Originally Posted By: sandhillshunter"Why face an attacker on a level playing field when you have the opportunity to prepare in advance?"
Well said HB71! It's about the only smart thing I've seen posted on this topic so far! To me, home defense is so much more then; hand fighting vs gun. While BOTH are definitely a part of the overall game plan, their just a small part of it. If you have to hand fight someone, then you have a major flaw in your "home defense". At the sametime, just relying on the 45 under the bed is also equally flawed. A secure home is not easy or cheap, but my family is worth it!
This is exactly my point. In a home defense situation, why would you want to fight an opponent on an unknown playing field? If someone breaks into your home, my theroy is to do everything possible to tip the playing field against the enemy and in my favor. That certainly doesn't include limiting my weapon options to hand to hand combat only.
Fair fights are for fools. I've seen a couple of college jocks and other bar-room tough guys find this out the hard way. Sooner or later they find themselves getting their asses kicked and kicked hard by a guy who doesn't abide by thier theories of fair fighting.
I would think a burgler would be the same way, but you have to be prepared for anything. What if 3 of 4 methheads get together and decide to break into some houses? No matter how good you think you are fighting with your hands, I don't like those odds.
Far and away the best home defense is strong doors and windows and good locks that are kept locked! The longer it takes a bad guy to actually get inside, the better your chances are of making his stay an unpleasant one.
The next line of defense is the ability to light up the house like a football stadium and make a lot of noise. Home invaders want victims that are cowering, quiet, and weak. Not ones that light up the whole house and make lots of noise that gathers attention.
The next thing is an immediate call to 911. Again, the first instinct of even a crack or methhead who knows that the police are on the way is going to be to run. They are now facing an opponent who knows they are there, who has lit up the house and made a lot of noise, and who has called for backup. Even a moron can see that the deck in now stacked heavily against a successful robbery.
Finally, it doesn't matter if you have a gun or not. Yelling, "I've got a gun, leave NOW!" will get even a total idiot to turn tail and run. No robber wants to face a well-armed adversary who has an unknown, but fixed and defensible position, and who is also aware and alerted to a pending attack on his position. Even a retard or a crack head will understand that the homeowner has turned the home invasion/robbery into a suicide mission for the robber. Again, only a fool fights fairly.
Beyond that, what weapons you choose are up to you and your individual situation.
Grouse
