Door kicked in!

Status
Not open for further replies.
4

.40cal

New member
Heres a true story - Just last week around 9pm, while a friend of mine was at work, his wife was in the shower when she heard a loud noise from the other end of the house. She got out of the shower, wrapped herself in a towel and headed down the hall towards the kitchen only to find that the back door had been kicked in and her purse stolen off of the kitchen counter.

What bothers me the most here is, that her vehicle was in the drive way, the lights were on, and the TV was still going . . . all indicators that someone was in the house. This tells me that the burglar must have cased the house and knew of the woman's whereabouts in the home.:eek:

I have ran this senario through my head over and over and I just don't know how I could have defended my self if I was not carrying at that exact moment, in my house. I have several guns near by, but none within immediate reach unless I am in the bed room.

I know carrying while in the shower is next to impossible and crazy, but what about sitting in your living room? Say you are winding down watching your favorite TV show and BOOM - your door is kicked in?

Do any of you keep guns under couch cushions, in drawers, or carry them while you are in your home?

I have small children that are very curious, so leaving my glock on the coffee table is not an option.
 
When I get dressed in the morning, I get all the way dressed. Every day.

I don't get undressed until bedtime -- and then, I lock the bedroom door and leave a firearm in reach.

I don't carry "to" anywhere in particular. I simply carry, wherever I am. Sometimes that's at home.

pax
 
Spooky scenario. Fortunately she wasn't harmed. Since my bout with the ol' "can I use your phone" bit, I have never been out of arms reach of some sort of firearm. since that day, being a gun afficianado, I thought how silly it would look to my friends if I were killed in a home invasion without having fired a shot at least. lol. Went so far as to keep a .25 auto in an allergy pill box in the bathroom and went and bought a .32 kel tec that never left my pocket until I sold it so I could buy food. These days I work on our ranch, and there are a number of reasons to be armed at all times. Most of these things are mundane like shooting pests and whatnot, but I am generally carrying anytime I'm in the house.
 
Pax, I understand what you are saying, but when winding down at the end of a long day . . .say, sitting in a pair of sweats infront of the TV, are you still packing?

It's just not natural for me and seems weird (I've tried it and it just doesn't feel right.) Although, with everything happening lately, maybe I should consider it.:confused:
 
we had a gang of black kids doing this in an upper middle class neighborhood here in wichita. Every week for a while it seemed another house or two had been invaded until one day it came on the news one had been shot at through the door of a house belonging to an old vietnam vet. I laugh my head off every time i think of that story.
 
Do any of you keep guns under couch cushions, in drawers, or carry them while you are in your home?
Click to expand...

Yes. Always within a few feet.

I've noticed that hard-drug-crazed "people" sometimes act more like animals than like civilized humans and are capable of completely irrational behaviors... I never know when or where that brand of wild lightning might strike (...and other brands too)... So I'm ready, and that gives me a lot of comfort. Takes the pressure off. It's not a big deal now. I'm ready. I can yawn in comfort.
 
I am sitting in a pair of sweats in front of the TV right now. I have an LCP in my pocket and a 642 on the table next to me. I am a retired parole officer and dealt with the criminal element for 20 years. Yellow alert at all times.
 
My couch is in the basement and there's always a loaded gun handy, so if my door is kicked in I have a couple of seconds to grab a gun before they get me. And if the dogs engage them, I have time to grab a rifle.

If I am in bed or in the bathroom, I'm toast -- unless the dogs do their part. There is a loaded gun by the bed, but it'll take me a few seconds to realize what's going on and get it.

(and if they are kicking the door in, I assume they are not cops. Even if they are wearing uniforms and have flashing lights. If they were real cops they'd knock on the door and say they have a warrant, and give me a chance to read it before they enter)
 
Perhaps focusing on the wrong thing. The door was kicked in. Reinforce doors, windows, and have a home you can lock down. This is what I use on every window big enough for a person: http://www.nevadarollingshutters.com/. At night the house goes on lock down mode with an battery backup incase someone kills the power, but if they do that I know they are there.
 
.40cal
Door kicked in!
Click to expand...

I believe one is most vulnerable at home; even more so than out and about. Home is where one is most relaxed and most likely in condition white. This is all the more reason why I carry at home. I don't think running upstairs to get the nightstand gun would be an efficient or effective use of precious seconds should someone or someones attempt to break in. Having a gun on me at all times allows me to get to heavier iron throughout the house. Even in the shower, I have it sitting under some clothes.

If you're doing yard work - carry on your person. Keep in mind, it doesn't have to be a cannon. A little LCP, P3AT, PF9, P32, LCR, TCP, or even a NAA Mini will give you enough time to get to the bigger guns or buy you precious seconds.

Outside of firearms, if one should have an alarm system, it should be on at all times. So many people make the mistake of only turning on their security system when they go to bed or when they're out of the house. More and more home invasions are taking place outside of these times. So if you have an alarm system - use it.
 
<SNIP>but when winding down at the end of a long day . . .say, sitting in a pair of sweats infront of the TV, are you still packing?
Click to expand...

I'm sitting in front of the TV with my wife as I am typing on a laptop. I have my P32 on me in a paddle holster. I don't even know it's there. Half of the time it's a S&W 915. That one I know it's there, but it is still very comfortable in a paddle holster.
 
I have a pistol on me or within reach if in bath room . Its just another room gun won't care if you naked or stiking up place. :D
 
There are quite a few ways to go but yes, the first thing to do is make your door kick proof as well as your windows. In CA where we have had a rash of breaking and entering especially by the young teen punks with smash and grab, we added a security gate on the front door then bars on the two side windows by the back yard entrance, bars over the kitchen window in back and the sliding glass door with a gate the swings to open. Doesn't look as bad as I thought it would.

