The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun.... is a good guy with a gun

[Tsing Tao]

I know you carry, but for most people, they have a gun at home in case of a break-in. In that situation I have read the average time you have to react is less than a minute, and you might be sound asleep. I don't know how you train for that, plus you are so right that the adrenalin rush and fear is going to make it very difficult to accomplish even a simple task.

It's one reason I like a striker-fired pistol like a Glock or a revolver versus something where you have to manipulate a safety.

You have an advantage at home. You know the layout and most of the times, an intruder does not. Having a gun at home should be a last ditch defense, not a solution to being invaded. Get a good alarm system and a dog. Cameras also help, and put a sign out in the garden or a sticker on the windows in the lower corner that lets a thief know your house is alarm protected. In almost all cases, a thief will choose a house that is an easier target rather than risk entry - and that is the whole point.

I have cameras, a wired alarm system (for fire as well - discount on insurance) and of course, a safe with a biometric lock under my bed. The alarm was triggered once and I had my weapon in less than 20 seconds. The odds of an intruder getting to my bedroom in under 20 seconds is nil. Turned out my son (at the time he was 6) had opened the back patio door in the middle of the night because he said he heard a dog outside or something. We can't own a dog because my wife has allergies.

This is the sign I have in my front garden:

I assure you, a thief doesn't want to go through all the trouble to rob my house when he can get a neighbor with much less grief. An added bonus is that this sign also stops a lot of solicitors.

 

[Tsing Tao]

I read an article... probably here. A cop talked about learning how to shoot one handed at center mass quickly. I think centered shooting is very unnatural and that is why it requires so much training to not suck under pressure. I therefore spent more than half my time on the range shooting one handed.

Unless we are going to compete or spend thousands of hours training, I think we should shoot the way we would when we pull up our finger gun. (if you are strong enough to control your weapon.) Extend your finger pick a target on the wall and shoot. You naturally turn to the side a bit. You naturally aim with the correct eye and naturally either close and re open or just keep the non sight eye open. I believe your eyes want 2 different lengths so they know how to work together and get a better idea of depth.

2. If you agree with shooting sideways... bringing the other arm up is useful to control recoil or trigger pull but it does interfere a bit with naturalness.



edit... i just found a similar article to the one I read here. I realize he is pushing a different type of shooting but the logic is compelling to me.
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/03/john-velt/two-hands-good-one-hand-better-pt-1/


Distance equals time, or lack thereof. If you don’t have the distance/time to assume a “proper” combat stance and grip, you won’t do it. The New York Police Department’s long-term study of thousands of police combat cases confirms it: most officers engaged in an armed confrontation fired with their strong hand. This YouTube video demonstrates the point:

Uh, sounds like you're reading a book on what not to do.

Shooting sideways is idiotic. Practice a proper draw, where the gun comes up to your chest and you push out towards the target. Don't have your arm raise as if it were a lever. Both hands, both eyes open. Don't ever close one eye. Doing all sorts of silly crap like one handed stuff and the like...just practice the right way every time. And you'll do it that way when you have to.

 

[Tsing Tao]

Do your family and everyone else a favor and just stay away from guns.

Based on what he wrote, I inclined to agree.

 

[Frederick Foresight]

How many civilians who carry handguns can maintain fine motor skills under duress and in a crowd? I'm guessing not many. So the real question is, How many ticking time bombs with the best of intentions are walking around at any given time?

 

[Poindexter]

How many civilians who carry handguns can maintain fine motor skills under duress and in a crowd? I'm guessing not many. So the real question is, How many ticking time bombs with the best of intentions are walking around at any given time?

Fredrika, if you don't like the Second Amendment, why don't you just move to Canada? Oh wait...

 

[CaptainObvious]

How many civilians who carry handguns can maintain fine motor skills under duress and in a crowd? I'm guessing not many. So the real question is, How many ticking time bombs with the best of intentions are walking around at any given time?

Not many is correct. That is not an argument for abandoning the second amendment. Strictly enforce existing laws would be helpful. I'd support a more thorough background check and mandatory training for all firearm purchases. All that said, none of it stops a criminal. The only things that stop criminals are a bullet, and/or long lengthy prison sentences for crimes committed with a gun.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

Having a gun at home should be a last ditch defense, not a solution to being invaded. Get a good alarm system and a dog. Cameras also help, and put a sign out in the garden or a sticker on the windows in the lower corner that lets a thief know your house is alarm protected.

Great advice. This is why I like second story bedrooms and dislike the typical Florida layout with a sliding glass door opening off the master BR to the lanai. An intruder can kick that door in and be on top of you in no time.

What would you recommend as a home defense weapon for a woman who is ok with handling firearms but is not likely to do much if any training? Where do you come down on the shotgun versus AR debate for home defense?

 

[Frederick Foresight]

Not many is correct. That is not an argument for abandoning the second amendment. Strictly enforce existing laws would be helpful. I'd support a more thorough background check and mandatory training for all firearm purchases. All that said, none of it stops a criminal. The only things that stop criminals are a bullet, and/or long lengthy prison sentences for crimes committed with a gun.

Even firearm training will not necessarily prepare a civilian to conduct himself properly under intense stress. Reminds me of a story in Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, where one guy said he can hit a champagne glass at 20 paces (or whatever). The other guy said, Yeah, but can you hit the glass while it's aiming a bullet at your heart?

 

[CaptainObvious]

Even firearm training will not necessarily prepare a civilian to conduct himself properly under intense stress. Reminds me of a story in Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, where one guy said he can hit a champagne glass at 20 paces (or whatever). The other guy said, Yeah, but can you hit the glass while it's aiming a bullet at your heart?

This is true, most people have no idea how they'll react in an actual violent confrontation, just as people don't really know how they'll act in real combat. Still, training is a necessary component if one is to have any chance at all. Given the stand your ground laws there should also be a mandatory class for all firearms owners in just what that law really entails. I'm all for training and education in weapons use, but I do not support the restricting of law biding citizens from being able to legally make the purchase. If a person thinks it makes them safer, they have the right to pursue that. Personally I don't think it makes people as safe as they think it does specifically for the reason we're discussing. Most will panic and forget everything and end up getting shot themselves. It's a personal choice. Whatever helps one sleep at night.
BTW, I still don't own any type of firearm. Haven't fired a weapon in many decades. Seen enough, but I won't let my personal experience prohibit others from doing what they have the right to pursue. Day ever comes where I feel the need to arm myself it's probably too late for us all.

 

[Frederick Foresight]

Given the stand your ground laws

Which were written by morons for morons.

If a person thinks it makes them safer, they have the right to pursue that. Personally I don't think it makes people as safe as they think it does specifically for the reason we're discussing. Most will panic and forget everything and end up getting shot themselves.

I don't care nearly as much about firearm owners shooting themselves as I do about firearm owners inadvertently shooting innocent bystanders in the heat of the moment.