Shoot or don't Shoot?

[mase1b]

As I read your scenario, there is ZERO justification for firing. Not only is there no indication that you are in danger, but you are outside your home AND not sure what your target is.

I suppose one way to handle it might be to just freeze (weapon at the ready, not pointed in), and explain that you are the homeowner, you believe there is an armed intruder, and you'll gladly comply once you verify that they are LEOs. But then you might have some testy cops on your hands.

[Press Check]

Going downstairs is the first mistake. Stay upstairs and maintain high-ground, a definite tactical advantage in a firefight or confrontation. Make an audible sound to either draw them upstairs, or to scare them away. Hopefully, the latter of the two, but regardless, never bring the fight to them. Make them bring the fight to you.

[lilro]

Wow, that's a terrible idea.

Maybe, but you don't live where I live and look how I look. I'm likely to be shot just for having a gun in my hands.

[Press Check]

Maybe, but you don't live where I live and look how I look. I'm likely to be shot just for having a gun in my hands.

Would you care to elaborate on that?

[lilro]

Would you care to elaborate on that?

Young and black in a not so friendly neighborhood. It's not the worse by far, but it's not great. I have a slight fear of LEO.

[Quiet]

If I am upstairs I'm not going down stairs to protect "stuff" I'm dialing 911 and waiting at the top of the stairs with my 12 guage until LEO's get there. I have insurance that will pay for new "stuff." People get to attached to their "stuff," like I told my ex in our divorce, "take what you want, everything can be replaced by bigger and better"

Now if someone comes up the stairs where the people I cherish and love are . . . they aren't gonna make it without a fight

[Ron-Solo]

Was the third guy blinded by a flashlight? And as I said, if faced with that scenario I would not go outside in the first place. If for whatever reason I find myself outside, armed, and blinded, I'm gonna try to get out of the path of the light so I can see, and make assessment from there.

And most criminals don't like witnesses. If I drop my weapon, I'd probably die. If I hold my weapon, I'd probably die, but I'd be able to atleast attempt to defend myself.

But this is a high stress situation I've never had to face. So there's really no telling how I'd respond.

High beams, spotlights, and flashlights on all.

[lilro]

High beams, spotlights, and flashlights on all.

Ahh well maybe I should consider your advice. I'm young. Not much life experience.

[voiceofreason]

Another +1

If your loved ones are all upstairs, call 911 and hold the staircase. No need to go out looking for trouble.

I am NOT a fan of barricading behind a door even though this is the standard advice. You lose eyes on the subject, you may be trapped, and the door isn't bulletproof. If you have a large family, getting everyone into the same room may be a long, noisy affair. Better to have others corral the kids into a room while the best shooter/tactician looks to secure as much ground as possible without leaving the home itself. Being trapped like rats in a room does not sound like a very good plan to me.

Better to try to hold the subject/s at a bottleneck like a specific entryway, staircase, or at least take a position from concealment which may give you an extra second to decide on shoot/no shoot.

I would rather stay in the home at a position holding 2 entryways than venture outside where I am the one coming out of a fatal funnel.

Ultimately, it depends on the specific circumstances of the scenario. Nothing is set in stone.

Just my $0.02

[adrenaline]

Sounds like a good investment for video monitoring equipment. I'd probably grab my pistol and head to the computer to check things out, observe, and call 911.

Oh and if you are going out with a flashlight. Maybe invest in a light with very high output. You can have a flashlight showdown.

You: Lower your light.
Flashlight Person: NO...you lower your light.
You: No....YOU lower YOUR light.

(repeat for the next hour)....realize its the cable guy. LOL

[brassburnz]

Ah, more Sunday morning fun and games from someone with a post count < 10. First of all, have you learned nothing from the plight of George Zimmerman. Running around with a gun LOOKING for trouble, even if it's in your own backyard is a foolish thing to do. Why expose yourself and more importantly your family to danger?

If your door is closed, keep it closed. If trouble is downstares (sic), stay upstairs.

I've had a bang on the front door at 3 in the morning. The voice behind the door said he was the police and asked if I owned a certain car parked on the street. It could have been a home invasion, but he was banging on the door loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood. It turned out to be legit, but the entire time I didn't open the door.

[Mr. Gillious]

you hit them over the head and call ZED

-or-

you be like the guy all the way on the right of my signature

[voiceofreason]

Your in your home at night watching the news. The're talking about arm home invasion robberies and you hear a sound down stares or in you backyard you grab you AR/Shoot gun/Handgun/trebuchet and flashlight to go check it out. You make it to your back porch and boom your hit with one of those 500 lune flashlights and hear a man's voice say "Police drop your weapon!". But you can't see who said this only a light.

Just sharing a personal opinion, but I don't believe in using a light that's over 120 lumens.

Too much spill and I'm not looking to light up the whole room including my partner somewhere behind me.

I prefer 60, 120 tops. It doesn't take much to blind someone.

[Jack L]

Listen to Ron-Solo, the voice of experience and reason if you want to have the best outcome of your scenario.

[trew10]

If I am upstairs I'm not going down stairs to protect "stuff" I'm dialing 911 and waiting at the top of the stairs with my 12 guage until LEO's get there. I have insurance that will pay for new "stuff." People get to attached to their "stuff," like I told my ex in our divorce, "take what you want, everything can be replaced by bigger and better"

Now if someone comes up the stairs where the people I cherish and love are . . . they aren't gonna make it without a fight

+1 well said!