Home & Personal Safety & Protection

theoddz · 08-02-2011, 03:08 PM

Hey there Novela!! Great idea for a thread.

I have a relatively large house (4 BR) and I live by myself. I live in a good neighborhood (by Las Vegas standards) that has had, historically, a low level of criminal activity. By and large, though, Las Vegas has a bad reputation for crime and we truly are "Sin City", in every way you could imagine. The city and culture caters to just about every vice you can imagine. If you want examples, just turn your television on to the show "Cops". Las Vegas makes frequent appearances on there.

So, back to your question. When I first bought my house in 2003, I immediately got hooked up with a monitored security system, which I still have. I have mixed feelings on how effective I think "those people" are. About 3 years ago, the wind blew my front doors (french doors) open at around 0230 in the morning and it set my alarm off, nearly scaring the boxers right off of me, as I was sound asleep at the time. The alarm tech called me and asked if I was okay, then told me "Well, I can call 911 for you, but they'd probably respond faster if YOU called them." Ya, this while my house alarm is going off and I'm thinking that someone has broken into my house and is going to come into my bedroom at any second and shoot me.

Anyway, it is at times like that when I rely on my secondary security system.....a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 with a 4 inch barrel and hollow point rounds. It can shoot through a door, if need be. The reason I own this weapon is because, even though I have a monitored security system, there is a LOT that can happen between the time that the system is triggered and the time that the police arrive. I want the option of being able to protect my person if it comes to that. Here in the State of Nevada, the law says that a person is permitted to defend themselves, but not their property. The only time you can shoot and/or kill an intruder is when you have a reasonable belief that your life is being threatened by them. Just them being in your home is not legal grounds for shooting or killing them. You have to have reasonable belief that they mean to harm YOU, not steal your property. So, my plan is as follows......

If my alarm system is triggered, or an intruder breaks into my home, I will grab my .38 and lock myself in my bedroom. If the intruder breaks into my bedroom or attempts to break the door down, I can reasonably assume that he/she is there to physically threaten my life and/or my person and I am prepared to shoot to kill....even through the door.

That said, I do want to point out that I am a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and I have had extensive training with firearms. It's been years since I was on active duty in the Corps, but the training has stayed with me. I go to the pistol range every now and then and brush up. It's been a fun "hobby" of sorts, too, and may end up saving my life or someone else's life one day.

Now....THAT said, I do want to strongly caution those who have NOT had firearms training against buying a firearm for personal protection without taking at least a short class on firearms safety and/or how to handle a firearm. Special cautions also need to be taken if you're going to buy a firearm and you have children in your household. In other words, if you're going to own a firearm, be a responsible firearms owner and/or parent.

Good luck and stay safe out there.

~Theo~

suebee · 08-02-2011, 03:12 PM

Four dogs. Three bark loudly and the fourth would surely whine them into submission.

Novelafemme · 08-02-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoddz

Hey there Novela!! Great idea for a thread.

I have a relatively large house (4 BR) and I live by myself. I live in a good neighborhood (by Las Vegas standards) that has had, historically, a low level of criminal activity. By and large, though, Las Vegas has a bad reputation for crime and we truly are "Sin City", in every way you could imagine. The city and culture caters to just about every vice you can imagine. If you want examples, just turn your television on to the show "Cops". Las Vegas makes frequent appearances on there.

So, back to your question. When I first bought my house in 2003, I immediately got hooked up with a monitored security system, which I still have. I have mixed feelings on how effective I think "those people" are. About 3 years ago, the wind blew my front doors (french doors) open at around 0230 in the morning and it set my alarm off, nearly scaring the boxers right off of me, as I was sound asleep at the time. The alarm tech called me and asked if I was okay, then told me "Well, I can call 911 for you, but they'd probably respond faster if YOU called them." Ya, this while my house alarm is going off and I'm thinking that someone has broken into my house and is going to come into my bedroom at any second and shoot me.

