Defending your home, how far would you go?

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The discussion centers on how individuals would respond to finding an intruder in their home. Many participants express a strong belief in the right to defend themselves and their families, with some advocating for confrontational approaches, including the use of firearms. There is significant concern about the legal implications of using force, particularly in the UK, where laws often favor the intruder over the homeowner. Participants debate the concept of "reasonable force" and the potential for legal repercussions if excessive force is perceived. Some argue for a more cautious approach, suggesting that retreating and calling the police may be wiser, especially if family members are not in immediate danger. The conversation also touches on the complexities of distinguishing between a genuine threat and a misunderstanding, such as encountering someone who may not be a criminal. Overall, the thread reflects a deep anxiety about home invasion scenarios and the balance between self-defense and legal consequences.
  • #91
jarednjames said:
Alright guys never mind, I wanted a simple two part response from you all but apparently it's turned into a slanging match with no purpose at all, someone lock the thread please.

My purpose is not to try to give you a 'slanging match', I'm challenging you to increase the quality of debate.
 
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  • #92
All I wanted was to know what you would do if confronted with an intruder and what the law let's you do. But people started debating other peoples opinions (not the purpose of this thread, I just wanted the opinion) and it's gone downhill from there. Cyrus if you aren't going to answer the question why are you here?
 
  • #93
junglebeast said:
Where did you hear that? It is perfectly legal to store your gun unlocked and fully loaded, and many people do. In fact if I'm not mistaken the NRA recommends it. It's also legal to shoot someone in your own home out of defense.

It is the law in the UK. Guns must be kept unloaded and in a locked cabinet.
 
  • #94
Cyrus said:
My purpose is not to try to give you a 'slanging match', I'm challenging you to increase the quality of debate.

There wasn't meant to be a debate cyrus, I simply wanted opinions on what you would do and perhaps a bit of law on what you can do.
 
  • #95
jarednjames said:
There wasn't meant to be a debate cyrus, I simply wanted opinions on what you would do and perhaps a bit of law on what you can do.

Its that second part in bold that's the problem. You're simply *not* going to get a legit answer to that question in a physics forum.
 
  • #96
jarednjames said:
It is the law in the UK. Guns must be kept unloaded and in a locked cabinet.

A reasonable thing to do, IMO. Just look at skeptic2's post...who, btw, still has an 11-year-old daughter.
 
  • #97
skeptic2 said:
To those who would quickly grab their gun, my understanding is that when weapons are stored at home, they are to be stored unloaded and locked up with the ammunition stored in a separate place and also locked up. How would one unlock his gun, unlock the ammunition, load the gun and still be an effective deterrent?

I propose that accidents with kids and guns is far more common than the type of situation described above.
I have defended my home with a handgun and have not yet killed a person. The first would not have been possible without the possession of loaded firearms (excuse me, Mr home-invader, I have to get past you to get some bullets) and the second is a matter of perception and discipline. If you are an adult, and you keep guns in your home, and you have not acclimated your children to guns and properly trained them, any "accidents" are all your fault. When I was 10, my father told me that I was old enough to deer-hunt with him, and he gave me his M-1 carbine to use. AFTER I had shown proficiency in its use, demonstrated that I could handle it safely, and could field-strip that weapon, clean, lube, and reassemble it to his satisfaction, I was allowed to hunt with it, not just shoot it at the local gravel pit.. He was not a drill-sergeant, but being a sergeant in the Airborne mobilized to the European Theater during WWII probably lent a bit of urgency to his training.
 
  • #98
I'll be honest, I think that the US gun laws are crazy, I can see no justification in people needing guns at all, their purpose is to kill and therefore by owning one you are opening the possiblity of you using it (same as knives).
Yes there are guns in the UK (strictly no guns), but incidents with them are few and far between (despite media hype) and we have armed response units (as police have no guns either) which deal with them. The system works here, I just don't see why people feel the need to have a gun. You can NOT tell me it increases safety.
 
  • #99
junglebeast said:
Where did you hear that? It is perfectly legal to store your gun unlocked and fully loaded, and many people do. In fact if I'm not mistaken the NRA recommends it.

Perhaps that's why there are so many accidents with kids and guns.
 
  • #100
skeptic2 said:
Perhaps that's why there are so many accidents with kids and guns.

Reinforcing my previous post. I saw a newspaper article a while back, can't remember where it was, about a child who was given an UZI for some reason (I think it was at a fair as a shooting attraction) and he fired it, it kicked back so violently as he had never shot one before, he ended up shooting himself in the head. Anyone heard of this?
 
  • #101
jarednjames said:
I'll be honest, I think that the US gun laws are crazy, I can see no justification in people needing guns at all, their purpose is to kill and therefore by owning one you are opening the possiblity of you using it (same as knives).
Yes there are guns in the UK (strictly no guns), but incidents with them are few and far between (despite media hype) and we have armed response units (as police have no guns either) which deal with them. The system works here, I just don't see why people feel the need to have a gun. You can NOT tell me it increases safety.

Sure, but the reality is there already are **lots** of guns here. Outlawing them now would be like closing the barn door after the horses have run away...too late.
 
  • #102
jarednjames said:
Reinforcing my previous post. I saw a newspaper article a while back, can't remember where it was, about a child who was given an UZI for some reason (I think it was at a fair as a shooting attraction) and he fired it, it kicked back so violently as he had never shot one before, he ended up shooting himself in the head. Anyone heard of this?

