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Ok, rather than hijack the most recent home invasion story thread I thought I'd start a new one for some info/advice.

My question is this, in your opinion, is having a gun readily* accessible in your home a safe alternative to actually carrying on your person?

Let me set up my own situation. I live in an apartment that is relatively small, and whenever I'm home there is always a gun within about 15 feet, usually on the bed or nightstand. If I move to the garage, it goes with me. Given the short distance I would have to travel to retrieve it, is that as effective as carrying on your person? The reason I ask is because there are obviously times when you can't carry (sleeping, shower; except for you Glock guys, etc); so if that's the case in harm in practicing a retrieval method instead of a "on your person" carry?

What about your own situation? How do you handle it when home?

*By readily accessible I mean out in the open, not in a gun-safe or other obstructed area.

I always have a handgun either on my person, on the table next to me, or within a few steps. I never step outside my home without a handgun, even to fetch the paper. Since moving back to Texas from Kalifornia in 2003 we made the conscious decision to just make this a normal functioin in our routines. I look on it as a good habit.

Working on the vehicles in the garage I have the handgun close by.

Lounging around the pool with the wife unit, handgun with me.

In the hot tub, handgun on the side of the tub.

I have a loaded Evil Black Shotgun readily accessible.

Anygun

One thing you have to remember is that the BD is going to fully charged on adrenaline (and whatever else is in his system at the time). You are going to be in a relaxed state or otherwise preoccupied with something. He will already have the advantage over you in that regard. You task is to make that advantage as small as possible. To leave your weapon on a bed or desk would be like carrying without one in the chamber. Do you think when you need it you are going to have the time to rack the slide? It nice to always be prepared but in my experiences things tend to go like Murphy’s Law and happen when they are least expected. Just something to think about.

Hi Sig,

Good question.

IMO, the choice to carry on your person vs. readily accessible must be made according each person's needs.

Example: I live out in the country...and it would be nearly impossible for someone to get to my home without the dogs alerting me or by simple observation on my part.

With that in mind, I do not carry on my person while at home (inside)..and I am confident this choice will continue to work for me.

Conversely, if you live in a more populated area, do not have control over the movement/travel of others, or live in a crime prone area....then you might consider carrying on your person (as much as lifestyle allows).

Your ability to defend yourself in other ways (Other weapons, Empty hands, Verbal skills, fleeing, etc) should be considered as well. Some folks only have the option of their firearm ...because of physical constraints.

You will need to weigh all of this (and more) and then make your decision.

Personally, I am not a 24/7 "carrier". But, that doesn't mean I don't have a weapon near by...or that I can't defend myself.

Others will have different needs.


Take care,

Flint

Well now, all I carry are Sigs, which are never without one in the chamber, so the only requirement there is to pick it up and pull the trigger; which to me is almost faster than having to draw the gun and pull the trigger.

Either way, what does everyone else have for just this situation?

SigM4 wrote:

My question is this, in your opinion, is having a gun readily* accessible in your home a safe alternative to actually carrying on your person?

? The reason I ask is because there are obviously times when you can't carry (sleeping, shower; except for you Glock guys, etc); so if that's the case in harm in practicing a retrieval method instead of a "on your person" carry?

I have used my food saver for allot of things but that is awsome.

Thanks txinvestigator

txinvestigator wrote:

SigM4 wrote:

My question is this, in your opinion, is having a gun readily* accessible in your home a safe alternative to actually carrying on your person?

? The reason I ask is because there are obviously times when you can't carry (sleeping, shower; except for you Glock guys, etc); so if that's the case in harm in practicing a retrieval method instead of a "on your person" carry?

Is that your End Of The World stash?

I knew he was going to post that again.

Everybody needs 67 rounds of 9mm at-the-ready in the shower, don't they? What you don't see is the Benchmade Model 630 on the soap dish behind him...for backup and so he can open the Foodsaver bag quickly. Oh, and the 4oz. can of Fox sitting beside the knife. There was a real problem that one morning when he mistakenly thought the Fox OC was was the Axe deodorant...

But seriously: what Flint said. Even in a congested metro area, the construction and layout of your house makes a difference in how you choose to be prepared while you're inside it. If your bedroom is on the second floor, for example, it changes things significantly in the event of a first-floor dining room window smash. And waking hours are different than sleeping, and (of course) showering is different than, say, cooking.

One thought, though, is that at night I position my defensive firearm in a location that requires me to get out of bed to reach it. I don't have to walk anywhere; I just have to get out of bed and stand up.

The absolute first thing you should do if you hear the dreaded big bump in the night is: Wake up! Do not arm yourself until you are awake and aware. That's a negligent discharge--or worse--waiting to happen. Don't keep the gun within easy reach on the nightstand; and positively the worst place to keep it is under your pillow. By forcing yourself to stand up (assuming you don't sleep-walk), you can pretty much be sure you're at least mostly awake by the time you're picking up your pistol or shotgun. Those with disabilities will have to work around this and find an alternative, but if you can get out of bed relatively easily, what I've been taught is don't keep your firearm within easy reach from your sleeping position.

Skiprr wrote:I knew he was going to post that again.

I was wating for that as well. Makes me want to run out and buy a food saver .

Hey Skiprr..how long does it take for your adrenaline to kick in when you get woken up in the middle of the night by the dreaded "bump in the dark"

If I ever get woken up like that I'm instantly awake and can't get any sleep after that...I go from off, to instant ON...I guess its just my USMC training

If its an emergency...click I'm awake..if its to my alarm...it takes me 2 cups of coffee and a shower

Molon_labe wrote:If its an emergency...click I'm awake..if its to my alarm...it takes me 2 cups of coffee and a shower

I know that feeling.

i have no dogs, & live in an area w/ many houses. I am armed at the house all the time. Crack house about half mile from me & a registered sex offender a little over a mile.
It was not this way 15 yrs ago when we bought it.

longtooth wrote:i have no dogs, & live in an area w/ many houses. I am armed at the house all the time. Crack house about half mile from me & a registered sex offender a little over a mile.
It was not this way 15 yrs ago when we bought it.

What a way to say welcome to the 21st century.

longtooth wrote:It was not this way 15 yrs ago when we bought it.

are you saying you, "bought the farm?"

jk

here's what I do: whatever HandCannon I employ that particular evening goes on the table next to the couch. Wherever I am in my dinky apt, well, I'm not more than a few steps from it. I *know* that someone who runs up the stairs and hits my front door is not going to get through on their first try. not going to happen.
course, I don't live in Oak Cliff, neither...