Girlfriend Asks about Self Defense

[Evolutionary]

Thanks to all replies

Thanks everyone! Girlfriend and I will definitely have a time reading everyone's posts over a beer. Until she rolls her eyes and says it will never get to that point.

I ask because a homeless man got way to close as she was entering our apt. with bag full o groceries. So IMO this is a topic we should discuss and try to prepare ourselves.

Thanks again!
Evo

Edit: removed "not a topic we should discuss" -- it should be discussed.

I am also going to actively search for SD courses in our area - great idea...it's funny how in everyday life you just think "oh I know what to do I can handle it...it'll never happen to me, etc."

The last murder within 3 blocks of our apt. prompted my to do some soul searching with myself and my GF

Thanks everyone!

[joepamjohn]

If you're busy thinking about jail time in a situation like that, then either your life probably isn't in danger (not a justifiable shoot) or your head isn't on right.

Or you are soon dead.

[joepamjohn]

Hi New Poster here...

Girlfriend and I were talking about what to do if we had a bag guy come into our house.

Well if he has a bag he is probably hungry give him a couple cans of soup! The send him on his way.

What do you expect to gain by pointing out an incorrectly used word?

Read your post, you did it too.

"TheN send him on his way"

[Rob454]

If he comes closer than 5 feet - practice so she can visualize where 5 feet is - then she needs to make decisive action.

y.

NO NO NO 5 feet is NOTHING. i can cover 5 feet in less than a second. hell most people can cover 20 feet in about 1-2 sec. Even if you shoot him at that distance it better be a head shot or something that's gonna drop him like a bag of s**t. She needs to retreat to the furthest corner of the room close the door. if the MF'er pokes his head in the f*****g room she needs to let him have it. Basically get distance from the bad guy unless you're totally ready to smoke him and I mean gun aimed round in the chamber finger ont he trigger aimed and ready to fire and even then you still want DISTANCE. Shooting someone does not mean he will drop and die like the movies. . If you need time to prep take off the safety jack in a round etc. ( not everyone is armed to the teeth waiting for that intruder to come in) What you need to do is practice with her what to do. I know its hard to practice make believe but it helps to get the memory and training on what to do in case of............There is NO snowballs chance in hell that a jury will prosecute a scared woman alone defending herself from a would be rapist killer bad guy etc. She better shoot to kill not hurt. screw him he shouldn't be there in the first place
personally I know my wife would have no idea what to do in a life and death situation. She is totally unwilling to learn. i told her if something happens to me she would be totally and completely defenseless. She just starts crying. Ive been trying to get her to take a gun training class.


Scenario with 5 foot of space between us
5 feet ud=sing myself as a example. 6 01 260 LB I can bench pres 320 LB
well my arm alone has more than 2 foot reach so lean forward and push with my legs I'm on top of you and grabbed your arms. You're a 120 LB woman I'm a 260 LB pissed off bad guy. Who do you think its gonna win. lets say you know karate. Wooptie fing do. I can smack the crap out of you simply because you're not in a DoJo you're in your room on your back with 260 LB of muscle on top of you. Then i punch you in the face just to slacken you up a little then i punch you again knocking the snot out of you and you re probably gonna pass out. Then i can tie you up do whatever I feel like doing taking my time robbing you. Then I'm gonna surprise your BF when he walks in the door.

NOW woudlnt you feel better avoiding all that and just shooting me as i poked my head in the room you're in? As for warning yeah officer i did warn him.

[joepamjohn]

NO NO NO 5 feet is NOTHING. i can cover 5 feet in less than a second. hell most people can cover 20 feet in about 1-2 sec. Even if you shoot him at that distance it better be a head shot or something that's gonna drop him like a bag of s**t. She needs to retreat to the furthest corner of the room close the door. if the MF'er pokes his head in the f*****g room she needs to let him have it. Basically get distance from the bad guy unless you're totally ready to smoke him and I mean gun aimed round in the chamber finger ont he trigger aimed and ready to fire and even then you still want DISTANCE. Shooting someone does not mean he will drop and die like the movies. . If you need time to prep take off the safety jack in a round etc. ( not everyone is armed to the teeth waiting for that intruder to come in) What you need to do is practice with her what to do. I know its hard to practice make believe but it helps to get the memory and training on what to do in case of............There is NO snowballs chance in hell that a jury will prosecute a scared woman alone defending herself from a would be rapist killer bad guy etc. She better shoot to kill not hurt. screw him he shouldn't be there in the first place
personally I know my wife would have no idea what to do in a life and death situation. She is totally unwilling to learn. i told her if something happens to me she would be totally and completely defenseless. She just starts crying. Ive been trying to get her to take a gun training class.


Scenario with 5 foot of space between us
5 feet ud=sing myself as a example. 6 01 260 LB I can bench pres 320 LB
well my arm alone has more than 2 foot reach so lean forward and push with my legs I'm on top of you and grabbed your arms. You're a 120 LB woman I'm a 260 LB pissed off bad guy. Who do you think its gonna win. lets say you know karate. Wooptie fing do. I can smack the crap out of you simply because you're not in a DoJo you're in your room on your back with 260 LB of muscle on top of you. Then i punch you in the face just to slacken you up a little then i punch you again knocking the snot out of you and you re probably gonna pass out. Then i can tie you up do whatever I feel like doing taking my time robbing you. Then I'm gonna surprise your BF when he walks in the door.

NOW woudlnt you feel better avoiding all that and just shooting me as i poked my head in the room you're in? As for warning yeah officer i did warn him.

Hell I'd shoot ya!

[Foulball]

This.

