How do you answer the door?
- Thread starter scorpion_tyr
- Start date
dabigguns357
New member
First and for most i don't like answering the door at all but if i have to first i look at my night vision cameras that i have installed om my front porch.If for some reason i can't see them good enough or there seems to be some kind of trouble like they need an ambulance or something of that nature i'll answer the door but not before clipping my gun belt on on.It's a shotgun shell belt with a holster attached to it.
I live in a nice, quiet, suburban neighborhood. A few months ago someone knocked on the door late at night and when I went to the door there was no one present. I figured it was kids but the next day or so I saw my next door neighbor (they've lived there for around 10 years) out front and asked if he had experienced the same thing. He said no but then related an incident that occurred three years ago.
At about 1:30AM there was a knock/doorbell ring. My neighbor, retrieved a firearm and then carefully looked out a window that had a view of the porch. He didn't recognize the person at the door so he didn't open the door. He simply waited and watched. After awhile the man on the doorstep turned to leave and at that point his accomplice who had been hiding around the corner of the house, out of view of both the door & the window, joined him as he walked away.
The point is that bad things can happen in even good neighborhoods.
Secondly, there's no need to live in a state of worry, just take reasonable precautions.
First of all, there are no places where evil people do not exist.
Second, good luck trying to sell a house in this market. The house next door to mine (on the other side, not where the above incident occurred) has been on the market for over a year. They rented it for awhile but it's been vacant for the last few months.
Fortunately that's almost never necessary. The incident I recounted above is a good example of this. The persons simply left the scene when no one answered the door.
Typical home invasions in this area are also not perpetrated by "determined door crashers". Two out of the last three occurred when the attackers entered the home through unattended unlocked doors and the third began when the woman of the house opened the door for the attacker. Yes, it's very difficult to stop determined criminals, but the reality is that most criminals aren't all that determined. As you pointed out in a recent post, "most stops with a handgun are stops because the BG decides to stop". As you know, that includes "stops" that occur even though the gun isn't fired.
I find your post to be an odd mixture of unrealistic optimism and excessive pessimism. You start by overemphasizing the best case by implying that being in a good neighborhood will keep one safe and end the paragraph by focusing on the worst case with the gloomy prediction that a gun will do little to stop a "determined door crasher".
Coyote Hitman
Moderator
Ask who it is through the locked door, if you do not know them, ask them to leave, if they refuse, call the police, if they force their way in, give them a case of lead poisoning.
David Armstrong
Moderator
Sure they can. Airplanes can fall out of the sky and hit your house too. The point is, for me, that if your neighborhood is so bad that you feel you need a gun to answer the door you (generic, not specific "you") should try to find someplace else to live if at all possible.
Yep, that is true. Not sure what that has to do with thinking you need to answer the door with a gun at hand. There are probably evil people who approach you at work, and walk by you on the street, or sit close to you in the cafe.
Just as anwering the door with a gun is almost never necessary.
I don't find it to be either. I find it to be more of a questioning of the way many think here. When adjusted for the 3 stupid don'ts, the world for most people in the U.S. is a fairly safe place, and this incessant worry that many express is way out of proportion to the actual danger.
One should always try to respond to what is actually said instead of trying to figure out what is implied. I make no implication such as that, and explicitly reject the implication. Many good neighborhoods are not safe, many bad neighborhoods are quite safe.
Realistic is not the same as pessimistic. If he is not a determined door crasher the gun doesn't matter much, as he goes away when you don't let him in. If you do open the door and he decides to rush the door, the gun is of little help to stop his entry. If he is a determined door crasher same process. The gun will do nothing to stop the entry, so an effective door block is called for.
EastSideRich
New member
Yes, almost never.
This happened locally one year ago tonight.:
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=525996&catid=2
From news report:
I actually do answer the door after dark (with a pistol at my side).
I guess I figure if someone is knocking at my door at night, it's not some salesman; it's either for a good reason (most likely), or someone with bad intentions (not so likely, but possible).
I started bringing my "little friend" with me after once answering the door to find two very unsavory looking characters standing on my doorstep. It turns out they were looking for my neighbor (I did watch them and they were actually just at the wrong house). At that moment when I opened the door though, and saw them, my only thought was "S***, I'm going to get robbed or killed."
I do need to install a peep-hole, but tend to procrastinate, so we'll see if I get it done.
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You're mincing words. You clearly stated that "if I lived in someplace where this was a worry for me, I'd move". You're saying that by moving you could eliminate the worry--clearly if the worry still existed you would have to move again according to your statement.
So whatever you call the location to which you would move (perhaps it's not a good neighborhood or a bad neighborhood but rather a DA utopian neighborhood) that move would eliminate the worry.
