General Discussion

Nine

(1,741 posts) Thu Jan 10, 2013, 11:56 AM Jan 2013

So what's wrong with home security systems? [View all]

For all those people who believe a firearm is necessary for home defense, wouldn't some good locks and outdoor lighting and a home security system be a lot more effective? I know home security systems aren't cheap, but neither are firearms from what I understand. And no one was ever accidentally killed by one.

A gun isn't going to do you any good anyway if you're asleep when an intruder breaks in. It might not do much good if the intruder has a gun. It's unlikely to be of much help if it's locked safely away as it's supposed to be. It just seems like the conditions have to be so perfect for a firearm to do any good at all: you have to be awake and know an intruder is coming to "get you" and have time to get your gun and have enough time to ascertain that it is really is an intruder and not a family member, and then the intruder either has to be unarmed or you're going to have a firefight and hope that you are a better shot than this criminal.

155 replies

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So what's wrong with home security systems? [View all] Nine Jan 2013 OP

I don't have either, just have a nice loud dog. hollysmom Jan 2013 #1

you don't even need a dog Whisp Jan 2013 #40

Ha Ha - Pfffft! hollysmom Jan 2013 #46

Or buy one of these beauties!!!! MADem Jan 2013 #80

yep. If you can't have a dog for whatever reason Whisp Jan 2013 #84

I hope that your dog knows how to dial 911 Orrex Jan 2013 #48

Aww, thank you for worrying about the 15 year old puppy. hollysmom Jan 2013 #53

Well, everyone who lives two doors from the emergency squad is off the hook. Orrex Jan 2013 #55

Hey, you choose where you live, I chose here. hollysmom Jan 2013 #57

Check with your insurance company Orrex Jan 2013 #66

Dogs are easy to kill - it is not a foolproof solution. nt hack89 Jan 2013 #69

I doubt the average burglar is going to spend Dash87 Jan 2013 #71

Depends how isolated your house is and how rational the criminal is hack89 Jan 2013 #74

True, but how often would those houses ever Dash87 Jan 2013 #77

There are enough stories of home owners using guns to defend themselves hack89 Jan 2013 #79

There are almost as many tales of successful home defense as accidental gun-related homicides Orrex Jan 2013 #117

Do you have a cite for that? hack89 Jan 2013 #119

Sorry--I seem to have conflated two different datapoints Orrex Jan 2013 #120

The Kellerman study is somewhat controversial hack89 Jan 2013 #121

So do I. RebelOne Jan 2013 #75

Sweet. hollysmom Jan 2013 #129

Saw a PBS documentary on the evolution of dogs from wolves a while back... markpkessinger Jan 2013 #139

If it takes the cops 15 minutes to get to your house, a home security system isn't going to get them Brickbat Jan 2013 #2

Oh noes! 99Forever Jan 2013 #6

That was not a mature helpful post. nt Mojorabbit Jan 2013 #127

Ut oh... 99Forever Jan 2013 #142

:) nt Mojorabbit Jan 2013 #149

And we all know the remote counryside pscot Jan 2013 #11

And we all know there are armed ruffians roaming about attacking schools The Straight Story Jan 2013 #16

And a gun would have saved him but not a security system and good locks? (nt) Nine Jan 2013 #19

That must have made the news pscot Jan 2013 #20

It's an "NRA Fact" bongbong Jan 2013 #21

Exactly, you'd think a story like that would be in the news... hughee99 Jan 2013 #34

Wow! bongbong Jan 2013 #36

Please see down below (nt) The Straight Story Jan 2013 #78

Oh yeah! bongbong Jan 2013 #92

Let's analyze those. Nine Jan 2013 #42

Do you know how the gun got in his recliner? hughee99 Jan 2013 #64

Because most robbers are going to go for "easy pickings" Nine Jan 2013 #70

Houses in the middle of nowhere could be considered "easy pickings". hughee99 Jan 2013 #82

My father in-law keeps a gun in his recliner spinbaby Jan 2013 #152

He provided links to prove it. Guess *he's* not the one that's full of shit... friendly_iconoclast Jan 2013 #136

