Is this asking for trouble?

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deltastorm11

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So I saw on someones house window a sticker that read "Protected by Smith & Wesson." My question is if this is a good crime detterant or is this just asking someone to break into your home and steal your guns?
 
We just had a thread like this.

It's not fair, but it's probably not a good idea. If a prosecutor is ever trying to convince a jury that you WANTED to shoot someone more than you NEEDED to, it could come up. It's something that non-gun owners can get away with.
 
Bad idea. Same reason beware of dog sign are a bad idea. They say to the world I know my dog bites, and you will lose in court. It's happened many times.
 
How about the standard "Trespassers will be shot!"? (neighbor has one)

I have an old "Beware of dog!" sign at the front that was here when we moved in. I don't have a dog so I kept it. :)

My friend, Eric, suggested, "Watch-tarantula on duty!"
 
I don't suggest advertising to the general public that guns are in my house. The BG looking for fast money to feed his drug habit might be tempted.
I don't put stickers on my car either, except that I'm a life member of the NRA.

I do though have a 'dog' sign on my fence that reads..
Beware of dogs
SURVIVORS will be prosecuted.
 
Had a friend, Lady Corrections Officer, she had a License plate on her dashboard that said that! Complete with pistol image.
 
At my old house we'd get folks sneaking around the place every three to six months. I don't know if they were planning something or casing us, or just nosey.

I used to hang a used target up in the window for a few days. And we wouldn't have any problems for another three to six months or so.

So, IME, it works. However, I didn't leave the targets up indefinitely.
 
In this age of S&W branded BBQ grills (I saw a S&W "22 magnum" grill in sportman's warehouse before they closed) and other junk (lashlights, knives, alarm monitoring service) I would say it's fine unless it is the one that shows a revolver from the wrong end.
 
Breaking into someones house and gettting shot by the homeowner is a worse idea than a silly little sticker. Lots of worry warts here. A justifiable shoot stands up on its own merits.
 
Lots of worry warts here.
Click to expand...

And nobody posted on the possibility of Zundfolge's link. S&W Security System/Monitoring, I like the idea of having my house protected by S&W, in more than one way. But I'm sure someone will come by and say that they wouldn't get it because of the internal lock:D.

Wyman
 
It would be interesting to see if the ownership/display of bravado signs correlate with unjustifiable shootings.

I theorize that people who find it comforting to direct overt threats (a lot of those signs qualify) at everyone in the area (e.g. by posting a sign in a public area) are more likely to be fearful and unable to judge the intentions of the people arround them. As such they are more likely to shoot when they should not.

I still don't know that it isn't one of the S&W branded security services. I've seen a few of those.
 
If you really want t scare criminals put up a sign says "This house protected by a dog".

I saw a poll one time asking convicted criminals and it was by far the deterrent they listed as most effective.
 
I'd also say it depends on where you live and the general anti/pro-gun feelings of your community & LEO's.

There's always "Warning - this house protected by pit bull with AIDS"
 
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Deterrents in the form of signs seem to work for some
and not so well for others.

Personal choice IMO.
Do what you want and what makes YOU feel comfortable.

Personally, I don't have any signs advertising my ability
and willingness to
deter crime with firearms.
The fool who crosses the line will find out soon enough
what he's gotten himself into. :)
 
I understand the stance against signs like

"Trespassers will be shot.... survivors will be shot again"

because it honestly does infer a ready willingness to shoot a trespasser, and does not address the fact that some trespassers are just people who are lost/confused/wrong/stupid, and don't mean you any harm, nor should they be shot....

But "Protected by Smith and Wesson".... well, that only says (indeed warns) that you have firearms... it doesn't imply that you will shoot anyone who steps on your property... in fact, it could be easily argued that this was a deterrent specifically because you DIDN'T want to have to shoot someone....

Go ahead, lets 'armchair trial' this one and see whether the defense is better with "This was a WARNING", or the prosecution with "This was a threat from a madman"

This comes up often enough that maybe we should have signs printed up that say

"I don't want to have to shoot anyone, but I will if I have to."... printed in the 5 most common languages of your area.....
 
Bad idea. Same reason beware of dog sign are a bad idea. They say to the world I know my dog bites, and you will lose in court. It's happened many times.

A beware of dog sign does not in any way state or imply that you know that your dog bites. All it says is beware of dog what the perp takes from that little note is up to them. And it usually means that they should move on.

I have a beware of dog sign two actually and a dog and my dog wouldnt bite anybody. You may get barked to death after you crap your pants but he isnt going to bite you. And if in the off chance that he did - well you were fully warned and decided to enter my property with the full knowledge of the risk that you were takeing.
 
Bad idea. Same reason beware of dog sign are a bad idea. They say to the world I know my dog bites, and you will lose in court. It's happened many times.
Click to expand...
I'm gonna have to see citations before I believe a word of that. Considering the ubiquity of "Beware of Dog" signs I do not believe that one single "Beware of Dog" sign owner has EVER lost in court because of the sign.

Besides, MY "Beware of Dog" sign means "Be aware there is a dog in this yard that we do not wish to see let out".
 
I also wouldn't hang out any sort of 'firearm protected' signs - if thats what this is and not a genuine alarm sign. Again, reasons being theft when not home. Firearms are benign when not controlled by humans.

But the beware the dog signs....don't see problem with them at all. It's an advert to all legitimate visitors too....and dogs are not always benign when left on their own as firearms are. So long as the sign doesn't say 'Protected by vicious biting doberman', its simply a statement and a sensible warning. Can't see how that has ever been misconstrued in court.
 
So I saw on someones house window a sticker that read "Protected by Smith & Wesson." My question is if this is a good crime detterant or is this just asking someone to break into your home and steal your guns?
Click to expand...

Definitely asking for trouble(theft). I also feel the NRA stickers on cars are the same deal.
Do signs deter? I don't thnk so.... if the asz holes could read & rationalize they wouldn't be out crooking.
 
My new favorite "beware" sign is the following.


"Praying is the BEST way to talk to God, trespassing is the FASTEST!!!"
 
I have a brass plaque by the front door that says “Beware of Owner”. Our mailman thought it was hilarious.
 
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