As a single mother who does not like guns, what should I get to defend my home?

Julia B

I would have a security system BUT be careful about the company. My friend got one and it kept going off and they actually got charged for it after so many times.

I would also have a recording of a BIG, JUNK YARD DOG and have it set on a motion detector. After say 10:00pm, set the recording and go to bed. If nothing else, they will think you have a dog and they may actually leave.

I would also take self defense classes. Your knowledge can't be taken away from you and used to harm you or you kids.

I also really like what the lady said about the homemade pepper spray.

Hope this has helped.

the_wayward1

a dog sounds like your best deal. If you raise it from a puppy do you think you would be scared off it?

civicnitro

I carry a Colt .45 w/me because my job requires me so. I keep it beside the bed and I don't feel sorry for the poor idiot that breaks into my home. However in your case, yes you might be laughed at for approaching a burgler w/a bat, but while that person in laughing, see if he'll laugh once you beat him a couple of times and break his knee caps. I'm sure he won't be laughing then. Mace may not affect some people, but that's a small risk that I would be willing to take (if I was you) in order to defend myself & my children. Overall, since you're not into guns, I'd go w/the bat & mace first of all.

preistess

You could try self defence classes they will teach you how to defend yourself no matter how small you are I take classes every tuesday

browndogfudge

You need to decide which you dislike less (Guns or Big Dogs) The very things that are scary to you are scary to those you wish to keep out of your house.

Conrey

I wonder the same thing and alas, a darling friend told me what to do and he was with the police force for a good many years and here is what he said,. " If you are not able to get to your phone to 911 (who is in the middle of the night) use pepper spray"! Boil some jalapeno' peppers, (the hottest ones and be careful because this stuff gets on you) strain them off, let cool, add to any spray bottle, keep up high like a shelf by the door or by your bed, this immediately disables and is easy to use. Spray right for the eyes and face.

livinhapi

put an inexpensive(?) alarm in your home that is connected to the police precint and the local fire dept. and it will help you a lot. for peace of mind!

w_0_l2_m

A baseball bat is a good choice. Aluminium ones are a personal fav. Dont listen to the doubters a screaming woman swinging a metal bat is intimidating to anyone no matter her size.

Jeff M

If you are worried about home ivasion or someone breaking in here are some little knows facts and truths.

1. A security system, with cameras and sirens etc is often called a "body recovery system" by those in law enforcement with refenernce to stopping someone intent on doing harm.

2. This said a security system with an alarm with frighten some home invaders away. Other more educated assailants will know they have only 5-10 minutes befor ethey have to get out.

3. Even if you don't like guns you could put up a sign saying asomehting on the order of "This home protected by Smith and Wesson. If the sign has a picture of a handgun or something it wouldn't hurt. Most criminals tend to shy away from homes where they know the owners have guns.

In states where right to carry laws have passed, violent crime against women has dropped by up to 50%.

*****

Short of getting good locks and barrier protection and possibly a dog, a person like yourself who is afraid of guns would NOT be able to defend themselves effectively against an armed attacker or intruder with mace, or even a baseball bat.

Fred P

You've got a number of options available to you - but what's your time frame, and what kind of an area do you live in??? Some things to consider.....

1. You want something that will be effective at a distance - not close-up. That eliminates a bat, knife, club or similar things. Distance is your friend.

2. Don't plan on just calling 911. Response times, depending on where you live and other active calls, can be on the order of 3-4 minutes to an hour - and that's based on my own personal experience in the business.

3. Check w/ the local PD (crime prevention specialists). They can suggest things to help reduce your chances of being broken into - good locks, outdoor lighting, trimming of shrubs, etc.... A good alarm system can help, but is not a single solution.

4. I'd recommend NOT posting signs saying "protected by S&W" or similar things. Most people who post those types of signs do NOT have the weapons available - or it may be a magnet to someone who is looking for firearms.

5. Pepper spray is better than mace in my opnion. Get a good-size can of it for use in your house - not one of the little 2-inch long purse-sized canisters. They have a range of 15 ft or so, so (again) you can use it at a distance. It takes a little practice in learning how to use them well.