Anyway, it is at times like that when I rely on my secondary security system.....a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 with a 4 inch barrel and hollow point rounds. It can shoot through a door, if need be. The reason I own this weapon is because, even though I have a monitored security system, there is a LOT that can happen between the time that the system is triggered and the time that the police arrive. I want the option of being able to protect my person if it comes to that. Here in the State of Nevada, the law says that a person is permitted to defend themselves, but not their property. The only time you can shoot and/or kill an intruder is when you have a reasonable belief that your life is being threatened by them. Just them being in your home is not legal grounds for shooting or killing them. You have to have reasonable belief that they mean to harm YOU, not steal your property. So, my plan is as follows......

If my alarm system is triggered, or an intruder breaks into my home, I will grab my .38 and lock myself in my bedroom. If the intruder breaks into my bedroom or attempts to break the door down, I can reasonably assume that he/she is there to physically threaten my life and/or my person and I am prepared to shoot to kill....even through the door.

That said, I do want to point out that I am a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and I have had extensive training with firearms. It's been years since I was on active duty in the Corps, but the training has stayed with me. I go to the pistol range every now and then and brush up. It's been a fun "hobby" of sorts, too, and may end up saving my life or someone else's life one day.

Now....THAT said, I do want to strongly caution those who have NOT had firearms training against buying a firearm for personal protection without taking at least a short class on firearms safety and/or how to handle a firearm. Special cautions also need to be taken if you're going to buy a firearm and you have children in your household. In other words, if you're going to own a firearm, be a responsible firearms owner and/or parent.

Good luck and stay safe out there.

~Theo~

Thank you, Theoddz, and I couldn't agree more about adequate training. Interesting gun choice as that is pretty much the exact firearm I have been contemplating.

I have always lived under the precept that by bringing a gun into my home I am inviting negative/dangerous energy my way. I also have a dog that sounds like 50 wild pitbulls ready to attack when she senses danger. But, I also have two little girls to protect and lately my little world hasn't felt as safe as I'd like it to. Just yesterday I drove by a Jack In The Box that was completely surrounded by TPD officers. Turned out that an elderly man was shot point blank by another driver for moving to slowly. I know there isn't much one can do in road-rage situations, but if someone enters my home (for whatever reason) I want to have a plan of action in place.

Cowboi · 08-02-2011, 04:48 PM

My alarm system, .....My 10 pound Weenie dog, Scout.
Remington 870 pump with a 20 inch barrel.

suebee · 08-02-2011, 05:26 PM

I've gotta say that guns don't even come into mind when I think about home security. It's more like: "I wonder where the key to my front door is?" No - seriously! Four dogs in the house somebody'd have to be a FOOL to come in! And never mind the parrots! I have a baseball bat next to the front door, but that's more in case of a four-legged kind of intruder. The thieves that got some of my chickens Saturday night - we joked that if I'd run out totally nekkid that it would probably be more deadly than anything else I could have done to them! lol

Gun control laws are pretty strict here in Canada, and I'm just fine with that. Living on the border I see a story nearly every week of an American who tries to cross into Canada without declaring a hand gun. I live in a reasonably safe part of the world, and am not really able physically to engage in hand-to-hand. So I rely on deterrence: I make sure the yard is well-lighted, have a phone handy, know my neighbours' phone numbers off by heart, and have my car alarm button by the bed in case of emergency. My neighbours know that that's the sign that something's wrong. There may come a time when I need something more than that and don't have it - I hope not. But I'm living my values. I believe the availability of hand guns serves to encourage a climate of violence. I'm not saying you don't have the right to protect yourself according to the laws of YOUR land. Just that I'm quite happy to live where I do and in the type of climate we have here.

