I don't know ANY cops who do carry when off duty.

In Texas it's hard to find one that doesn't.

 

[sbell111]

As he put it -- What is the likelihood of you being able to retrieve a gun from a safe and the ammo from its location in time to stop an intruder? Probably 0%. And even if it weren't 0%, are you truly going to be willing to use it and if you're willing, are you capable and calm enough to use it effectively? Then, if you realize your likelihood of getting to the gun in time is 0%, what is your alternative? To walk around your home with a handgun in a holster or carry a long arm gun around like some moonshiner protecting his still? Who wants to live like that on the extremely remote chance of being victim of a home invasion?

Your entire argument is based on a false premise.

My doors and windows downstairs all stay locked. It is pretty likely that someone entering through these locked access points are going to make some noise. Our bedroom is upstairs, somewhat removed from the logical burgler entry points, giving me a bit of a buffer if someone breaks in. My weapon is in my nightstand. I guarantee that I can be out of bed, weapon in hand, and safety off in about five seconds. This puts my chances of having the weapon at the ready before it is needed somewhere close to 100%.

BTW, you will note that my weapon is neither in a safe or unloaded. We have no children in our home, so that is not an issue. When our daughter becomes a walker, I'll use a locking device such as a trigger lock or a lifejacket the weapon. This will add another few seconds to my times, but not so many as to negate my advantage.

I don't know ANY cops who do carry when off duty.

Many LEOs are required to have their weapon at all times.

Nope, I would feel much less secure with a firearm in my house. You are more likely to be injured by your own gun than to ever need it (or successfully use it) against another person.

The bolded part is an urban myth.

And without your permission to have a weapon in your house, I find this completely disrespectful.

Again, many LEOs are required to have their weapon. I have little doubt that federal agents are within this group. They aren't going to make a big deal of their off-duty weapon, but it's part of the package.

 

[Heidict]

I grew up with a gun in the home, so I have never had a problem with it, as long as they are kept out of reach of kids and are safe. I don't have one now, but would get one in the future if I ever felt it was necessary.

The Petit story is horrible and sickening but serves as a reminder that danger can happen to anybody and that it can lurk in the most unlikeliest places.

So, Dawn (or anyone), what do you think of them wanting to plead guilty? Do you think the state should except the plea, with the stipulation that they never be allowed outside again? Do you think they should go on with the trail so that they get the death penalty?

 

[Disney Doll]

And without your permission to have a weapon in your house, I find this completely disrespectful.

My colleague's son-in-law is with the FBI & I believe this is a rule, not a choice.

My understanding is that when he flies, he informs the airline that he is with the FBI & is armed, shows them his ID etc. If the pilot has a problem flying a plane on which someone is armed, they get a new pilot who doesn't have a problem with it.

Truthfully, I have no problem with a gun in a home. My father was a cop and we always had guns in our home. Neither he nor my mother made a big deal out of it, so neither my brother nor I ever much cared about it either. We never went looking for the gun...we just weren't that interested. It was part of Dad's uniform, when his uniform came off, the gun got put away somewhere and that was that. I would have no problem having a gun in my home, but DH has a problem with it, so we don't have one. We live in a fairly safe neighborhood, as neighborhoods go, and our home is fairly secure, so I feel relatively safe.

 

[luvmyboys]

I would actually like to learn how to shoot (most of my family are in some way affiliated with the military or law enforcement), but I have a couple of problems with keeping a gun in the house for safety. First & foremost, I have 2 very curious boys. I would have to lock the gun up in a safe, and at that point, it would do me little good in a home invasion scenario.

Second, I am an incurable klutz. I once broke my wrist changing out of my jeans. I know that even with proper training, I'd be much more likely to shoot myself than hitting an actual "bad guy."

 

[sbell111]

Unless there is a direct and specific threat to my family (not a general paranoia) I will never have a firearm in my home. We take plenty of reasonable precautions. I also would never TELL anyone there is a gun in my house even if I had one. Residential burglaries rates have been found to be higher in areas where gun ownership is known to be higher because they are desireable loot. They are portable, profitable, and easy to unload.

There is a problem with your logic. You are assigning cause and effect where none have been proven. There is no evidence to suggest that having a gun increases your odds of being burglarized. A more logical assumption is that those who are at greater likelihood of being burglarized tend to be more likely to buy a gun for protection.

My husband and father don't carry off-duty, and I'm glad of that. I think it's unnecessary. Having guns in your home is a personal choice--(we do), but carrying your gun everywhere invades other peoples choice in my opinion.

Personally, I would prefer that all LEOs carry their weapon while off duty. Then, if they wander up on some badness, they would be able to provide assistance. Also, if something really bad were to happen, they would be able to immediatly go into duty, rather than having to run home and get their weapon out of the safe.

 

[sbell111]

I would actually like to learn how to shoot (most of my family are in some way affiliated with the military or law enforcement), but I have a couple of problems with keeping a gun in the house for safety. First & foremost, I have 2 very curious boys. I would have to lock the gun up in a safe, and at that point, it would do me little good in a home invasion scenario.

