How do you answer the door?

I think we should focus this thread on the right thing to do. The right thing to do is not to open up the door and put a pistol in someone's face. I actually think by doing that you are committing the crime of assault. Just because someone knocks on your door is not a reason to fire or draw a pistol.

However, there are a few tactics one can use to safely answer the door.

1) Locked reinforced metal screen door as mentioned above.
2) Door chained. Open up the door slightly with your foot reinforcing behind the door providing resistance. This is the least safe way to answer the door, but safer then just opening it up completely.
3) Peep hole. Look through a peep hole or side-window and deal with the person through a closed door rather then opening it.
4) Motion-sensor lights or turn on all the outside lights when someone is at the door.
5) Intercom/webcam type system.
6) Simply not answering the door of unexpected company.

A person who wears their pistol around the house isnt any different then a person who wears their pistol outside of the house during concealed carry. Although, it might be a little uncomfortable constantly wearing your pistol, it isnt illogical thinking. In order for your pistol to be effective, it must be within an arm's reach away. This is the value of the smaller caliber pistols such as the .380. You can wear the .380 around the house and its not that uncomfortable. A .380 is better then no pistol at all, but more practical to wear around the house.

In regards to answering a door, I dont think its illogical to have the pistol behind your back or in a holster on you. We wear seatbelts while driving and dont expect to get into accidents. Same thing goes with tactics for answering the door.

If you put a pistol in someone's face there better be sufficient reason or you have committed assault. Plain and simple. I would vote guilty on a jury if you opened up the door and stuck it in someone's face without cause.
 
If you have a doubt, don't answer the door. I am comfortable with being armed in my house, and if I don't want the uncertainty of dealing with a stranger at the door, I don't answer the door. But, I monitor the actions of the stranger outside.

Living in a rural setting like our situation gives a distinctive advantage to the homeowner, in my opinion.
 
I crack the door open just enough to toss a flashbang onto the porch. Once it detonates and their stunned and dazed I rush out and rifle through their pockets for an ID. Then if their background check clears, the only hospitable thing to do is invite them in, offer a beverage and treat any injuries.
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i like your thinking.

i was going to say fling the door wide open with a grenade in one hand and the pin in the other. (fake one of course)

i usually don't answer the door. if i know someone is coming over i'd answer. if i did for some reason answer it for a stranger, i'd at least be ready for something. either have a pocket knife, baton, or a pocket pistol on me. if not, the kitchen knives are only a few feet away.
 
there is a sign over the dwarf entrance in 'Lord of the Rings" which says "Say friend and enter". No dwarves here I gather.
 
I look out a window that's 20' from the door to I.D. them first - day or night. The dogs usually let me know someone's there long before they get to the door and then they've got two 150 watt bulbs, one spot and one flood, from the motion detector in thier face.
My house is sort of "out of the way" and so far only the police (looking for someone - not me), neighbors, or thier kids needing help have showed up at my door after dark. Cell phones are iffy here and some people don't have them. Police and ambulance are a long time off (40 min for police a while ago) so someone needing help could be in a bad way. If I didn't know someone I wouldn't go to the door right away or maybe not at all. I could talk to them or hand them the phone out of a window if the situation warranted. Any interaction with strangers at my place day or night involves a gun in my hand (hidden) or ready on my person, there are some real creeps out there.
 
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I live in one of those newer homes that are open concept with tons of glass, front and back. We're in a subdivision of 1-2 acre lot. Somebody coming up to the house can see in through the glass panes in the front door and of course, we can see out.

So far, we've not had any unsavory characters come to the door, during the night. And frankly, it would be totally out of character for the area.

We have a big German Shepherd who alerts us to anyone coming up to the home. And I'm 6'3". If the dude looked like he fit into the neighborhood, I'd probably open the door. If he didn't, I wouldn't. Either way, I wouldn't be carrying.

I keep the HD gun in the bedroom. If the guy for whom I wouldn't open the door started trying to get in, I'd retreat to the bedroom (main floor), get my gun and call the cops.
 
You know...there is a lot to be learned on this forum.
I was up late last night, about 1:00, when I thought I heard a soft knock on the door. The dogs didn't alert, so it might have been something else. Nonetheless, I pulled out my PM9 (pocket carry even at home) and went to the door, which is mostly ornamental glass. I didn't see anything, but noticed the garage light was on (accessible only from outside). The family and I had been to a late movie, so that didn't seem unusual. I started outside to turn it off and remembered this quote from JohnKSa:
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.
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I went back to my desk, caught up on my TFL, and other things, and went outside to turn out the lights about an hour later, PM9 in hand.
Better safe....
 
I am anti-social by nature and I enjoy my time at home by myself without interruption so that I can work on my tin foil hats. :p However I do not live in fear. Have I answered the door with a hidden firearm? Yes and on many occasions. Have I answered the door without one? Yes and on many occasions.

