Racking a Shotgun as a deterrent..

[Knight]

If you happen to be awake and find an intruder/trespasser in your home maybe you should conduct an interview as to what their intentions are.

Your example has nothing to do with meeting an unknown threat with lethal force. We're talking about shooting a person. Killing them. Not some defenseless woman with a shoe.

If I shot every single person I found in my house after midnight that I thought might be an intruder, I would have shot my best friend twice, my roommate's friend once, and my friend's mother more times than I can count. They come through the front door, the back door . . . hell, I've had people try and crawl through my window next to my bed at 5 in the morning. My co-worker came home from a trip one time, and there was a homeless person in his kitchen cooking food! Not everyone that's trying to get into your house is a criminal. Go back and read rod's post again, he makes some very good points on this subject.

Look. You want to be funny about it, make some John Wayne statement how you're gonna dust any idiot who thinks they can get away with breaking into your house, no questions asked, fine. But don't make fun of people who actually prefer not to shoot their friend just because they're drunk and they want to crash on your couch.

What exactly do you think you need to do in order to determine whether or not someone in your house is a threat or not? Do you honestly think you need to "interview" him? How about shining a light in their eyes, as Sage suggested? Or racking a shotgun (keeping things on-topic)? Is it really so difficult to take the extra brain power during this kind of situation?

Let's take your story about your mother hitting the burglar with a shoe. but, to keep it relevant, let's change the shoe to a handgun. Which would make more sense; should she (a) put her hand out of the window, point the handgun down, and unload on the guy while he's still climbing up, or (b) tell the dumb SOB that she has a gun, the cops are on their way, and he needs to get the heck out of there? Which one do you think would be easier to defend in court if she ended up using lethal force? And most importantly, does she give anything up defensively by choosing option (b)?

[Stormfeather]

Shotguns themselves are a multi-tier deterrent system.

Visual Deterrent. . . have you ever had a 12 ga pointed at you? That is one big hole looking at you!

Audible Deterrent . . . The sound of a shotgun being "racked" seems to be a univerally recognized sound, everyone knows pretty much what comes next after that sound.

Its not a single point of impact weapon. Its a area target weapon vs a point target. You dont have to be super precise. as long as you can get it "bead on" a portion of the body, one has to "assume" that you will at least get a piece of your target if you pull the trigger. Great for those that dont practice often or at all.

As far as tactically, I personally wouldnt rack the shotgun, but then the situation also dictates. If its some kid screwing around and being a dumb-(donkey) by trying to rob my house, and I can recognize its a kid, I may "put the fear of god" into him by racking it! The ability of the human eyes to open as wide as they do at times can be humorous! Kid learns a valuable lesson and you get to witness p.i.m.p (Pee In My Pants) reflex. If its an active robbery where the person makes a threatening move towards me, why waste time?

What works for some may not work for others.

[M. Sage]

How about shining a light in their eyes, as Sage suggested?

Another benefit of a light: you get to see if you recognize the person. Then all you have to do is say "don't frigging DO that to me... And sorry bout the eyesight. You'll be able to see again tomorrow."

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

Your example has nothing to do with meeting an unknown threat with lethal force. We're talking about shooting a person. Killing them. Not some defenseless woman with a shoe.

I was not trying to be funny, nor am I salivating at the mere thought of a home intruder just so I can test the stopping power of this or that gun. We didn't know who this person was or why they were trying to climb through our bathroom window at 2am! As far as meeting him with lethal force my mother could have ran to the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife and slashed his wrist with it. Is that lethal enough for you?

And as far as shooting a person goes, just because you have a shotgun, or any other gun for that matter, pointed at somebody does not mean that you have an obligation to pull the trigger. And even if you end up having to shoot, not every gunshot results in death!

[Knight]

I was not trying to be funny, nor am I salivating at the mere thought of a home intruder just so I can test the stopping power of this or that gun. We didn't know who this person was or why they were trying to climb through our bathroom window at 2am! As far as meeting him with lethal force my mother could have ran to the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife and slashed his wrist with it. Is that lethal enough for you?

And as far as shooting a person goes, just because you have a shotgun, or any other gun for that matter, pointed at somebody does not mean that you have an obligation to pull the trigger. And even if you end up having to shoot, not every gunshot results in death!

It sounds like we're getting close to an agreement on this subject.

You admit that you didn't know who they were or why they were climbing through the bathroom window. Isn't that exactly my point? That using lethal force in that kind of situation is reckless and legally dangerous? A butcher knife is the same as a gun in that instance; lethal force is being employed against an unknown intruder.

Don't tell me that this whole time you were thinking that I was advocating that you do not even so much as point a firearm at someone until you have identified their intentions? Heck, sometimes doing exactly that, I'm sure you will find out right away what your intruder's doing in your house, without anything being said.

Not every gunshot results in death, but you better be prepared of the possibility when you shoot someone. They call it "lethal force" for a reason.

