Home Defense Options.
 

I have a 7 and 9 year old. I have never owned a gun and don't want a lethal weapon in the house.

I have thought about 2 options.

1) Taser
2) Higher end paintball gun clocked to as high a feet per second speed as possible.

I've been shot with paintballs and I think getting nailed with 40 in the span of 7 seconds from 30 feet would slow a bad guy down enough for me to get control of him.

I realize that If he has a real gun that I am outmatched and done. I want to be able to stop the dorks with other weapons.

Please don't get into a discussion about how real guns are very safe with proper care. I ain't a careful guy.

LLL

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Where do you live, what scenarios are you interested in defending against?

My ignant opinion is that the paintball gun is likely to get you shot.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

LLL,

2 sounds like something that would only work in a Macauly Culkin movie.

How about a machete?

J

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

If you have a 7 and 9 year-old and need to consider owning a weapon to protect them from home invaders, my first thought would be to move.

Anywhere.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

If non-lethal was the only option, I would go with the Taser X26c.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Tazer, no contest. My friend works in a prison, and says some of the bigger guys who have been shot a couple times just aren't scared of guns, but they are terrified of tazers.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you have a 7 and 9 year-old and need to consider owning a weapon to protect them from home invaders, my first thought would be to move.

Anywhere.

[/ QUOTE ]

I lived in one of the wealthiest and safest communities in the country when I was in high school. A friend of mine and his sister were attacked in their home and had their throats cut by a couple of guys who needed rent money. It can happen anywhere.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Dog.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Where do you live, what scenarios are you interested in defending against?

My ignant opinion is that the paintball gun is likely to get you shot.

[/ QUOTE ]

I live in Arizona, nice neighborhood. 2 story house.

Scenario:

2 am, family upstairs asleep and I am awakened to an odd sound downstairs. I get out of bed and fumble for anything that might serve as a weapon. The first is the cordless phone (err... too lightweight) The alarm clock is solid but plugged in. I go into the closet and find a broom with a wooden handle and a screw-in plastic brush part. I unscrew the brush and hope my awesome bowstaff skills get the notice of the gang member in my kitchen.

Reality, I want to be able to just find a safe spot at the top of the stairs and wait to nail someone coming up the stairs with a ranged weapon. Let em take what they want downstairs. If they come upstairs, I want to maximize my chance of keeping em on the bottom floor.

LLL

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

The paintball gun is probably more dangerous for your child than an actual gun (temptation and risk of chew/choking on the paintballs).

Given that, the taser is your best option.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Where do you live, what scenarios are you interested in defending against?

My ignant opinion is that the paintball gun is likely to get you shot.

[/ QUOTE ]

I live in Arizona, nice neighborhood. 2 story house.

Scenario:

2 am, family upstairs asleep and I am awakened to an odd sound downstairs. I get out of bed and fumble for anything that might serve as a weapon. The first is the cordless phone (err... too lightweight) The alarm clock is solid but plugged in. I go into the closet and find a broom with a wooden handle and a screw-in plastic brush part. I unscrew the brush and hope my awesome bowstaff skills get the notice of the gang member in my kitchen.

Reality, I want to be able to just find a safe spot at the top of the stairs and wait to nail someone coming up the stairs with a ranged weapon. Let em take what they want downstairs. If they come upstairs, I want to maximize my chance of keeping em on the bottom floor.

LLL

[/ QUOTE ]

heres an idea, instead of fumbling around for [censored] and waiting in ambush at the top of the stairs (horribly bad idea), how about you use that cordless phone to call 911, and announce to whoever is downstairs that youve called the police and they are on their way.

If you are this paranoid, get an alarm system. Anything else is just gunna get you into a situation you dont want to be in.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

alobar,

The police are only there to pick up the pieces.

J

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
If non-lethal was the only option, I would go with the Taser X26c.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tazer is probably the option. The questions though.

1) What if miss the first shot? Do I get another chance?

2) If I shoot one villain, can I also shoot a second one if he comes by?

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
alobar,

The police are only there to pick up the pieces.

J

[/ QUOTE ]

Its people like OP that give them plenty of pieces to pick up

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Alobar,

I'd have my wife call 911 but I still could have an exciting few minutes before they arrive.

