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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
   
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Kgirl - 2014-04-23 11:10 AM Three 4 Luck - 2014-04-23 11:06 AM The part of my hand between thumb and index finger, base of the thumb actually where there is a bone that sort of sticks up. It would kick so hard that I would bruise and then bleed if I kept shooting. And that was wearing gloves. Wow!! my 38 special revolver dont kick anything like that! now i've had the pistols that have caught me in the meaty area between the thumb and index finger and "bite" me when they are doing the sliding motion.
It's titanium, so extremely light, hence the kick. I've never had another one hurt me like that. | |
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 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | SG. - 2014-04-22 10:33 AM Honestly, You need to go to a shooting range and take some courses. One rule of thumb, is if you pull your gun, You have better be prepared to use it. Don't ever point a gun and then back down or hesitate.
Not to hurt your feelings, but you need to toughen up emotionally. This is why I think all children when they graduate high school, need to leave the nest and learn to live on their own. No BoyFriend no Girlfriend. Learn to be alone. You would be amazed at what this will teach you. You need to learn some independence and gain some self confidence
 I live by myself. I need both of what is being discussed. I think I have the dog issue covered. Like SG said living by yourself teaches you ALOT and how to handle alot. I don't mind staying by myself one bit. | |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| I LOVE my Heelers and have pretty much always had at least two around since we moved here 28 years ago. Hubby is gone as an OTR and I am as blind as a bat without my contacts in (and have slept with the extended wear ones for many, many years because of this). My Heelers go with me everywhere and I do NOT discourage the idea that they are mean. I LIKE it when people are afraid to get out of their car! I do not tell them at the two I have now are very friendly......at least when I am present. Now let someone walk up and knock on the sliding glass door and they will be met with teeth at face level on the other side of the glass. I spend time socializing mine, but they have all been protective, especially when they think I am not in control and need to be protected. That being said, they are not for everyone....you must be able to be in control or they WILL be.
As far as guns, I had ZERO experience but decided to get myself one after an extremely violent home invasion in the next county, combined with the coyotes coming in to my dry lot WHILE I was feeding. I bought myself a .22 LR pistol. Everyone told me that the ammo for these was cheap and easy to get.......NOT! I wanted to be able to practice without breaking the bank! Also no one told me that pistols can be very picky about ammo....mine is VERY picky and jams up with most kinds. I am going to have to buy a revolver (which is what I wanted in the first place, but got talked out of) just to use the ammo that won't work in my gun. I would like to get maybe a 9mm with a laser on it so I don't have to worry so much about aiming when roused out of a deep sleep or terrified out of my mind. I agree with those who say that if you are not prepared to kill in self defense, a gun is not a good idea. I have said for years that they could take my gun away from me and use it on me, but they can't turn my dogs on me.
We have outside lights that are all on a switch. I like it dark and think that they make it easier for thieves to see. Remote switches in the house would be a great idea. I think that ones on motion detectors would scare the crap out of me every time some animal set it off. We are wanting to put a detector on the driveway with an alert that sounds to let us know that someone have come up the driveway. Cameras might help catch a thief, but unless they know they are there will not deter them.
If I had to pick one thing, it would be dogs. Even a non-threatening one will let you know that something is amiss...like someone hiding in your closet when you get home (always let your dogs on the house BEFORE you enter when arriving home, by the way).
I think the Castle Law should be extended to cover dogs and if someone gets bit while protecting self, home or property, they should exempt from prosecution and lawsuits. That is how it would be in MY world.
Stay aware at all times and be safe!
Edited by rodeoveteran 2014-04-23 11:30 AM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I still say a good dog, you cant beat the protection you can get from one, at home are on the road with one. I did alot of traveling with my Heeler and I felt so safe with her and she was alot of company, dang I miss my Heidi, I can still see her laying in the seat next to me while driving down the road, lost her about 12 years ago and the best dog I ever had. 
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2014-04-23 11:30 AM
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I can't post any new suggestions, but my husband is out of town a lot and here is what I have/do.
Security cameras (they can detect motion and there will be a red light on the screen if there is "new" movement, even in pitch black). I am thinking about buying more and placing them at different areas of the house. They are mostly just to see who is pulling down our drive since there are some blind spots to keep us from being able to see.
