How do you defend your home?

So have a phone on record, give warnings, then blow off his knee caps?

Forget the kneecaps. That implies deliberate intent to cause greivious bodily harm rather than just self-defence. Go for the center of the visible mass and keep on until the threat is neutratlized. People get sued by intruders they have injured and I, for one, don't feel an overwhelming urge to be required to pay my money to someone who has intended harm toward my family. 😈

Yeah I know, but who is to say it wasnt a panic shot, I was only being vindictive. My place was robbed one time when I was on exercize with the military, those buggers I'd love to kneecap. But as you said, center of mass, with a gun. With a cane, knees, elbows, groin and head, not necessary in that order. 😈

Holy Moly - I must have missed this thread - it took me an hour to catch up. Ya all are naughty boys talking to each other like that!

That said I needed to hear most of what was said. My self defense consists of a golf club beside the bed. That isn't that scary but you should be scared if you wake me up in the middle of the night - I am GROUCHY!!

I like the dog idea... oh honeeeeeyyy!!! (DH doesn't want a another dog but he would be thouroughly entertained by this thread so could you maybe repeat that a few more times so it's coming from someone other than me 🙂 )

Not quite on target for home but still on topic for defence..so last night DH had a meeting in the city and so I drove him to edge and he bused in and out and i went to the movies, I got out early and was to wait for him in the lobby but they had not yet turned on the air conditioning and it was so hot inside, and went out to my van which I had parked pulled in backwards in what turned out to a fairly darker corner of the lot, this is a slighlty rougher part of the city, and I opened the windows for the cool night breeze,, then did a few things without thinking about it, and watched the groups of three different cultural groups of youth hanging out and the drug deals going down in full public view.. so hubby shows up and just starts to laugh at me and here where the reason's why..

a) the key in the van is the one that will roll the windows down and let you turn on the radio but not turn over the motor-Just in case
b) the purse is pulled over in the middle and one handle is left for ease of grabbing, while the second one is wrapped twice around pull down armrest and then back locked in with the seat belt behind me.-Just in case
c) the safety hammer (the kind to break your windows with to get out if needed) had made its way from its secure locked postition to a very handy spot for ease of grabbing-Just in case

He says its a girl thing after having lived for so many years alone, I disagree, its how I was raised more then anything..

I was just reading in the most recent Canadian Fireams Journal, May/June 2012, p.47.

The author claims that under English common-law Canadians do, in fact, have the right to home and self-defense, with no 'duty-to-retreat'. To quote: "Canadians enjoy the same common law protections [as Castle doctrines]...however... Canadians have forgotten that they possess such a right."

The May/June journal should be up on this website sometime in the near future:

http://www.nfa.ca/canadian-firearms-journal

But that doesn't mean you are allowed to have a loaded firearms under your pillow. What it should mean, is that the guy who was charged with assault in Alberta for chasing a robber out of his house in the middle of the night with a stick (an axe handle with no axe head on it) should have had his case dismissed IMMEDIATELY, instead of dragging him through court and making him spend big legal fees in court for defending himself and his home.

Sorry for this but I have to...

http://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/kel-tec/ksg-shotgun-12ga-18.5in-14rd-black/

They're going to be shipping to Canada soon if not already 😆

sooo expensive I bet 😥

Kel-Tec KSG shotgun. A new reason to drool. I can imagine the look on a predators face when they decided the time to charge is while you're reloading after the usual 7 rounds.

HI all,

Some interesting posts. Firstly to the o.p., in Canada we don't have any constitutional right to firearms. They are a responsibility not a right here. Unfortunately there is a lot of paranoia about firearms, but like everything else, education is the best tool. There are restrictions to owning different types of firearms, and the Gov't is still finding that balance for society. We arn't there yet, but a lot of the legislation today ensures responsible people can own them, and those that may pose a risk don't. I have a P.A.L. for unrestircted firearms/crossbows, and like anyone in Canada who owns a firearm we all know that owning a gun doesn't equate to home defense. Personally I'm glad of this. Home invasions are rare, and when they do occur it's usually done by people who know the resident. (say a drug dealer who blabs and other scum want to take advantage, etc.) An actual stranger coming to your house and breaking in while you are there is very rare. That being said, it still happens. Under current law, the firearm has to be stored safely and not able to be fired at all. I often joke that if I was to use a firearm in home defense, the robbers would have already made off with my piano, kitchen table, and furniture by the time I was able to retrieve it, collect the ammunition, and make ready. It may sound unfair to some, but I actually agree to this. As a society we have no right shooting off firearms without knowing the responsibilities or rights or the law or the rights of others. And That requires more training, and most of us don't have it. That 22 or 30 o 6 can carry right through a wall/window and hit a neighbour, or innocent person.