LLL

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Hide at the top of the stairs and surprise them with this:

http://images.send.com/101855_big.gif

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Dog.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

A shotgun and getting over your squeamishness

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Security cameras. Get an old pc, load linux on it, download a program called zoneminder, get a tv pc card for 20$, hook it up to the tv in your room, get a bunch of old webcams, or even some nicer cameras off of ebay/amazon, the linksys DCS-3000, has 2 way audio so you can talk to an inturder etc. Cost is under 400$ for everything depending on how many cameras you want, I have 3, one watching my downstairs door, one on the hallway, and one in the gangway to keep an eye on my apartment. i can even check in on things over the internet. Its also got motion detection and a way to hook up an alarm. Along with a shot gun with fingerprint trigger gaurd and a cellphonoe to call the police you should be pretty secure.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Dog.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree.

[/ QUOTE ]
Word, OP, please address this option. 7 or 9 year olds are old enough to be around a dog, plus they probably want one anyway. Everyone wins!

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Guids,

I am thoroughly impressed!

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Dog.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree.

[/ QUOTE ]
Word, OP, please address this option. 7 or 9 year olds are old enough to be around a dog, plus they probably want one anyway. Everyone wins!

[/ QUOTE ]

I have 2 dogs. Both useless. One is Keishond and Sheppard mix. Once is Dobie/Retriever mix. Neither would bite a muffin. I once had a friend of mine blow into town unexpectly and let himself in through the patio door that was unlocked (once again, I am careless). I came home to find said friend on my couch eating my chips with one of the dogs sleeping on the couch next to him. I asked, "Did the dogs do ANYTHING". The sheppard apparently rolled onto her back. This guy hadn't been to my house since i got these dogs. He was a stranger to them. No Rin Tin Tins in this bunch.

LLL

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
patio door that was unlocked (once again, I am careless).

[/ QUOTE ]


again, instead of looking for a way to get yourself in a confrontational situation with a robber, how about you take actual security measures so said situation never happens. Buy a taser and keep it in your drawer if that makes you feel better, but if thats all you do then you are stupid (sorry for the harshness, but its true).

Make your home more secure, there are like a billion ways to do this. Hire someone to give your house a security inspection and show you what you can do to make your home safer for you and your family. This will buy you way more peace of mind and security than some weapon you dont even know how to use

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

A taser is a good thing to use only against people who don't pose a lethal threat. Being one shot, with multiple attackers, you're screwed. Besides, you want to be able to hit at a reasonable distance if necessary. The shotgun people are right.

The paintball gun is a joke and will just increase the likelihood of getting you killed. And dogs are a big pain in the ass.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Security cameras. Get an old pc, load linux on it, download a program called zoneminder, get a tv pc card for 20$, hook it up to the tv in your room, get a bunch of old webcams, or even some nicer cameras off of ebay/amazon, the linksys DCS-3000, has 2 way audio so you can talk to an inturder etc. Cost is under 400$ for everything depending on how many cameras you want, I have 3, one watching my downstairs door, one on the hallway, and one in the gangway to keep an eye on my apartment. i can even check in on things over the internet. Its also got motion detection and a way to hook up an alarm. Along with a shot gun with fingerprint trigger gaurd and a cellphonoe to call the police you should be pretty secure.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome post, once I get a place of my own I will probably set this up.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Let em take what they want downstairs. If they come upstairs, I want to maximize my chance of keeping em on the bottom floor.


[/ QUOTE ]

I suggest yelling down the stairs: "All the valuable stuff is down there, dudes! Don't come up here and I won't call the cops!"

Then call the cops.

NT

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Moat / draw bridge. Duh.

http://rogerrocks.com/images/Castle-Moat.jpg

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

why not just surrender everything?

if somebody broke into my place, i'd call the cops and then just sit and wait for them. there is nothing i would defend with my life, except for another human being. i think the chances are slim to none that a burglar would try to harm you if you stayed out of their way.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

Double barrel shotgun. You don't even have to buy any bullets. Once they hear you cock that thing, they'll get the hell out of there asap

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
why not just surrender everything?

if somebody broke into my place, i'd call the cops and then just sit and wait for them. there is nothing i would defend with my life, except for another human being. i think the chances are slim to none that a burglar would try to harm you if you stayed out of their way.

