Home invasions often start off as seemingly innocuous. Do you always answer the doorbell with a firearm in hand?Quote from Tsing Tao:
i have an alarm in my house. Beeps twice when the perimeter is breached (window or door) and then sends silent alarm to station. i hear that beep in my house (speaker is in the bedroom) very clear. if someone enters, my gun safe is 5 feet away and i am upstairs. i can be armed and ready to dance in seconds.
Exactly, not only in his living room but with his daughters head opposite the barrel. That's not "practicing safety" it's practicing stupidity.Quote from Crispy:
Many people say lots of shit they dont really mean or practice. Clearly this goober is one of them.
Anybody that attempts to clear a jammed firearm in their living room is a moron. And heaven forbid this young girl dies this guy should do hard time.
What a load of crap.Quote from Gabfly1:
Unless you had your gun out while watching TV, I doubt you'd be in a position to use it during a surprise home invasion. The same applies to most, but certainly not all, instances of attack. Predators look for vulnerability, not challenges. Therefore, with few exceptions, I would imagine that firearm aficionados bent on getting the upper hand in all conceivable scenarios, which need not necessarily appear threatening at the outset, would have to have their trigger finger pretty much at the ready at all times. I'm all for personal safety. But I'm not sure how many fidgety and shifty-eyed action heroes with itchy trigger fingers I would want to be around at any one time.
Therefore, I think you are overstating the number of preventable tragedies of one kind, and overlooking the number of preventable tragedies of another kind.
Quote from Gabfly1:
I suspect that most crooks don't announce themselves: "I will be your home invader this evening."
Google the various home invasion ruses. Are you always in full lockdown mode, 24/7?
Precisely my point. Situational awareness counts for a lot and is the best preventative measure, as I'm sure you'll agree. I was just trying to convey that ownership of firearms can give a false sense of security unless you fairly see it coming. And if you DO see it coming, you can usually avoid it in time. And if you DON'T see it coming, then you pretty much have to have your finger on the trigger at just about all times, so to speak. Personal firearms can play a useful role from time to time and in some instances, I just question the cost/benefit in the aggregate. Policy looks at the bigger picture rather than at anecdotal evidence.Quote from Tsing Tao:
...and there's no way to prepare yourself 100% for every possibility...
Quote from Gabfly1:
Precisely my point. Situational awareness counts for a lot and is the best preventative measure, as I'm sure you'll agree. I was just trying to convey that ownership of firearms can give a false sense of security unless you fairly see it coming. And if you DO see it coming, you can usually avoid it in time. And if you DON'T see it coming, then you pretty much have to have your finger on the trigger at just about all times, so to speak. Personal firearms can play a useful role from time to time and in some instances, I just question the cost/benefit in the aggregate. Policy looks at the bigger picture rather than at anecdotal evidence.
Fine. And how would you feel standing in line next to a sub-100 specimen packing heat in a coffee shop?Quote from Tsing Tao:
...i have grown up around firearms and i know how to safely house and care for them. and i have an IQ over 100...