Best weapon to keep under bed in case of home invasion?

[GPIDEAL]

Sorry to hear that Marcus but if you didn't have a BEWARE OF DOG sign anywhere, you might be SOL.

I think it's common knowledge that you can't claim self-defence here if you injure or kill an intruder. If you had sicked your dog on him (hypothetically speaking), you would face worse charges. Vigilantism is not legal either.

Good luck though.

 

[GPIDEAL]

You can legally own "bear spray" so long as it is marketed as "bear spray". However, it is illegal to use it on a person. Not sure how it would go over if you used it as a weapon AT HOME, where the intruder had come to you and your bear spray. You might be the test case.

The advantage of something like bear spray is obviously you are much more likely to use it, as it is non lethal. Most people will think twice before pulling the trigger on a gun, bayoneting someone, or hacking at them with an axe or sword. It's a lot easier to pull the trigger if you believe the guy will live to see another day.

The disadvantage is that it isn't guaranteed to stop the guy--it might just make him really mad.

Okay, now I remember. I bought Bear Spray (basically, a bigger can of pepper spray I think) and smaller pepper-spary canisters. They say you can't use it on a person, but if a lady is attacked by a would-be rapist, she's gonna use it to protect her life, and ask questions later.

 

[Julian]

Anyone recommending bear spray has never been in a small room when a can goes off. Everyone will be hit by the fumes so nobody is running anywhere.

For knockdown power, shotgun with buck shot will certainly work, but you can't just start firing guns at the first person who walks through your door in the dark.

Best self defense tool you can have is already on your nightstand. Program 911 into your phone speed dial, one push of a button and hide the phone. Land line would be best, but cell phone could work in a pinch.

Yeah I don't think the bearspray indoors is gonna be any help either...so far the best ones imho are:

axe
bat
sword
shark spear gun
demolitian steel bar

 

[Smash]

The real problem came later in that this guy is trying to sue me now because my dog attacked him, even though there is a police report

Wow Marcus, thats fcuked up. I dont even know what to say to that. What a messed up system for something like that to happen in. I'm with you, if someone breaks in your home and your dog bites him he's SOL. Next time think twice about breakin in a home to loot the house.
Good luck

 

[rld]

My trained 130lbs rottwieller did take down an asshole who had broken in while we were out, when i got home I found blood on the floor the perp locked in the bathroom and the dog was going ape shit. To make a long story short, the dog savaged the guy badly and he needed stitches everywhere, and now claims he has nerve damage as a result of the attack.
The real problem came later in that this guy is trying to sue me now because my dog attacked him, even though there is a police report proving that he broke a window and gained entry through there. He claims he was drunk and thought it was his buddy's house and he was staying there for the weekend.
I don't believe in the shoot first ask questions later mentality, nor do I think that someone should pay with their lives for stealing a TV. But if someone breaks into your home and the dog bites him, is fair that the criminal is allowed to sue the homeowner from whom he was trying to steal from in the first place? Now I'm out almost $30,000 in legal fees and time, If I knew this was the case, I should have tossed the dog into the washroom and allow him another go at the perp. So before everyone goes off half cocked that they'll do this and that remember that this is still bleeding heart Liberal Ontario where the hug-a-thug mentality is still alive and well.

What you should have had was home owners insurance which would cover you for the dog bite case.

 

[NoFatties]

I don't believe in the shoot first ask questions later mentality, nor do I think that someone should pay with their lives for stealing a TV. But if someone breaks into your home and the dog bites him, is fair that the criminal is allowed to sue the homeowner from whom he was trying to steal from in the first place? Now I'm out almost $30,000 in legal fees and time,

That sucks. I agree that you can't initiate your own judgment (e.g. hanging, castration, etc) because a person is trespassing. I think Beware of Dog signs are irrelevant since the intruder broke through a window (according to him drunk) thus probably would not see the signs. In addition, the dog was properly restrained being locked in the family home. The intruder breaking the window to enter the house is no different than jumping into a penned enclosure. The intruder must bear the risks of his actions as it is impossible to avert all dangers. If he chooses to turn on your stove and place his hands on the burner - why would you be liable ?

