Staging self-defense guns for retrieval in an attack...

[JohnKSa]

This guy had a self-defense gun staged in his very small office. He was unable to get it into action before the perpetrator was on top of him, even though he had some advance warning from another worker who came in trying to escape the attackers.

First Defensive Knife Use I Have Ever Seen Caught On Camera

Please thank Firearms Legal Protection for sponsoring today’s video of First Defensive Knife Use I Have Ever Seen Caught On Camera! Sign up for the free ne...

www.youtube.com

Just something to think about.

 

[Coyote3855]

The only staged guns in my house are the Makarov in the desk drawer under my computer and the nightstand gun which is my EDC and goes in the holster when I leave the house. Otherwise, I have a firearm on my person in the house or outside doing chores.

 

[jmorris]

I thought that’s why you carry a pistol, to get to something better, without being completely unarmed along the way…

 

[AlexanderA]

The more guns you have stashed in random places, the less control you have over them. There's the factor of forgetting where you stashed the guns (don't laugh -- we old geezers tend to be forgetful). And what if a home invader, or a child, gets to a gun before you do? I can see that the likelihood of a bad outcome is greater than that of a good outcome. (Presumably, the stashed guns are all loaded and ready to use.)

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Whether staged at home somewhere, in the office somewhere, or in your vehicle, yeah, if you aren't right next to it when something goes wrong, what good is it? Maybe you have that nice truck gun staged in your truck while you are inside shopping at King Soopers. What good is your gun, now?

Staging isn't a bad idea in certain circumstances, but it comes with limitations. Of course, no plan is 100%.

Honestly, watching the video, the jeweler would likely have been unsuccessful had he had a gun on his hip. He had zero situational awareness, zero comprehension of what was going on with apparently little or no shout out warning from the female, then his reactions are stilted. He was totally behind the curve the entire time..

 

[The Night Rider]

There's the factor of forgetting where you stashed the guns (don't laugh -- we old geezers tend to be forgetful).

There's a discussion right now on the main page of this forum about a guy who lost a gun for two years because he forgot where he put it.

 

[The Night Rider]

So after watching the entire video the first thing I have to say is John Corriea is looking rough these days.

That said I have to agree with John's assessment of this. There's more to this than the guy not having the gun on him.

He clearly was not familiar with the gun and didn't know how to get it into action.

Because the gun wasn't ready to go he ended up being in a grappling match with the robber over it.

My last comment is something that I say every time this discussion comes up, I believe you're far more likely to lose your staged gun in a burglary then you are to use it to defend yourself

 

[CDW4ME]

Gun on body > gun somewhere else (staged) and that includes at home; yes, including in a "good area" where one thinks on body carry in home completely unnecessary .

 

[The Night Rider]

Gun on body > gun somewhere else (staged) and that includes at home; yes, including in a "good area" where one thinks on body carry in home completely unnecessary .

You're not always dressed to have a gun on your person

 

[Old Dog]

I'm wondering if there is anyone (on this forum, anyway) who "stages" a firearm (or firearms) anywhere in his/her home or business that actually believes they would always be able to get to the firearm, no matter what.

Pretty sure most of us here are familiar with the old adage, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy."

My opinion only, a staged firearm is a last-ditch means of defense. If it's not on one's person or in hand when the attack occurs, best not to plan on employing it. I've always felt that the staged firearm is one that you grab on your way to the door.

Honestly, watching the video, the jeweler would likely have been unsuccessful had he had a gun on his hip. He had zero situational awareness, zero comprehension of what was going on with apparently little or no shout out warning from the female, then his reactions are stilted. He was totally behind the curve the entire time..

This ^
A staged gun is only part of preparation. What's in the brain is most of preparation.

I don't think the video in the OP is in any way a critique, indictment or invalidation of the staged firearm concept. Just some extra food for thought.

 

[dweis]

I do not stage guns about the house. I am not counting on being able to get to one fast. I prefer to carry a pistol on my person at all times except when sleeping. In that case it is on my nightstand

 

[wayneinFL]

I'm wondering if there is anyone (on this forum, anyway) who "stages" a firearm (or firearms) anywhere in his/her home or business that actually believes they would always be able to get to the firearm, no matter what.

