How Do You Defend Your Home?

[Angrist]

I always just assume that a robber is after my possessions, not after my life. If I don't have a gun, I am less of a threat to him. I'd rather have him steal my stuff than us waving our guns at each other.

[Vampyr]

Originally Posted by Angrist

I always just assume that a robber is after my possessions, not after my life. If I don't have a gun, I am less of a threat to him. I'd rather have him steal my stuff than us waving our guns at each other.

I would probably act under the assumption that anyone who is going to stoop to robbing you isn't far from killing you in order to protect themselves. Your presence could easily be enough for him to shoot you if he is armed. I mean think about it - do you think the guy will just leave you there after he steals your stuff, knowing you could call the police and report him the moment he leaves?

Thieves are generally extremely nervous about getting caught, that's why having a sign saying your house is protected by a security system is usually enough to keep them away, even if you don't have one.

I don't know, I wouldn't be willing to trust a thief not to kill me if he realized I was home.

But there probably wouldn't be much gun waving if I caught him, either. I don't think I'd risk going movie-style and telling him to freeze - I would shoot first and ask questions later.

[DeathsHand]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

Your presence could easily be enough for him to shoot you if he is armed.

Indeed, it happens all the time... "Robbery/Home Invasion 'gone bad'" they like to call it on the news...

That said, I don't necessarily condone the possession of automatic rifles or amassing your own personal arsenal or setting up traps involving marbles or blowtorches or any of that crazy stuff...
I'd settle for a Colt Single Action Army, just in case I had a 3:00a.m. run-in with an elephant.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Angrist

So you're saying that with every break-in, somebody dies. Either the robber or the house owner.

No, because not all home invasions involve a confrontation with the home owners.
And not all confrontations that do occur involve guns.
Then, of course, there's the Slomin's Shield.

[KillerGremlin]

Consider me apathetic up front.

I believe most statistics show that most robbers want to avoid confrontation. This is why the bulk of robberies occur during the day while people are at work. Most people who are robbing you don't want to escalate the situation to assault or murder. The "breaking in at night" story is much more interesting than the, "I went on vacation or I was at work and some of my shit got stolen" story. That's why the news tends to favor the rare "breaking in at night" stories.

I also believe statistics show high mortality rates when home confrontations happens when someone breaks into the house of someone who has an unregistered firearm. These statistics seem to be most dense in cities with high rates of gang violence and poverty, like Chicago's west side (makes sense to me).

This is food for thought for the ensuing Europe vs. Uncle Sam and his Gun debate.

My own thoughts are one day I will educate myself on how to properly use a firearm. Once I am adequate at hitting a target, loading the gun, cleaning the gun, assembling the gun, and taking it apart - ALL WHILE FOCUSING ON SAFETY FIRST - then I will consider a firearm a welcome addition to my home.

A final thought...having actually stayed out on a real farm in the middle of the country in both Indiana and Central Illinois...a farm where dogs roam around at night, and it is pitch black, and the nearest neighbor is a few miles away...I would definitely want a few guns in my house. I realize the logic about someone robbing your country house is pretty solid, what STEREOTYPICAL burglar is gonna drive out into the middle of bumfuck nowhere to rob a house on a farm?. Well...the reality is people steal farm equipment all the time, and farm equipment is expensive shit. That is why there are dogs roaming the farm and farmer Joe has a shotgun and a pitchfork.