[Bob Hafler]

Originally Posted by Wake_jumper

If they are too old to move, then they are too old to wield a weapon.

Did you ever think for one moment that they might not be able to move because of there financial situation, and not there physical abilities. Probably not... Carry on.

[countrygun]

Originally Posted by Wake_jumper

If they are too old to move, then they are too old to wield a weapon.

My career kept me on the move most of my life. I retired two years ago to my dream place, at age 50. As far as I am concerned I am "too old" to move again. would you say I am too old to wield a weapon?

Moving is not always an option and especially in this financial climate. People are not pieces on a chessboard.

[ScottieG59]

There should be easier answers for something we will all face if we live long enough.

I agree that the home should be secured better and with an alarm system. There is plenty of information out there on this, though most sites just want to sell things.

Moving helps, but out in the country, we have Meth heads. They break into all sorts of homes.

Medical and other support services in the area will be needed. Also, neighbors looking out for each other can help.

Guns, as we all should know, are a last line of personal defense. It is not easy to choose the best system without knowing the people and their capabilities. People can always learn, but training should be formal and professionally presented. All I say here is that the weapon should be usable by all in the home.

I know how fear can make those of us who trained for combat sometimes are unprepared for the stress and fog. It is easy to lose your composure and your bearings in combat.

An appropriate example here is when a man's wife got out of bed during the night. The husband wakes when he hears banging sounds in the hall outside the bedroom. Fearing for his and his wife's safety, he stands ready with a shotgun. The bedroom door opens slowly and he shoots, killing the intruder. Unfortunately, the intruder was his wife who was bumping into things in the dark presumably not to disturb the husband with the lights.

There are also cases where people freeze in panic or forget how to operate a firearm in actual civilian combat.

Basically, combat in the civilian world is something many enter into armed with a lot of ignorance. The smart method is to have a safe room, fully charged mobile phones, a panic button for the alarm system and firearms with a good deal of training.

Training cannot be overemphasized. In combat, you will likely not perform at the level at which you trained.

Anyway, I threw a bunch out there and there are many others with good methods to be safe. Just do not forget, the gun is for use only after every single defensive layer has been breached. The gun is not for threatening or scaring; it is for use to stop the threat with lethal force.

[BigA]

Originally Posted by TN.Frank

Sun City is West of Phoenix, AZ, is a retirement community with a very low crime rate and it set up for retired folks with all the medical and community centers that they could ask for. You can even drive your golf cart on the street.
Fairfield Glade just North East of Crossville, TN is a retirement community with a very low crime rate that caters to retired folks as well.
You just need to look around a bit and you'll see all kind of places for retired folks to move to so they won't have to deal with living in a high crime area.

Well Well no wonder we talking easy move. Folks living in Fairfield Glade dont have to worry bout money. Thier a buncha wealthy folks moving in from all over . Local mountain folks like us cant afford that kinda life style. Deltona is a lota low middle class people that probably cant afford to move there. I got relatives in Deltona Florida it's a nice place but like anywhere else they gotta few bad apples. You just gotta chunk em outa the barrel

[Brucev]

They are not gun nuts. They are not able to move. Fine. Secure all windows with bars. Secure all doors with heavy steel doors/frames. Do motion activated lights and alarms. If the yard is fenced, get a bad tempered dog. This will not satisfy the "last stand at the Alamo" types, but so what. They live in a fantasy world. As far as a gun is concerned, if they are able to handle a shotgun, then by all means that is the way to go. A standard hunting type will be fine. They don't need the tacti-cool junk. If they can't handle the recoil, a 10-22 w/ banana clip will be very good. Since they will have the good sense to stay in the bed room and cal the police, they will not need a light or lazer. At across the room distance, they will have no trouble filling the door sized entry way with .22 LR rounds. Again, this will not suit some. So what. They are not the ones who are making the decisions.

[Brucev]

Originally Posted by WoodenPlank

Yep. Something goes bump in the night, you hunker down in the bedroom, call the cops, and wait for the cavalry to show up with the shotgun leveled at the bedroom door. No need for a light or laser, and no need to go searching the house without training.

Exactly right.