Sue

Rockinonahigh · 08-02-2011, 03:39 PM

When I bought my house it already had an alarm system installed,I contenued the service after purchaseing the house,sofar the folks have been good about contacting me if needed, even at work.Out in the yard I have sensor alarm that serounds the first 100 ft of my back yard as well as the first 50 ft of my frount yard and carport.Only on rare occasions has anything set the paremiter alarm on in the back but several times in the frount and carport wich also lights up and says 'you are in a restricted area and are being recorded'..also the mounted cam is still up out side all around the house and all doors leading in or out of the house.No im not that much conserned but the folks I bought the place from had been vandalised before and were paranoid about safty.What I count on is my two fur kids who where not large sound like they weigh 100 pounds or more,My son retired from the special forces Black Knights division,so im not over woried about anything going on hear.I do own a fue wepons from when I did some hunting years back so im a crack shot with a gun and amore than passable user of a bow if neded.

Liam · 08-02-2011, 04:30 PM

I have a vicious poodle, who did prevent someone from entering the house, after they had broken into the garage, a few years ago.

08-02-2011, 03:08 PM	#1
theoddz Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Cranky Old Poop Preferred Pronoun?: Mr. Beast Relationship Status: Married to a beautiful babe whom I don't deserve. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,547 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,163 Thanked 9,937 Times in 2,514 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Hey there Novela!! Great idea for a thread. I have a relatively large house (4 BR) and I live by myself. I live in a good neighborhood (by Las Vegas standards) that has had, historically, a low level of criminal activity. By and large, though, Las Vegas has a bad reputation for crime and we truly are "Sin City", in every way you could imagine. The city and culture caters to just about every vice you can imagine. If you want examples, just turn your television on to the show "Cops". Las Vegas makes frequent appearances on there. So, back to your question. When I first bought my house in 2003, I immediately got hooked up with a monitored security system, which I still have. I have mixed feelings on how effective I think "those people" are. About 3 years ago, the wind blew my front doors (french doors) open at around 0230 in the morning and it set my alarm off, nearly scaring the boxers right off of me, as I was sound asleep at the time. The alarm tech called me and asked if I was okay, then told me "Well, I can call 911 for you, but they'd probably respond faster if YOU called them." Ya, this while my house alarm is going off and I'm thinking that someone has broken into my house and is going to come into my bedroom at any second and shoot me. Anyway, it is at times like that when I rely on my secondary security system.....a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 with a 4 inch barrel and hollow point rounds. It can shoot through a door, if need be. The reason I own this weapon is because, even though I have a monitored security system, there is a LOT that can happen between the time that the system is triggered and the time that the police arrive. I want the option of being able to protect my person if it comes to that. Here in the State of Nevada, the law says that a person is permitted to defend themselves, but not their property. The only time you can shoot and/or kill an intruder is when you have a reasonable belief that your life is being threatened by them. Just them being in your home is not legal grounds for shooting or killing them. You have to have reasonable belief that they mean to harm YOU, not steal your property. So, my plan is as follows...... If my alarm system is triggered, or an intruder breaks into my home, I will grab my .38 and lock myself in my bedroom. If the intruder breaks into my bedroom or attempts to break the door down, I can reasonably assume that he/she is there to physically threaten my life and/or my person and I am prepared to shoot to kill....even through the door. That said, I do want to point out that I am a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and I have had extensive training with firearms. It's been years since I was on active duty in the Corps, but the training has stayed with me. I go to the pistol range every now and then and brush up. It's been a fun "hobby" of sorts, too, and may end up saving my life or someone else's life one day. Now....THAT said, I do want to strongly caution those who have NOT had firearms training against buying a firearm for personal protection without taking at least a short class on firearms safety and/or how to handle a firearm. Special cautions also need to be taken if you're going to buy a firearm and you have children in your household. In other words, if you're going to own a firearm, be a *responsible* firearms owner and/or parent. Good luck and stay safe out there. *~Theo~* __________________ *"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."* -- J. R. R. Tolkien

