Change your locks.
Don’t get a dog unless you want a dog as a pet AND you are willing and able to care for it properly.
If you are a novice, get some good instruction. Gun clubs often offer novice classes for which you need not even own a gun.
Try a variety of weapons, either at a rental range or by making friends with a gun owner or two. From there, you can start making decisions about the type of weapon that is best for you.
Disregard everything about guns you ever saw in movies or on TV.
Don’t take legal advice from Internet discussion boards, especially this one. Learn your state and local laws.
Good luck.
A Glock 17 with night sights and hollowpoint rounds is my pistol of choice. I keep it loaded but without a bullet in the chamber. Rack the slide and it’s ready, I think that’s the best compromise of it being reasonably safe to have in an accessible location and yet can be made ready to fire very quickly if you know how.
Luckily I doubt I’ll ever use it for anything but target practice.
I concur. This is the best advice here. Also learn your local laws regarding self defense. Once you have chosen your weapon, get to know it. In other words practice often. My colleague - a librarian who is in her 60s - consulted my son for advice on what type of gun to buy. He encouraged her to visit the range often and borrow their guns in order to know what feels right for her. She also went out with him to a quarry and shot his guns. She took a class and handled/shot many guns before making her final decision. She now has her concealed carry license and goes out often to practice and have fun with her new and first gun.
If you go the gun route, you’lll need to commit yourself to sufficient training to be able to safely use it, effectively enough to win a firefight against an assailant in a life and death confrontation.
Many, maybe most, of the vocal advocates of armed preparedness have already logged hundreds if not thousands of hours of gun handling, and can thereby assert their expertise… Are you willing to do that?
Sorry, forgot to mention that I bolded thatguyjeff’s first paragraph.
I was in the Army once. Out of curiosity, what *is *the logic behind a pistol versus an AR for home defense? I mean, I don’t recall having a whole lot of trouble swinging my m16 around in urban combat training. It’s got a long barrel but it’s not really a problem. And yeah, I would personally be able to load and operate that thing blindfolded. Could almost disassemble the bolt carrier blind, even today.
As a side note, I don’t have one. I would only buy one if I had to move to a bad area of town. I believe the statistics, someone living in an average area is going to be better served not having a gun. If burglars come, get out the window and run away. Who cares what stuff they take, just buy insurance. With insurance and plenty of money in the bank to pay the deductible and online digital backups of important documents and any work files, you don’t really have anything you can’t easily replace…
None of this is strictly true. A 12 gauge shotgun firing non-magnum loads has some recoil but even the eight-year-old me had no problem handling it, and going to a 20 gauge or .410 for a lighter framed person addresses recoil issues. The muzzle flash is not ‘blinding’ even from an 18 inch barrel. No one but you suggested that one does not need to aim a shotgun, but having a long signt radius and stock (and all shotguns should have a full stock, not a pistol grip) does make it significantly easier to aim. The biggest problem with using a shotgun is working the pump action, but this is learnable with a few range sessions, or you can select an automatic loading shotgun (although with higher cost and reduced reliability).
The four rules of firearms safety:
[ol]
[li]All guns are always loaded.[/li][li]Never let the muzzle cover anything you are unwilling to destroy.[/li][li]Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target.[/li][li]Know your target and what is behind it.[/li][/ol]
You should be able to recite and explain these rules before you ever pick up a firearm. If you do not violate them, you will not have an “accident” or as we call them, a negligent discharge (ND).
Yes, strong emotions and firearms do not go well together, and the o.p., clearly written in understandable anger over being burgled, is not entirely rational. If you want a firearm for home defense and to protect your person and family, that is entirely justifiable. If you are thinking you are going to rush out with a firearm and shoot someone vandalizing your car, that is not. The consequences for you will be far more than just having to pay for a broken window even if shooting someone to defend your property is legal in your state. In many states, even displaying a firearm in a threatening fashion toward someone who is not posing a hazard to yourself or other people is a felony offense. If you do elect to purchase a firearm, please acquaint yourself with its operation, take at least a basic firearms safety and marksmanship class, read up on your state laws on self-defense, storage, and transportation of firearms, and purchase a gun safe or other enclosure to securely store the firearm. And don’t take anyone’s advice, online or in person, about what you should buy or how you can legally use it without doing adequate research yourself.
A medium to large dog is a far better home defense system than a firearm and also provides companionship, but only if you are wiling to spend the time training and caring for the animal. If you are not, buy a security system–you can purchase good security systems with Internet-accessible camera feeds for a few hundred dollars and install it yourself…some insurers will even give you a rebate for doing so–and reinforce your windows and door frames, which can be done easily and inexpensively.
Stranger
Yeah…have plenty of money. It’s just that easy.
The deductible is $500. I have a job that I got with a 4 year degree from a state school that pays $70k. So we’re not talking living it up with servants and caviar here. Just a position in the rapidly shrinking middle class.
