General Discussion

Speck Tater

(10,618 posts)

144. Helen Keller put it best...

Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:15 AM

Dec 2012

Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.

Nobody can give you an absolute guarantee of anything.
You might be run over by a bus tomorrow.
You might be hit by lightning tonight.
You might catch some fatal disease next week, or suffer a heart attack, or be driving by a terrorist truck bomb just as he pushes the button.
Next time you're passing under a highway overpass an earthquake may knock down the bridge and flatten your car completely.

So, no. I can't guarantee anybody anything.
Can you give an absolute guarantee that everyone who buys a gun won't accidently shoot their own child, or their own wife, or even themselves? Nope. You can't guarantee that having a gun makes you safe, and I can't guarantee that not having a gun is safe. Asking for guarantees is simply ridiculous.

But I believe that statistics show that having a gun in the house is more dangerous than not having a gun in the house. You may not believe that, and so you will do what makes you feel secure.

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Some home defense alternatives [View all] Speck Tater Dec 2012 OP

ghost pepper... grow it yourself hotter than military grade pepper spray oldhippydude Dec 2012 #1

No kidding! zappaman Dec 2012 #6

acually i'm betting those were not ghost pepper oldhippydude Dec 2012 #15

And don't go to the bathroom without washing your hands throughly. Auntie Bush Dec 2012 #29

.!! Recommend!! lastlib Dec 2012 #59

i have already made that mistake with green chilis i would not want make it with something that hot. oldhippydude Dec 2012 #62

I once made that mistake with Mentholatum heating rub. Speck Tater Dec 2012 #76

What about Trinidad scorpion peppers? derby378 Dec 2012 #57

Door locks? NoOneMan Dec 2012 #2

What a concept. nt LWolf Dec 2012 #24

If someone wants to get into a house a normal door lock will not slow them. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #48

true. we have a much better method than a normal lock tho, for our garage. Whisp Dec 2012 #163

Wasp spray . . . fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #3

I have a can on each floor landing in my house, and in my bedroom. n/t Mira Dec 2012 #80

Everyone is forgetting the one that is most effective - even more effective Fawke Em Dec 2012 #4

Except for those of us allergic to dogs. fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #9

Then get a "Bo." Fawke Em Dec 2012 #19

Yep, I'm allergic to dogs laundry_queen Dec 2012 #92

I appreciate the suggestion, but . . . fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #100

Absolutely! StarryNite Dec 2012 #20

Yep! My dog won't let anyone near my house NashvilleLefty Dec 2012 #43

Problem is that I am so attached to my border collies exboyfil Dec 2012 #54

I have a Rottie mix, and he don't bark for nothing GobBluth Dec 2012 #63

my Akitas rarely ever bark either TorchTheWitch Dec 2012 #141

I WISH he barked more GobBluth Dec 2012 #146

These are a little more effective meow2u3 Dec 2012 #103

my local police just got its first K-9 TorchTheWitch Dec 2012 #140

Not more effective than a gun. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #105

A lot of people can't have a dog for financial or logistic reasons. nt rrneck Dec 2012 #115

Dagger. Big 6" knife SWTORFanatic Dec 2012 #142

Jesus Is Watching You hobbit709 Dec 2012 #149

Pies! zappaman Dec 2012 #5

Lulz Champion Jack Dec 2012 #152

Pepper spray is usually very effective. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #7

The laser pointer would be good for cat burglars. n/t rucky Dec 2012 #8

Thank you zappaman Dec 2012 #10

Yep. Get em running around in circles till police arrive. Hoyt Dec 2012 #14

lmao RedCappedBandit Dec 2012 #51

Big dogs. n/t Bonhomme Richard Dec 2012 #11

Doesn't have to be big! My little Jack Russell would eat them alive or make them wish they weren't. Auntie Bush Dec 2012 #33

From what I hear, dogs are very effective. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #69

If you are specifically targeted for some reason you have ...... Bonhomme Richard Dec 2012 #81

Is this a joke? All those are laughably pathetic alternatives to assualt weapons n/t Taitertots Dec 2012 #12

