Friendswood, TX home invasion story:
Police said a woman was working on a homework project with her 8-year-old and 11-year-old children at their home in the 2900 block of Autumn Creek when a man came through an open window at the back of the house. Three other male suspects wearing black hoodies and masks followed the first suspect in, with at least one displaying a handgun.
Authorities said the suspects tied the family up and began to ransack their home when the husband arrived home. He tried to flee but was grabbed by one of the suspects and was also bound. The family was put in the bathroom and eventually got out after the suspects left the house.
What I take from this read:
- Looks like it happened in the middle of the day.
- Crime of opportunity: they came through an open window, and one in the back of the house (i.e. less likely to be seen from the street).
- Not sure if any resistance was put up, but the mother was probably more concerned with keeping her children from harm… still, fighting back aids in that effort.
- Father arrived home and tried to flee (WTF?).
- They didn’t care about the people, only something to steel.
So… this is why I carry my gun around the house. Some people think I only need my carry gun when I’m out and about. But no, I need it because it’s a handy tool to have, but a handy tool is only handy if it’s on hand when needed. If it’s on my hip, it’s right where I want it to be, when I need it to be. I don’t need to go get it and risk wasting precious time.
It’s also an argument against legal disarmament. That is, there are laws on the books that prevent law-abiding citizens from carrying their guns. For instance, employer doesn’t permit the guns, even in the parking lot. Let’s say the father in this story was a CHL holder and did carry every legal way he could. If he couldn’t have his gun on his person or even in his car due to workplace limitations, that would explain coming home disarmed and walking in on your family being tied up and robbed. Is that what we wish to allow? Is that what the spirit of the law is desiring? That’s not right.
Stuff From Hsoi 
I read this post and the newest one (Jenny’s got a gun) in the same sitting; combine that with a celebrity news show report last night that Paris Hilton’s knife armed stalker was in her house — stopped only by the husband/boyfriend with a firearm.
Yes, I think that we have many reasons to carry in the house.
I came home the other day to find the back door unlocked and the garage door up — thought that it was probably my wife’s mistake (chemo head is making her lose track of normal habits) but went ahead and conducted a full house clearing drill.
Good practice and I found nothing — but too many people have walked in on robbers for me to take a chance.
Another reason to carry at home — practice aka training.
Isn’t it better to have skittering gun syndrome in your own bathroom than out in public?
Isn’t it better for your spouse to tell you “Honey, your gun is showing” when you get up from the kitchen table than when you get up for a restaurant table?
It absolutely amazes me that people can look at the statistics — and not see a reason to carry
# Between 2004 and 2008 — About 1 in 3 violent crimes occurred in or near the victim’s own home.
# During this time period almost 1 in 5 violent crimes took place in open areas such as yards, playgrounds, fields, on the street or in other similar locations.
# Almost two thirds of all property crimes took place in or near the home of the household members.
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=44
Well you know what happened when they read those “at home” crime statistics? They moved! 😉
People want to believe it won’t happen to them, it can’t happen to them. Not in my neighborhood… I live in a nice part of town. That’s why I liked that City of Austin Krime Labb:
http://www.krimelabb.com/
it shows crimes happen all over… even in Westlake Hills (upscale suburb of Austin).
Can happen any where at any time.