WTF? Someone invades your home so you should just climb out a window and run away? Even if you do have “insurance and plenty of money in the bank”, the effort and cost to deal with the consequences of robbery is not inconsiderable, and someone who is so brazen as to enter your home while it is occupied is unlikely to simply be content with stealing a television and leaving quietly.
What about your family, pets, or unreplaceable items of sentimental value?
There is a difference between arming yourself and looking for a fight, and preparing yourself for the (admittedly unlikely) incidence of home invasion or threat against your person. The former is for chuckleheads with no thought to the consequences. The latter is for adult human beings who recognize that they are primarily responsible for their own safety and security regardless of what kind of neighborhood they live in or how well funded their police department.
Stranger
1 have one question for you
If i come up on you, no matter if i am male or female, no matter if i am 15 or 150, Can you pull the trigger?
If the answer is not yes, with out hesitating, you may not want to get a gun for home protection.
If you can not shoot it, with out hesitation, it may wind up being the thing that kills you instead of saving you.
Also, shotguns and rifles are horrible terrible for home invasion defense.
They are only good if you have advanced notice and have time and room to wield something the length of a baseball bat.
They are no good in situations where you have little to no time to react.
A pistol is small, needs little to no room to deploy, can be hidden etc.
And you do not need a 44 magnum, in fact i recommend against one, they go through multiple walls with ease, and time to putting 2nd shot on target is going to be horrible for the average person.
But again, do not get anything if you can not positively with out hesitation fire it.
Otherwise it might just be used to kill you instead.
Typically the cons of a long gun are that you can’t wield them with one hand which prevents operation of a flashlight, a phone, or even a door handle. They are also potentially heavier and more difficult to wield by other members of the household. Let alone a one size shotgun may not be suitable for shorter members of the house. They also take more effort to secure and typically use more expensive ammunition which is a training deterrent. Ultimately it’s a personal preference and the best firearm is the one you have when you need it.
ARs also have some legality issues in various states.
I’m of the opinion that a $500 deductible for home insurance is much too low. Your annual premium bakes that in and you’d likely save money by going to a higher deductible. Given the penchant of insurance companies to cancel your policy if you make too may claims (could be one), it’s often inadvisable to make a claim for $600. If that’s the case, your low deductible is costing you more than it gains.
Not to speak for Flyer, but yes it does depend upon where you are. And here is an actual law, in the quote.
Here is a recent case in Oregon where a guy was on foot, had an argument with a couple guys in a car. One of the guys in the car threatened the guy on foot with a gun, and he responded by shooting at the car as it was driving away.
One guy dead, one injured in the car, unanimous decision by the grand jury that the shooter was justified because he feared for his life. No charges for the shooting, but he wasn’t supposed to be carrying a gun so there will be a little wrist slapping for that.
http://www.kptv.com/story/35127084/deadly-salem-shooting-deemed-self-defense-by-grand-jury
Remember to state that you were in fear for your life, or to protect the life of others. Then shoot them.
Disclaimer: I have not yet read the thread.
Home defense is more than just a weapon. It’s a whole suite of preparedness and steps and attitudes. Equipment is almost the last step in the process.
Assess the threat: What kind of risk do you face? Robbery? Home invasion? Vandalism? Floods? Tornadoes? Fire? Extended power outages? Yes, weather conditions and other issues are part of the mindset. How long does it take for emergency services to respond to your location?
Gearing up for the Zombie Apocalypse isn’t going to do you much good if your house blows away in a hurricane - or is flooded out.
Prioritize the threat: What’s more likely? Malcolm McDowell going all “Clockwork Orange” on your ass, or the creek rising over the banks? Plan accordingly.
Plan. Plan most, and in most detail, for the most likely threats, of course. This includes contact numbers, emergency services, etc. Ask other folks to poke holes in your plans. Fix the holes.
Equip yourself for your plans: This is where you’d be selecting a weapon, if your plans call for one. But this also includes batteries, water, food, lanterns, submersable pumps, insurance riders, fire extinguishers (which can be a very credible home defense weapon, BTW), and such.
Practice: Plans and equipment are pointless and maybe even harmful if you’re not sure where things are, how they work, and have run through them a few times.
OK: NOW: Handgun or not Handgun. I don’t know - I don’t know your situation, skills, threats, or plans.
Some considerations:
[ul]
[li]Handguns are maneuverable[/li][li]Handguns are able to be used one-handed[/li][li]Handguns are weak - not even the most powerful handgun is going to match agood shotgun.[/li][li]Handguns are inaccurate - short sight radius, and only one or at most two points of body contact.[/li][/ul]
Long guns also have some considerations:
[ul]
[li]Long guns are powerful - this is good and bad.[/li][li]Long guns are accurate.[/li][li]Long guns are intimidating.[/li][li]Long guns generally need both hands.[/li][/ul]
Me? I’m armed to the teeth - but that’s because I’m a collector, not because I’m ready to go to war. My primary method of defense is deterrence - I have BIG dogs )and yes- one of them WILL put his teeth into a human - which is less common than you’d think), they’re LOUD, and the whole neighborhood knows they’re present. Plus, they make themselves known to anyone whom approaches the house - even if the visitor was previously unaware.