Depends what your objective is. undeterred Dec 2012 #22

My objective is to protect myself and my loved ones Taitertots Dec 2012 #27

Stay back! I've got a dart! Coyote_Tan Dec 2012 #55

You better not, I'll shine you in the eyes with a laser pointer n/t Taitertots Dec 2012 #67

More like "Lay there on the floor with a dart between your wide open eyes... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #77

Hmm... Coyote_Tan Dec 2012 #98

my reason for keeping a home defense TheMoreYouKnow Dec 2012 #44

Well don't you think having a weapon makes it more likely you'll be the first one shot dead? undeterred Dec 2012 #66

didn't happen the first time my door was TheMoreYouKnow Dec 2012 #72

No. I know how to use my gun. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #106

Not true... cbrer Dec 2012 #39

With all the talk Jim Warren Dec 2012 #13

I have guardian Dec 2012 #86

Not to argue Jim Warren Dec 2012 #88

in subsequent years guardian Dec 2012 #90

Hockey stick blueamy66 Dec 2012 #16

Baseball bat for me... a la izquierda Dec 2012 #65

Sounds good to me blueamy66 Dec 2012 #99

A few more alternatives guardian Dec 2012 #17

You forgot Yoko Ono music. undeterred Dec 2012 #23

That would be very effective guardian Dec 2012 #85

Or, I could read your post to them! LongTomH Dec 2012 #70

a dane cook dvd arely staircase Dec 2012 #134

I think "Mandy" is banned from civilian use by a UN treaty. nt hack89 Dec 2012 #164

mean face? crazyjoe Dec 2012 #18

Quietly walk out back door and wait for them to leave. rgbecker Dec 2012 #21

Why is there an assumption LWolf Dec 2012 #25

Probably the last thought of many violent crime victims ..... oldhippie Dec 2012 #45

The only violent crime LWolf Dec 2012 #97

You are a lucky person FrodosPet Dec 2012 #109

Theft isn't necessarily violent. LWolf Dec 2012 #121

Sadie Mae and Nakita. 99Forever Dec 2012 #26

That works, as long as no one ever has bologna or dog treats Taitertots Dec 2012 #28

Come try any of those, anytime you feel like it. 99Forever Dec 2012 #35

What makes you think I would ever want to? Taitertots Dec 2012 #56

You keep tellin' youself that. 99Forever Dec 2012 #73

Keep telling yourself that you are safe because you have two animals protecting you Taitertots Dec 2012 #83

What a ridiculous argument. n/t 99Forever Dec 2012 #95

Not ridiculous at all. Just poorly stated. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #110

Only... 99Forever Dec 2012 #116

Can your dog run faster than 1485 feet per second? GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #124

Sure you did. 99Forever Dec 2012 #135

That it took me less than one second to draw a pistol is unbelievable to you? GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #137

Ri-dic-u-lous. 99Forever Dec 2012 #148

Not true, as proven by Mythbusters. NashvilleLefty Dec 2012 #47

90 pound hybrid wolf wyldwolf Dec 2012 #30

Had one of those years ago. 99Forever Dec 2012 #36

I've owned 3 in my life... wyldwolf Dec 2012 #37

The one that owned me... 99Forever Dec 2012 #42

Is the dog's name Prius? Remmah2 Dec 2012 #150

Timber (and Tasha and Jenna) wyldwolf Dec 2012 #153

My neighbor babysits a hybrid wolf-shepherd. Remmah2 Dec 2012 #154

Aunt? Is that you... abelenkpe Dec 2012 #129

A prayer StayFunky Dec 2012 #31

A trap door under which Drale Dec 2012 #32

I like that one! nt oldhippie Dec 2012 #46

How about a really scary mask? flvegan Dec 2012 #34

Justin Bieber full volume on the stereo? wyldwolf Dec 2012 #38

LEGOs !! If the criminal is barefoot trocar Dec 2012 #40

LOL! abelenkpe Dec 2012 #127

home defence winetourdriver Dec 2012 #41

Only federally licensed veterinarians Nevernose Dec 2012 #49

the tranqs usually contain nicotine LiberalEsto Dec 2012 #58

Home defense is usually implied to mean a home invasion former-republican Dec 2012 #50