I'm not a lawyer, but when explained to me by one, and a couple self defense teachers, the best rule of thumb is: You are allowed to use what reasonable force you can to defend yourself, your property and those under your care and control. Use excessive force, and your toast. Words I live by. You also have the right to detain someone on your property if they break in. Again with reasonable force, and just cause. If you don't have a reason, and you decide to tackle and detain the guy checking your gas meter..... it's forceable confinement, and good luck with that, your gonna need it. My personal comfort level would not be to even attempt to detain someone, just get to safety and call the police. To put it in perspective, a Security Guard falls under the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act in Ontario. There are obviously some logistical differences, but legally when they arrest say a shoplifter in the mall, they are doing so with the same power of the Owner of the mall. That is, the act has given the Owner to transfer some of there rights as the Owner to a 3rd party...the security guard. You, the Owner of your home have those rights already. But again....with using those rights come responsibilities......just be safe, and do what you need to do to stay safe.

I'll get off my soap box now....and as for defending my home, I am a big believer in prevention. I have a security system (satelite monitored. If you get one, make sure it's not just connected to your phone line...one snip outside and the monitoring company doesn't get the signal..) good locks on all doors, I am installing window film on all windows on the main floor and basement to be shatter proof next month. We always make sure that any signs we are not home that criminals may be looking for are minimized. Our neighbour will pick up the newpaper/fliers if we are gone for long periods of time. We will leave some lights on a timer. We don't tell people when we are gone. As for actual home defense if someone decided to waltz in.....well, we have phones on all floors including the bedrooms. That first line would be 911. Several years of Krav Maga training has given me an excellent toolkit of abilities not only in fighting, but using anything within arms reach as a weapon or tool to save me or my family. Whats in arms reach in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc. I'd prefer not to say, and hope no one ever has to find out! But even a rolled up magazine can be of use in a pinch.

The most important thing that we have though is a plan. The "what if's" In defense, when all heck breaks loose a plan is great. If someone breaks in the main door...or into the basement...what do we do? Who goes where, calls police, do we hide, run out of the house, etc. Every one will have a unique situation because of there location, home, etc. If you don't have a plan, make one. Even a very basic one will help. So if something god forbid ever does happen...you know what your first few steps will be.
Great topic btw!

Some very good points and advise thecrownsown. On my part, when I talk about using firearms to defend my home and family, I'm thinking about a case of societal collapse where the rule of law no longer applies. I actually keep my guns safely locked up out at the farm and my handguns reside in the weapons vault at work. Fortunately, as you pointed out, home invasions are very rare here in Canada. I have the training and experience to carry a weapon, however, unlike some I've talked to, I just don't see the need. That's for the police.

I have a funny story (or not) about a home invasion and a gun owner - my good friend.

My friend is a gun owner, both long guns and several handguns. All legal like. He keeps them in a gun safe, because it's the law and he's a law abiding kind of guy - and she hates them with a passion, although both her father and my friend are avid shooters (I don't know, don't ask). They also have 2 dogs, boxers, but dogs nonetheless.

Below them, the unit is rented out to a younger guy. He and his buddies like to party in a chemical sort of way. They are really harmless though.

One night, my buddy and his girl and the two dogs are sitting watching tv. He sees someone come out of their bathroom, walk down the hall and down the stairs and right out the entrance door to the apartment. He and the girlfriend are stunned...they have no idea wth and the two dogs really just picked up their heads and never budged.
Turned out the guy had entered the apartment through the bathroom window. It had been locked from the inside (not to well I'd gather). He apparently had tried to enter the young guy's apartment downstairs (he wasn't at home) and he was stoned so he couldn't actually figure out where the kid lived and picked the wrong window, obviously.
So, my friend and I having discussed this after the event determined that despite having the guns, if this intruder (harmless) had violent intentions my friend and his girl would have likely been a pair of crime statistics. He openly admits that if this had been a violent home intrusion, he wouldn't have had the time to unlock his safe, get out AND load his handguns and been able to react to the intrusion before being taken out by the intruder or others if they were there.

Welcome to Canada. The only country I know of that will find you criminally liable for defending yourself against those that want to hurt you. This is actually the only reason I envy an American - you can in most cases defend your home and property and be able to avoid jail if you've been justified.

Runs With Scissors

I agree scissors... the only thing I envy about Americans.

I must also confirm that my guns are in a safe where I could never access them in time (hence the German Sheppard and the Doberman).

The Keltec I linked above would only be at hand once there is a societal collapse... and the extra 7 rounds would be a nice surprise for any ravaging horde. 😆

.

I have a funny intruder story as well. We woke one morning to find a pair of shoes at the back door that didn't belong to anyone living here. After a little searching around, we found a teenager in the basement sleeping off a night of drinking. It took me a long time to get him awake enough to leave. No harm done, but it got us all thinking about how this kid got in, stumbled down the stairs and passed out without us knowing. We also have a dog in the house. Apparently we forgot to lock the back door that night and he just wandered in! When I asked him where he thought he was, he said he believed he was at his friends house. In fact, no matter what I said to him, he still believed it - even as he was walking away from the house.
Needless to say, we keep things locked up better.

At least he took off his shoes!