Neighbor got b & e'd

[HP2]

Agreed on the dog approach. Noise is a big deterent to a casual break and enter.

I'd also go shotgun over a handgun for household protection. If by some chance you miss the perp with that handgun, where is that bullet going stop? Your house walls, your neighbors house walls, or maybe something inside their place that finally stops it? Hope it isn't your neighbor or someone important to them that provides that backstop. Like horsepower, penetrating power is sexy, but what are the practical limits of it in home defense?

[cudabeforeIdie]

Gun control is hitting your target,  2 to the chest, one to the head

Mozambique!!!

Love the Navy ref's too.

[cudabeforeIdie]

You just made me miss my old presa

I'm sorry honey, no ill intent intended. Hope I brought back GOOD memories! Those are special dogs, beginners need not apply!

[cudabeforeIdie]

Agreed on the dog approach. Noise is a big deterent to a casual break and enter.

I'd also go shotgun over a handgun for household protection. If by some chance you miss the perp with that handgun, where is that bullet going stop? Your house walls, your neighbors house walls, or maybe something inside their place that finally stops it? Hope it isn't your neighbor or someone important to them that provides that backstop. Like horsepower, penetrating power is sexy, but what are the practical limits of it in home defense?

Shotguns have a visual tactical advantage in a one-on-one situation... nothing like a 12 gauge mouth, preferably in stainless, twinkling in the moonlight! The problem is even the smaller "riot guns" are still large and clumsy, have a blinding flash in a low light situation and are not synomymous with rapid accurate follow up shots, if necessary. One should never attempt to 'clear' their own house, but there are some us who would try. I trained police in house/building clearing for 12 years. "I" wouldn't attempt to clear my own house, and furniture is placed to prevent anyone from 'hiding'. I know how the responding officers are trained, I probably trained their trainers. And a shotgun is the LAST gun you'd try to clear a house with. Always best to snap off the safety, dial 911 from your 'safe place' and wait for the good guys to show up and find you. Of course if the bad guys find you first, and your phone is of course still connected to the local constabulary, you needn't issue a warning before engaging.... but you'll get style points if you do. And your lawyer will love you for it!

Over penetration is always an issue with a missed shot. So, practice and don't take the shot if you can't make the shot. Only competitive shooting will show you your limits. You can punch holes in paper all day on the range, until you're "under pressure" you have no idea how well you will or won't shoot if you're Condition Black. I have a winter and summer choice of ammo for my main carry gun. I even have preferences for evening attire preferring a low flash load. Bad guys are wearing leather or down in the winter, you have to be able to punch through that and have an impact. Paradoxically in the summer the bad guys are in tshirts or light jackets, no need for as much energy and a greater chance of over penetration. Every gun is different, internal pressure will differ through a host of guns in the same caliber, research your own weapon thoroughly before choosing the appropriate anti-personal ammunition. And take that gun to competitions, regularly.

[GranCuda1970]

Very informative post spoken like a true RSO trainer. 

[HP2]

Yes, and I agree with it. However, not everyone who runs out to buy a gun for personal defense is going to take the time and put the thought in to that type of analysis. The last thing I  want is an errant bullet entering my house because someone in my neighborhood didn't take the time to train themselves. Like so many other things inlife, I'm less worried about MY approach and reaction to such a situation than I am others reaction.

Shotguns also have a huge auditory advantage over other arms. The simpe act of chambering a shell will put even the most hardened perp on their toes or send them fleeing.

[NCtrueconservative]

One of my neighbors is in Texas this week for his son's wedding, so I've been feeding their dog in the morning and turning on their carport light at night. Went over to flip the light on tonight and noticed the door into the house was open and the light was on inside. I quietly walked out of their driveway and called a neighbor who is a cop who came to take a look. I got to see him do his cop thing and we found that the kitchen window had been damaged and they got in that way.
I've been planning on getting a 4 camera video system with NVG for the last week and I think it might just be time to pick it up this week. I'm also going to look into a handgun for protection since I've got cars that people expect to be expensive and some electronics that I don't plan on parting with involuntarily.
Our neighborhood is normally pretty quiet and snoopy, but I think today we all dropped the ball.

A gun in hand is better than a cop on the phone 

[06Daytona]

I'm working on the first line of defense right now. I'm putting burglar bars over 4 windows at the back of my house that aren't visible from any of my neighbors houses. I'm also putting a security gate around the landing outside my front door. The front door and the two small windows beside it are all plate glass, so they and the back windows are the most likely points of entry. The houses in Puerto Rico are generally built of concrete and brick, so there's little chance of stray rounds getting out that way but windows are a possibility. A fire arm is going to be the last line of defense when running and hiding, dogs, pepper spray and anything else I can throw at burglars has failed. I'm not going into this thinking it's going to be a video game or a t.v show, I understand the consequences of having to shoot or shoot at someone. The firearm laws in Puerto Rico are almost the same as those in Canaduh although you aren't looked at as a criminal here if you have a registered weapon. The only people who can legally carry here are the police, security etc but all my neighbors have registered weapons for home defense.

[cudabeforeIdie]

Yes, and I agree with it. However, not everyone who runs out to buy a gun for personal defense is going to take the time and put the thought in to that type of analysis. The last thing I  want is an errant bullet entering my house because someone in my neighborhood didn't take the time to train themselves. Like so many other things inlife, I'm less worried about MY approach and reaction to such a situation than I am others reaction.

Shotguns also have a huge auditory advantage over other arms. The simpe act of chambering a shell will put even the most hardened perp on their toes or send them fleeing.

1) there's nothing you can do to protect yourself at home or on the street against someone who hasn't put a reasonable amount of training into their firearm.

2) if you're loading a gun at the moment you need it, you're already too late. Full mag, one in the hole, safety on. You wouldn't put batteries into your smoke detector at the moment you think there's a fire now would you?  <g>

[cudabeforeIdie]

I'm working on the first line of defense right now. I'm putting burglar bars over 4 windows at the back of my house that aren't visible from any of my neighbors houses. I'm also putting a security gate around the landing outside my front door. The front door and the two small windows beside it are all plate glass, so they and the back windows are the most likely points of entry. The houses in Puerto Rico are generally built of concrete and brick, so there's little chance of stray rounds getting out that way but windows are a possibility. A fire arm is going to be the last line of defense when running and hiding, dogs, pepper spray and anything else I can throw at burglars has failed. I'm not going into this thinking it's going to be a video game or a t.v show, I understand the consequences of having to shoot or shoot at someone. The firearm laws in Puerto Rico are almost the same as those in Canaduh although you aren't looked at as a criminal here if you have a registered weapon. The only people who can legally carry here are the police, security etc but all my neighbors have registered weapons for home defense.

Don't forget good outside flood lighting that's motion sensor activated, that's huge.  NEVER use spray in your house, you'll gas yourself. I'm an OC instructor too. You have to be careful using gas on the street, you have to be up wind!! I carry gas in addition to a firearm, 10% OC with dye marker.

[06Daytona]

Already had floods when I bought the house. I have two orders for burglar bars from neighbors already for windows that can't be seen by other neighbors. And one of my other neighbors wants me to install a camera system once I've found a good one for my house. It looks like I might be building the controlled access for our neighborhood too since I can weld and can wire the system up.