Home defense philosophy...how far do you take it?

[Guest]

I know that most of us take everything on the internet with a grain of salt as it is the source of both infinate wisdom and ignorance. But more and more I am starting to hear things from peers that should be limited to the ramblings of a 14 year old airsoft troll.

I recently had a discussion with a fellow police officer about getting proper sleep for midnights being woke up by day-time solicitors at home. This officer then proceeded to tell me that their biggest grip was not being woken up, but that their significant other (another officer) was not present to run a "code red". Naturally, I asked: "what's code red?" "Code red" is any unplanned/unexpected visitor (who still knocks or rings the doorbell) and upon which both the front and back door are manned by one officer...gun in hand. The door with the visitor is then assessed for a threat and then either an all-clear or threat-at-door is indicated by any one of a pre-determined set of code words. I was too horrified to ask where their 2 children were during all of this.

I imagine my face was something along the lines of:

Here is the scene from clerks 2 if you need more explanation of the above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX01Lna0OI8

And this is not an isolated incident. I will never forget a conversation I had with an officer from a neighboring agency who reluctantly did not go to a beach while on vacation because he could not come up with a viable concealed carry solution.

These are two of my favorites. I won't poke too much fun at the cats who do slow, methodical, weapon-out searches of their homes everyday after work. Hell, i'm all for poking my head into every room when I get home from a long day to make sure nothing is broken, stolen, or otherwise messed with. But am I the only one that thinks that some of this stuff is a little.....extreme?

 

[Guest]

Re: Home defense philosophy...how far do you take it?

Bill,

I whole-heartedly agree with your evaluation. Those of us that see and do things that the general public is unaware of view things with a different perspective. The psychological impact is significant to those in high-stress ems or military jobs. That is a can of worms I don't wish to open up. The two cases I noted above both involve officers with less than 10 years experience, in relatively small departments and minimal experience with violent crime/forcable felonies. But my ultimate question is this:

How far is too far? Where is the line between the paranoya and preparation?

I know to me, the line is drawn just before my mental well-being/quality of life and the safety of innocent civilians. For example: I choose to keep a loaded 1911 next to my bed. I would like to have it accessable and in condition one (note: I have no children in the house). However, due to strange sleeping behaviors and nightmares that have accrued over recent years, I don't feel comfortable with the weapon so accessable. Now I leave it condition 3 and in a holster because the safety of my wife (whom I sleep with nightly) trumps that of unlikely but still possible intruder. Not the most ideal situation, but it's the decision I have reached. I have begun to wonder of other people even consider factors of this nature.

 

[BAMCIS]

Re: Home defense philosophy...how far do you take it?

4th generation...my Grandfather used to meet uninvited guests/solicitors with a shotgun in his hand and a .45acp Colt tucked behind his back.
Open the top half door and tell them in no uncertain terms to get off his property.
Never once did I see him show the shotgun.
Growing up my Father made sure I knew where things were,if needed.
You can call it paronoid,I perfer to error on the side of safty.

Situational awareness is 24/7,wether walking the beat or in your home.

 

[Shibumi]

Re: Home defense philosophy...how far do you take it?

A common tactic for a burglar is to first knock on targets door, and pose as solicitor or such. If nobody answers, then the owner is not home, move on to entry.

Cops have a "Job", but unfortunately, when you are off duty, nobody else cares, and you still have to deal with aholes from your last shift.
We just had a Las Vegas Metro cop shot and killed in a shootout in his own garage. The shitheads who did it were part of a group sworn to kill LE. They knew the address, the location, and 3 African American members of this group shot and killed the Metro officer.
I like to be prepared and not need it, than be needing it and not have it. How far you need to go to feel secure is up to you, but you will answer for every use of force you deploy.

Home invasions WERE rising rapidly in Vegas,...until the invaders were getting regularly shot by homeowners. For some reason they dropped off rapidly.

 

[HotIce]

Re: Home defense philosophy...how far do you take it?

I've seen another tactic, mostly from pikies.
They go around and stick random leaflets on main doors in good residential areas.
They swing by the days after and watch which doors still have the leaflet stuck.
Those are houses where nobody was at home in the past days, which makes it potential target.
Then they send minors (< 14y old) to break into the houses, so that police can do nothing about it.

 

[FNARSHOOTER]

Re: Home defense philosophy...how far do you take it?

My thinking tends to go with the better safe than sorry mind set.I think if they make it past the electric fence and the guard dogs(trained to not bark) they are a danger to me and mine. ALL friends/family know to call first even if it's from right outside the gate.We swim in lake at home so beach is not an issue.Infact we avoid public gatherings all together too many bodys to watch at one time.When public interaction is unavoidable CC is always a must.They have a word for the unprepared it's called victim.
Scot