mistercmk. good point, you said it better than I did. Keeping a loaded gun at the ready is dangerous. I do keep my mossbergs magazine full, but none in the chamber. You have to depress a small button to release the slide. It is doubtful that anyone would ever figure it out if they weren't shown. My kids are all scared to death of that gun and wouldn't touch it. Plus they have all seen what it can do.

 

tominator
You had better check with local law enforcement on shooting someone outside your home. All 50 states currently provide for the "castle defense". That simply means if they are inside your home, you have no where to retreat to, and you can use deadly force. There are a few states, Texas, Wyoming and a couple others I can't recall offhand, that do allow you to use deadly force in defense of property.

I live in Virginia and if you go outside to confront the guys stealing your car and they turn on you with a gun and you shoot them in "self defense" you will most likely be receiving three hots and a cot from the state for some period of time. Of course, if you went out the to get your cd case from the seat and just happened to encounter some perps and you happened to be armed well that could be a different story. However, I would not want to rely on getting the "right" jury in an that situation. So I won't go outside, that's what the two rather large dogs are for.

Also should you shoot and the perp runs outside and expires in the yard, that's fine. Should you shoot the perp and they fall outside the window or door, that's fine. Forensics can determine where everyone was at the time you shot. In other words, if you've heard to go drag the perp back in the house don't do it. Forensics will detect an altered crime scene and then you will be in trouble.

Unless you've been to training on house clearing I wouldn't do it. I'm not saying don't check things out, but the best thing you can do if you know someone is in your house is stay put and call the police. Yell, that you've called the police and you have a gun. Most perps will grab what they can and leave at this point. Some will want to force the confrontation, go figure.

 

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag loaded with 3 1/2 inch #5 shot xx Turkey Mags in the closet right next to my bed. I've seen what it can do to targets and turkeys, I can only imagine what a mess my house will be if someone ever breaks in while I am home.

 

sword

it can hang as a wall ornament
three or four key locations
in many rooms all kinds of different swords
it is always where you need it

nice and quiet

 

...Im with Theo 100% on this subject.
Education, training and practice will go a lot further than cowering in a corner hoping someone else will save ya (think "box cutter, plane load of passengers and twin towers)...
...That applies to children as well, remember folks if its hidden in the house, the kids can and will find it...there is no substitute for healthy respect.
...Few things aggravate me more than watching the Talking Heads on the local news babble on with a "Kinder, Gentler, Passive and more PC approach" to protecting yourself and loved ones from violent confrontations....
...But hey, If someone wants to be a sheep...er...victim, who am I to dissuade them....

(on edit)
...Also, at the risk of stepping on toes, every time this subject or similiar subjects come up, Im amazed at how many "killers" come out of the wood work......or should I say "would be killers".

 

My career has taught me many things, the most poignant being that if you expect decency and mercy from the bad guy, you are a total fool. Bad guys do not have any of either, and to be unarmed near one of them puts you in a very bad position. I have seen more action that the most of you put together, so am familiar with the problems that social decline can bring upon a nation. If the PC crowd wins, and convinces everyone to be unarmed, the criminal element will have a field day. Home invasion, a crime already common in today's society, will rapidly increase to epidemic proportions, as indeed it has in some municipalities.

If you have children and they do not know about Firearm Safety, then YOU are the problem. You are irresponsible and should not allowed to breed, because the fact that you have no weapons means NOTHING. Most accidental kid shootings take place where the shooter came from a different family. If your kids ignorance and fascination of guns is not addressed by YOU, they may come into contact with somebody else's gun, and kill somebody with it, by ignorant mistake. If that is ok by you, stay stupid.. If it is not get your kids educated FAST.

The worst Fad to hit society, ever, is the Politically Correct bunch of total fools. We are expected to behave in a manner not conducive to the human condition, and not mention things that may offend somebody else.. No longer should we try to control our tempers, People have to make sure they don't annoy us.. That is so messed up, it is unbelievable. Society is destroying itself in the mistaken belief that it is making it better. As the fools multiply and the able die of old age, watch for the increase in anti social activity that only a firearm can stop.

Theo

 

Just to second and maybe add to what Theo said. Look at England to see what a disarmed society looks like. The gun crime is out of control and their home invasion, not burglaries, home invasion when people are home, has tripled. They have created a society of victims and thugs. The thugs have guns and the victims don't. One of my British friends keeps a baseball bat in his bedroom. He told me the way it works if he kept it anywhere else he could go to jail if he used it on a home invader.

I don't have the luxury of living/working in a nice area with lots of cops and no crime, where is that anyway? We have street gangs(MS13, Crips etc.), motorcycle gangs(Pagans, HAs and HA affilites), and thugs. My cop friends have told me that if I am getting mugged or car jacked I had better fight. They have seen too many people who acquiesed get shot anyway.

willowbilly3
You may think your kids won't figure out how to use a shotgun. They will. Don't think fear will keep them at bay. Look how popular thrill rides and scary movies are, people love fear. I still remember the first time I was handed a shotgun. My dad and his brothers thought it would be funny because I had zero training on any firearm. Within a couple minutes I had it figured out. Every gun they handed me only took a couple minutes to figure out. I was 7 or 8 at the time. The reason why, is that kids will try every switch ****, button, and lever. They will try all the combinations of them as well. If the kid is physically strong enough they will do it.

Get a cheap stand up locker from Wal-Mart to store your shotgun in by your bed or in your closet. If you have a handgun get a "hand safe". Both should allow you quick enough access in time of need. I always hate to read about kids shooting kids and adults. When your kids are about 7-8 you can train them in firearms use. Until then use the Stop, Don't touch, go tell an adult training.