How about a semi-auto clip fed slingshot? flvegan Dec 2012 #52

If you don't want to have gun in your home. former-republican Dec 2012 #60

This would be even better if... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #78

A loud alarm system that also alerts the police station to a breach of security. JaneyVee Dec 2012 #53

Bear Attack Deterrent womanofthehills Dec 2012 #61

Bars on all the windows, steel-lattice reinforced glass, triple-locked steel doors. Spider Jerusalem Dec 2012 #64

The son of one of our neighbors was shot in a drive-by shooting back in the late '80s or early '90s. JDPriestly Dec 2012 #75

Bars may keep intruders out, but they also keep you in, in case of fire. People have died that way. RC Dec 2012 #131

A double-barreled shotgun with buckshot n/t Pryderi Dec 2012 #68

I'll stick to my 45,40,9mm, 223 or 12ga. ileus Dec 2012 #71

Get along really well with your neighbors, well enough that you can call them in an emergency. JDPriestly Dec 2012 #74

N-O-T-H-I-N-G cali Dec 2012 #79

I'm with you. In 67 years I've NEVER been in ANY situation where I needed a gun. Speck Tater Dec 2012 #87

Can you give an absolute guarantee that anyone else will have your good luck? N/T GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #125

Helen Keller put it best... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #144

So it is a matter of probabilities then. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #155

Bottom line... Speck Tater Dec 2012 #156

Your choice. In a Texas small town you can pretty much assume that every home has a gun. N/T GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #157

And Texas is a place I stay far away from. nt :) Speck Tater Dec 2012 #159

"What the fuck is all this insane concern?" ecstatic Dec 2012 #91

uh, no. I grew up in a town near Newtown cali Dec 2012 #93

Right? This thread sounds like the fear-filled republicans adigal Dec 2012 #151

I'm not interested in any alternatives. I'll stick with my 9 mm. badtoworse Dec 2012 #82

Moat. TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #84

The only decent option on that list is to hide and call 911 (if living alone) ecstatic Dec 2012 #89

I'll just use my 5.56 carbine... jal777 Dec 2012 #94

Can't we just like... get a werewolf from Buffy? Fla_Democrat Dec 2012 #96

Fake TV . . . fleur-de-lisa Dec 2012 #101

A large camera flash formercia Dec 2012 #102

Remember the scene in Rear Window? kentauros Dec 2012 #108

That wouldn't work. HappyMe Dec 2012 #111

Care to elaborate? kentauros Dec 2012 #113

Sure they won't see anything. HappyMe Dec 2012 #114

No, I don't think that they won't fight back. kentauros Dec 2012 #117

I'm 5', 110lbs. HappyMe Dec 2012 #118

I guess you've never been tangled in a net before kentauros Dec 2012 #119

You have obviously never had an encounter with a violent criminal before. N/T GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #126

No I haven't. kentauros Dec 2012 #133

Your choice. I respect your right to that choice, although not the choice itself. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #138

I think you're implying that you've been through that, kentauros Dec 2012 #139

Real world violent crime is very different from your theory. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #143

Slingshot? Are you serious? Bake Dec 2012 #104

House Alarm shintao Dec 2012 #107

Alarms are of little use against home invaders. GreenStormCloud Dec 2012 #112

Time and Distance to React - haele Dec 2012 #120

You could try a sternly worded letter, that always works well. n/t hughee99 Dec 2012 #122

Dwight Schrute, is that you? arely staircase Dec 2012 #123

Cameras and lights outside are said to be the best abelenkpe Dec 2012 #128

Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. leveymg Dec 2012 #130

Hmmm. A guard ROBOT sounds like a good idea to me. Speck Tater Dec 2012 #145

It's doable. rrneck Dec 2012 #147

Bad limericks. That will stop any intruder in his tracks. BlueStreak Dec 2012 #132

Dogs. mzmolly Dec 2012 #136

You never go to a gun fight armed with a knife - lynne Dec 2012 #158

Probably the best first line of defense Speck Tater Dec 2012 #160

I like these guardian Dec 2012 #161

A Dog and an alarm system and I sleep soundly every nite. Both will cause the intruder to leave. jillan Dec 2012 #162