There are some really awesome small gun safes currently on the market. Something like the BioMETRX BioBox will secure a handgun in a space the size of a book and will allow it to be quickly accessible via a fingerprint scan. There's no combination or key to fumble with and the weapon can be obtained practically immediately.

 

[JMD]

As he put it -- What is the likelihood of you being able to retrieve a gun from a safe and the ammo from its location in time to stop an intruder? Probably 0%. And even if it weren't 0%, are you truly going to be willing to use it and if you're willing, are you capable and calm enough to use it effectively? Then, if you realize your likelihood of getting to the gun in time is 0%, what is your alternative? To walk around your home with a handgun in a holster or carry a long arm gun around like some moonshiner protecting his still? Who wants to live like that on the extremely remote chance of being victim of a home invasion?

No one keeps a gun locked in safe and ammo stored seperately. No one that has the gun for defensive purposes anyway. That is scenerio created by people who don't own guns. My gun is loaded and accessible at all times, usually in a holster, right on my hip.

Now pass me some moonshine...

My husband and father don't carry off-duty, and I'm glad of that. I think it's unnecessary. Having guns in your home is a personal choice--(we do), but carrying your gun everywhere invades other peoples choice in my opinion.

How so?

 

[freckles and boo]

sbell111-

Once this becomes a debate it will probably be considered political and the thread will disappear. So far everyone has been very respectful, but my "logic" is supported by analysis and studies. Of course, for every study there is one to counter it, but the fact remains that guns aren't for everyone. There is no "right" position on this issue.

 

[Heidict]

My husband and father don't carry off-duty, and I'm glad of that. I think it's unnecessary. Having guns in your home is a personal choice--(we do), but carrying your gun everywhere invades other peoples choice in my opinion.

Huh? How does it invade other peoples choices? I can't make sense of that. Someone has something on them, something that nobody else knows about, or sees yet it invades someones choice? Can you explain that a bit better?

 

[Missy1961]

I know I wouldn't feel safer with a gun in my house--because I know I wouldn't have the guts to use it. Instead, I have an alarm system that is almost always on, I lock doors, etc.

I didn't grow up around guns--so they aren't something I'm used to. But if you want to have a gun, that's your right. But if you aren't required to carry one at all times, I would prefer you not bring it to my house.

 

[jerenaud]

No one keeps a gun locked in safe and ammo stored seperately. No one that has the gun for defensive purposes anyway. That is scenerio created by people who don't own guns. My gun is loaded and accessible at all times, usually in a holster, right on my hip.
Now pass me some moonshine...
How so?

Canadian Law is:

1) An individual may store a non-restricted firearm only if
(a) it is unloaded;

(b) it is

(i) rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device,

(ii) rendered inoperable by the removal of the bolt or bolt-carrier, or

(iii) stored in a container, receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into; and

(c) it is not readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is stored, together with or separately from the firearm, in a container or receptacle that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into.

I realize that Canadians are a minority on this board, but our laws are apparently *very* different than the situations being described here!

I also can't imagine locking every window and door at all times - no wonder air conditioning bills are so high for many people! We have a bungalow and the doors and windows are open as much as possible - the house gets to 82+ as it is!

Erica

 

[Hercules10]

sbell111-

Once this becomes a debate it will probably be considered political and the thread will disappear. So far everyone has been very respectful, but my "logic" is supported by analysis and studies. Of course, for every study there is one to counter it, but the fact remains that guns aren't for everyone. There is no "right" position on this issue.

Could you provide the source of your analysis and studies though? I'd be interested in looking at those figures.

 

[daisax]

Your entire argument is based on a false premise.

My doors and windows downstairs all stay locked. It is pretty likely that someone entering through these locked access points are going to make some noise. Our bedroom is upstairs, somewhat removed from the logical burgler entry points, giving me a bit of a buffer if someone breaks in. My weapon is in my nightstand. I guarantee that I can be out of bed, weapon in hand, and safety off in about five seconds. This puts my chances of having the weapon at the ready before it is needed somewhere close to 100%.

BTW, you will note that my weapon is neither in a safe or unloaded. We have no children in our home, so that is not an issue.

Of course if you're not home and you're burglarized, the chances of your gun ending up on the streets in the hands of a criminal is somewhere close to 100%.

 

[sbell111]

... So far everyone has been very respectful, but my "logic" is supported by analysis and studies. Of course, for every study there is one to counter it, but the fact remains that guns aren't for everyone.

Please post a link to the study that proved that homes are more likely to be burglarized because the owners have a firearm.

I rather believe that people buy guns because there has been a high incidence of crime. Therefore, people who live in areas that are likely to be burglarized will be more likely to own a gun. Therefore, the cause-effect relationship would actually be the reverse of what you posted.

Of course if you're not home and you're burglarized, the chances of your gun ending up on the streets in the hands of a criminal is somewhere close to 100%.

Actually, the odds of it ending up in a criminal's hands would still approach zero, since the weapon would likely be on my person.