[/ QUOTE ]


This could go in another thread, but this is one thing I really disagree with. A LOT if not everyone is going to call me stupid, but I get pissed when someon [censored] with something that I worked for, or that is mine. I dont care if it is an inanimate object or not, but I would defend my things, money, cars, jewelery, etc even as far as to kill someone who tried to take them. They are mine, I value my stuff over the life of some douchebag criminal. If I had a situation where someone was messing with my car, or in my apartment, I wouldnt hesitate to silently pull a trigger killing them.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

#1 recommended option is posting the techniques you plan to use on a public forum.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Dog.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto.

I have Doberman (see avatar). She's a big wimp, but you wouldn't know that if you broke into our house and she started pretending like she was a tough Dobe.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why not just surrender everything?

if somebody broke into my place, i'd call the cops and then just sit and wait for them. there is nothing i would defend with my life, except for another human being. i think the chances are slim to none that a burglar would try to harm you if you stayed out of their way.

[/ QUOTE ]


This could go in another thread, but this is one thing I really disagree with. A LOT if not everyone is going to call me stupid, but I get pissed when someon [censored] with something that I worked for, or that is mine. I dont care if it is an inanimate object or not, but I would defend my things, money, cars, jewelery, etc even as far as to kill someone who tried to take them. They are mine, I value my stuff over the life of some douchebag criminal. If I had a situation where someone was messing with my car, or in my apartment, I wouldnt hesitate to silently pull a trigger killing them.

[/ QUOTE ]

i'll bite. would you kill someone over $5? $100? $1000? what's the cutoff? i'd like an exact number here.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Double barrel shotgun. You don't even have to buy any bullets. Once they hear you cock that thing, they'll get the hell out of there asap

[/ QUOTE ]

close enough. get a pump action shotgun. my SWAT team uncle reccomends this for two reasons.

1. the distinctive sound of chambering a round.
2. the fact that shotguns 'spread' so your trembling arms don't need to accuratly aim.
2.5 they can go through walls/doors

if you don't want a gun at all, you are allowing your intruders to determine the level with which to take their actions. they MIGHT not want to kill you and your family. but if they do, you have no defence. by bringing a gun into the equation, you are def. bringing it to a new level (don't pull a gun real or fake if you arn't prepared to use it cause it will just get you killed) but you are now in control of the situation.

i would choose the control over the risk.

tazer is the worst idea ever, cause then you have to let the joker get up and walk away, or stay w/in a cords lenght of him to keep shocking him, praying your batteries don't die or he doesn't rip his electrodes out. plus he will be even more pissed at your acceptably scared butt.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

I'd like to defend my idiot assertion that a paintball gun MAY be of some use vs an intruder without a gun.

1) I went paintballing once in a coverted warehouse. I rented a gun from them and they clocked it at "200" I assume feet per second but who knows. It hurt like hell from less than 30 feet and people were only allowed to use single shot guns (pull the trigger, 1 ball comes out. repeat as necessary).

Some guys had guns that were fully automatic and could go 2 or 3 times faster than my "200 fps". They were required to change settings to get it single shot and 200.

before a match, these guys were goofing around with their guns on full automatic and it sounded like a tommy gun (least what I expect a tommy gun to sound like and these balls were moving painfully fast)

So I'm thinking

1) What If I used rubber balls?
2) what If I used balls filled with habanero juice or somesuch thing?

If it was kinda dark and a villain hears what sounds like a machine gun. He KNOWS he's hit and his clothes are wet, would he THINK he was shot? Would he run like a deer. Would he continue up the stairs?

I also like the idea that I can miss a bunch and still hit them enough times to make a dent.

LLL

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

1)Paintball gun with marbles is deadly. However, if they have a gun they will kill you. If they see you pointing something at them, by the time you can see if they have a gun, you'll be getting shot. Paintball is awesome as a hobby, btw.

2)I would buy a handgun and put it in a Biometric fingerpint sensor safe next to your bed. This way you're not fumbling with a key and don't have to worry about the kids finding the key.

My only concern would be thinking I hear a prowler, it being my kid banging around sleepwalking, and I shoot him. THis is why I would never want a gun in my home.