The rest of the windows, we have ACE security glass which is a plastic film that makes the window smash proof and perhaps even bullet resistant.

I do keep my SP101 in a chair cushion here in CA since I cannot carry and go in and out of the yard. Not ideal, but it is the only option that CA offers me here in LA county at this time.

We have a 6X2 redwood deck plank that we barricade our double bedroom door when we go to sleep at night with three locks on the door in addition. The purpose is to slow the creeps down enough for me to get my shotgun beside the bed and maybe even put on my ear muffs as well as my wife which are both beside our bed as well. I have two .357's, one always loaded, a loaded shotgun and my .44 mag with enough ammo for each in the master bedroom to deal with a prolonged battle if that ever occurred God forbid.

I close all of the shades and curtains at night in EVERY window. I have outside lighting that comes on automatically. 3 front yard, one side, one backyard. When I go to sleep, I turn out all but one light in the front parlor area. Combined with the outside lighting, if needed, I could move unseen inside without a problem if someone is trying to get in.

The kids are grown and gone so we secure our last defense in our master bedroom where we also have flashlights and two cell phones.

Lastly, we have a 2X4 barricade for the downstairs garage door and our home alarm on every downstairs window and door as well as strategically located windows upstairs.

Am I a bit paranoid? Well, if we never had any crime in the area, then yes, that would be a bit of overkill. However, we have had a home invasion right next door a couple years ago. The lady was home in the bathroom upstairs when the creep broke in during the middle of the day. She called her husband who is a prison guard. He called 911 and they actually caught the creep with no harm to his wife.

My wife is not good yet with guns, but she is learning and willing to learn. I am looking for an SP101 .22 LR for her which will be her self defense gun. She has CTS and is very recoil sensitive, so this will likely be the best she will be able to handle. It is enough though and if she is comfortable with it, that is the most important point. I believe once she becomes proficient with the gun, our house will NOT be one that you would want to break into in the middle of the night.

Our next security consideration is video at some point, but haven't gone that far yet.

So am I paranoid, you betcha!! But with good reason.
 
Last edited:
I have guns scattered all over the house. They aren't loaded, I have grandkids over here all the time. I train my grandkids not to touch the guns, but they have friends that like to go out in the country too. I don't know them or if their parents have guns. I don't what an accident involving kids.

The exception. My 642 is always loaded and always in my pocket. Not much of a change of kids getting to it.

When I lay around the house, its in my pocket. When I'm relaxing, or unwinding as you call it, its in my pocket. When I'm watching TV its in my pocket. When I go to bed my pants are hung on a bed post with in reach. If a kid wants the gun he has to climb over me. I'm a light sleeper.

When I shower I take my clean cloths to the bath room and change there. I don't come out undressed (lots of grandkids remember).

One thing that scares me more then someone kicking in my door is an accident because some kid got my gun. It ain't happening here.

I kill two birds with one stone. I always have access to my gun and kids don't.

As mentioned before, I pocket carry, there is no discomfort.

Of course having a gun in your pocket constantly doesn't mean you can get to it. If you are gonna keep a gun in your pocket constantly, you need to practice drawing from your couch, car, bed post, etc etc.

They make little blue hard rubber pistols for just about all makes and models out there. I highly recommend getting one that matches your carry pistol/revolver and set around practicing getting it out and into action. Do it from your couch, chair, truck, or where ever.

I really like the blue guns for practicing all my drawing when you're not shooting. Never had one go off.

But one needs to think twice about leaving loaded guns "where you can get to them". Other people can get to them also. Not all of us have kids, few of us never have kids in the house.

I like being ready for the off chance the door gets kicked open, I don't like wondering if some kid is gonna find a loaded gun.
 
That story should remind us of how important secure doors and windows are.

There are doors which would be extremely difficult to kick in. It's a good idea to invest in them.
 
Yep, always have a gun on me unless I am in the shower, sleeping or having relations with my wife. Those few times I am unarmed, there is a gun within arms reach.
 
Today, 11:08 PM #17
Nocturnus31
Senior Member

Join Date: May 29, 2011
Location: Missouri
Posts: 482
Yep, always have a gun on me unless I am in the shower, sleeping or having relations with my wife. Those few times I am unarmed, there is a gun within arms reach.
__________________
Prevention is the best medicine.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
I will NOT be a victim again!
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I am a bit confused by your statements about your gun and being disarmed when you are sleeping or having relations with your wife. Perhaps this will clear up the issue a bit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kU0XCVey_U

Sorry, after nine years in the Army I couldn't help myself with nine years of hearing, this is my weapon, this is my gun almost every single day.

LOL We were NEVER allowed to call any weapon a gun. Ask a navy guy what "boat" he was on and see how they go off on that question.

Sorry, but just the way it was in the military. I suspect others have heard and thought the same thing about your post perhaps even the mighty sensors on TFL will testify to this as well. Oh well, if it gets me kicked off TFL, so be it, it was a good ride and it is what all of you were thinking as well but just wanted some other sucker to say it first. LOL.
 
Last edited:
That story should remind us of how important secure doors and windows are.

There are doors which would be extremely difficult to kick in. It's a good idea to invest in them.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I am planning on investing in doors that are more secure as well as windows. It may be a good idea to have your alarm ( if equipped ) armed as well - even if you are home.

I know some people with alarms that do not practice this. At least if a burglar hears the alarm when the door / window is breached, he/she will cut the robbery short and run.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top