Extreamly Paranoid or Being Safe?

M

MrGreen

New member
Hello.

I am a new member here and look forward to reading and learning a lot about guns on this site. I started shooting back in January and now own three hand guns. I hope to shoot and collect many different styles of handguns for years to come. In June I moved from North Dakota where I have lived my whole life to Nevada.

OK...thats enough...now to the topic.

Nevada is a high crime state...much higher than North Dakota. Living in ND I never once slept with a loaded gun next to my bed. Once I got here and ended up living in a small town with little to no crime I felt safe inside the home and decided to keep my guns locked up and unloaded. Then about two weeks ago I was laying in bed with the radio on and on comes a story about how a school teacher was raped, strangled, and murdered in her home after someone came in. It was a crime in Pennsylvania almost 20 years ago but it still scared the hell out of me. My first thought was if she had a gun with her she might have been alive and the attacker would be dead. I woke up in the middle of the night scared to death because I thought I had heard people in the other room. (I live alone). I was too scared to even move because I feared if they knew I was awake they would for sure kill me. It turned out noboday was in there and the noise was coming from the AC or something. However since that night I have keep a loaded 9mm handgun next to my bed. I often carry it with me from room to room if I am up late at night. I live in a condo, not a house so there are not many rooms. Do you think I am being extra paranoid carrying the gun with me to walk between the bedroom and the living room?
 
I take the gun with me from room to room as well. Especially when fiancee and I are having dinner or watching TV in the downstairs family room. When I'm on my computer in my little den I got my XD right next to me.

I don't think it's being paranoid at all.
 
I used to keep my guns locked up and unloaded in my safe when I was home. I lived in a high rise condo in a well-to-do neighborhood. One day three guys broke into my condo during daylight hours, figuring I was not at home. When I heard the door open, I thought it was maintenance but did not remember calling them for any problem. As I came out of my home office I walked square into those guys. They scared me as much as I scared them. The difference is they had guns and unloaded at me. I ran like hell back into my office, overturned the desk and played dead...I had been hit several times.

I have since moved, being very lucky to be alive and my home now has a four legged early warning system, a state of the art alarm system including infra red and motion detectors, a loaded gun stashed in every room, and a gun on me all the time except when I am in the shower or asleep. When I am in bed, my gun is within an arms reach. Above my bed is a shotgun and an AR-15, both fully loaded in a rifle rack.

Paranoid? I think not. Never again.
 
MrGreen, I would not consider you paranoid as I keep three loaded guns on the shelf above my bed (.357 revolver, 9mm semi, & .22 semi) and investigated a strange sound in the living room last night with the revolver in hand. Personally I think having a gun unloaded and locked in a safe is as good as not having one at all. And even if we are paranoid, that doesn't mean they aren't out to get us.
 
Nope not paranoid just cautious. I keep a gun in my pocket all the time and have a gun next to me when I sleep. I live in a very exclusive gated community with private security, houses cost well over average local prices, each house is walled over 5 acres to the water, and we still have home invasions, and we have had individuals come off the water to steel stuff.(I live on the river here in FL) The fact that crime is getting out of hand and FL has a Castle Doctrine and home invasions with assaults is getting more common I think that it is a good idea to carry all the time.
Mace
 
[Do you think I am being extra paranoid carrying the gun with me to walk between the bedroom and the living room? ]

Yes.
Jerry
 
No you are not paranoid, you are prepared. My guns are always on me unless i'm sleeping or in the shower, even then they are a foot or so away.
 
Depends on the part of NV - I have also lived in ND and NV

Vegas is one thing unto itself - Reno, Carson Dayton have their "hot spots" but also have calm places
 
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you :p In all seriousness though, an unloaded gun locked up in a safe won't do you much good if you really need it.

I am reminded of something that happened near where I lived when I was a kid. An older couple (both in their 60's) were at home one night with their adult daughter who was staying with them for a few days (she was recovering from surgery). They lived in the country near a very small community where the biggest crime you were likely to encounter was some toilet paper in your tree on Halloween.

However, this particular night, a local crackhead who frequented a rather rough community about 30 miles away (lots of drugs and gang activity) was in a bind because he owed his dealer quite a bit of money. The older gentleman was known to have sold a car recently and as such, the crackhead thought that perhaps he might have some cash on hand.

So, after getting high, he drove out to the older couple's home in the middle of the night. Sparing the disgusting details, the older couple and their daughter were all stabbed to death in their home even though they had no cash on hand.