Intruders and punks stay away.
Mostly, though, I expect my dogs to warn me, or whomever is home, then fade back and let humans solve the problem. which is perfect in my opinion. The kind of people who will confront an alerted home occupant are the only kind of people I’m worried about having to shoot - and those folks are *vanishingly *rare where I live.
Also the liability issue of over-penetration. Depending on where you live, a bullet could easily enough find its way somewhere you don’t want it to be - Even .22lr bullets can over-penetrate, under the right circumstances.
DING! Yes, we have a winner - Set your deductable at $2000, set aside $2000 somewhere you’re not going to touch it, and take the savings on your premiums. In the long run it’s much less hassle, and will eventually save you money in the longer run.
Have been around guns/weapons all my life.
As a child in a house with loaded guns. ( 7 children in all )
Military
I have had my own guns since I was 14.
Guns as a husband & father.
Guns now as an old man with a wife who is more willing to shoot people than I am.
CCW for both of us as soon as they were available to us.
Been listening to and participating in the ‘discussion’ for as long as I can remember.
So I do it my way.
Things that never seem to come up much but IMO/experience are very important.
A) Never killed anything with or without a weapon that you did not want or mean to kill. Mom said to never kill a bluebird or mockingbird as they were her her favorites. (First bird I personally killed was with my first Daisy BB gun the first time I was in a place to shoot safely and it was a blue bird.) I have never forgotten that. {Can you actually kill a human?}
B) One of the reason that many house wives don’t shoot home invaders is because they are afraid of making the mess.
Put a 3/4 full 5 gal bucket of sand near the front door and then have them shoot into the bucket with the weapon they ‘should’/‘will’ be armed with. This gets them over the mess or damage to their home that is surprisingly difficult for surprisingly many women who are not normally ‘shooters’. If you have never been in an closed space when gun goes off, many people are so surprised and the ears hurt so much they totally forget they are in a fight for their life. Happens to grown men who shoot outdoors but have never been in a small hallway with no ear protection. (Magnum rounds are really painful. YMMV)
C) Never heard of an home invader or someone beating on a door who will keep on persisting with a screaming woman inside who is saying she has a gun and will shoot and then does so into the bucket by the door. The bucket can be disguised and made to be non intrusive looking.
D) A person would not be less dead when murdered because they did not have a weapon.
I personally like living outside the city limits, shooting on my property, hearing every neighbor shooting on their property and hearing the police practice at their range down the road. Those that might be casing the area hear it too. Bawahahaha
90% or more of the homes have noisy dogs. Ours weighs 100+ pounds and does not like anything that is not familiar to him on the place and lets us know. 
It is not uncommon for those in this neighborhood to answer the door to a stranger with a weapon held just out of sight. No one around here thinks that is odd nor gets upset by it
That’s what he said. He didn’t back it up. He posted articles from incidences in Colorado Springs. The first one paraphrases a law in Colorado that contradicts his apparent claim.
No, there isn’t.
What’s your point?
Bad advice.
And? you forgotten all your CQC training?
Really?
So just jump out the windows to the street perhaps 12 floors below?
Assuming you live, do your kids or pets do the same, or are they just left to their own imagination?
What if i dont want you to get away?
What if i have come to rape you, or maybe i just have a bad need to kill someone this evening and i have picked you, and nothing short of death will convince me otherwise.
You don’t know why i am there, but we are just going to try to hop out the 12th floor window?
Not everyone in the world has the luxury of living at ground level.
Not everyone is ambulatory enough to even hop out the ground floor window for that matter. Sorry granny, you’re out of luck.
I imagine a lot of people care.
Insurance will not replace things that may only be of sentimental value in their eyes.
And if you have all old stuff? forget it, they dont care that it is in just as good a condition when it was new in 1948, to them it is depreciated.
They can not replace great grandmothers china, great great grandmothers lead crystal, your deceased mothers wedding rings etc etc.
You perhaps have nothing, other people do have things that even God does not have enough money to replace and that insurance companies wont even consider under a normal policy.
And they have a right to deny anyone taking them
No, don’t get a gun. I will cheerfully admit that I think the US desperately needs much, much stricter gun control. The fewer guns in the hands of private citizens, the better as far as I’m concerned. When I lived in England, I felt much safer knowing that gun control was so strict.
Change your locks, that’s an easy fix.
What exactly are you claiming here? It seems you are claiming that if one wants to have a gun for self defense, they should be prepared to go through hundreds or thousands of hours of training.