08-02-2011, 03:12 PM	#2
suebee Member How Do You Identify?: TOWANDA! Preferred Pronoun?: Queen Bee Relationship Status: Good 'n married. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Eastern Canada. But if I make a wrong turn at the lights I get stopped by a border guard. Posts: 1,499 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,355 Thanked 2,756 Times in 820 Posts Rep Power: 16450093	*Four dogs. Three bark loudly and the fourth would surely whine them into submission.* __________________ "Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." -Albert Schweitzer

08-02-2011, 04:48 PM	#4
Cowboi Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Relationship Status: Holding My Red Circle Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,811 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,051 Thanked 3,962 Times in 1,230 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	My alarm system, .....My 10 pound Weenie dog, Scout. Remington 870 pump with a 20 inch barrel. __________________ Let There Be Cowgirls

08-02-2011, 05:26 PM	#5
suebee Member How Do You Identify?: TOWANDA! Preferred Pronoun?: Queen Bee Relationship Status: Good 'n married. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Eastern Canada. But if I make a wrong turn at the lights I get stopped by a border guard. Posts: 1,499 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,355 Thanked 2,756 Times in 820 Posts Rep Power: 16450093	I've gotta say that guns don't even come into mind when I think about home security. It's more like: "I wonder where the key to my front door is?" No - seriously! Four dogs in the house somebody'd have to be a FOOL to come in! And never mind the parrots! I have a baseball bat next to the front door, but that's more in case of a four-legged kind of intruder. The thieves that got some of my chickens Saturday night - we joked that if I'd run out totally nekkid that it would probably be more deadly than anything else I could have done to them! lol Gun control laws are pretty strict here in Canada, and I'm just fine with that. Living on the border I see a story nearly every week of an American who tries to cross into Canada without declaring a hand gun. I live in a reasonably safe part of the world, and am not really able physically to engage in hand-to-hand. So I rely on deterrence: I make sure the yard is well-lighted, have a phone handy, know my neighbours' phone numbers off by heart, and have my car alarm button by the bed in case of emergency. My neighbours know that that's the sign that something's wrong. There may come a time when I need something more than that and don't have it - I hope not. But I'm living my values. I believe the availability of hand guns serves to encourage a climate of violence. I'm not saying you don't have the right to protect yourself according to the laws of YOUR land. Just that I'm quite happy to live where I do and in the type of climate we have here. Sue __________________ "Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." -Albert Schweitzer

08-02-2011, 04:30 PM	#7
Liam Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Guy Preferred Pronoun?: He, Him, His Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Evergreen State Posts: 2,269 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 14,865 Thanked 6,874 Times in 1,859 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	I have a vicious poodle, who did prevent someone from entering the house, after they had broken into the garage, a few years ago. __________________ <3 Love is weird.

08-02-2011, 03:39 PM	#6
Rockinonahigh Senior Member How Do You Identify?: stone butch Preferred Pronoun?: makes no diffrence,I know who I am. Relationship Status: single,maybe looking if the right person comes along. Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 4,907 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,682 Thanked 14,933 Times in 3,938 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	When I bought my house it already had an alarm system installed,I contenued the service after purchaseing the house,sofar the folks have been good about contacting me if needed, even at work.Out in the yard I have sensor alarm that serounds the first 100 ft of my back yard as well as the first 50 ft of my frount yard and carport.Only on rare occasions has anything set the paremiter alarm on in the back but several times in the frount and carport wich also lights up and says 'you are in a restricted area and are being recorded'..also the mounted cam is still up out side all around the house and all doors leading in or out of the house.No im not that much conserned but the folks I bought the place from had been vandalised before and were paranoid about safty.What I count on is my two fur kids who where not large sound like they weigh 100 pounds or more,My son retired from the special forces Black Knights division,so im not over woried about anything going on hear.I do own a fue wepons from when I did some hunting years back so im a crack shot with a gun and amore than passable user of a bow if neded.