6. There's nothing wrong with guns - think of them as a tool designed to do a particular job - and that is "STOPPING THE THREAT." Of course, you need to be fully prepared and trained if you're willing to go that route. Look for (and take) NRA personal protection classes if offered in your area. Your local PD may advise against it - but that's their choice (or maybe their mindset). Law enforcement is under NO obligation to protect individuals - only society at large. If you go this way, then train and practice, train and practice, train and practice. Your safety HAS to be YOUR #1 concern. Learn the laws.

7. The portable tasers are, in my opnion, not much help. If you're looking at the ones that require you to hold it against the attacker, you're now too close. Also, since you're only going to be able to push it against his arms or face, all you're going to do is piss him off. The tasers that shoot the darts are much better, as they can be used at distances of 15-20 ft. But again, you need to be trained to understand how they work. Again, distance is your friend.

8. Martial arts are OK. Learn the street fighting techniques (pentjak silat, krav maga, etc...) as opposed to judo, karate and similar arts. Remember, you're in a fight for your (and your children's) life. There are no unfair moves in survival fighting - just using economical moves. Using this should be your last option - because distance is your friend. Get the picture?

9. Dogs are good to have - some of the smaller ones are ok if they're trained right, as they can be a hell of an annoyance to a BG - enough that he'll want to leave. Post "beware of dogs" signs around your property and leave LARGE water and food dishes out - and clean them out periodically. The BG won't know if you do/don't have dogs (and their sizes).

10, Lastly, change your mindset. Don't go through life saying "I'm afraid of xxxx" or "I don't like yyy" or "zzzz scares me" or "someone will laugh at me." Develop a survival mindset and go through life knowing you can and will survive any attack on you, your children or your property. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up to be a victim. Not good!

Good luck,

Calif Deputy

KittyKat

Best thing to do is contact the Community Relations Bureau at your local PD and have an officer come out and talk with you. They can check your home and give you advice on the best way to secure windows and doors, give you advice on alarm systems and what to do and not to do in certain situations.

One problem with weapons to defend yourself is, what if the person gets it away from you? You have then angered them and supplied them with a weapon to use against you. We had a case back home several years ago where a girl tried to use a bat on her roommates abusive boyfriend. He took it from her and killed her and the roommate and then fled. She should have exited the apartment and run to a neighbors rather than confront him herself.

We bought a house a couple of years ago and one of the first things we did was have an alarm system installed, mainly because my husband worked 2nd shift then and I have disabilities. We do have 3 small dogs, two of which bark, so that may help deter someone if they hear them barking inside. Many times companies have specials so check around and see what is offered in your area. Our installation was free and we could do up to 2 doors and 2 windows and anything after that was extra but it's well worth it.

You may also want to take some self-defense courses to learn how to protect yourself. Buy timers for lights and TVs in the house so they come on if you aren't there. Buy the 24 hour timers and change them periodically. Leave outside lights on every night or get motion detector lights so if anyone comes near the house, they immediately come on. We are going to check into getting a motion dector light for the front porch, not only for our protection but also to help us see if we forget to turn the light on and it's dark when we return home.

Keep drapes pulled at night. Blinds are ok but if someone is lurking, they can still see in through the holes so I always put thicker/heavier drapes up, too, as an extra security. Sheers don't work well and can still be seen through.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times and if you suspect someone is inside when you get home, leave immediately to a safe place and call the police. Don't get paranoid or that can work against you, just use good old common sense and wisdom and enjoy life to the fullest :)

mhchicetawn

Get a state of the art security system. Not crappy Brinks...but a real one. Don't arm yourself with anything that you aren't 200% confidence you can use. Also...being small...is just an excuse. Invest in some martial arts class (judo or tai chi) and learn how you can defend yourself. The mace that you would be able to buy isn't the same kind that the police use...it's a watered down version.

Philip C

A dog, not a big bad dog because of the kids but a loud one that would scare off burglars in the first place.
and make your house look like its hard to break into, they go for the easy targets. so chunky locks and alarm boxes.
and don't get a gun more children die from accidental gunshots then home invaders

Old Man

I can't see that there is much you can do. You eliminate all the things I could think of. A gun would still be your best bet. Take a safety course and you might find a gun wouldn't be as bad as you thought. If I didn't know anything about guns I wouldn't like it either.

misplacedmother

Install motion lights around the house and get a small dog. It will be good for the children and they bark at anything that moves. I have three dogs, so I don't worry about burglars, when I answer the door they are surrounding me barking. One of them actually will bite, but the other two are just barkers, but the criminals don't know that.