Pretty sure most of us here are familiar with the old adage, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy."

My opinion only, a staged firearm is a last-ditch means of defense. If it's not on one's person or in hand when the attack occurs, best not to plan on employing it. I've always felt that the staged firearm is one that you grab on your way to the door.


This ^
A staged gun is only part of preparation. What's in the brain is most of preparation.

I don't think the video in the OP is in any way a critique, indictment or invalidation of the staged firearm concept. Just some extra food for thought.

Is there anyone here who thinks they would always be able to get to the firearm if it was on them? I had a coworker robbed at gunpoint by 3 men in a Valdosta hotel parking lot. Shotgun, pistol, and a third guy patting him down for valuables and weapons.

Honestly, that guy would have been better off if the door was locked or he had some situational awareness. I think once two armed robbers came into his little office, he was screwed either way. He better be fast and /or willing to die if he's thinking of pulling a gun on two guys coming in the door with guns.

 

[GEM]

I've mentioned this before. I got it from a class. Stash some water pistols, those cheapy airsoft guns (not a good one but a kid's gun) around the house where you would stash your guns. Then have a friend or two come in through a door, front, bank, garage, etc. They have the same 'guns". You are in the house but not standing on top of the gun.

See if you can get to it before they get you. Obviously, you don't have them kick down the door but they do enter dynamically.

Most folks can't get to the gun and get it out of its place.

While you may not want to wear a full rig around the house, there are plenty of workable pocket guns that aren't trivial, both semis and J frame type.s

 

[Show Me]

Good stories. I'd hate to live that way. City dudes

 

[FL-NC]

It MAY have been better if the gun was on his body- hard to say for sure since he was playing catch-up the whole time and may not have been that well trained with his gun in the first place. What else may have provided a significant tactical advantage would have been surveillance on the rest of the business through some means such as a camera with a monitor in that work space, or even a 2-way mirror. Some sort of "panic button" that may be activated by the other employees that could have let him know immediately that there was a problem may have been helpful. So, on top of training, technology to help provide "early warning", along with the possibility of having other employees armed and trained so that the 1 man in the back not paying attention isn't the single point of failure.
That said, I agree with staging guns ready for use throughout the home, if circumstances permit using this method. Even though it would be better if the gun was on my body, its just not practical for me to do this 24/7.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

There's a discussion right now on the main page of this forum about a guy who lost a gun for two years because he forgot where he put it.

To be fair, I thought I knew where it went so I stopped looking.....
Hmmmm, maybe I was subconsciously staging it in the bottom of the sock drawer!

 

[Old Dog]

L

To be fair, I thought I knew where it went so I stopped looking.....
Hmmmm, maybe I was subconsciously staging it in the bottom of the sock drawer!

Don't feel bad.

Several years back, for no explainable reason, I stashed a S&W 637 on a shelf in my garage after returning from a range session (I think I had the garage door open and was interrupted somehow while unloading the car) and forgot about it for a couple weeks. Later, upon suddenly realizing the revolver was missing, and after (embarrassing) phone calls to my gun club and the sheriff's office coupled with several days of pure panic, my brain strangely recalled what I'd done with it (at a moment during which I wasn't even thinking about the MIA revolver), I went straight to it and retrieved it. I think maybe God (or our higher power if you are so inclined) has us go through this at once in our lifetime simply to jolt us into being more conscious about stuff if we've started to drift into complacency.

I've certainly never, ever, misplaced a firearm since.

Back on topic, I freely admit that I have "staged" a handgun or two in my home (always out of reach of children and out of sight for anyone under 7' tall). No illusions that if we (or I) are/am surprised by a dynamic entry (unlikely with three dogs, two trained working dogs) and a good alarm system, that I'd be able to retrieve one; as I noted earlier, they're there to simply grab on the way to an access/egress point after being alerted.

