do you give a warning or not?

[Rob Pincus]

No offense taken, Ping.... nor was any meant. I just wanted to clarify my position on he issue, certainly didn't mean to insinuate that you were "looking for trouble". 

-RJP

[shooter32]

To give you an answer FQ, I have been trained to do so in several capacities (military,local LE and civillian) over a couple of decades. The mistake that I do not make is exiting my home with a firearm. I am a big guy but I can manuever around my home with ease. After attending and training with Rob Pincus and Paul White this past week for Combat Focus Shooting, I am more confident, determined, consistent and efficient with my firearm within the household.
And as for the police, I do have a high regard for them. That is why after observing their presence outside my home I made the appropriate decision to allow them to perform their duties, remain inside and go back upstairs with my family. In the meantime I remained alert.
Hopefully that answers your question about clearing the house.

Ping, did the LEO's talk to you after and what did they say?

[Ping]

They never stopped at my home. Two squads drove by with their spotlights on towards the homes in the neighborhood including mine. Not sure what made the noise in the neighborhood and I stayed inside my home. Nothing was ever mentioned in the paper either.

[MarkoPo]

This is a question I don't think there is a cookbook answer for. For people who live in states with no "Castle Doctrine" you definitely don't have the law on your side when it comes to an intruder in your house. For those of us who do, we are afforded a little more leniency in our homes. I guess my feeling is I keep my doors locked for a reason, and no way anyone is mistaking my house for someone else’s, drunk or not. If I hear my door being broke down and they make it past my dog to where our bedrooms are, they are fair game. I WOULD be afraid for my life and that is enough justification to pull the trigger in my mind. I have two small children whose bedrooms are next to ours. I can't afford the luxury of waiting to find out the intentions of the intruder, especially with rest of my family in the house. They would get no warning from me except hearing the slide of my pistol chamber a hollow point.

[2HOW]

This is my second post on this, but I am compelled after observing all the looks on this . IF YOU PUT YOUR FIREARM IN YOUR HAND YOU SHOULD BE READY TO USE LEATHAL FORCE, PERIOD. The circumstances must have escalated to a point where your life or the life of another person in your proximity is in leathel danger. There is no such thing as a warning shot, unless your a bad shot.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

This is my second post on this, but I am compelled after observing all the looks on this . IF YOU PUT YOUR FIREARM IN YOUR HAND YOU SHOULD BE READY TO USE LEATHAL FORCE, PERIOD. The circumstances must have escalated to a point where your life or the life of another person in your proximity is in leathel danger. There is no such thing as a warning shot, unless your a bad shot.

2HOW

My comment (or two) earlier were that I would give a warning, not give a warning shot.  I am totally against giving a warning shot, because in self defense it is both sending a round into an area that is not a target, and it is a waste of ammo you may need.  I am for giving a verbal warning to be sure the person is either a threat or a questionable person vs. a friendly.  Would hate to shoot the kid sneaking in late at night ... as much as I considered it a few times 

[tombogan03884]

 Like I posted earlier, VERBAL warning Especially if I had time to get 911 on the phone, "I got a cop on the phone and a gun in my hand, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE". As 2How says, if I pull the trigger and don't hit them it will be a miss, not a warning.

[2HOW]

2HOW

My comment (or two) earlier were that I would give a warning, not give a warning shot.  I am totally against giving a warning shot, because in self defense it is both sending a round into an area that is not a target, and it is a waste of ammo you may need.  I am for giving a verbal warning to be sure the person is either a threat or a questionable person vs. a friendly.  Would hate to shoot the kid sneaking in late at night ... as much as I considered it a few times 

Understood, a little misunderstanding with your post. I see no problem with calling out you are armed to flush out a suspected intruder.

[bbbean]

They would get no warning from me except hearing the slide of my pistol chamber a hollow point.

You store your home defense gun in condition 3?

[MarkoPo]

You store your home defense gun in condition 3?

Not sure what condition 3 means, but it has a full magazine but not one in the chamber. It is kept in a lock box under my bed with the key always in it. IF my 2 1/2 year old would happen to get ahold of it there is no way she could make it fire. If I kept one in the chamber, that could be a different story. I have a Springfield XD sub-compact in .40 if that matter to you.