[Rob454]

One thing that hanst been mentioned ( at least I didnt read it) was the defender has another advantage that he knows the house and the burglar doesnt ( unless its someone who has been in your house before).
As for the shotgun racking ( forget the movies) its still a unnerving sound. Especially if you hear it while youre hunched over some baubles and crap.
Lots of you guys said Ill just smoke his azz. Well none of you sat there and said before I smoke his azz im gonna make sure its not my wife son daughter buddy who is sleeping over etc.
Also most likely the burglar wants for you to find him there as much as you want to find him there. There are instances where people have been home and they were burglarized but 95% of the burglars are gonna do it when youre not home. the other 5% are gonna prey on the weak and older people thinking they arent gonna put up a fight.
I personally hope i dotn have to shoot anyone in my own house but if its between him and me/family its gonna be him. laws are great to protect everyone but when some crackhead is coming at me drooling and glassy eyed Im gonna protect my family and myself. Ill worry about the court later. Besides like they say better be judged by 12 than caried by 6
Rob

[eckerph]

I wouldn't rack a shotgun too scare an intruder personally but if the tables were turned and i heard a shotgun get racked i would get the heck out of there ASAP, of course if i also heard a pellet gun being pumped up i would split also.

[Knight]

Lots of you guys said Ill just smoke his azz. Well none of you sat there and said before I smoke his azz im gonna make sure its not my wife son daughter buddy who is sleeping over etc.

You might want to check the thread again . . .

[M. Sage]

.95% of the burglars are gonna do it when youre not home.

Why? Cause they're scared they'll get shot!

It's a fact.

[E. Fudd]

And let's not forget the possibility of the bad guy or his surviving family suing you, post-shoot.

If you can 'motivate' the BG to leave or prone out, whether by racking the slide and/or verbal commands, it's less potential legal hassles for you in the future (vs. shooting him).

Of course, if you and your family are in danger, then you have to do what you have to do. But you'd better make sure it's a clear cut case of self-defense. The DA's around here will probably not look too kindly if lethal force is used on an unarmed kid with no priors (convictions), sneaking around your house trying to rip off a piece of your property (or so he will claim, if he survives, or his family, if he does not)...

Also, blanks can be lethal. Wads can kill, blind, etc., especially at close range. Not to mention losing your hearing at a most critical time...

Keep in mind, avg. spread on a shotgun is approx. 1 in. per yard. So at indoor distances, unless you have an uber-mansion, figure on a 7 inch max spread for your avg size room. So, you'll still have to aim...

[Dilinger23]

I like the element of a surprice. when those burglars comes in and knowing they are not invited.... then BANG!!!!! move sucker...theyre dead meat...LOL..

[gunrun45]

My brother lived in Hayward in the early 90's.
His house was broken into via the rear sliding glass door while he was home. He had his semi auto longer barrel 12 guage that he used for geese (I forget the brand or make it was) in his closet and I was the only other person there that night.

He loaded the tube and cycled the action on purpose to make the noise while I called 911.

We heard running feet down the hall way, across the broken glass from the door and heard a body hit the fence in the back yard as who ever it was ran like a scared rabit.

You make your own choices. I already made mine.

[Pont]

As the guy on top of me mentioned I would just shoot a warning shot. Not birdshot but a blank then after that I would load up with OO buck or something else.

I wouldn't care about some holes in my walls as opposed to losing my life.

That's just a bad idea. A blank is not safe, especially in something as large as 12G. You won't stop the guy, but if the wadding hits him or the powder burns him he'll definitely have something to sue about. Finally, how are you going to hear anything after you shoot a blank 12G indoors without hearing protection on? The guy's still running around your house. Maybe he's begging for his life, maybe he's yelling "I'm going to get you for that." But you can't see him very well due to the flash, you can't hear him at all, and you've given up the initiative and one out of your 7 or 8 shots.

I vote light the mofo up with a tactical light as you yell something appropriate and convincing at him, verify that he's a baddie and not a drunk relative, then make a quick judgment and either plug him center mass or let him go.

I think a tactical light is better than racking noise in every way. It shocks their visual senses and you can shock their audio senses with your loud yell at the same time. Even if they are a badass and not frightened, at least you've destroyed their nightvision.

As fun as it would be to watch a burglar fleeing in panic from the sound of a pump shotgun, it would be even more fun watching said burglar flee through a house while effectively blind.

[Rob454]

You might want to check the thread again . . .

Like i said before I jsut didnt read it. Sometimes with everyone responding it gets confusing who said what

[Rob454]

Why? Cause they're scared they'll get shot!

It's a fact.

Thats why they will pray on the young or elderly. Im not certain of all the laws in the state but if someone is breaking into my house than he tries to assault me or my family the laws have a little meaning at that point. as for the story he is dead and youre alive. yes officer I saw something flash in his hand. yup there it is a big knife he swung at me.
Rob