The killer was apprehended fairly quickly, tried, and sentenced to death. His sentence, along with the entire death row of Illinois, was later commuted to life in prison without parole by Gov. George Ryan (who is now in prison himself). I have been told by people that know her that the couple's other daughter who, thankfully, was not present on the night of the murders now keeps a handgun within reach at all times when she's at home (IL still does not allow its citizens to carry a firearm outside their property for self-defense).

The reason this comes to mind is because of the effect it had on my grandfather. He was very opposed to handguns (he had even confronted my dad and stepmother about owning them) and had given both his shotgun and .22 rifle to my dad at the time. Needless to say, the murders changed his mind as he quickly asked my dad if he could have his shotgun back (Dad gladly gave him both the gun and some shells) and never again criticized anyone for owning a handgun (he actually owns one himself now).
 
paranoid

Better safe than sorry, I live in a small town in NE, Ks (900 population) I have access to a gun all the time in my home, have several around the house. Our child is a 3 yr old Boxer, if he goes off there is a gun handy. That gun is like the spare tire in your truck, real handy when you need it.
 
If we could only predict where and when violence will strike.

Carrying a gun in the house does not make you paranoid, yet neither does it prove you are not. You can be prepared and still paranoid. you sound shaken up and it may be normal if it passes soon. But if you are still on edge a week later then that is not healthy. We have to accept that there are no guarantees to safety no matter where we live. Violence could happen anytime though the risks can be mitigated. We do our best not to become a target but should be mentally "aware" that it could happen to us.
 
Right now you are paranoid, because you are constantly thinking about it. After a while, you will still be carrying, and the fear will die down. You will only be a little bit paranoid then. The next step will be wanting to free up your shooting hand so it can be used for something other than carrying the gun from room to room (holster, pocket gun, etc.). Then you will forget you have it with you because it is a part of your routine. No more paranoia.
 
However since that night I have keep a loaded 9mm handgun next to my bed. I often carry it with me from room to room if I am up late at night. I live in a condo, not a house so there are not many rooms. Do you think I am being extra paranoid carrying the gun with me to walk between the bedroom and the living room?
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ABSOLUTELY NOT PARANOID. I do it all the time if I'm home there is "ALWAYS" a hand gun at hands reach. Out in public either on the hip in a holster or in the pocket in a holster. If its on the night stand and you need it in the living room you are screwed. Just my 2 schillings worth
 
No more paranoid than having a fire extinguisher or a first aid kit. Are people paranoid because they carry cell phones these days?
 
[No more paranoid than having a fire extinguisher or a first aid kit. Are people paranoid because they carry cell phones these days? ]

You don't see the difference? WOW!

Each is free to do as he will, but I am surprised at how many folks live in fear as a way of life. Now before you argue that you are not living in fear, then what causes you to carry a gun from room to room or shower with a gun? Obviously you fear that you will be attacked, and want to be ready.
In my view that is fear, and I would not live that way.

Jerry
 
However since that night I have keep a loaded 9mm handgun next to my bed. I often carry it with me from room to room if I am up late at night.
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I have a 9 mm handgun on me whenever I am dressed, and in the drawer of a bedside table when I am in bed, so I won't tell you that being thus prepared is paranoid.

If your reaction to that radio report is just something that spurred you to take self defense seriously, you don't have a problem, but if you frequently react that fearfully to news reports, you might improve your quality of life by talking to a qualified professional about it.
 
So carry a handgun outside the house is not fearful but inside the house it is? Or do you consider CCW folks all full of fear as well?

The risk of being assaulted in your house may be less but not zero. How do you distinguish between prepared and fearful?

I think you are over reacting in your labeling of fear. Concern might be a better description for most guys who do, or just makes sense to them. I carry lots of things with me all the time to be ready for various situations. Self defense would be just one condition that is prepared for. I don't see how preparation equates to fear.

In this case since the OP is obviously on edge and he says he is afraid, then of course. But I think most who carry in the house do so for the readiness just in case.

Do you have a loaded firearm at all in your house? If so does that make you fearful? If not, then I assume you do not plan to need a gun without a few minutes notice. Good luck on that probability working out for you.
 
Get a yappy dog. You'll know something is up with plenty of time to grab your gun, especially when you're asleep.
 
Do you think I am being extra paranoid carrying the gun with me to walk between the bedroom and the living room?
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If you have to ask the question then you already are. If a person has to carry a gun while inside their own home, you either shouldn't be living there, or you need to bolster your entrances. Plus asking this type of question on this forum is just pouring gasoline on a fire.

So how many carry while they're in the shower or on the throne? Please don't answer, I'm just being facetious.
 
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