Regardless of where you move you will find evil people can enter it and you will find that bad things will happen. You will not be perfectly safe no matter where you go and therefore it's a reasonable idea to take precautions to augment your safety no matter where you live.
Sure, and if answering the door with a gun in hand would significantly reduce the chances of that ever happening, I'd say that would be a good idea.
Interesting. At what point in your life did you become "not sure" that there is a connection between the presence of evil people and the incidence of law-abiding citizens carrying firearms?
I'll let you in on a very important fact:
Gangs still things, and, they have cars.
Also, scammers are around...
I recently had a couple folks that didn't really fit the profile for what they where doing come out with some forms, and try and sell me an AT&T package that was too good to be true.
When they had me 'call it in' I got real suspicious, and, it dawned on me that they were getting information about when my house was attended, trying to get my social security number, and credit card. They didn't get any of this, and, the Detonics Combatmaster was in my right hand, in my pocket, constantly. They didn't have business cards, etc.
I did tell them my girlfriend was home all day all the time, so scheduling installation would not be a problem. Odd that right after this, I was 'refused' service by the guy on their phone, but, my cell phone is AT&T.
I called the police, but they said I had to do the detective leg work to find out if they actually worked for AT&T, and, getting that information from AT&T, without their names, or pictures was impossible, though I tried.
Should have used my camera phone, and taken their picture, just to see how they reacted. But, that might have provoked something, and, my only force alternative would require my going to jail, i.e. brandishing, since I wouldnt' let them in the house, and, we were on the walkway leading up to the house.
I find I can carry a rather large pistol behind my back, and, I'm very comfortable with a single action. I think this round would have an excellent chance of at least getting the BG's attention, and the flame ball and blast would do the rest.
Energy of 1,619 foot-pounds for a 400 grain bullet at 1350 fps.
I've got some 350 grain Hawk .510 HP's with thin jackets:
I can use a minimum load of 4227, and still get 1700 fps
Energy of 2,247 foot-pounds for a 350 grain bullet at 1700 fps. Have to load some of those up...or what I've got
Energy of 2,125 foot-pounds for a 525 grain bullet at 1350 fps.
Vs. 45 super:
Energy of 563 foot-pounds for a 230 grain bullet at 1050 fps.
or my .357
Energy of 420 foot-pounds for a 148 grain bullet at 1131 fps.
Or, 9MM HST
Energy of 314 foot-pounds for a 147 grain bullet at 980 fps.
Just for fun, lets see what the spire points in the M44 give me: 180 grain 2600 fps
Energy of 2,703 foot-pounds for a 180 grain bullet at 2600 fps.
My girlfriend just walked in, and, she said there is a post in the gym about a bunch of car break ins, and, now houses...
Gangs still things, and, they have cars.
Also, scammers are around...
I recently had a couple folks that didn't really fit the profile for what they where doing come out with some forms, and try and sell me an AT&T package that was too good to be true.
When they had me 'call it in' I got real suspicious, and, it dawned on me that they were getting information about when my house was attended, trying to get my social security number, and credit card. They didn't get any of this, and, the Detonics Combatmaster was in my right hand, in my pocket, constantly. They didn't have business cards, etc.
I did tell them my girlfriend was home all day all the time, so scheduling installation would not be a problem. Odd that right after this, I was 'refused' service by the guy on their phone, but, my cell phone is AT&T.
I called the police, but they said I had to do the detective leg work to find out if they actually worked for AT&T, and, getting that information from AT&T, without their names, or pictures was impossible, though I tried.
Should have used my camera phone, and taken their picture, just to see how they reacted. But, that might have provoked something, and, my only force alternative would require my going to jail, i.e. brandishing, since I wouldnt' let them in the house, and, we were on the walkway leading up to the house.
I find I can carry a rather large pistol behind my back, and, I'm very comfortable with a single action. I think this round would have an excellent chance of at least getting the BG's attention, and the flame ball and blast would do the rest.
Energy of 1,619 foot-pounds for a 400 grain bullet at 1350 fps.
I've got some 350 grain Hawk .510 HP's with thin jackets:
I can use a minimum load of 4227, and still get 1700 fps
Energy of 2,247 foot-pounds for a 350 grain bullet at 1700 fps. Have to load some of those up...or what I've got
Energy of 2,125 foot-pounds for a 525 grain bullet at 1350 fps.
Vs. 45 super:
Energy of 563 foot-pounds for a 230 grain bullet at 1050 fps.
or my .357
Energy of 420 foot-pounds for a 148 grain bullet at 1131 fps.
