I was reading a very interesting thread about protecting your home as a US citizen. We are allowed to bear arms and more than a few people had and wanted to buy guns. I think that it’s fine to own a gun if you know how to properly load and shoot a gun. But the question came, that if someone was breaking into your house, could you retrieve, load, and shoot your gun in time?
I think it was just a provocative question about how to protect your home? Is the gun an answer? Should you pay instead for an alarm system? Or a large dog?
Many gun owners on the board did suggest that people who were “uncertain” about their ability to shoot someone should not be gun owners. Yes the people breaking in might have guns, but if you are wary or uncertain about shooting you could end up being hurt worse.
I have contemplated gun ownership. I’ve grown up with guns, had many relatives own guns including my parents. But would it be wise? I think the answer for my right now would probably be that I’d get a large dog.
I grew up with large attack dogs, and I’d feel comfortable having one in the house. When we lived in a bad neighborhood between two cops both had dogs (pitbull and rottweiler). So my alarm system would likely be a more expensive solution than a gun, but probably cheaper for my peace of mind.
Another consideration would be installing an alarm system. Granted in the future, when DH and I have a single family we’ll likely get one. We’ll also consider a larger dog also.
But would you buy a gun to protect your home? Would it be worth it?
9 responses so far ↓
1 Msminiducky // Jun 2, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I would only purchase a gun for my home if and when I was very comfortable with and knowledgeable about guns. I don’t need to provide weapons to an intruder who knows better how to use my gun than I do!
I enjoy shooting guns at the range as well, so that would be two reasons to keep firearms. I’m not certain I would get one solely for home protection. Again, that’s partly for the same reason as above. I’d need sufficient practice to keep from getting rusty with the targeting skills and be sure that I wasn’t going to be ignorantly trigger happy. It would be awful to have a gun, and be good at shooting it, but be really situationally stupid and risk harming a family member!
2 debtdieter // Jun 3, 2008 at 12:08 am
As an Australian I find the US obsession with guns and attack dogs quite surreal. What do you actually need to protect yourself from? Aren’t security doors, key locks on the windows and alarm systems enough to protect your homes?
The culture of fear seems so increibly strong there, is it really warranted, or am I just lucky because I live here & guns/attack dogs would never feature as realistic or necessary options in home security here?
3 LivingAlmostLarge // Jun 3, 2008 at 2:21 am
It really depends on where you live. In bigger cities, there are many break-ins. I’ve had 5 friends whose homes have been broken in since moving East. And 6 different cars broken into.
So it’s pretty prevalent. My family home in Hawaii was broken into 2x in the 1980s and 1990s.
Granted this was before my parents installed and alarm system.
Most of my friends RENT, they do not have alarm systems, key locks on the windows. So perhaps this is why.
4 debtdieter // Jun 3, 2008 at 6:28 am
Even so, that’s not so over the top, and having a gun or an attack dog won’t protect you car from getting broken into.
I rent, and my apartment has key locks on all the windows and a deadlock on the front door, plus a fake alarm sticker on the window visible from the balcony.
This isn’t an anti gun or dog thing, I just don’t see why there is so much fear that would make these a realistic consideration.
5 LivingAlmostLarge // Jun 3, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Maybe to you, but I grew up with my grandparents raising German Shepards for show. So I love the breed. They just happen to be able to tear your arm off.
And my family had a 100+ lb red doberman. Gorgeous dog. Slept with my mom.
So we’re a dog family, I’ve got two small dogs. BUT under the right circumstances, DH and I will likely pick up a big dog one day.
My grandparents not only raised dogs but many abused dogs were left on their doorstep, hence they had a lot of dogs.
So I believe that a large dog will deter many people from breaking in. And if you happen to be a dog person, all the better.
DH’s family was the only house on the block not broken into. The police said it was because they had 3 collies and the barking made the intruders wary of taking them on. So houses on both sides were broken into without dogs.
But debtdieter, you’ve just proven my point. You have key locks on the windows, most of my friends barely have windows. They live in 1880s buildings that aren’t even weatherproof let alone safe. And many don’t have deadbolts. So how should they protect themselves?
I’m not suggesting a gun, personally I can’t handle a gun. But I understand why many people have them, including my two brothers, and multiple cousins and other family members.
And yes a large dog, you try and enter my house with a 100+ lb plus dog growling at you. Want to try?
My dobie scared off a man scraping at my window. I happened to be sleeping with my beagle who started barking like mad. And the dobie came running from my parents room and barking. I heard tires peel out after that. I wonder why he didn’t try to enter????? We already had an alarm system and signs everywhere.
Probably because most people who are breaking in aren’t rational. They are drugged out and looking for money. Reading signs are the last thing they do.
6 Mrs. Micah // Jun 4, 2008 at 1:26 am
I wouldn’t want to give the burglar something they could use against me. And I highly doubt I could be sure of getting to it in time and using it right in a panicking situation.
Then having around creates other risks…accidents, things I wouldn’t want to chance.
7 Meg // Jun 4, 2008 at 5:07 am
I grew up in the country with dogs and guns — and definitely felt safer for having them. The dogs alerted us to anyone coming in the yard and definitely intimidated more than a few people (though around us they were always the sweetest things). And while my mom didn’t hunt, it was common knowledge that she had once been quite the target shooter. She certainly wasn’t afraid of using a gun.
We never had an alarm system. It probably would have been too expensive for us — and by the time someone got to us it would have been too late anyhow. While we locked the windows, the glass could be easily broken. But having the dogs and guns was enough that we never had problems, except that one person it seemed had tried to break into our barn — but failed. He was probably scared off before he could get in.
I now live in a more suburban area and am happy to finally have next-door neighbors. It’s a fairly safe area, all in all, but it’s nice to have people keeping an eye on things nonetheless. I try to keep the doors and side gates locked because that’s our major defense here. We do have a gun, but because it’s a family heirloom. We’re really more cat people, so no dogs. No alarm system — still too expensive — but I would like one of some sort, and maybe we’ll get one rigged up.
I must say, though, that there are quite a few places in the U.S. that I would not live without a gun and big dog — especially if I was living alone.
8 tom // Jun 4, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I’ve been contemplating buying a handgun for a while. I think the major reason I have not purchased one is the price. Handguns can be very expensive.
I think you ask the right questions though. Will you have enough time to retrieve, load and fire the gun if someone is breaking in? If it’s kept in your bedroom in an accessible location, I think, yes. However, if you have kids, most likely the answer is no, because you’ll be pulling it out from the hiding spot and unlocking the trigger lock…
As for a dog… he still is a puppy and sleeps in his cage, but he does have a bark when people knock at the door and strangers come in the house.
9 Mike // Jun 7, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Just a question for debtdieter . Does having a fire extinguisher make me part of the fire fear culture? Does having an emergency fund make part of the Debt fear culture?
A gun or a big dog have there places as tools. I would never advocate a gun or dog for someone who wasn’t completely well versed in how to use or control them. But the one time things went bump in the night I was glad for my Rotty and my shotgun.
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