Gladly The Straight Story Jan 2013 #72

Look, I don't deny it happens pscot Jan 2013 #86

Here the thing The Straight Story Jan 2013 #102

Well, that's where we fall out pscot Jan 2013 #106

Um, SOME are calling for a ban on guns The Straight Story Jan 2013 #126

All that is, is just an abstract of the study. GreenStormCloud Jan 2013 #134

There are none so blind pscot Jan 2013 #145

And you refuse to see. GreenStormCloud Jan 2013 #147

More gun deaths in the U.S last year than the total pscot Jan 2013 #150

You refuse to separate the criminals from the law-abiding. GreenStormCloud Jan 2013 #153

I almost posted to defend your honor. juajen Jan 2013 #99

What??? onpatrol98 Jan 2013 #137

Why would you say that? Brickbat Jan 2013 #17

You're determined. GeorgeGist Jan 2013 #12

To do what? Brickbat Jan 2013 #18

Talking sense to "Gun Collectors" again? Walk away Jan 2013 #3

Voting for Republicans, again. regjoe Jan 2013 #33

If guns are the most important thing in the world to these people who will vote GOP AndyA Jan 2013 #39

Alot of Dems understand their 2nd Amendment right and wish to keep it regjoe Jan 2013 #54

Right. They are now republicans. (If they ever did vote for Democrats) nt Walk away Jan 2013 #58

But of course they are regjoe Jan 2013 #62

I think you will find yourself in the minority among democrats if you are against the 2nd. Puzzledtraveller Jan 2013 #103

More NRA talking points. AndyA Jan 2013 #68

Of course regjoe Jan 2013 #87

You just keep on believing that. AndyA Jan 2013 #94

As I am surrounded by fellow Dems who are armed, I will regjoe Jan 2013 #98

And you go ahead and keep putting thoughts in my posts that aren't there. AndyA Jan 2013 #100

The fear is very irrational regjoe Jan 2013 #144

I know all I need to know about guns. AndyA Jan 2013 #146

I also have experienced deaths by gun regjoe Jan 2013 #151

???? bongbong Jan 2013 #90

Your opinion of what you think the 2nd Amendment means is pointless regjoe Jan 2013 #96

Let me know when you get your pizza bongbong Jan 2013 #155

We have one on both properties...and night sensor flood lights... Tikki Jan 2013 #4

We have an ADT security system and guns ...by request of my wife ...who keeps track ... L0oniX Jan 2013 #5

But, but billh58 Jan 2013 #7

Nothing that isn't fixed by the addition of claymore mines to the lot's boundaries HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #8

a dog is also a cheap way quinnox Jan 2013 #9

Problem: Fires happen jeff47 Jan 2013 #49

That's your first layer, the firearm is your last layer of defense. ileus Jan 2013 #10

It must be tough living in Somalia! nt Walk away Jan 2013 #29

More neighborhood defense is also needed. FarCenter Jan 2013 #13

They are utterly worthless in rural areas 1-Old-Man Jan 2013 #14

Yappy barking dogs, home security system, lighting, video surveillance rustydog Jan 2013 #15

If we're going to allow self defense as an excuse to own weapons. geomon666 Jan 2013 #22

Your going Berserker Jan 2013 #25

Thanks, I'm a wonderful guy. geomon666 Jan 2013 #28

Not so far fetched sarisataka Jan 2013 #52

Link? bongbong Jan 2013 #93

Sorry sarisataka Jan 2013 #118

Eureka sarisataka Jan 2013 #124

LOL bongbong Jan 2013 #154

I'm pretty sure you already have that right, but do you have the technology? hughee99 Jan 2013 #35

Actually, you don't have that right jeff47 Jan 2013 #50

Some people would pay to visit your house! Walk away Jan 2013 #59

Another point about home security systems. Arkansas Granny Jan 2013 #23

Wait...WHAT Berserker Jan 2013 #26

What a clever way you have of ignoring the obvious point that I was making. Arkansas Granny Jan 2013 #38

