Question: Posting signs outside your home stating you own firearms...

[armyowalgreens]

I was thinking about this earlier while trying to go to a happy place at work.

Would posting a sign or window sticker saying something like "This home is protected by Mossberg firearms" make you less likely to be the victim of a burglary? Or more likely to be the victim of a burglar packing extra heat?

I'm leaning towards the latter, But I'm no psychologist.

Maybe it would be enough to cause a would-be burglar to move on to another house.

What do you guys think?

[Lasher]

1. Not a good idea to advertise you have guns to steal.

That's one of the thieves' favorite targets.

[armyowalgreens]

2. That was another thought that came to mind.

They'd probably just wait until you weren't home. And then they'd steal your guns.

[krispos42]

3. Let'em guess.

Notice that the anti-gun people don't put "Gun-Free Zone" on their front doors.



Although I suppose there's something to be said for reverse psychology...


cha-chick "Freeze!"

"Shit, you're armed?"

"The sign was there when I bought the house, fool."

"Fuck!"

[Lasher]

4. These thieves attack during the daytime when nobody's home.

When both parents are at work and the kids are in school. They knock on the door and if nobody answers they kick the door in. They'll hit several houses in the same area on one day.

They would be disappointed if they caught me gone because I have a gun safe. They would be even more unhappy if they broke in while I'm here because we have a Castle Doctrine.

[Tim01]

12. Ha ha! I love that. nt

[iverglas]

17. duh

I mean. Duh.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. A good burglar knows you're not home

so the sign is sort of irrelevant. It's just another form of the sign "This property/vehicle protected by Smith & Wesson", probably more of a political statement than a fact. Redneck chic.

I'd like to see a yellow, diamond shape sign in a car window: "Armed psychopath on board". That might stop some road-ragers (or trigger them).

As for my own home, well, I just don't like signs. Any signs. The only sign on my house is the street address.

:hi:

[armyowalgreens]

6. I've heard home security system signs are a good idea...

Even if you don't have one.

[leveymg]

11. Here's that bumper sticker: "Driver Is Loaded"

Err, maybe not. :spray:

[Howzit]

18. "Driver carries no more than $20 worth of ammunition"

Saw that on a commercial vehicle.

[Katya Mullethov]

20. Instead of the 30.06 signs

Mine say

NO UNLOADED WEAPONS
PAST THIS POINT .

[hlthe2b]

7. This home protected by loose snakes throughout the premises .....

:evilgrin:

[sam sarrha]

8. they would just rob you for your guns..

[E-Mag]

9. you could put one of these in your yard

I did not want to respond to your thread oops.

[Uben]

10. Best deterrent would be..........

..."This house is protected by a mean ass dog who will bite your fucking legs off!" And then get one! No burglar wants to deal with a dog. They make noise and pose a threat. I don't have to lock my doors, no one in their right mind would come into my house once they heard or saw my dogs! God help them if they try!

[slackmaster]

13. The less information you give to passers-by, the better

I've been hardening my property by putting thorny plants around the perimeter.

[SteveM]

21. Ah, yes, ye 'ol Spanish Daggers. ADT on the cheap (nt)

[Xela]

14. No bumper stickers, no home signs...

I avoid placing bumper stickers or home signs that make any reference or suggestion that I own firearms.

Why attract unwanted attention?

Xela

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. Ten effective tips for protecting your home.

Get a dog... a loud or yippy one that makes noise. Doesn't even have to be dangerous.
Keep the exterior of your house well lit - garden, porch, lamp post...
Steel or solid doors with no nearby windows that can be broken to unlock the door.
Rake-proof locks - don't hide keys under rocks or around the house either.
Peephole or other method to see who is actually at the door.
Glass block basement windows.
Timed lights in the living room and motion lights in the driveway/entrances.
Security film coated windows (awesome stuff, google it).
Home security system (or even just the ADT sign out front :P)
Pump action shotgun with a tube full of 000B

Will any or all of these methods keep people out of your house? No, even a rookie thief can get into a house like this. The point is inconvenience. Put yourself in a thief's shoes. Would you even bother with trying to break into a well lit home at night? What if you noticed that it would take a decent amount of racket to even get in? (The windows don't break, the door cant be forced, and there is a dog barking.) Wouldn't you just pick an easier target - I mean, 9 out of 10 homes on the street are WAY easier to get into safely/quietly than this one. All of these things can be done with little or no impact on your daily life or home decor and not costly at all if you DIY. And in the absolute worst scenario, you do have a shotgun with which to defend yourself.

[rrneck]

16. Most of the power

and the tactical advantage of firearms is the suspicion that they might be present and the possibility that they will be used. The two things a burglar never wants to see is a house with nothing in it to steal, and somebody in there able to shoot them if they try to break in.

[benEzra]

19. Burglars try to come when you're not home. Robbers would probably look for easier pickings.

I think on the whole, I'd rather maintain the element of surprise. I'd rather a potential home invader know that more than half of the homes on my block contain firearms, but not know exactly which half is which.

[SteveM]

22. I don't post signs except "Get out of Iraq," (nt)

[proteus_lives]

23. Don't.

People steal guns. They are one of the top black-market items.