 

[rld]

That sucks. I agree that you can't initiate your own judgment (e.g. hanging, castration, etc) because a person is trespassing. I think Beware of Dog signs are irrelevant since the intruder broke through a window (according to him drunk) thus probably would not see the signs. In addition, the dog was properly restrained being locked in the family home. The intruder breaking the window to enter the house is no different than jumping into a penned enclosure. The intruder must bear the risks of his actions as it is impossible to avert all dangers. If he chooses to turn on your stove and place his hands on the burner - why would you be liable ?

In Ontario the issue is dealt with remarkably clearly by the Dog Owners Liability Act. I do not know of a similar act for stoves.

 

[Aardvark154]

In Ontario the issue is dealt with remarkably clearly by the Dog Owners Liability Act.

And it seemingly addresses Marcus' problems directly:

Contribution by person at fault

(4) An owner who is liable to pay damages under this section is entitled to recover contribution and indemnity from any other person in proportion to the degree to which the other person’s fault or negligence caused or contributed to the damages. R.S.O. 1990, c. D.16, s. 2 (4).Protection of persons or property

(2) Where a person is on premises with the intention of committing, or in the commission of, a criminal act on the premises and incurs damage caused by being bitten or attacked by a dog, the owner is not liable under section 2 unless the keeping of the dog on the premises was unreasonable for the purpose of the protection of persons or property. R.S.O. 1990, c. D.16, s. 3 (2).

Seemingly the non-absolute contributory negligence/comparative negligence provisions of the first section (climbing through the window into the house) reduce Marcus' liability to about nill, even if "climb in the window" argues that he did not have the intention of committing a criminal act.

 

[Sexy_Dave]

Sorry to hear that Marcus but if you didn't have a BEWARE OF DOG sign anywhere, you might be SOL.

I think it's common knowledge that you can't claim self-defence here if you injure or kill an intruder. If you had sicked your dog on him (hypothetically speaking), you would face worse charges. Vigilantism is not legal either.

Good luck though.

Sorry GP I am at a loss here as to your statement. You are indeed entitled to use deadly force to defend yourself and property. Regardless of who the intruder is.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2008/06/09/qc-parasiris0609.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2008/06/10/qc-parasirisacquittal0610.html

Juries like to side with homeowners I guess. In Quebec anyway.

ETA Perhaps I missed your subtle sarcasm.

 

[wigglee]

chainsaw

 

[chris123]

A Honey Badger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_badger

 

[alexmst]

I would never, ever keep a loaded Glock 17 around. Ever. I just don't buy into their "trigger is the only safety you need" philosophy. How many Floridians have shot themselves in the foot or the ass pulling their Glock 17 out of their waistband or sock drawer and having the trigger catch on something?

Yes, one must take care, but the ever-ready mechanism is a real plus for ease of use under most circumstances. I would agree not to keep it under a pillow while sleeping as if one is a restless sleeper it could go badly.

Then there is this guy lol...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4322659058549628092#

 

[fuji]

Any stats our there on whether more people have shot themselves with their own glock than been shot by someone else's? What percentage of glock injuries were accidental?

 

[Aardvark154]

Yes, one must take care, but the ever-ready mechanism is a real plus for ease of use under most circumstances. I would agree not to keep it under a pillow while sleeping as if one is a restless sleeper it could go badly.

Amazingly enough the safeties on the good old M-1911A where quite good, although I would like something more and would never ever sleep with one under my pillow save the most extreme of circumstances.

 

[Powershot]

If the intruder has a handgun, wouldn't most weapons be useless?

 

[alexmst]

If the intruder has a handgun, wouldn't most weapons be useless?

Perhaps, but in Toronto how many B&Es are committed when the owner is asleep at home by an intruder who enters with a handgun drawn and at the ready?

 

[seth gecko]

"The Defender"

 

[LateComer]

Amazingly enough the safeties on the good old M-1911A where quite good, although I would like something more and would never ever sleep with one under my pillow save the most extreme of circumstances.

Even if it was legal, I wouldn't do it. I'm afraid that I might do something stupid while I was half asleep.

 

[LKD]

taser gun

 

[djk]

Shotgun with rock salt.