NO NO NO 5 feet is NOTHING. i can cover 5 feet in less than a second. hell most people can cover 20 feet in about 1-2 sec. Even if you shoot him at that distance it better be a head shot or something that's gonna drop him like a bag of s**t. She needs to retreat to the furthest corner of the room close the door. if the MF'er pokes his head in the f*****g room she needs to let him have it. Basically get distance from the bad guy unless you're totally ready to smoke him and I mean gun aimed round in the chamber finger ont he trigger aimed and ready to fire and even then you still want DISTANCE. Shooting someone does not mean he will drop and die like the movies. . If you need time to prep take off the safety jack in a round etc. ( not everyone is armed to the teeth waiting for that intruder to come in) What you need to do is practice with her what to do. I know its hard to practice make believe but it helps to get the memory and training on what to do in case of............There is NO snowballs chance in hell that a jury will prosecute a scared woman alone defending herself from a would be rapist killer bad guy etc. She better shoot to kill not hurt. screw him he shouldn't be there in the first place
personally I know my wife would have no idea what to do in a life and death situation. She is totally unwilling to learn. i told her if something happens to me she would be totally and completely defenseless. She just starts crying. Ive been trying to get her to take a gun training class.


Scenario with 5 foot of space between us
5 feet ud=sing myself as a example. 6 01 260 LB I can bench pres 320 LB
well my arm alone has more than 2 foot reach so lean forward and push with my legs I'm on top of you and grabbed your arms. You're a 120 LB woman I'm a 260 LB pissed off bad guy. Who do you think its gonna win. lets say you know karate. Wooptie fing do. I can smack the crap out of you simply because you're not in a DoJo you're in your room on your back with 260 LB of muscle on top of you. Then i punch you in the face just to slacken you up a little then i punch you again knocking the snot out of you and you re probably gonna pass out. Then i can tie you up do whatever I feel like doing taking my time robbing you. Then I'm gonna surprise your BF when he walks in the door.

NOW woudlnt you feel better avoiding all that and just shooting me as i poked my head in the room you're in? As for warning yeah officer i did warn him.

[Rob454]

Hell I'd shoot ya!

Hmmmm. Wife said the same thing after she read my post. And she doesn't even know how to use a gun. Just so we ALL understand each other. I'm NOT a bad guy. i just used myself as a example. Don't shoot me when you see me. I'm ugly and scary but im a nice guy. My parole officer said so

[locosway]

Never bring a knife to a gun fight...

Shoot to kill, not maim.. Often you'll shoot to kill and only maim. If you shoot to maim you're shooting to miss.

[jah191]

I just want to second not making a statement to the police without a lawyer present. I would even minimize the amount of info I give during the 911 call - just enough to let the cops know where you are and that you are in danger.

I spent some time working with the Public Defender and 99% of the time something the perp said voluntarily is used against him in court. Not saying you are a perp for defending yourself but DAs can and will use anything against you to make their case. Many times they are motivated by politics and conviction %'s rather than right or wrong.

[nativeofsandiego]

It's called deadly force for a reason...

[Acorn556]

So to summarize the first 6 pages....let your girlfriend become familiar with a firearm.
If she feels threatened let her feel comfortable knowing a firearm is a perfectly acceptable form of self defense.
Tell the girlfriend that you'll visit her every day if she goes to jail for defending herself.
Tell her you'll make such a public deal about it she will become a national spokeswoman for Women With Guns (made up name) and will be the next Carrie Prejean since shes a beauty queen and you want to score extra points. Calling the GF pretty AND smart.....yeah you're in.

[BillCA]

I can't believe there's this much thought going on about this, especially from the OP's point of view. I'm sorry, but you'd tell your GF to WARN the guy?!?! The microsecond a bad guy breaks into your home, you shoot him. It's really that simple. He's there to do harm to you or kill you. Even having a preconceived thought process about this can hinder your thought process if something like this happens. Shoot the ****er.

Sorry. It is NOT that simple.

IF the person uses force to gain entrance or uses stealth to enter through a window or door, perhaps yes.

But remember, if someone walks through your unlocked front door, sits in your lazy-boy and starts drinking your beer, you (or your GF) cannot shoot him. Not even if he ignores your warnings to leave pronto. No "reasonable fear" present.

Sorry to say it, but a homelss bum who offers to help a woman carry groceries inside "for a quarter" who blocks the door from swinging closed and follows her inside does justify the use of lethal force to get him to leave or stop.

However, someone who kicks in your door, prys open a window or comes into the house with a weapon is a JHP target.

[cineski]

First, if you keep your doors unlocked around here you're asking for it. Second, and you bring up a completely valid point, it was my understanding that if anyone enters your home that you feel is there to harm you you can shoot. What's the difference if the person enters by force or just walks in? That's like saying if he just slides in through an open window he's legally immune from your bullets.

Sorry. It is NOT that simple.

IF the person uses force to gain entrance or uses stealth to enter through a window or door, perhaps yes.

But remember, if someone walks through your unlocked front door, sits in your lazy-boy and starts drinking your beer, you (or your GF) cannot shoot him. Not even if he ignores your warnings to leave pronto. No "reasonable fear" present.

Sorry to say it, but a homelss bum who offers to help a woman carry groceries inside "for a quarter" who blocks the door from swinging closed and follows her inside does justify the use of lethal force to get him to leave or stop.

However, someone who kicks in your door, prys open a window or comes into the house with a weapon is a JHP target.

[chefdude]

5 words to answer your question

Krav
Maga
Or
A
.45

[Vanguard]

They don't send women to jail for shooting bad guys in their homes. Hell, they didn't even carry out the jail sentence for the pastor's wife who shot her husband while he slept because she said he had been abusing her.