I will freely admit there's been a few times that I had to search the house for my car keys or cell phone, though.

 

[JTHunter]

Having had a home break-in many years ago, as the number of guns I own has grown, so has the number of locations where some are hidden.
When I'm at the computer, a Colt Jr. .25 is almost in my lap. In its case 8' away is a PMR-30. Most of the rest are on a wall rack or in a wooden cabinet in the bedroom. All are fully loaded with the safeties off as I live alone and don't have to worry about "kids".

 

[CDW4ME]

Gun on body > gun somewhere else (staged) and that includes at home; yes, including in a "good area" where one thinks on body carry in home completely unnecessary .

You're not always dressed to have a gun on your person

Yes. If I am dressed I can have a gun on body.
Gym shorts - Smartcarry with Kahr P9 and a LCP 380 in pocket; this attire is only if I am going to the gym or mowing the yard.
My typical at home attire is the same as if going someplace, cargo shorts and shirt, along with some footwear; barefoot is only when I'm not wearing clothes.
I don't wear (or own) pajamas.

 

[JDeere]

To each his own but if I had to carry at all times around my house it would be time to move or check my mindset. I do have a couple stashed in the house and I do sleep with my edc.

 

[Choctaw]

I have exterior cameras that alert me day and night to anyone approaching my house. All my windows have alarms and the exterior doors stay locked. The doors are reinforced and I utilize barricade devices so the doors can't be kicked in. Due to my past participation on various law enforcement task forces and my current assignment, I view it as only prudent to take precautions. However, I do not carry in my own house but I do have guns staged and no, you aren't going to find them unless you have have lots of time to look. Oh, I also have five dogs (don't ask) currently living with me.

 

[The Night Rider]

I don't wear (or own) pajamas.

 I do.

This discussion has come up here before. If I know I'm not going anywhere today I don't see any reason to put on street clothes.

I haven't even made it into my PJs this morning.

I think one of the times it's this discussion came up I actually went and tried it. I put on a pair of pants and a belt gun and I tried to sit around my house like that, I lasted about an hour.

 

[shafter]

The reason why ambush/suprise is such a successful tactic is because it doesn't really matter what the victim does at that point because now you exist inside someone else's ooda loop. If I'm sitting on my couch right now and the door splinters and someone charges through it having a gun on me or in a desk drawer is going to have limited value.

The key is to prevent the suprise. You may not be able to know the attack is coming but you can position yourself so that you have enough of a reactionary gap where now the bad guy is inside your ooda loop. For example, I'm sitting on that same couch and someone breaks in only this time instead of splintering in the first kick it takes several kicks to open it. Now I have time to process the attack and draw my gun and place the attacker inside of my ooda loop.

Bottom line is that stashed guns only work if you have a system in place to buy you the time to get to them.

 

[Jeff White]

The reason why ambush/suprise is such a successful tactic is because it doesn't really matter what the victim does at that point because now you exist inside someone else's ooda loop. If I'm sitting on my couch right now and the door splinters and someone charges through it having a gun on me or in a desk drawer is going to have limited value.

The key is to prevent the suprise. You may not be able to know the attack is coming but you can position yourself so that you have enough of a reactionary gap where now the bad guy is inside your ooda loop. For example, I'm sitting on that same couch and someone breaks in only this time instead of splintering in the first kick it takes several kicks to open it. Now I have time to process the attack and draw my gun and place the attacker inside of my ooda loop.

Bottom line is that stashed guns only work if you have a system in place to buy you the time to get to them.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Old Dog]

Bottom line is that stashed guns only work if you have a system in place to buy you the time to get to them.

Like @Choctaw noted, exterior cameras, alarms with motion sensors (my driveway, only way on to my wooded property gives great alerts, although occasionally deer jump over the gate) and territorial dogs represent the optimum.

But if you're in a busy apartment building with lots of traffic, or your McMansion with only eight feet between your bedroom window and your nextdoor neighbor's window in your cookie-cutter development, or you have young children around, yeah, you're going to have to explore options other than leaving loaded firearms out...