Becareful when someone knocks on your door

[The Director]

I would argue that a larger number of people have been hurt or killed by far too many gun owners not having their firearms properly secured "stashed" in a safe because they were more concerned about the person outside than they were the people inside that they were attempting to protect, and a child or someone not intended to find the firearm gets shot or shoots another person with it.

I can say with all certainty that I hear about those tragic cases far more often than these home invasions.

uhmmmm......this kinda begs the question - who in your household have you not properly trained with firearms? Did you not tell your kids to not touch your guns, or educate them about firearm safety? How about your wife?

If you're to the point you don't need the firearms, fine. But to allude to the fact that someone in your household could get a hold of them and cause some accidental tragedy reeks of just as much negligence as the guy who was aiming his gun behind the curtains.

There are other options, too, like little biometric safes for quick access. Instead, you as the head of your family have decided that no one should be armed unless you say so, including your wife when you aren't around since everything is "safely locked away". That's your prerogative as well.

I guess you don't really care about shall issue CCW, huh? Just a hunch.

[Barney Gumble]

First of all thank you for posting your rationale.

I am not saying you can't use a gun to defend your family if someone were to kick your door in. If that makes you feel safe then you can certainly do as you please. I am saying that the ovewhelming amount of gun owners feel the same way you do and it is quite alarming to me. So no, I do not have an alternative answer for protecting you and your family if you truely are concerned about this happening.

I frankly can't relate to this. As I type this I am sitting in my easy chair with my back to my backyard window and yard, my wife is cooking some dinner (lucky me) my 16 year old is in the driveway working on his/my truck, and my 11 year old is in the (open garage) talking to my neighbor and her two kids.

Got it. My only critique here would be that if you haven't gone through the process of coming up with a plan yourself, you're not in a position to be calling other people paranoid having their own plan, just because their plan frightens you.

NOWHERE is a gun to be found but in my safe. #1) Just because of the kids I mentioned, since I would prefer they not have access to a firearm without my knowledge.#2) because I live in an area where I am comfortable with my surroundings and don't feel that this is necessary even though we have had two home invasion murders including Pamela Vitale (famous case) who lived just down the road from me. #3) I still believe in basic humanity that there are more good people than the ones you see or read about in the news. I do not feel the need to live like a prisoner in my own home.

You're like most people in that you're basically counting on luck and the good will of humanity for your safety. That will probably work out fine for you. The reason I don't approach it that way is the same reason I put on my seatbelt whenever I get in the car: just in case it doesn't work out, I'd rather be prepared.

Now let me ask you a couple of questions.

Question #1
Should I not allow my kids to go outfront (where the front door is) and do these things I describe unsupervised? I live on a court so I have no concerns about vehicle traffic.

I don't see anything wrong with that, and never suggested there was.

Question #2
Should I be sitting nearbly with my Corona (forgot to mention that) and a holstered weapon in the highly unlikely event that some rouge magazine salesman should happen by?

Sure if you're comfortable with that, and you're not out front unless you have a CCW permit.

Question #3

Should I lock my family down and not let them venture out in public without armed security?

No one suggested that and you're just being sarcastic for the sake of ridiculing others.

Question #4
Has our society broken down to the point that a simple family function can't be done without the presence of a firearm?

Nope, it can be done just fine, but I'm not sure what the harm is in someone having a firearm if they are responsible about it.

Question #5

When you sit "watching the boob tube" do you have your gun trained on the front door at all times? Ever fall asleep with the gun in your hand in your chair? Do you take it to the bathroom? When you are eating, do you have it on the dinner table or holstered on your body? I ask only to see what others do since I am possibly awaiting a disaster by not doing the same.

Nope. Again you're making up extreme examples that nobody here cited.

Here's my situation. I often work from home so I'm alone all day, and when I'm on the phone or listening to music I can't necessarily hear what's going on in the rest of the house. We have glass patio doors and it would be easy for someone to break in. So I either CCW or LOC during the day because by the time I realize someone's in the house it may be too late for me to run to the safe, dial the combination, and pull out my pistol. That said, if it's possible for me to avoid a confrontation by locking myself in my office and calling 911 that's what I'll do. I'm not looking for trouble but I'm ready to defend myself if necessary. I do train regularly and my pistol is always either in my holster or locked in the safe.

I don't feel the need to have a pistol on me 24/7. I don't have a CCW permit anyway and even at home, certain activities make it difficult or unsafe (such as playing with the kids). But when I can carry it safely and discreetly, I have it with me because it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

I'm not suggesting anyone get armed guards to follow them around everywhere. I'm not suggesting one keep a loaded firearm pointed at the door every single second, or sleep in a chair with a gun in your hand. I didn't see anyone else suggest that either so I don't know where you're getting that idea.

I ask these questions since the majority of gun owners in this forum feel differently than me and for that I am utterly amazed.Maybe my neighborhood (Mayberry RFD) is different than every body elses, but I have to believe that it is not the case.

Are there circumstances where your city or neighborhood may make you feel less safe? Possibly, and there may be the need to approach your daily activities differently.

When I read or see these terrible crimes happen I am saddened. I do not immediatley pull out my guns thinking that I am next. I have been labled as irresponsible for thinking this way. I just don't see it that way.

I don't know why you're so amazed given that you're in the midst of a bunch of gun enthusiasts. I think what you're seeing is that most gun owners learn to see firearms as tools that can be used responsibly for specific tasks. You seem to be more in fear of your firearms than most.

Whether you're irresponsible is a judgement I cannot make. You are certainly quick to judge others, but hopefully that will change. It sounds to me like you've looked at your situation and made the best decision you can based on what you're comfortable with. My own decision was that I'd feel pretty stupid if I needed a firearm to protect my family and I couldn't get to it.

[SarcoBlaster]

Thankfully, there's an ignore list for certain members...

[RickD6023]

I have a locked security door, a small window to look through to verify who is at the door and my G30 or G22 on my hip. It's a shame that we need to have this level of security in our homes.