Home defense suggestions...

[Fox_Hound]

A reality check can be a great way to increase someone's awareness of crime. Night before last, my girlfriend's car was broken into while parked in her driveway. A couple hundred dollars in cds and electronics were stolen. She lives with her mother in a suburban neighborhood in a town of about 18,000. We don't have a large crime problem. My father was on the local police force for ten years in the nineties, so I am familiar with the problems we do have. She arranged for a dead bolt to be installed on their front door tomorrow. The sliding glass doors in the back will be replaced as well. Motion sensor lights are getting installed in the driveway. All the windows are of good construction and have sturdy locks. My girl is of small stature. She's about 5'2", 115 lb, athletic and strong for her size. She is old enough to own firearms. But, her mother that she lives with won't allow guns in the house. They have a dog. A collie. Does her job as a watch dog. I don't trust her to latch onto someone's arm or leg when it counted. What would you guys suggest she keep around as a means to repel a home invader if she couldn't reach an exit? I have a couple ideas, but I want some informed opinions. Anything would help. Thanks in advance.

~Fox

[bulldog75]

http://www.itaser.com/?

They are effective and I think the non lawenforcement one makes you ride the lightning for about 30 seconds. They will also replace it if the attacker gets away with it. They just need a police report.

http://www.sabrered.com/servlet/StoreFront

The bad thing about pepper spray is that you will get a dose of it yourself inside of a closed area. So train with it and learn to fight through the pain.

http://www.selfdefenseweapons.com/

And some other options. I recommend that she sit down with her mother and talk to her about the gun issue. Security alarms or panic buttons are a plus also.

[Solus]

I agree that changing Mom's mind would be the important goal.

In any case, it might be good for them to make a 'Safe Room'.

Mom's bedroom might be best since in a 2AM break in, Mom might be the slowest to respond, should location of that room and construction make it a good choice.

No matter what they have for protection, that room might be what saves them.  It will need to stop access for longer than it will take the police to respond, very worst case.

I would also see if your girlfriend would consider getting her Concealed Carry permit and training.  She will have a problem carrying with no place to leave the gun when in her  house, but she will be ready if he mom changes her mind....and it might get Mom thinking.

[ellis4538]

I suggest a firearm of some sort.  The mother doesn't have to know until the SHTF.  She might be angry but grateful.

JMHO

Richard

[bulldog75]

Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

[Sponsor]

[Ichiban]

Yeah, pepper spray in a confined area is bad news - trust me.  I have heard that wasp spray (no, I don't mean White Anglo Saxon Protestant  ) works well and has a very long spraying range.  Tasers are good if there isn't a lot of clothing to go through.  If guns are definitely out of the question I'd be looking at other projectile weapons - spear guns, bows, anything that can reach out and touch someone. A strobe flashlight would also help keep the BG off balance.

Guns and a safe room are still your best bet.  Maybe something unloaded in the safe room with ammo close by? 

[fightingquaker13]

Agreed with all of the above. Non-lethal weapons are often neither. If you have to use one, with the day you're having, the guy you pepper spray is going to be asthmatic or the guy you taze will have a pacemaker. Alteratively? They will be too big, too strong or too close to keep them from grappling with you and shoving your non-lethal weapon down your throat the long way around. Others will  disagree with me on this and with good reason. Still, my POV is that these tools are great if you have a backup. They are great if you are a cop and trying to subdue a suspect with a bring them back alive ROE. They are also a damn sight better than nothing. That said, buy a damn gun. If she's old enough to own a gun, she's old enough to have been sneaking stuff past her mother for years (you included probably  ). It won't be the first or last time she hid things from dear old mom.  Just get a pistol, learn how to use it, and keep it secured with a trigger lock when she's not home so mom doesn't accidentally find it and cause an accident. Just my .02.
FQ13
PS Since it doesn't sound like she is or will become a recreational shooter, I would reccomend a used 9mm Glock in either the G-26 or G-19 models, or a .38 snubby from any of the usual suspects in nickel or stainless. They are relatively  inexpensive, low maintainence, idiot proof, instictive to shoot, have no safeties to trip over in a crisis, and are powerful and accurate enough for across the living room work.

[bulldog75]

I have to agree with FQ to a extent. Have your girl friend Put the firearm in one of the safes that they have shown on the show and do not tell mom. Have mom get the taser and pepper spray to give her the peace of mind.

[Fox_Hound]

Lots of good points made here guys. I agree that she just needs a gun. She is an active shooter. I've begun teaching her what I know of pistolcraft, and prior to meeting me she started shooting trap with her father. She's a true natural. I've met very few people who can adhere to instruction with almost instant results, but she really makes me shut up and stare when I say "watch that seven o' clock push" or something like that and then it vanishes. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to push for a shotgun, something she can shoot trap with, and then have a secondary barrel with ghost rings for social use. That is probably my best bet for getting her properly armed. After that she just needs a way to store it, proper ammo, a good white light and some training.

~Fox

[bulldog75]

Fox_Hound that is a great idea, maybe a remington 1100, because she can change the barrels quick. Use slug barrel for home defense.