Everyone should make sure their kids understand if there is a gun present without an adult the kids need to leave the area and get an adult. My sister hates guns and won't have them in her house. I have taught her kids this mantra. Hopefully they'll never have to use it, but if in the situation I hope they will follow it.

BTW kids under age 8 shouldn't go to shooting ranges or shoot guns because of the risk of lead poisoning. At age 7 and below they are still very susceptible to the affects of lead poisoning.

 

Forgive me for not reading this whole thread before posting. I don't feel it is necessary to pass along a little golden wisdom after reading this.

"Do not buy a firearm for home protection."


Please, trust me on this; when the stink hits the fan if there is even a pause at the genetic level to get and use that gun in a TERMINAL MANNER you should seek an alternative source of protection.

Statistically speaking, there are two significant possibilities should you hesitate to shoot to kill "instantly":

#1 - you will be robbed anyway, and your weapon will wind up "on the street" where it can and very well MAY wind up costing (?more?) innocent lives.

#2 - It will be used against you in the robbery. And your family - too.

FWIW - I offer this as nothing but one man's informed opinion.

 

Personally we live in a small town where the chance of a burgler is very small. I would not hesitate to use a firearm. Many people I notice are saying the Kids would shoot themselves. All that I have to say is that you need to put it some where where children can't find it and teach them firearm safty from an early age and drill into them that handeling a firearm with out an adult around.

My suggestion for a defense gun would be a pistol or shot gun with a clip. This way it only takes you a couple seconds to load it so it doesn't need to be laying around the house loaded. The caliber is really more of a personal choice. Myself, I would opt for a .45 ACP loaded with hollow points. Plenty of knockdown power.

 

Informed?

The status quo gave us jet liners crashing into buildings and killing thousands!

Look at any credible statistics and you will find that resisting with EXTREME PREJUDICE works more times than ANY other response.

Why is it that there is much less crime in rural America than in the cities? More guns equals less crime is the simplistic and accurate response.

As found bt the supreme court, no officer of the law has a legal obligation to defend or protect you or your property from foul play.
I ask then, who will?

My son and daughter were shooting UZIs an AKs at age eight. They KNOW what a firearm is capable of and have no questions. They are loud and destructive. Knowledge and experience prevent accidents.

An armed society is a polite society...

Look at the UK, Australia and Canada to see what banning firearms leads to.

 

My 7 year old daughter is the youngest and the only one that hasn't been around guns much. She doesn't like the noise. The rest knew from a young age about gun safety.
I like the idea of a clip shotgun. I have always left the magazine full in case I needed the gun quick. If you have an empty gun it might as well be a stick. But I also like the sound of jacking a crtridge into the pump. If that doesn't send them packing yuo best be ready to shoot. That reminds me I still have my "bear" loads which I should change.

 

The whole "a gun in the nightstand will just get you killed" is just a bunch of nonsense the left has been feeding us. I understand, there are some total ***** out there who go out, buy a .44 magnum, load it up, and put it in the drawer and never practice with it or anything, but that is definitely the exception.
That having been said, someone would have to have some mighty sweet manuel dexterity to get to either of the firearms I keep at arm's reach at night. The 9mm Browning sleeps under the pillow, and my bed is against the wall, about 6" out, and the 12 guage stays in that space.
I do have a safe, and when daytime rolls around, I put the 9mm and the 12 in the safe, and pull out the .45 for day shift. I never leave guns, loaded or not, just laying around.
Just the other night, I awoke around 2:30ish in the AM to voices outside the window. Before I knew it, I was sitting up with the Browning in my hand, thumbing the safety off. I don't think I can practice it that smoothly, and that's not the first time I've awakened in the night and had the pistol out smoother and quicker than I thought I could do.

Now somebody mentioned a few posts back that they had a shotgun and their child was afraid of it. I sincerely hope that you mean you child respects the shotgun. If there is an actual fear there, then you haven't educated your child enough. He or she might as well have a fear of buses or washing machines, or any other machine that can kill or maim if used incorrectly.

 

If you really don't like or want a gun, just put a sign in your front yard: This is a gun free house. You will be PC.

 

The Law, I relize the source of the gun in the nightstand theory and was going to mention that but going a little deeper into that subject is another problem. I know several men including some in my family, that have insisted that their wives pack even though she is very uncomfortable with a gun. This is actually the same issue, people with guns that aren't familiar enough with them to even consider brandishing it in a situation. As you well know it needs to be a conditioned response when you pull it out and even then someone doesn't really know if they could pull the trigger on someone without that moments hesitation that could cost you your life.
And my daughter just doesn't like anything that makes noise. For now she knows that she is safe in her home because it is my duty to see that she is.

I haven't been to Billings in a few years, it must be getting to be a little rougher town than I remember. I moved out of Anchorage when all that got too close to my house back in 92. I had one friend that was working for Brinks that was shot in the head and killed while doing a stop at a grocery store. Then a driveby shooting of an innocent retarded guy that was just going after cigarettes, and I wasn't even in the worst part of town. That was 3 blocks from my shop/appartment.

 

if you are not absolutely confident about your ability with a firearm, you shouldn't be using it on anything other than a target.

my stepmother has had a CCW permit for years.
well, a couple years ago there was a loose dog attacking her goats, so she grabbed her 38
she wound up shooting a hole in the neighbors camper.

If you do get a firearm for home defense, I vote for a shotgun
if your wife is a small woman, maybe even a 20 guage
whatever you get, spend some time and get accurate with it
a hit from a .22 beats the hell out of a miss from a .44