home defense

Criminals for Gun Control

Runcible — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:58:31 +0000

Great video that explains quite nicely why an armed citizenry deters crime.

Don't sleep with your gun

Runcible — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:49:09 +0000

Don't keep your gun in your bed or under your pillow lest you wind up like this guy:

A man who said he was sleeping with a gun in his bed accidentally shot himself in the shoulder Wednesday morning.

If you must keep a gun within reach while sleeping, the nightstand may be a good idea. Also, there are holsters you can affix to a bed frame. Keeping a chambered firearm in bed with you while you're sleeping is not terribly bright.

[Man says he shot himself while asleep - Tuscaloosa News]

Funny Sign

Runcible — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:59:40 +0000

Go check out this sign.

I've never spoken to my neighbor about whether he keeps a gun in the house. My suspicion is that he does, but I think generally it's a better idea not to disclose such things to people outside the family.

Home invader pleads guilty

Runcible — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:57:18 +0000

From the Times-Dispatch:

Alexander Jerome Bellamy, 21, pleaded guilty yesterday to seven felony charges in connection with the nighttime invasion of a Montrose Heights home in Henrico County that has left a family of four traumatized, Henrico Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Owen Conway said yesterday.

Great news! However, I realized I may need to rethink my home defense strategy a bit, after reading this passage:

The grandson, awakened by his grandmother and shouting, pulled a 9-mm handgun from beneath his mattress and started firing at Bellamy, who was armed with an assault rifle. About seven shots were fired from the rifle before the weapon jammed, authorities said.

Nearly 20 shots were fired before Bellamy and his accomplice fled; Bellamy was shot five times -- four in the chest -- and showed up later that morning at VCU Medical Center. He survived but a portion of his lung was removed, testimony in the case showed.

Sounds like the grandson is a crack shot, but the 9mm Luger cartridge wasn't up to the job. (Or maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to go shopping for a shotgun?)

Click here to read the full TD article by Bill McKelway.

Home-Defense Shotgun

Runcible — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:21:03 +0000

It's not a new article, but I found this Guns & Ammo 2005 primer on home defense shotguns to be very helpful in describing the options available.

It's got little nuggets of wisdom, such as this passage:

What kind of barrel do you want on your fighting scattergun? First of all, you want as short a tube as possible. This is not because a short-barreled shotgun has any ballistic advantage but rather because it handles better in confined spaces like hallways. The legal minimum is 18 inches (as long as that length does not result in a gun with an overall length less than 26 inches). Many shotguns are currently made and sold with 18-inch barrels, so they aren't hard to find. You can have a shorter barrel if you live in a state that permits it, can qualify for the transfer and are willing to pay the $200 Federal Tax Stamp. I am sort of a shotgun nut, so I have a 14-inch 870 Remington, and I guarantee you that it handles much better than an almost identical gun with an 18-inch barrel.

[The Home Defense Shotgun - Guns & Ammo]