I've seen many threads about carrying a gun on your own property. Truth be told, those threads made me chuckle because I thought my house was a safe place;it would be odd to carry a weapon while cutting the grass, shoveling snow, etc. My how things can change! I was painting the walls in my garage, with the garage door open recently when a well-dressed young man approached me. He wanted to sell overpriced magazine subscriptions under the pretense of charity. These folks have been thrown out of our town before so I knew it was a scam. I said, "Sorry, can't help you." The young man glared at me & started a string of profanities. I told him to leave the property. He did leave, but made threatening gestures to come at me & eventually left for good. My mistake, I didn't call 911 & let it go. My only weapon at the time was a loaded paint brush full of white paint. I have changed my opinion on when & where I should carry. I feel this could've gone south.
Incident in my own driveway
- Thread starter ta4
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thexrayboy
Member
Every encounter with a stranger has the potential to "go south". That is why the we have the aphorism of "be nice, be polite, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet". That is because in the real world there will seldom be any warning when the mule turns and starts heading south. Waiting till things get ugly to prepare means you are too late. You must be prepared before you need it. If you survive an incident while unprepared you were
merely trusting to random operating factors.
merely trusting to random operating factors.
Alphazulu6
member
WoW. You handled it better than I would. But then no one really wants to start or keep a conversation with me. I guess it is b/c I ALWAYS look like I am pissed off about something??? So I have been told. HAHA
AaronE
Member
WHY I always carry or have one in arms reach. Wife thought I was being paraniod to have one to hand when opening the door. turned what might have escalated to a home invasion to a very nervous goblin leaving in cuffs.
W.E.G.
Member
I was in my driveway recently, when a hot chick with a thick Russian accent try to sell me some sort of weird-looking baubles she was carrying around in a box. I was looking around thinking this has to be Candid Camera. Weird.
Today, a thunderous repetitive knock came at the door mid-day. I looked out cautiously, and I could see a retarded (as in really truly retarded) teenage kid on my porch. I opened the door and I saw a much older man who claimed to be the kid's dad. He started some shpeil about Omaha Steaks. Sheesh!!!
I think the zombies got competition.
Today, a thunderous repetitive knock came at the door mid-day. I looked out cautiously, and I could see a retarded (as in really truly retarded) teenage kid on my porch. I opened the door and I saw a much older man who claimed to be the kid's dad. He started some shpeil about Omaha Steaks. Sheesh!!!
I think the zombies got competition.
TallPine
Member
I'll admit it sometimes does get tiresome having a sidearm on your belt all day every day. Especially on a hot day when you'd just as soon not be wearing much at all.
But everytime I start wondering why I carry, something happens to ratchet up the paranoia level a little. Like a fugitive situation a few miles from here a couple months back. (the guy ended up robbing a couple at gunpoint after they let him in out of the snow)
It's better than being caught unprepared, especially out where we live where "help" is a long ways away.
But everytime I start wondering why I carry, something happens to ratchet up the paranoia level a little. Like a fugitive situation a few miles from here a couple months back. (the guy ended up robbing a couple at gunpoint after they let him in out of the snow)
It's better than being caught unprepared, especially out where we live where "help" is a long ways away.
748
member
"carry a weapon while cutting the grass"
Bahhahah, thats me if any one was wondering.
Bahhahah, thats me if any one was wondering.
shadowalker
Member
I also carry when mowing, painting, eating, cooking, watching TV, and just about anything else I am doing. The weight of my firearm and magazines has become normal to me and I am uncomfortable if I am not armed.
MikeG
Member
That dawned on me today. I was out fixing a gate in our field and something rattled over in the grass. I have a live-and-let-live attitude towards snakes and other critters, but they may not see it my way.
Lesson learned for me was last week when there was a knock on my door at about 10pm (just after dark). I discovered a few things in the process. First that I don't have a way to communicate with the person outside without opening my front door. Second I don't have a bolt or chain to keep the door from opening more then a few inches. Third I don't have any form of weapon anywhere near the front door.