When we're not home I don't care... meaculpa2011 Jan 2013 #31

That's an unbelievable anecdote. Really. (nt) Nine Jan 2013 #32

Are you calling the poster a liar? Then do so. Common Sense Party Jan 2013 #60

He's not calling the poster a liar; he's saying that the anecdote is unbelievable Orrex Jan 2013 #65

What aspects of the tale--as told--exceed credibility? Common Sense Party Jan 2013 #67

let's see... Nine Jan 2013 #73

So, do you think the poster is lying? Common Sense Party Jan 2013 #91

Do you think that he thinks that the poster is lying? Orrex Jan 2013 #105

So you are calling the poster a liar, I guess. Common Sense Party Jan 2013 #109

No, I'm saying that the tale as told is unbelievable Orrex Jan 2013 #112

Just about all of it. Why? Orrex Jan 2013 #76

He's so certain because he knows everything. meaculpa2011 Jan 2013 #81

I never claimed to know everything, but I can spot a fishy-sounding story a mile away Orrex Jan 2013 #104

Why would the phrase "he identified himself as a cop" make you think he was Common Sense Party Jan 2013 #110

Nope. You're failing to read what's written. Orrex Jan 2013 #115

He identified himself as a cop means... meaculpa2011 Jan 2013 #114

For a guy who allegedly survived a home invasion, you're pretty fragile Orrex Jan 2013 #116

Warning flags for a... meaculpa2011 Jan 2013 #122

Well, I don't believe you or your wife or your either of your darling children Orrex Jan 2013 #123

My darling children are now adults... meaculpa2011 Jan 2013 #125

Do your adult darling children know that you're such a hot-head? Orrex Jan 2013 #130

Mea...you got pulled into a wacky exchange... onpatrol98 Jan 2013 #140

Agreed. NT meaculpa2011 Jan 2013 #141

I sensed it too! That story was unbelievable from the outset! Orrex Jan 2013 #143

That is one damned agile burglar, was it one of those portable televisions he was watching? CBGLuthier Jan 2013 #83

Maybe he wanted to see himself on tv Orrex Jan 2013 #108

Nice story! bongbong Jan 2013 #95

I believe your story. onpatrol98 Jan 2013 #138

There are actually other reasons to have a gun bongbong Jan 2013 #24

n/s JustAnotherGen Jan 2013 #51

If the Petit family had one they might still be alive. Jennicut Jan 2013 #27

Did the Petits have a home security system and a good lock? Nine Jan 2013 #37

Home invasions are still very rare. Jennicut Jan 2013 #44

didn't the killers follow the mother and daughters home JI7 Jan 2013 #97

Yes. They saw them at the local Stop and Shop. Jennicut Jan 2013 #111

The more home security systems there are, the more often they will malfunction. randome Jan 2013 #30

But guns never malfunction, right? Squinch Jan 2013 #89

Guns malfunction all the time. randome Jan 2013 #113

I worked for an alarm company that handled both home & commercial security Lurks Often Jan 2013 #41

Nothing, per-say... -..__... Jan 2013 #43

They're expensive to buy, more expensive to keep, and they don't work. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #45

You're exactly right except on three of those points Orrex Jan 2013 #47

What, do you sell them? Out here where I live, not one thing you said is true. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #128

Do a little market research. Orrex Jan 2013 #131

In typical DU fashion, you've completely missed your mark. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #132

In similarly typical fashion, you've completely missed the point Orrex Jan 2013 #135

I'm rather fond of poisonous gas myself, "kill'm like cockroaches!" I'd say, but that's illegal. hunter Jan 2013 #56

Anything that becomes a substitute for economic & social justice puts you at MORE risk, not less. nt patrice Jan 2013 #61

Nothing...another layer of security. Very beneficial when one is away. TheKentuckian Jan 2013 #63

STOP THINKING! Atman Jan 2013 #85

They're good. I worked in a central station for 17 years. Roselma Jan 2013 #88

Sigh...... Turbineguy Jan 2013 #101

But...you know it's soo FREAKIN' simple it TOO simple.... NO ONE NEEDS onecent Jan 2013 #107

If you are James Bond Rosa Luxemburg Jan 2013 #133

Yes, most of the people i know who have a firearm for defense also have locks, lights, alarms. aikoaiko Jan 2013 #148