If you catch somebody breaking into your house at 2:45 in the morning?

It's dark, so you cannot see if the intruder is armed.

Also, you don't know if he's alone.

WHAT DO YOU DO?


repost from LEGAL side

curious for strategic and tactical standpoints...

Re: S&T, is he aware of you, and if so, if you're armed? That changes things a lot.

Re: S&T, is he aware of you, and if so, if you're armed? That changes things a lot.

No, he is not aware of you yet. IDK should you be armed?

Say you wake up cause you hear someone opening your side window. Should you arm yourself? Should you arm yourself with a pistol? Or should you arm yourself with a baseball bat?

I'm always open carrying at home whether on the couch, cooking, or whatever. While sleeping, I have at least one firearm within arm's reach.

If he's not aware of my presence, I'd retreat back to my room, call the police, and tell the dispatcher I'm armed (hopefully giving them a sense of urgency), keep them on the line, and hope for the best. Whenever I have a gun, I turn into somewhat of a complete coward. I'd rather have NO confrontations whatsoever. Still, you play the hand you're dealt, and if someone else forces my hand, well, again, I hope for the best.

I'd rather have NO confrontations whatsoever. Still, you play the hand you're dealt, and if someone else forces my hand, well, again, I hope for the best.

Agreed. One pull of that trigger is sure enough to open up a whole case of worms, I think.

I'm always open carrying at home whether on the couch, cooking, or whatever. While sleeping, I have at least one firearm within arm's reach.

If he's not aware of my presence, I'd retreat back to my room, call the police, and tell the dispatcher I'm armed (hopefully giving them a sense of urgency), keep them on the line, and hope for the best. Whenever I have a gun, I turn into somewhat of a complete coward. I'd rather have NO confrontations whatsoever. Still, you play the hand you're dealt, and if someone else forces my hand, well, again, I hope for the best.

We talk about this in our firearm safety classes.  And kind of preach the Run, Hide, Fight theory.   Most importantly, get the call into 911 asap.  You need them to come and put you together if you get shot, stabbed, or overtaken by an individual.  It also makes a record.  Barricade yourself up in the room, and let the police know where you are, that you are armed, and that you are terrified.

Since most of the legal aspect is covered in the other thread.

Buy a hi-lumen flashlight (the intruder is moving in the dark so when you make contact light him up and he be disoriented)

Search rooms by turning on your flashlight (aim at ceiling and it'll light up room YMMV)and turning it off once the room is deemed clear and safe.

Never walk around your home with the flashlight constantly on it'll give away your position. Always go on and off
When you finally found the intruder aim at his face......

1. If they run away or run at you then you will know what their intent was....situation will dictate your action from there.
2. If they stand still try talk it out and try to assess the situation (they might be drunk and enter your home thinking it was theirs)
   ***  During this time keep in mind of your surroundings and watch your 6
3. If they were drunk (loud commands by you and hope they listen) ....situation dictates. Same goes high as a kite person

I had a full post for this... but I deleted it.

It makes me very worried that I, or my wife could be tried and found guilty of protecting our home and our two babies from an intruder with awful intentions that illegally broke into our home, our sanctity...

Since most of the legal aspect is covered in the other thread.

Buy a hi-lumen flashlight (the intruder is moving in the dark so when you make contact light him up and he be disoriented)

Search rooms by turning on your flashlight (aim at ceiling and it'll light up room YMMV)and turning it off once the room is deemed clear and safe.

Never walk around your home with the flashlight constantly on it'll give away your position. Always go on and off
When you finally found the intruder aim at his face......

1. If they run away or run at you then you will know what their intent was....situation will dictate your action from there.
2. If they stand still try talk it out and try to assess the situation (they might be drunk and enter your home thinking it was theirs)
   ***  During this time keep in mind of your surroundings and watch your 6
3. If they were drunk (loud commands by you and hope they listen) ....situation dictates. Same goes high as a kite person

Another note you should have the advantage since its your home turf and he may not know the layout and walking through the dark.

Step one would be to never be without a light.  A decent flashlight should never be more than an arms reach away from any of the spots I'd sit or lay down in my place (including the toilet)!

I had a full post for this... but I deleted it.

It makes me very worried that I, or my wife could be tried and found guilty of protecting our home and our two babies from an intruder with awful intentions that illegally broke into our home, our sanctity...

Better to be judged by 12 of your peers than carried by 6 of your friends!  If it meant that my wife and kids were alive and safe, I would take prison time any day of the week.