So guy knocks, I look through the peep hole and see him down the step a bit. I glance around and don't see anyone. That's when I realize I don't have a way to communicate without opening the door and that I don't have a chain. So I stop the door with my foot and body and open it a crack.
Guy steps forward and pretty much puts his hand and head in the crack to ask if someone was here that I have never heard of. Guy look tweaked out of his gourde. That's when I realized I had no weapon anywhere near me.
Luckily when I told him never heard of the guy he stepped back so I could close the door and he left.
Either way made me very nervous and added three things to my high-priority-on-the-next-paycheck-no-matter-what to do list. Comms, bolt, entryway weapon.
So guy knocks, I look through the peep hole and see him down the step a bit. I glance around and don't see anyone. That's when I realize I don't have a way to communicate without opening the door and that I don't have a chain. So I stop the door with my foot and body and open it a crack.
Guy steps forward and pretty much puts his hand and head in the crack to ask if someone was here that I have never heard of. Guy look tweaked out of his gourde. That's when I realized I had no weapon anywhere near me.
Luckily when I told him never heard of the guy he stepped back so I could close the door and he left.
Either way made me very nervous and added three things to my high-priority-on-the-next-paycheck-no-matter-what to do list. Comms, bolt, entryway weapon.
i carry or have a weapon within arms reach 24/7, even inside the house. i open carry when mowing the lawn, and ccw everywhere else.
i never did this before a few months ago. i had an incident that changed my mind. fortunately i lived to learn the lesson.
i never did this before a few months ago. i had an incident that changed my mind. fortunately i lived to learn the lesson.
YammyMonkey
Member
That would really ruin your night to stick your head inside someone else's house & get it slammed in the front door. Ouch.
Even when I'm just running out to the garage to do some pullups or take out the trash I take the gun with me. To me it's a mindset issue just like changing the way you dress to get better concealment, spending $300 + ammo + travel expenses to take a good class or spending $200+ on a quality belt/holster/mag carrier combo. You may be able to get away with less but when the time comes you'll be much better off to have put up with the burden or to have taken the time & money to do it right.
As for the original post I'd imagine receiving a facefull of paint & a swift kick to a knee or "other" area would kinda ruin your day too. Maybe not as much as having your mellon slammed in a door, but it certainly wouldn't be fun.
Even when I'm just running out to the garage to do some pullups or take out the trash I take the gun with me. To me it's a mindset issue just like changing the way you dress to get better concealment, spending $300 + ammo + travel expenses to take a good class or spending $200+ on a quality belt/holster/mag carrier combo. You may be able to get away with less but when the time comes you'll be much better off to have put up with the burden or to have taken the time & money to do it right.
As for the original post I'd imagine receiving a facefull of paint & a swift kick to a knee or "other" area would kinda ruin your day too. Maybe not as much as having your mellon slammed in a door, but it certainly wouldn't be fun.
crebralfix
member
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Don't forget a knife! In such confrontations, you may not be able to deploy a long gun (or even handgun) for some reason. The blade is instantly ready (it's sharp) and is an excellent bad breath distance weapon.
Since the location is your house, you can choose any style and length blade. Even a $30 Glock knife would be sufficient.
Since the location is your house, you can choose any style and length blade. Even a $30 Glock knife would be sufficient.
748
member
"The weight of my firearm and magazines"
That is why I got an FN Fiveseven, 20 rounds total weight loaded is about 1.7lb.
Mags are expandable to 30 rounds if you by a $15 extention kit.
My house knife is a machetie and a rusty ax.
That is why I got an FN Fiveseven, 20 rounds total weight loaded is about 1.7lb.
Mags are expandable to 30 rounds if you by a $15 extention kit.
