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This happened to me the other night and made me start thinking how something helpful could turn bad quickly. My mom picks up my son after school and he stays with her until me or the wife picks him up. He has the usual school gear that has to be transferred from Grandmas car to his moms. Well the transferring left behind his school shoes. Grandma discovered them in her car at 3 am. on her way to work. She knew he would need them for school and decided to drive over to my house and drop them off. She told me she was going to unlock my front door and leave them inside so they would not be wet and cold . She has keys and alarm code since some days she drops my son at home after school. She told me that as she was about to open the door and then she thought of me being armed and thought better of it and left the shoes on the porch. Good thinking on her part not that anything would have happend but it sure could have. I was raised in a household that was armed and protected but many of our friends or realtives may have not. It might be worth discussing this type of situation with them to avoid a tragedy. I was impressed with my moms thought process and thought it was worth sharing here.

I have a similar situation with my kids. I have 2 teenagers and an X wife. Well the X will bing them to the house all the time at all hours because "something came up". I don't do the my time your time thing (my kids are always welcome). But this does pose an issue when she does this really late, a few times at 1 am. I have taught my boys to announce themselves the second they open the door "It's us dad etc.."(all the time) just so there is no question who is entering.

Good process. I have a key to Mom's house & she to ours. We both knock, ring bell & wiat. If there is no answer & we use a key at the others house, a LOUD announcement is made.
Wooohooo tis I. Hey anybody home. (You old timers know Mamma's house aint one to sneek in too.
Shoot anyone can be in the bathroom, utility room w/ the washer going, ...

If you belong there holler said the country boy.
LT

Ever since I came home early and had a deer rifle pointed at me, I call first.

I've made it known to my close friends that might feel comfortable enough just walking in, if by some weird mishap i forgot to lock the door that I sleep w/ a firearm on the nightstand. Please save the comments about telling unnecessary people you have a gun -- these were the necessary people.

Dragonfighter wrote:Ever since I came home early and had a deer rifle pointed at me, I call first.

You shouldn't have came in the door and said 'I'm home, deer' during hunting season!!

Now that 99% of everyone has cell phones, tehre is really no reason for an unexpected entry by a relative or friend. Calling first, then the loud knock and announcment is always recommended even if expected.

Keith B wrote:
Now that 99% of everyone has cell phones, tehre is really no reason for an unexpected entry by a relative or friend. Calling first, then the loud knock and announcment is always recommended even if expected.

+1, even my wife almost always calls before getting home...

Not long after I received my CHL and some gun training, I conditioned Mars to respond verbally to me when he enters the door. (In the past, he wouldn't reply but would simply make his way over to me--not a wise idea if someone's armed and unaware of who's entering.)

Mom has always announced her presence, as it's a leftover habit from her childhood years on the farm/in the woods.

Right now, none of my neighbors have a key. I just moved to my apartment a few weeks ago, and I don't know any of them well enough to let them have a key. In my old house, one set of neighbors had a key and would come by and take care of my psychotic cat when we went out of town. I guess I won't be taking any extended trips for awhile.

Whew, I agree...

I think calling first, regardless of the time or situation in cases like this is very important...Not to counter anything such as a "shoot first ask questions later" type reaction...Not that this is prevalent here...

I personally don't mind people who call me, even by mistake, because thats just the way I am...Even at 3am in the morning...

Just think if its someone in trouble and needs help, and they just fat fingered any number they could dial in a hurry...

I keep an open mind and heart to someone in that position...And if its someone who's under the influence and just blah blah blah-ing just because...Maybe I can get them to stay out from behind the wheel until I can get someone to them to help them out...

I've peeled too many bodies off of dashboards not to at least keep a path open to keep that from possibly happening again...

In this case though...Thats a phone call I do not have a problem with one bit...