[The_Gun_Guru]

Originally Posted by wjv

I bought a two pack of LED motion lights from Costco for $20. They use 3 AA batteries and can be installed in about 5 minutes each. Put mine up in Jan and the batteries are still running strong. They put out decent light and they trip if anything gets within 15 feet or so. (somewhat adjustable). $20 and 10 minutes is a cheap way to add some security.

YES! I bought those same lights at Costco! THEY ROCK!!!


And there is NO SHAME in moving people!!!! I moved out of the ghetto as soon as I could. Of course, it WASN'T the ghetto when I was growing up, but it BECAME the ghetto because that's how South FL is now. It's very sad what has happened to this country....ghetto has taken over!


TGG

[Jade Falcon]

.38 Revolver with a 4" barrel. No .357's; it sounds as if they're too weak to handle the recoil. I'm not so sure I agree with a long-gun in this assessment. A double 20 guage? Eh....no.

I would advise a couple of used but good-conditioned .38 revolvers stashed in safe places around their house, and perhaps, one light-recoiling 9mm Semi-auto.

And make sure they do follow up on the training.

[glock2740]

Get off my damn lawn...punk(s).

[Psychman]

Originally Posted by jutland

One of my colleagues at work, who happens to live in Deltona, has noticed the crime problem increasing in the last few years, asked for my thoughts for a gun around the home. He is slight of build, as is his wife. He has never shot a firearm before, and is in his late sixties. His wife also wants to have a gun available, and both have advised that they will spend time to learn how to use it. I have suggested a 20 gauge side by side under the keep it simple approach. They do not want a handgun. Any thoughts or other advice. No kids in home.

I highlighted the important passages for those of you insisting the couple move. They want a gun. They said nothing about moving. Since the man in question still works I am guessing he is of sound mind and can make up his own mind if he wants a gun or not. I suggest a 20 gauge of some kind also.

[Psychman]

Originally Posted by Jade Falcon

.38 Revolver with a 4" barrel. No .357's; it sounds as if they're too weak to handle the recoil. I'm not so sure I agree with a long-gun in this assessment. A double 20 guage? Eh....no.

I would advise a couple of used but good-conditioned .38 revolvers stashed in safe places around their house, and perhaps, one light-recoiling 9mm Semi-auto.

And make sure they do follow up on the training.

They don't want handguns.

[countrygun]

Originally Posted by Psychman

They don't want handguns.

There are always those people who never bother to read the OP, or that think that the statements made in it are irrelevant when compared to the "excellence" of their own suggestions

It never ceases to amaze me.

[TN.Frank]

Originally Posted by Psychman

They don't want handguns.

So basically they are, IMHO, going to pass up the best gun for the job because they are either unwilling or unable to learn how to use a handgun.
My Mother-in-Law moved from 35th Ave & Monte Vista (close to South Phoenix) to 67th Ave and Bell Rd. because the area she lived in all of her life had become Gang Central. I'm sure she didn't want to move and she really could not afford to move but for the sake of her own safety she moved.
We sometimes have to do things that we really don't want to do because it's better then not doing them.
A handgun would be easier to keep out of reach of grandkids or others who you'd not wanting to get a hold of a gun since you can simply put it into a top drawer of your chest of drawers or in the top shelf of your closet out of reach. A shotgun will more then likely be placed in a corner where it'll be within easy reach not only of the home owner but others who see it there.
A DA revolver will give you 6 shots, a double barrel shotgun will only give you 2. A revolver is easier to maneuver in tight quarters a shotgun is not.
I'm really starting to think in these folks case a gun is probably NOT the right answer. Maybe a Tazer, stun gun, pepper spray, baseball bat or other less then lethal weapon would serve them better then a gun.

[Bob Hafler]

This might be the answer for someone who is not all about guns. My wife carries one in her purse.
http://www.guardian-self-defense.com/guardianangel.htm

[cptslick]

In 2002 I retired for the second time. I had lived in this house since 1976. The area just went downhill after all those years and I had words with some drug dealers over my back fence.The house was paid for and I didn't want to move but I felt it wasn't going to get any better.I sold the house and moved further out towards the country.
I am in my seventies amd I go to the range once a week. I have various pistols and long guns and feel I am proficient enough to defend my home.
I have surveillance cameras around the house,steel doors and other little features plus an alarm system. I am old but not helpless and I will not be the Sheep.
Age is not the only determining factor,you must be willing to stand up and use what you have no matter what your weapon of choice..