My house knife is a machetie and a rusty ax.
mountainclmbr
Member
Years ago, just a few years out of college, I was sitting on my couch reading a book at about 8:00 p.m. I heard the door knob jiggle on my apt door. I looked outside through the peep hole and saw a wierd "skinhead-tattooed" and very large young male outside my door. I assumed he was visiting the punk rock college students across the hall, but he gave me the creeps so I went to the bedroom and got the nightstand gun, a 44 spl revolver. I was planning to put it on the coffee table and continue reading, but he busted in my front door and charged me when he saw me. I was struggling to get the zipper on the gun case open and brought the gun up with about 80% trigger pull when he turned and ran. If I had been caught completely by surprise he would have been between me and the bedroom where I had my gun. About 20 years ago I learned my lesson and I have a compact pistol in my pocket as I type this (.40 cal, 180 gr JHP Doubletap brand).
Updated: I called the police who informed me that they would confiscate my gun if they had to write a report due to gun being at crime scene. I asked about what would happen if he came back. They said, you call us. We mutually agreed that "nothing happened" so I could keep my gun. Important reason to have more than one gun!
Updated: I called the police who informed me that they would confiscate my gun if they had to write a report due to gun being at crime scene. I asked about what would happen if he came back. They said, you call us. We mutually agreed that "nothing happened" so I could keep my gun. Important reason to have more than one gun!
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Ready2Defend
Member
I'm glad I'm not the only one to carry while doing yard work, taking out the trash, opening the door after dark. I don't feel so unique 
(paranoid?) now.
(paranoid?) now.
Kevin108
Member
+1 for "This is why pocket pistols were invented."
I have a Raven I take to the places I know I won't need a gun.
I have a Raven I take to the places I know I won't need a gun.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Chuckle
Only improvement I can think of would be . . .
DoubleTapDrew
Member
Like that saying "better to have it and not need it"
I just remind myself I'd feel pretty stupid if I died on my own property because I didn't have a gun on me after taking on the responsibility of carrying while out.
I just remind myself I'd feel pretty stupid if I died on my own property because I didn't have a gun on me after taking on the responsibility of carrying while out.
Dustinthewind
Member
ta4,
I always chuckled at the people who don't carry around their house or they say I only carry when going x places. I always wondered if maybe they had borrowed a Sneakoscope from Harry Potter. All kiding aside, if you take self protection seriously you should be armed everywhere that it is legal to carry including your own property for afterall it will be the criminal that dictates the time and place that you will have to defend yourself. If I was truly omnipotent I would carry only when I needed a weapon because carrying a gun in your pants all day every day is not that comfortable. I carry while doing yardwork while watching T.V. and when I make a trip to the john. My personal defense weapon is part of my every day attire just like my wallet and my truck keys. Door to door salesmen are rare in my area, as I live out in the sticks but the other day I was surprised by a knock on the door. I had just gotten home from work and removed my shirt when the salesman showed up. I opened the door a crack and told him that whtever he was selling I was not interested in. Our dog was in the house behind me and trying to get aot the door for a free meal so I stepped out on the porch. It was then that the salesman's eyes dropped to my waistband and saw the .45 sticking out of my pants. His eyes got rather large, he wished me a nice day and beat a hasty retreat to his vehicle.
I always chuckled at the people who don't carry around their house or they say I only carry when going x places. I always wondered if maybe they had borrowed a Sneakoscope from Harry Potter. All kiding aside, if you take self protection seriously you should be armed everywhere that it is legal to carry including your own property for afterall it will be the criminal that dictates the time and place that you will have to defend yourself. If I was truly omnipotent I would carry only when I needed a weapon because carrying a gun in your pants all day every day is not that comfortable. I carry while doing yardwork while watching T.V. and when I make a trip to the john. My personal defense weapon is part of my every day attire just like my wallet and my truck keys. Door to door salesmen are rare in my area, as I live out in the sticks but the other day I was surprised by a knock on the door. I had just gotten home from work and removed my shirt when the salesman showed up. I opened the door a crack and told him that whtever he was selling I was not interested in. Our dog was in the house behind me and trying to get aot the door for a free meal so I stepped out on the porch. It was then that the salesman's eyes dropped to my waistband and saw the .45 sticking out of my pants. His eyes got rather large, he wished me a nice day and beat a hasty retreat to his vehicle.
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