Better to be judged by 12 of your peers than carried by 6 of your friends!  If it meant that my wife and kids were alive and safe, I would take prison time any day of the week.

im with you ... of course with all the other training advice, 911 , fear for life , assesment of intent and hope all was done correctly for situation.

We talk about this in our firearm safety classes.  And kind of preach the Run, Hide, Fight theory.   Most importantly, get the call into 911 asap.  You need them to come and put you together if you get shot, stabbed, or overtaken by an individual.  It also makes a record.  Barricade yourself up in the room, and let the police know where you are, that you are armed, and that you are terrified.

best advice

I would say run and hide if at all possible.  Shooting someone is the last thing you need in your life as it will cause your entire life to change in an instant and you will never be able to go back again.  You can be charged with murder.  You can go to jail and then prison for an extend stay.  You can lose your home, your car, your family, and your job!  Realize this before you think you are a commando and go tearing out of your house with a gun.  That being said, if some drugged out/crazy mofo wants to kill you and/or your family, down him and make sure he is down and stays down.  Usually one shot (especially out of a handgun) will not down someone...  If you have to, reload and keep on pulling until they are down and do not get back up!



As far as calling 911 and not having the ability to protect yourself/only relying on them to come to protect you... Remember, the police have no legal obligation to protect you or help you in any way unless you already have a speical relationship with them (example: previous tro against someone).  This is the law of the land as proven by the supreme court of the united states.  When you call the police there is no law which says they need to dispatch anyone to come to help you and even if they do, there is no law which says a police officer needs to help you (it is perfectly in that the police officers have a legal right to watch a criminal/crazy person either kill you or kill themselves).  Some times the switch board is down or they are just too busy.

Bottom line is that the police "may" protect you, but are under no obligation to do so.  Now I'm not saying that a police officer will not eventually come to protect you or that they would not want to.  I'm saying to take responsibility for yourself and that if you do not take advantage of your second ammendment right, you should not complain about it later cuz you will be blowing in to the wind at that point.  I highly suggest buying a gun and learning how to use it properly!
 

If you catch somebody breaking into your house at 2:45 in the morning?

It's dark, so you cannot see if the intruder is armed.

Also, you don't know if he's alone.

WHAT DO YOU DO?


repost from LEGAL side

curious for strategic and tactical standpoints...

Well if there are 2 guys... 1 bullet into the first guy, 2 into the other guy, then 1 more into the first guy.  never double tap the first guy if there is more then 1 intruder...

I had a visit from a intruder back in 2008!  I live in salt lake/aliamanu!  It took the cops 30 mins to come to my home!  I told the dispatcher I'm armed and I'm gonna shoot someone if I have too!  I had my family baracaded in one room!  I could hear the intruder walking around my house!  I was pissed I told the dispatcher theres a police station in kalihi & pearl city and no one is here!  U can't rely on the cops!  Defend yourself!

U can't reply on the cops!  Defend yourself!

I'm glad you and your family are safe from that encounter.  30 minutes is a pitiful response time for an intruder call, but typical of the pd.  They are not legaly responsible to assist, so don't ever depend on it.  Grab gun, baracade or run if can, then call the pd just as you did. Good job yo!

Continuing story.......  Girl intruder walking around my home at 3am in the morning talking "this is the house, this is the house"!  I wasn't sure if she was with another accomplice or not or just plain crazy!  So one cop finally arrives he walks around my property and a girl in her 20s is running out and screaming "don't touch me" running down my street!  Cop comes back reports "everything is clear"!  So I'm confused i tell the cop "why did u let her go"!  Cop replies "what the f_ck u wanted me to do, u wanna do my f_cking job!  I told the cop u should of questioned her on what is she doing here or check her ID & see if she lives in the neighborhood or not!  I told the cop u should of got her info because what if she comes back and were all dead u have no leads!  He tells me "oh let me go find her"!  Cop jumps into his car and leaves!  Never heard from him & he never came back for a report!  So I file a complaint on him!

Never heard from him & he never came back for a report!  So I file a complaint on him!

And you wonder why police take 1/2 hour to get to your house?

I sure as hell would take my sweet ass time to get to someone's house who complains about other LEO's.

If you are the type that needs to call police to deal with trespassers and/or intruders, maybe you shouldn't be complaining about them.

King-first time calling the cops!  Filed the complaint 2 weeks after the incident!  Just wondering so your tellin its ok on how the cop responded to my situation!  I was upset about the reaction time coming to my home but I was more upset on how spoke to me & my wife!  Quote unquote "what the f_ck you u wanted me to do, u wanna do my f_cking job!  I have nothing against cops because I have family & friends who r cops!  The pizza delivery guy comes to my home faster then the cops!