Mother kills intruder with shot gun!!!

[mkarnold1]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

If she isn't ready to use it, she shouldn't have it, IMHO. You wouldn't want your wife to be clubbed and then shot with her own shotgun, now would you? Not that there wouldn't be a plethora of other weapons in arms reach, but being a paper tiger is no solution when great bodily harm or death is involved. At CQB distance, she will most likely have lost the battle at that point if she is unwilling to pull the trigger to negate the threat.


It is always a good thing to look at defensive strategies as a fluid learning experience.

Heard and understood, but she would not have the gun loaded. She doesn't know how to shoot so there is no way I would want her discharging a loaded firearm in our home with the kids there. Also, an unloaded firearm is a very good weapon for a person who is at a disadvantage in a fight, because of the unease and uncertainty it may cause in the assailant. The walnut stock of a Winchester 1300 is no "paper tiger", it will do more damage than anything else in the house.

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by mkarnold1

Heard and understood, but she would not have the gun loaded. She doesn't know how to shoot so there is no way I would want her discharging a loaded firearm in our home with the kids there. Also, an unloaded firearm is a very good weapon for a person who is at a disadvantage in a fight, because of the unease and uncertainty it may cause in the assailant. The walnut stock of a Winchester 1300 is no "paper tiger", it will do more damage than anything else in the house.

And if the assailant has a loaded weapon, in opposition to a useless (at distance) weapon, the assailant may be quite a bit more likely to shoot first when confronted with that very possible threat. Negation or defusing of the situation before it becomes hand to hand is infinitely favorable to "hoping your wife can use it as a club as a last resort." A baseball bat might be a better choice, I suppose in that case.

I do not mean any disrespect in any way, but as someone who views the presence of a firearm as a responsibility, and when presented in a confrontation, I am mindful that hesitation may cause either escalation, loss of initiative, or an instantly reduced safety zone, an attacker, if armed with a firearm, may shoot at the earliest opportunity if threatened with a firearm themselves.

It's a glass half empty supposition, I suppose, and I am no tactician, but looking at the lowest common denominator is necessary, I think, especially with criminals.

[mkarnold1]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

And if the assailant has a loaded weapon, in opposition to a useless (at distance) weapon, the assailant may be quite a bit more likely to shoot first when confronted with that very possible threat. Negation or defusing of the situation before it becomes hand to hand is infinitely favorable to "hoping your wife can use it as a club as a last resort." A baseball bat might be a better choice, I suppose in that case.

I do not mean any disrespect in any way, but as someone who views the presence of a firearm as a responsibility, and when presented in a confrontation, I am mindful that hesitation may cause either escalation, loss of initiative, or an instantly reduced safety zone, an attacker, if armed with a firearm, may shoot at the earliest opportunity if threatened with a firearm themselves.

It's a glass half empty supposition, I suppose, and I am no tactician, but looking at the lowest common denominator is necessary, I think, especially with criminals.

Out in a rural area of MN, I am making an assumption that an intruder would not be carrying a firearm. Given the scenario of an intruder with a gun, I would have to agree with you.

[pektel]

Originally Posted by mkarnold1

Out in a rural area of MN, I am making an assumption that an intruder would not be carrying a firearm. Given the scenario of an intruder with a gun, I would have to agree with you.

I'm in rural Northern MN. Everyone has guns here. Except me. I only have a Browning 30-06 for deer hunting. No home defense weapon. Except a rather sharp hunting knife that I keep wedged between the bed frame and mattress. I'm a very light sleeper (the train whistle 2 miles away through trees wakes me up), and would have time to get a jump on whoever would be trying to enter my home.

Almost picked up a biometric safe, and a S&W Sigma 40 cal with laser sight around Christmas, but the paperwork would've taken too long for me to purchase the gun while it was on sale.

[SNKBYT]

Tom makes a good point and for the record I would have no problem shooting a BG breaking into my house while I'm home