Outside lights. My husbands shop has some outside lights on them, those help to illuminate areas NEAR the house. We have lights going around the front and back of the house. That makes me feel better and I sleep with all of them on. My husband likes more darkness so our end of the house is off when he's home, but on when it's just me.
Inside lights. The master bedroom in our house is completely interior, so I have a lamp that stays on when I'm by myself, it also helps illuminate the hallway. I have lamps on a buffet in the kitchen (near the security camera viewing screen), one in the foyer by the fron door, one in the living room and outlet plug ins placed in hallways and bedrooms that come on when there is darkness.
Outside dog(s). I've always been around labs, and they're pretty good watchdogs. Very few have been good guarddogs, but they usually can hear and alert you. The chocolate lab that I have now is out of a black lab that you wouldn't get out of the vehicle with unless his owners were nearby. Those traits didn't pass off to mine and he's big a teddy bear, but he can still bark at night if he hears something. He also doesn't stray very far from my bedroom/patio door at night. (kind of a negative if he's just barking at deer and coons! lol)
Inside dog. I have a dachshund that is pretty good about letting me know if someone is here during the day. Some nights she can wake up, but some nights she's too busy snoring under the covers, but it still helps me just knowing that she's there by me. An inside dog will be the one to alert you if, heaven forbid, someone kills your outdoor dog first and doesn't manage to break in just yet.
Gun. I keep a pistol in my nightstand (just be VERY VERY VERY careful if you ever have kids around your house. Don't forget about it being there) and a large flashlight just in case I need extra light or a hard object for a blunt force to someone's head.
Good luck! It's something that gets easier as you go. I lived with my parents, moved off to college and either lived in a dorm and never felt scared or lived in an apartment with roommates or neighbors nearby. I've spent more time alone now that I'm married than I have ever had to before! lol | |
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  Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | Kgirl - 2014-04-22 8:33 PM
Wow! I'm suprised to see the reaction to my gun! I love this gun way better than the 10 others I had owned and tried before. My pistols I had would either jam or I had too much arthritis in my hands to work the slide or it would bite ya! I've only been around guns the last few years so I would not consider myself an expert. I had two of my friends also go out and buy this same gun after shooting mine but I guess to each their own!
But how many rounds a week do You and Your Friends practice w/ that S&W Airweight? And I agree with the others who claim the smaller frame pistols are hard on the hands. I am a man with rather thick hands and I detest shooting those small revolvers or semi autos for that matter. Both of em beat the snot out of my hand and wrist.
These smaller frame 'concealable' pistols are NOT designed to shoot day in day out, but as 'Defensive Carry Weapons' hence their Concealablity.
Edited by foundation horse 2014-04-23 1:32 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1119
| A few years ago, our house was robbed while we were at work, and my husband often works over night, so I know the feeling. We had 3 dogs at the time, but all 3 are kept in outside kennels while we are not home so it wasn't much of a deterrent. At night I have a lab/rot that is outside (free), he's not much of a threat to a stranger but he's large and he's a jumper, so he definitely couldn't be ignored. We also have a lab outside (but in a kennel) that has a different bark if there is something in our yard that shouldn't be. During the day, I leave my border collie outside and she stays on the porch the entire day right by the door. She would probably let someone show someone where everything was in our house, but I like knowing that she is there while I'm gone. At night, I am almost positive she would protect me. In fact, she once bit my husband once when he play tackled me.
As far as guns, I am waaaay more comfortable with a shotgun and love my youth model Remington 870. It fits me great (I'm about 5'4", so it's not too big), and it's a pump. You will have more room for error shooting a shotgun than a handgun, which could be helpful if you were really in that situation. I grew up hunting and shooting trap and skeet with my dad, so shotguns are just more second nature to me than a handgun. We do keep a 9mm next to the bed though with the "home protection" rounds in it. It's not my first choice to grab, but I practice with it a lot and I like knowing that it's there.
I do agree that just having more confidence would be helpful. After a week or so of being home at night I'm sure you will be fine. Put a security sign at the end of your driveway, trust your dogs, and trust yourself. Not much else you can do!
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