[Steve in Az]

Originally Posted by jutland

I have suggested a 20 gauge side by side under the keep it simple approach.

I think that is a solid recommendation; excellent insight.

[Bren]

Originally Posted by Cole125

The double barrel shotgun is a good idea. Very simple for someone who knows nothing about guns to operate and shoot. Very deadly.

As well as very limited capacity, very painful to practice with, very hard to find a range to shoot on, and harder than a handgun to handle inside a house.

My recommendation is to talk them into a handgun - wonder why they are set against the obvious choice?

[Boats]

After thinking about what is in my safe, I'd give the old couple my Marlin 1894C in .357 MAG.

Lightweight, powerful enough, simple to operate, and nearly recoilless. Can even be equipped with a Big Dot sight.

Only problem would be acquiring a new one that was worth a damn since Marlin has been Remingtoned.

[countrygun]

Originally Posted by Bren

As well as very limited capacity, very painful to practice with, very hard to find a range to shoot on, and harder than a handgun to handle inside a house.

My recommendation is to talk them into a handgun - wonder why they are set against the obvious choice?

My small wife fires a Norinco 12 coach gun all the time. Due to the weight she finds it more comfortable than her 20 ga 870 youth upland game gun. I can only think that in 20 the coach would be at least as mild

[countrygun]

edit lag time is screwing things up

[countrygun]

edit. Lag time is causing double posts today

[longhair]

Originally Posted by countrygun

There are always those people who never bother to read the OP, or that think that the statements made in it are irrelevant when compared to the "excellence" of their own suggestions

It never ceases to amaze me.

Ain't it the truth.

[Ballisticism]

Originally Posted by TN.Frank

I'm really starting to think in these folks case a gun is probably NOT the right answer. Maybe a Tazer, stun gun, pepper spray, baseball bat or other less then lethal weapon would serve them better then a gun.

Yeah, until some wacko on meth and PCP decides to break into their house to steal the screens out of their faucets. Part of standard police training is to get sprayed directly in the eyes with pepper spray then move about a course, issuing verbal commands and firing a sidearm at targets. This proves to me that pepper spray does not have much in the way of stopping power.

Tazers are effective only if you are accurate on the first shot, or at very close range. What if there are 3 BG's? A baseball bat? Only effective if the BG is drunk or doesn't hear you sneak up from behind. A gun is the most effective solution for defense.

[Nestor]

I sometimes feel like many people see the firearm as the first line of defense. It's terrible mistake and I think You should speak with them about the responsibility connected with having the firearm at their home. In many cases people are not really threatened by the home invasion/gang rape/mass killing wacko spree kinda things, even if they feel like that's the case. The very first thing they should do is to evaluate the REAL danger.
Install the alarm system with monitoring company - many good options to choose from nowadays. Install additional lights outside, fix the fence and buy a dog. Firearm is always good idea, but quite often it's simply overrated as a safety measure by the people not familiar with the firearms in general. Firearm alone is not the solution here - it's just part of the solution actually. Good luck!

[Ballisticism]

Originally Posted by Nestor

I sometimes feel like many people see the firearm as the first line of defense. It's terrible mistake and I think You should speak with them about the responsibility connected with having the firearm at their home. In many cases people are not really threatened by the home invasion/gang rape/mass killing wacko spree kinda things, even if they feel like that's the case. The very first thing they should do is to evaluate the REAL danger.
Install the alarm system with monitoring company - many good options to choose from nowadays. Install additional lights outside, fix the fence and buy a dog. Firearm is always good idea, but quite often it's simply overrated as a safety measure by the people not familiar with the firearms in general. Firearm alone is not the solution here - it's just part of the solution actually. Good luck!

This. Although, my great-grandmother was in a similar situation, living in a neighborhood that went bad around her. One day, someone was trying to break in through a window, so this little old lady fired her shotgun in his direction. I don't know if she hit him, but he ran off, she bought an alarm system, and nobody bothered her house again, with the exception of one time when some tire tracks appeared in her yard mysteriously in the night, presumably from some drunk driver going off the road. I think that perhaps word got around that the house's occupant was armed. The alternate explanation, of course, is that this type of thing happens infrequently.