Yeah, I’m the same way in the days gone bye TD, then, once I finally purchased a semi auto pistol and took it to the range that I realized what “power” could be in anyone’s wasteband.
Yeah, I’m the same way in the days gone bye TD, then, once I finally purchased a semi auto pistol and took it to the range that I realized what “power” could be in anyone’s wasteband.
I took a hardcore “home defense” course 30 years ago with only shotguns, just because of the issues you raise. Part of a pump shotgun is the sound of the action cocking is usually enough to send an intruder running, plus accuracy is not as vital. A really informative class with lots of training. Of course, it doesn’t play well on Miami Vice.
I took a hardcore “home defense” course 30 years ago with only shotguns, just because of the issues you raise. Part of a pump shotgun is the sound of the action cocking is usually enough to send an intruder running, plus accuracy is not as vital. A really informative class with lots of training. Of course, it doesn’t play well on Miami Vice.
Point the muzzle vaguely down the hallway
We have a very large, but docile 110-pound/50 kg/7.86 stone Dogo Argentino. We call him Hank; he is my daughter’s constant companion, and looks very intimidating.
He’s afraid of our 7-lb Silky Terrier.
One nice thing about the Big Dog is the fact he doesn’t growl or bark often…I say “nice” because he’s a house dog, and when he does growl or bark, it’s terrifying…it sounds deep and huge, like Sam Elliott rebuking you from the depths of hell.
We adopted him over a year ago, and I’ve only heard him bark twice and growl three times. I’ve never seen him “lose his crap” and go after anything.
However, there’s a man—50-55 years old, Caucasian, balding, medium build and height—who’s been roaming our neighborhood at odd hours of the day and evening.
This guy triggers something in Hank.
When the Strange Traveler walks by, Hank’s hair in his neck stands up, he growls menacingly and will bark if the guy dawdles very long in front of our house.
Hank sees him, because Hank’s “television” is the front picture window—we leave the plantation shade high enough that he can see what’s happening in the front yard…we also allow this because it also discourages anyone who does walk by—a 110-lb dog whose head is larger than a slim person’s torso is a good deterrent.
The last time this guy lingered very long on the street in front of our house, Hank growled, barked, then roared, and nearly knocked himself out trying to get to the front door so we could allow him to go kill the guy (Hank’s not real graceful, and hit his head on a dresser and a door frame to get to the front door).
Hank lost his crap.
We obviously did not allow Hank to go kill the Strange Traveler, and by the time I figured out what was happening, the guy was well down the street.
After last night, I’m re-thinking my decision to prevent the confrontation between Hank and the creeper…
Last night (really, this morning) at 2:00AM, the widowed octogenarian that lives across the street called me.
I’ve known her since I moved into the house in 1991. She’s sharp as a tack and sweet as pie, and isn’t prone to nervousness or fear. Plus, her 24-year old granddaughter lives with her, so she has some companionship and “backup”.
She nervously asked me to look out in our front yards (directly across the street from one another) to see if there was someone prowling there. Earlier in the night (around midnight) she and her granddaughter heard something rustling through the leaves between her house and the one next door…they assumed it was a possum or an armadillo (a tactical attack possum?) and thought nothing of it; but at 2:00AM, their dog’s hair stood on his back and he “pointed” toward the front door, at the same time the doorknob rattled. Her granddaughter was still awake and reading in their front parlor, so she was less than 5 feet from the door—this wasn’t something she imagined.
I quickly put on my glasses, grabbed my Louisville Slugger and looked out my front door window (it’s high enough that you can’t see into our house, unless you’re almost 7’ tall, but I can see out, if standing on my tiptoes)…Hank was silent, but scanning the yard from his post near the picture window.
I saw nothing in my yard or hers. However, her front door/porch is pitch black, and if someone were standing there I couldn’t have seen him. After I was fairly positive he wasn’t on my front porch, I walked outside and scanned the street both ways (empty). I moved to a position to where I could see her doorway; she had turned on her front porch light, but I didn’t see anyone.
I called her back and told her to call me if anything else happened, and have her granddaughter call 911.
Needless to say, I didn’t go back to sleep.
My wife is now freaked out.
Neither of us have a doorbell or security camera, but I’m about to invest in something for our home (and encourage her to do the same)…
Does anyone have any suggestions of what type or brand have been reliable, easy to install and easy to monitor?
…and before you ask—yes, I have a gun (or several…my wife finally acquiesced); and no, I don’t want to shoot someone who might just be a creepy-but-harmless modern-day Boo Radley…but he might also be a modern-day Dennis Rader, too.
Oh man. My heart goes out to you.