Or, 9MM HST
Energy of 314 foot-pounds for a 147 grain bullet at 980 fps.
Just for fun, lets see what the spire points in the M44 give me: 180 grain 2600 fps
Energy of 2,703 foot-pounds for a 180 grain bullet at 2600 fps.
My girlfriend just walked in, and, she said there is a post in the gym about a bunch of car break ins, and, now houses...
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I answer the door gun in right hand tucked against the hip obscured from view of the door with the other hip angled toward the door and left foot planted firmly a few inches from the door to prevent it from being struck open should i choose to open it.
I never put the gun behind the door if it is forced open it hits your gun hand and ruins your shot on the BG.
I never put the gun behind the door if it is forced open it hits your gun hand and ruins your shot on the BG.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
I've said that before also. Seems it makes more sense to most people to arm yourself in a dangerous environment instead of leaving it. There can be many reasons to stay in bad places. Family, money, even laziness. The great thing about America is that those are all just fine. None of them are logical but they're all fine reasons if that's what people want. My life is worth more than proximity to family or a high paying job. I'll carry a gun because I can. If I thought I'd actually need it, I'd move to a place I thought I didn't, and still carry.
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FireForged
New member
I see no reason to answer a door after dark if I am not expeting someone.. I have a clear view of any vehicle that may be in the drive and If I dont know it, I dont answer.
FireForged
New member
double post -deleted-
David Armstrong
Moderator
No John, I am standing by what was actually said. I realize that you want to try to claim it to mean something else, but I think the fact that you have to resort to "implications" instead of dealing with what was actually said indicates who is mincing words.
No John, I'm saying exactly what I said. YOU are the one saying I said that, not me.
Gee, John, once again you make something up and try to attibute it to me. I guess if you can't rationally respond to what is said you think it OK to just make things up. Sorry, I don't play that game.
I had a similar situation not long ago. I work graveyard so I was in bed around 8:00pm one night when there was a knock at the door. the only people that know where I live also work with me and wouldn't just pop over, so I knew it was nobody I knew. now while I don't live in south central LA it's still not the nicest apartment complex ever either so I answered the door with my .45 just behind the door so it wouldn't be seen. as it turned out it was the cops who were looking for someone who had just knocked over a 7/11 and ran into the apartment complex and they were going door to door. this was a little embarrassing for me but fortunately they didn't ask to come in, like they did next door where there was a party going on, so they never had any idea. in retrospect I should have at least asked who it was before I opened the door but at least I was prepared in case it had been the suspected robber instead of the cops trying to find him.
hillbillyshooter
New member
Usually answer the door in my Kevlar PJs and a M60 behind my back. Thats saying that the visitor made it to my door, past the trip wire and claymores. This is all dependent on them getting past my chain link with three layers of constantina that wraps around my perimeter. The person at the door is usually garaunteed to be unarmed as I use my airport quality floroscopy X-RAY to examine their entire person or any controband that I do not desire in my home. I never open my bullet proof storm door until two forms of ID is presented and I run a quick credit check. If everything checks out mom can come in. At this point, and only this point, "Mi Casa es Su Casa" no exceptions.
David Armstrong said:
JohnKSa said:
Fair enough. Why would you move if not to eliminate the worry?David Armstrong said:
JohnKSa said:
David Armstrong said:
JohnKSa said:
Ok then, what are you saying if it's not that you are not sure of what the proximity of evil people has to do with people thinking they need to carry firearms?David Armstrong said:
Shane Tuttle
Staff
Of ALL the hoopla on techniques of answering the door, I have another suggestion that might solve 99% of your problems. You may not like the answer. But if you're truly open to suggestions, I think this is your best bet:
KICK YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW OUT!
KICK YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW OUT!
I moved so I can litterally shoot off my back porch (however, the "gun range" on my property usually requires taking the truck to load up the guns and take people there, away from the house so the noise does not distract my wife).
I take it an American pit bull terrier?
Having one myself (American pit bull terrier), if your dog is trying to break through the screen door without you giving the command to do so, I'd suggest training for your animal. Having a dog that could cause bodily harm to a person, and having it show behavior that you don't want it to do is bad judement in not trying to change the behavior of the animal in question. I see no reason why the dog should be trying to go through the screen door if you don't know for a fact that a threat lies on the otherside of the screen door.
One reason IMO why the breed has such a bad name.
Usually I'll hear a car or see it's lights coming down the gravel road. Usually if I'm staying in the house, the door is answered with a sidearm, low and to my side behind me so it's not in view. By chance if the dogs go nuts and I go outside, it's either with a AR carbine or a 870.
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