Round and round we dance.

Segway about iraq in 3...2...1... post
 
  • #103
I'll be blunt cyrus, I've given up trying to keep this on topic now, just going with the flow.
If you have nothing constructive to say, just leave. (And that's the nice version of what's going through my head).
 
  • #104
  • #105
jarednjames said:
I'll be blunt cyrus, I've given up trying to keep this on topic now, just going with the flow.
If you have nothing constructive to say, just leave. (And that's the nice version of what's going through my head).

We started people busting into your home and now its going to go off into anti-gun rants and kids shooting themselves with UZIs...hmmmmm.
 
  • #107
Well perhaps, Cyrus, we like going on these rants as it's all we have to do (its 4am where I am and I can't sleep, not much else to do really, painted the fence yesterday).
And seeing as you are sticking around, continually attacking this thread you deem worthless, I'd say you have nothing better to do. Other than join in these pointless rants. Possibly even enjoying it?
 
  • #108
jarednjames said:
Well perhaps, Cyrus, we like going on these rants as it's all we have to do (its 4am where I am and I can't sleep, not much else to do really, painted the fence yesterday).
And seeing as you are sticking around, continually attacking this thread you deem worthless, I'd say you have nothing better to do. Other than join in these pointless rants. Possibly even enjoying it?
Well, now you're taunting him. Just ignore him and get on with your thread.
 
  • #109
OAQfirst said:
Well, now you're taunting him. Just ignore him and get on with your thread.

I'm not taunting him. I'm dead serious. Why can't you people stay on topic? What's the point about bringing something up if everyone is going to run off into wild tangents?

It's also highly annoying to see everyone playing lawyer with speculation running a muck. This kind of stuff would never fly in the other forums, and I think it makes the forums look bad in general when this happens. It just lacks any and all credibility.

No one's posting any facts. Not one.
 
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  • #110
skeptic2 said:
To those who would quickly grab their gun, my understanding is that when weapons are stored at home, they are to be stored unloaded and locked up with the ammunition stored in a separate place and also locked up. How would one unlock his gun, unlock the ammunition, load the gun and still be an effective deterrent?
Where did you get your information about "when a weapon is stored at home"? There might be a few states back (New York, California maybe) out of 50 that require a firearm to be unloaded and locked but those would be an exception.
 
  • #111
Cyrus said:
I'm not taunting him. I'm dead serious. Why can't you people stay on topic? What's the point about bringing something up if everyone is going to run off into wild tangents?
I was addressing jarednjames.
 
  • #112
jarednjames said:
Marvellously done on that find. That would be the one.

No, you can't 'close the door on guns' as you so nicely put it, but you can impose stricter control laws. No carrying them etc.

Now you are entering a different discussion. A tired old topic. As it applies to the US, stricter gun control laws, ie. "No carrying", simply means that those who abide by the laws are rendered defenseless (unarmed) against those who have no regard for them. And so on and so forth...
 
  • #113
Good, now aside from about two people, will anyone else address the OP?

What would you do in the situation of hearing a noise, going to investigate and finding an intruder? To make Cyrus happy, let's leave law out of it. And nobody has a go at what someone says they would do.
 
  • #114
jarednjames said:
Good, now aside from about two people, will anyone else address the OP?

What would you do in the situation of hearing a noise, going to investigate and finding an intruder? To make Cyrus happy, let's leave law out of it. And nobody has a go at what someone says they would do.

Good, now you can discuss your heart out! :-p
 
  • #115
Did I mention that I have a niece who spent a year in Iraq. She had an M 16.
 
  • #116
edward said:
Did I mention that I have a niece who spent a year in Iraq. She had an M 16.

I love you. :!)
 
  • #117
jarednjames said:
Good, now aside from about two people, will anyone else address the OP?

What would you do in the situation of hearing a noise, going to investigate and finding an intruder? To make Cyrus happy, let's leave law out of it. And nobody has a go at what someone says they would do.

Tell him to freeze, identify himself, and proceed to call the police.
 
  • #118
jarednjames said:
What would you do in the situation of hearing a noise, going to investigate and finding an intruder? To make Cyrus happy, let's leave law out of it. And nobody has a go at what someone says they would do.

1. Have someone call the cops

2. If possible don't let the intruder know that you can see them to delay or avoid a confrontation if one isn't necessary (maybe they won't find anything valuable and leave).

3. Get a firearm for defense

4. If you must confront them, then get out the firearm and ask them why they are in my house (maybe they don't have malicious intent). If they are there to steal something then demand that they leave. If they pull out a gun, or come at me with a knife, then I would use the gun, and if I can think straight at that point I'd try to make the shot nonlethal and immediately inform the person who is on the phone with the emergency services (they always keep you on the phone) that someone has a gunshot wound.
 
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  • #119
What we think we would do in an emergency situation and what we would actually end up doing will be two differen't things. When the heart starts to pump , the adrenaline starts to flow, and the vison narrows our behavior become quite unpredictable.
 
  • #120
Well I haven't had an intruder as such, but I was in the house on my own late at night when I heard a noise downstairs, I went down quietly, grabbed a metal bar and walked into the kitchen saying "who the **** are you?"
Turned out to be a housemate who wasn't supposed to be back that night, in a rather drunken state.
 

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