M v

Take a self defense class. Size doesn't matter when your trained in self defense. I know your scared of big dogs, but most intruders are scared off by the bark not the size. A small dog that makes alot of noise is a great deterrent. Also, teach your children what to do in an emergency and have a "code word" for them to know if something is wrong and to call 911. No one should ever live in fear.

Captain Atom

If you can bring yourself to strike any intruders from behind and frequently, a baseball bat is not a bad idea, and your small stature will not be much of a problem. If you can bring yourself to keep a firearm in the house, a shotgun loaded with buckshot is much easier than a handgun to use against any intruder. If you are worried about over-penetration, smaller birdshot will still be very effective at close range. A pump action shotgun with an empty chamber and a trigger lock would be quite safe to keep in the home, but you would have to be careful to have the key to the lock handy. Any firearm without a safety lock would be very dangerous to have in a home with children, and in many areas would leave you subject to arrest for child endangerment.

blackmule

Political correctness, in this case, could get you killed. Buy a .38 caliber pistol and learn how to use it.

ohyeah y

tough laws, where i live we need not guns , nor must i lock my door, our laws are not liberal, and criminals are scared literally to death of them.

Michael M

I would say that you need to overcome you're aversion to guns - a small woman, in a situation where she feels she needs protection, requires the great equalizer, a gun.

To put it simply, a trained person with the right gun and the will to use it is more than a match for most any thug intent on harm. All other defense options pale in comparison.

cumfortably420numb

defiantly a taser gun..in most states they are legal..depending on how many volts..but a taser can take down anyone of any size big or bigger!

Vaughn

See if you can find a dog. I've heard police say that they're better deterrants against crime, because the criminal knows there's a dog BEFORE deciding to break in, and will generally go for a location that doesn't have a furry, barking security alarm. Even sweet dogs are good protection.

Dogs are also highly unlikely to be used AGAINST your family, which most weapons, sadly, can.

hdean45

You do not like guns is that because you have no experience with them ? If that is the case find a shooting range or a sportsman club and take lessons. You might find that after you know how to use and keep a fire arm safe that you will keep one in your house and if you still don't like them at least you had that option and you can consider some of the other less effective methods(my opinion).

chi

Have "panic buttons" installed throughout your house. Have them installed in every room of the house, including the closets. If someone breaks in, you can use these buttons to automatically call the police. Tell your children to hide in the closets and teach them how and WHEN to use these buttons. It is not perfect, however it is piece of mind.

Cooks in '08

take a martial arts class and buy some pepper spray or something.

Brandy B

A dog. They are a great detterent, and good company.

Shana N

I was attacked as a kid by a large dog so I understand the fear of them. I am however now a proud dog owner of a huge black lab/ Rottweiler mix. She is the best protection I could ever have. She is great with my son and she is the size of a small cow :-) . If you get a puppy and you love her/him you will not only concur your fear of dogs but also have the best guard in the world. Dogs are loyal to the death. If your children are good to the dog and you are all a family, the dog will give their life to keep you guys safe. It takes time and work but it is ultimately worth it. Dogs are said to be the number one deterrent of burglars because they make noise and are territorial. Give it a thought. If big huge dogs scare you or you don't have the space look into a smaller dog like a lab or even a terrier. The noise they make is a good deterrent for intruders.

Claudia ARP

While living in the USA I used to carry with me pepper spray, and in the house I had the small electric device that gives the intruder a very high electric shock. I never had to use it luckily, but I felt protected.

sirbobby98121

I see that a lot of answerers ignore the "does not like guns"
part of your question...but it might be something to research.
Do you have good doors, and door locks ? Ditto for the windows. I've never been around Mace, but I wouldn't discount it because "Mace does not have any effect on some people"...maybe you'll get lucky and YOUR burglar will suffer
from Mace allergy.
Good luck.

Danielle C

Take a pistol permit class. You can defend yourself and kids in the event it is necessary. My husband teaches classes so I here all about it. Go to your local sporting goods store or even a gun shop and they will point you in the right direction. Better safe then sorry. If you are small and someone comes at you thinking "what is she gonna do with a gun" You'll definitely surprise them. It's worth knowing the information, how to handle a gun, and what you can and cant do with it in self defense. Read up on it, trust me- its worth looking into.

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