Do you have a gun in your home?

[Anonymous]

Okay normally I'm opposed to people keeping guns at home but I could see it in your situation. But with four kids at home -- I guess I would decide against it. I recommend getting a couple of dogs.

I live in a high crime urban area and I don't believe in keeping a gun because I can call my neighbors or call the police and guns can create more problems than they solve. (People do shoot each other in my neighborhood but they're people who know each other and have issues with each other.) Also I have dogs and no one ever bothers me because of those noisy dogs.

But if I lived in a very rural area, I would think differently about it. Still, I think having kids makes it a deal breaker. Good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

Gun is your best bet. I own one, and live in Chevy Chase.

[Anonymous]

I own a gun, and it is my last line of defense. First comes dog, then alarm, then a planned escape route if possible.

Our gun is in the biometric trigger safe, which makes it always accessible and impossible for our son to get to.

[Anonymous]

I would never own a gun. I think they're ineffective for defending against intruders. Why? Once someone is in your house, it's too late to retrieve, unlock, load and fire with any accuracy.

I was attacked by an intruder and a gun would have been useless. A dog or security system would have woken us up and/or prevented the break in. There are only seconds of half-asleep thinking to make life or death decisions. I can tell you from experience that the half-asleep thinking is the biggest problem in that situation.

A gun plus an alert system (dog, alarm) would be workable, but is it worth the risk to your children? Mace and tasers can bring a man down.

[Anonymous]

I just got my husband a Kimber 1911 45 caliber pistol for Valentines Day. Nothing says "I love you" like a nice gun. If you are smart enough to lock them up, and lock them up separately from the amo, I see no problems in having guns in the house.

My children have learned respect for the guns. In turn, they will learn how to shoot them at the firing range.

[Anonymous]

DH is in law enforcement and he is 100% against guns in a house with children. For all the reasons stated above, plus should you actually need to shoot a gun you are more likely to shoot yourself or a family member than the intruder.

Realize that even professionally trained police officers hit an intended target 10% of the time when under stress. I imagine that unless you or DH is a SWAT team member or the equivalent, the rate is far, far lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is in law enforcement and he is 100% against guns in a house with children. For all the reasons stated above, plus should you actually need to shoot a gun you are more likely to shoot yourself or a family member than the intruder.

Realize that even professionally trained police officers hit an intended target 10% of the time when under stress. I imagine that unless you or DH is a SWAT team member or the equivalent, the rate is far, far lower.

which is why I advocate a shotgun. It is a defensive weapon, not meant to be concealed. You cannot miss.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor was a volunteer at the fire department and would never allow his family to use the wood-burning fireplace. It's amazing how professionals can be so overprotective and fearful of things that are included in their jobs.

[Anonymous]

We have always had a gun in our house because my husband is in federal law enforcement. Our children have had gun safety classes and, since they are older, have also shot the gun. I think we, as parents, do the best we can with the hand we were dealt. I would never send my child to a friends home where I knew they were guns without asking the other parent that their guns were secure. In my opinion, parents should always inquire. On another note, I think you would like to be sitting near my husband on a plane. He carries and is very well trained.

[Anonymous]

I'll start by saying that I don't like the gun idea, at all.

But, if I'm understanding OP's concerns correctly, it sounds like in the event of a break-in (1) everyone in the family is hopelessly screaming in fear; (2) OP's on the phone dialing 911; (3) criminal(s) closing in; and (3) the cops are at least few minutes away. My gosh, the thought, alone, is chilling.

Again, I just don't like guns, but in this case it sounds like it might be the best line of defense. To paraphrase a popular quote, "It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

[Anonymous]

Would I? No. I think the risk of having a gun (kids getting ahold of it - no matter how many safety things you have, attacker actually getting the gun from you) far outweigh the benefits (you have the time to get the unloaded hidden gun, get it out of saftey mode, load it, and shoot the attacker without shooting your children).

I'd think more about a home security system or a dog. We've been told that people will not even try to break into a houe with a dog - even small dogs - just out of the unknown.

If a dog isn't your style (or if you dog is going deaf like ours), I'd consider a home security system. One that would alert the police as soon as something happened. Again, the mere threat of one is enough to deter most burglers.

And for self defense, I'd get a baseball bat. Adreneline running, I'd be far more likely to be able to swing a bat then properly shoot a gun. Sure if the intruder has a gun your screwed, but odds are they are a better shot than you - and you aren't going to shoot until you know for sure your shooting at a stragner right? Not little tommy - asking for a glass of water?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll start by saying that I don't like the gun idea, at all.

But, if I'm understanding OP's concerns correctly, it sounds like in the event of a break-in (1) everyone in the family is hopelessly screaming in fear; (2) OP's on the phone dialing 911; (3) criminal(s) closing in; and (3) the cops are at least few minutes away. My gosh, the thought, alone, is chilling.

Again, I just don't like guns, but in this case it sounds like it might be the best line of defense. To paraphrase a popular quote, "It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

One dog = bad guy gone.

One gun = someone gets shot, the question is who?

[Anonymous]

Yes, we have 5 and a gun safe, and trigger locks. DH travels a lot, we shoot regularly. I am confident I can handle things on my own if need be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we have 5 and a gun safe, and trigger locks. DH travels a lot, we shoot regularly. I am confident I can handle things on my own if need be.

Why 5?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not.

I would also recommend a German Shepherd, as they're smart, very trainable, great with kids, protective of a property, and big enough to actually stop an intruder.