Re: Who has used their home defense weapon?
Laws vary by state...
In MI we fall under the Castle Doctrine and you are allowed to shoot an intruder on sight, no verbal warning or giving the intruder a chance to retreat. You are acting under the impression that someone breaking into your home means you harm. You have a right to protect yourself and family... but not property (can't shoot someone who just stole your car from your driveway). If the intruder runs out you cannot follow and shoot him down the street... because the threat ended and you became the aggressor the moment he left and you began to persue him. You also have no obligation to retreat in your own home... laws change once outside your "four walls" of the residence.
That being said... please identify your intruder/target before you blindly fire a weapon at him/her.
TRUE STORY: A man hears a noise coming from the kitchen in the middle of the night and see's a silhouette coming through the window. He fires his handgun and instantly kills the intruder.... only to find out it was his 20 yr old son coming home from college for the weekend to surprise his family. The son had forgot/lost his key and came in through an open window since it was late. The father was cleared of the shooting (legally)... but now his son was dead, and he has to carry that burden.
Moral of the story... everyone who has a handgun should also have a flashlight in the nightstand. Not saying you have to illuminate you position, but they can be used tactically to give you an advantage.
TRUE STORY: I, myself have had an intruder in my home... we had just moved in a new house and in the process of unpacking. My wife calls to me that someone is in the house. I arrive in the living room to find a teenager going through my DVD collection. I call to him but get no response... in fact, he ignores me and continues to browse through my movies. My firearm is tucked in my pants (small of back)... I choose not to pull it out just yet as I instruct my wife to grab the kids and go to the bedroom. I notice the teenager is wearing a diaper and after closer inspection appears to be mentally challenged. I call 911 and they advise that a mentally challenged boy is missing in the area. I keep an eye on him til the police arrive to escort the young man home.
Moral of the story... is don't be so quick to fill people full of lead... identify your target and make sure it's a threat. I was well within my right to shoot this kid... but I deemed him to not pose an immediate threat to my safety. I would not want that burden to carry.
Obviously there are times when the threat is apparent and quick action is necessary.... so you must know your capabilities and limitations so you can make the right decision if that moment ever comes. Use sound judgement and common sense... and a flashlight (if possible).
Re: Who has used their home defense weapon?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mayfly
Hello, I am new to the forum and being a Canadian, yes let the bashing begin. From an outsiders view I cannot help but think that your country is messed up. Home invasions, etc. and all this fear of government hidden agendas, I am surprised that half of you dont have bomb shelters. Please explain all this " The sky is falling mentality"? I don't want to criticize, but I can't help but think that gun control needs to be done. Sure I would like to walk around packing, its all the other people packing that concerns me. I haven't been in a scenario that a baseball bat wouldn't fix. I do own guns (hunting) and they are all locked up in a safe. I took my restricted course to purchase a handgun for range shooting as that is the only place to shoot.
Yeah I know we are bleeding heart liberals and whatever else you guys think, but if someone breaks into my house to steal something, should they loose their life because of it? What if it were a young man that choose the wrong path in life and made a poor decision? He is now dead.
Let the flaming begin... thank you
First and foremost, welcome to the forum.
Second, as far as "the sky is falling mentality" we do not want Canada-like gun laws, if it can happen to you it can happen to us and worse.
Thirdly, lethal force may or may not be used to protect property depending on jurisdiction.
I would not kill someone over property alone, if someone was in my house for my tv, I won't shoot over a tv but at the same time I'm not sure I would just let them walk out with a promise not to come back and that would mean holding them while waiting for police etc.
Should that person be armed and desperate...well desperate people do desperate things. I haven't heard of too many home invaders that weren't desperate for something. Some could take discovery as a threat resulting in apprehension and incarceration and that may not be an option they are willing to accept.
Should discovery of an intruder escalate to a situation where lethal force is legally justified, I'm going to use it. I have no idea of this person's skill or if he is alone or not. I am going to remove the threat as effeciantly as possible, and that means he either surrenders or is shot till he stops via death or common sense, which ever takes hold first.
If he decides to flee at the sight of the gun so much the better. Let him go.
Fourth, as far as the bat is concerned...not exactly a great close quarters weapon, if you're confronted in a hall or small room you may not get the room to get a good swing.
Not sure if our Canadian friend is a bachelor / parent or not but if some thug has your wife or child at knifepoint what would you rather have, a bat or a gun?
Not that I'm advocating everyone should take the shot in a possible hostage scenario, that's up to each individual (and their spouse) and the skill level of the individual.
Besides, I don't play baseball what the heck do I need a bat for anyway?
Who has used their home defense weapon?
I have been away from this thread for awhile. I understand where a lot of the mixed opinions are coming from. I think that house layout dictate what HD weapon would be best. In my house the hallway leading to the bedrooms is upstairs but also very narrow. A bat would not work well. I have since purchased a 9mm and a .22. They are not kept loaded and chambered but in current situation it would take about ten seconds to insert the loaded mag chamber a round and take a defense position protecting my wife and children. This would also leave the perp two exit locations to flee which is ideal. I have also taken a concealed class and am waiting for my permit to arrive.
I am not currently an NRA member. I am doing more research into it. There are many things they do which is great. Some other things I find to be a little too far for my views. I know many disagree and that's fine.
Who has used their home defense weapon?
It's something I am working on with my wife. But being two actions from a chambered round is much better than nothing at all.