Peep hole............$10

Lock your doors.....Free

Light bulb for front porch..... $1

.45 cal handgun....... $500- $1000

Teaching your wife to have the same level of awareness/paranoia ........Would be priceless
 
Be careful answering the door with a gun in plain sight, a police officer might get the wrong idea, I have had this exact conversation with a retired deputy, his opinion was don't do it! He said he is within his policy to tackle you and if it got nasty fast he may even open fire. Like he told me, he doesn't know who you are, or if your the actual home owner or a crazed murder just who has just broken out of the nut house. Now if you get a nice guy cop that was slow on the draw who knows, but many would act first and ask questions later, no joke.
 
I'm 6'-2" 270lbs


I answer the door naked.


scares/grosses the crap out of most people.



and I sent a letter of apology to the girl scouts.
 
I'm not aware of anyone who gets the fire extinguisher out every time they cook, though, or carries one with them as they move from room to room in the house. Spare tire similarly. Lots of difference (to me) between keeping that spare in your trunk as opposed to getting it out (along with your tire tools), and putting it in the passenger seat with you.
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Disingenuous at best, due to the differences in size and weight, but now you know one. My fire extinguisher is "out" at all times, do you lock yours up or something? That doesn't sound conducive to fire safety. I have one at the ready in my kitchen, the place where most fires start. There is also another in the basement utility room, where the second largest majority of fires originate. But if I was to smell a faint odor of smoke in the house, don't you think I'd grab one off the wall and investigate room by room? I also had a problem with flat tires recently, low profile wide ones, (don't ask) and it was to the point that I dislodged my spare from under the truck and threw it in the pickup bed to save time and effort, were I to have the misfortune to have another flat on the quite dangerous Michigan expressways. Likewise a firearm is with me ready for any threats that may present themselves throughout the day. And, likewise, if I were to smell "trouble," or even a bit stronger possibility of it, that firearm might be in my hand instead of on my hip. Carrying a firearm with me all day is not a burden and it saves time when going out, answering the door, etc. I'm not planning to stay in the Detroit area forever, but now is not the time to try to sell a house. Only to buy one.
 
I let my German Shepard answer my door. But I also have a big window and a peep hole in the door. I have a No soliciting sign and a beware of dog sign right at the level of the door knob. One sign is red and the other black so it grabs the attention.

Also people do not like barking dogs and that drives alot of people away.

I always look and have a hand on my gun.

If its a nice knock I might answer but if its a banging knock I leave it alone.
 
My fire extinguisher is "out" at all times, do you lock yours up or something? That doesn't sound conducive to fire safety.
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My extinguishers reside in (1) the area under the sink and (2) the closet nearest the back exit. Both are held in their little brackets. I do not carry one on me nor do I get one out every time I cook. If the extinguisher is stored out" that is one thing. If you feel the need to get it out and place it on the counter by you when you start to cook I would suggest there is a problem.
 
My dad and I had come in from a rather wet hunt and he had removed his hunting clothes and was wearing a bathrobe and undies while he waited for the dryer. He had his 1100 taken apart and was cleaning it when the doorbell rang, it was one of the religions with which we're all familiar. Well, answering the door in your undies with a gun barrel in your hand makes them go away, that much I can tell you. That is an example of the most dangerous people who knock on doors in our neck of the woods.
 
It seems that no one comes to anyone's house here after dark with out calling first. That's just how it is,seems odd doesn't it.

As far as knocks on the door in the daytime,it's usually the mail man,or the ups. My rotties let me know anytime some one has pulled in the drive or walked into the yard.

I'm always careful to see who is knocking though,just in case. Everyone watches everyone else's house here too,lots of times my neighbor has said,someone was at your place when you were gone today...had a blue truck..or whatever they drove. It was usually some friend of mine..

Maybe if you have a small meeting with your close neighbors and get to know them,you all would be safer.

I have my guns handy in case I need them though. I have a peephole too. Safe than sorry,says I..;)
 
It's late at night and someone starts banging on the door. You're not expecting anyone...... How do you answer the door....
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I wouldn't.

Bang away sucker. I aint letting in whatever the fark is chasing you down so....

Only a moron open's up his crib at 'o-dark:30' to someone beating on the door.

*

Rule #1 is taking care of #1.
 
My extinguishers reside in (1) the area under the sink and (2) the closet nearest the back exit. Both are held in their little brackets. I do not carry one on me nor do I get one out every time I cook. If the extinguisher is stored out" that is one thing. If you feel the need to get it out and place it on the counter by you when you start to cook I would suggest there is a problem.
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Aah, well my firearm is "stored out" on it's "little bracket" on my belt. So I take it there is no problem there. Certainly not for me, anyway.;)
 
Aah, well my firearm is "stored out" on it's "little bracket" on my belt. So I take it there is no problem there. Certainly not for me, anyway.
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Agreed. As I said earlier, I think there is a world of difference between "I always have my gun on me, so it is with me if I answer the door" and "Somebody knocked on my door, I better get a gun before I see who it is."
 
hillberg-defender-muzzle.jpg
 
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