Just get a really loud alarm and a tazer plus pepper spray.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
shot gun with fingerprint trigger gaurd

[/ QUOTE ]
Whoa, didn't know such a thing existed. Awesome.

[ QUOTE ]
would you kill someone over $5? $100? $1000? what's the cutoff? i'd like an exact number here.

[/ QUOTE ]
In my house? $0.

[ QUOTE ]
tazer is the worst idea ever, cause then you have to let the joker get up and walk away, or stay w/in a cords lenght of him to keep shocking him, praying your batteries don't die or he doesn't rip his electrodes out.

[/ QUOTE ]
It's not like villan can jump right up good as new after the shock is applied, correct? I mean, you have a few minutes of his semi-paralysis to pat him down for a weapon and tie him up or in some manner incapacitate him, correct?

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why not just surrender everything?

if somebody broke into my place, i'd call the cops and then just sit and wait for them. there is nothing i would defend with my life, except for another human being. i think the chances are slim to none that a burglar would try to harm you if you stayed out of their way.

[/ QUOTE ]

This could go in another thread, but this is one thing I really disagree with. A LOT if not everyone is going to call me stupid, but I get pissed when someon [censored] with something that I worked for, or that is mine. I dont care if it is an inanimate object or not, but I would defend my things, money, cars, jewelery, etc even as far as to kill someone who tried to take them. They are mine, I value my stuff over the life of some douchebag criminal. If I had a situation where someone was messing with my car, or in my apartment, I wouldnt hesitate to silently pull a trigger killing them.

[/ QUOTE ]

i'll bite. would you kill someone over $5? $100? $1000? what's the cutoff? i'd like an exact number here.

[/ QUOTE ]


I dont think there is an exact number, its a situational thing. I have never had someone break into my house, but if it did happen, Id have no hesitation in taking my gun out and shooting them, that is what it is there for. If you do not go hunting, there should be no reason to own one imo. I dont care if they are trying to steal bread for their poor family, if they are in my house, and I do not know them, they get shot. I did actually catch someone breaking into my car, Im sitting on my front porch smoking a spliff, and two kids walk down the street and start going through my wrangler. About 20 yards away. The didnt see us until we snuck up on them. My buddy punched one in the back of the head, and I grabbed the other, they were like 13 though and just douchebags, so we put them in my car and drove them to their parents house, rather than call the cops, and explained what happened to their parents. It depends on the split second decision, but im going to err on pulling the trigger if someone is in my house, and err on not pulling if its my car etc. Having someone break into my place specifically is going to note planning and premeditation due to what I hvae going on business wise.

Plus if someone is in your house it is legal to shoot them, otherwise its not. If someone is trying to mug me, Im not giving [censored] up w/o a fight. Stupid, yes, but I never claimed to be smart.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'd like to defend my idiot assertion that a paintball gun MAY be of some use vs an intruder without a gun.

1) I went paintballing once in a coverted warehouse. I rented a gun from them and they clocked it at "200" I assume feet per second but who knows. It hurt like hell from less than 30 feet and people were only allowed to use single shot guns (pull the trigger, 1 ball comes out. repeat as necessary).

Some guys had guns that were fully automatic and could go 2 or 3 times faster than my "200 fps". They were required to change settings to get it single shot and 200.

before a match, these guys were goofing around with their guns on full automatic and it sounded like a tommy gun (least what I expect a tommy gun to sound like and these balls were moving painfully fast)

So I'm thinking

1) What If I used rubber balls?
2) what If I used balls filled with habanero juice or somesuch thing?

If it was kinda dark and a villain hears what sounds like a machine gun. He KNOWS he's hit and his clothes are wet, would he THINK he was shot? Would he run like a deer. Would he continue up the stairs?

I also like the idea that I can miss a bunch and still hit them enough times to make a dent.

LLL

[/ QUOTE ]

What if the intruder is pumped up on drugs and doesn't react to being hit by paintballs? Only a head or spine shot with a gun will stop him.

What if the intruders are armed and you find yourself in a real life gun fight....with a paintball gun. Don't bring a paintball gun to a gun fight.

What if you hit the intruders, they realize you have a paintball gun, and then shield themselves to get to you? Hitting me with a paintball gun would piss me off more than scare me off.

Re: Home Defense Options.
 

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