Suggestions for getting family to think about security

[Aglifter]

A branch of my family has ended up w. lots of liquidity, and lots of public exposure in the last year or so. None of them are gunnies, etc -- just typical Mid-Atlantic farmers. I need some sources which discuss securing an farm (estate, really, but we always just called it a farm), but w.o. sounding like Jeff Cooper*...

It's not a matter of courage, just a matter of a culture which doesn't focus on self-defense.

*I have tremendous respect for Jeff Cooper, and agree w. his attitude toward personal defense, but it wouldn't go over w. this branch -- when we went to BFE, TX, we ended up going native...

[postmanone]

My wife and are preparing fun bugout weekends. The plan is in the early stages, but we have set up the parameters in this manner. Now some of it has to be pre-planned but here is the blueprint. We decide on some weekend that an emergency has taken place and we have to get out of dodge and we have only 5 minutes to get stuff and go. In the car is a container holding some information that will show what routes are closed and what type of event. Naturally the first one for us will be Earthquake 10.5,( didn't that movie suck), anyway, the goal is to get at least 250 miles away and see how you cope for the weekend with what we brought under the time limit of 5 minutes. Also, it will need to be cash only since power will be out and ATM's will not work. We are still working out the finer details, but at least this will show us our weakness and prepare better the next time. And when the event happens, my hope is out training kicks in and lets us function with logic and not just raw emotion.

[Netpackrat]

If they are not already shooters, maybe invite them for a fun, educational weekend shooting trip to the range. Don't mention security or self defense until after you are sure they are hooked. And probably not even after that first range trip. Baby steps.

[Whirlibird]

Start with short camping trips. Supplies will be needed.
Power outages, hurricanes and the needed supplies for those type of "emergencies".
A good look into what's in the area for "hazards" will help, chlorine storage, other chemicals, etc.
Start improvements with pointing out more "efficient" windows, triple glazed etc with better locks.
Get them out plinking and blasting, they'll get hooked on the "fun guns" and who's to say than an AR/AK isn't fun?

Once they're started, it's much easier to side-track them in the direction wanted/needed.

[Aglifter]

They're avid hunters, but pistols mainly just sit in a desk, disassembled, and gathering dust. (I have a pristine 1903 Colt Pocket auto, because my great-uncle bought it around 1930, loaded it, and it never moved until I took it out 70 years later. )

I might be able to get some of them to do some IPSC, as long as I can make sure they're around gamers.

I have no intention of mentioning any "survivalist" stuff right now -- that just wouldn't be useful -- my main concern right now is kidnapping attempts.

Next time I'm over, I'll look at the windows, and see how tough the storm windows look...

Any suggestions for a good comm system for the farm that would be independent of the phones?

How do police radios work? (If they would be practical, I'm pretty sure the local LEOs would be co-operative.)



(Cell service is terrible there.)

[Whirlibird]

They're avid hunters, but pistols mainly just sit in a desk, disassembled, and gathering dust. (I have a pristine 1903 Colt Pocket auto, because my great-uncle bought it around 1930, loaded it, and it never moved until I took it out 70 years later. )

I might be able to get some of them to do some IPSC, as long as I can make sure they're around gamers.

I have no intention of mentioning any "survivalist" stuff right now -- that just wouldn't be useful -- my main concern right now is kidnapping attempts.

Next time I'm over, I'll look at the windows, and see how tough the storm windows look...

Any suggestions for a good comm system for the farm that would be independent of the phones?

How do police radios work? (If they would be practical, I'm pretty sure the local LEOs would be co-operative.)

(Cell service is terrible there.)

IPSC, Three-gun matches, handgun hunting?

Business band radio. VHF may not be the most 'up-to-date' but it doesn't go down as tragically as 800meg stuff. Almost a dozen agencies were down around and including ours for something like 4-6 hours recently when they had to service a single tower nearby.

Kidnapping, oh, that kind of liquidity. Look for some of the carjack/kidnap stuff from South Africa, South America and NY/LA here in the states. In the "southern" countries, the victims who are shot, appear to be shot more often without a weapon. While not 'local' it does give one information to consider and with the 'recession' that we are now officially in, who's to know.
Check for home invasion information in your/their area if any.

When you're there check out the doors also, most 'farmhouse' doors could be kicked through by a cub scout with a bad temper. Doors and door frames are all too often weather beaten and weakened. There was one house I had reason to go into recently and didn't even need a key, crowbar or sledge, the doorframe was so weak, all I had to do was put my back to the opposite side of the frame and put my foot against the latch area and push. I pushed the frame back far enough to open the door without damage (okay, cracked paint) to any of it.

The discovery channel (?) show "To Catch A Thief" is actually pretty informative about how most break-ins occur and the ideas they put out are actually good ones.

As for home invasion types, these are the truly dangerous ones. Your basic snatch and grab burglar hits generally 2 to 3 pm and is gone with little or no injury. The professional, you won't know you've been hit until you get home. They aren't there to get caught.
But the home-invader, they're there for YOU. They'll often have done some research as to your "hours" but instead of avoiding you, they schedule to hit when you're relaxed and easy.

Here's a couple of generic links:
http://www.crimedoctor.com/homeinvasion.htm
http://www.wpxi.com/target11/4176897/detail.html
http://livesafely.org/home-security/6/
http://www.crimeawareness.com/home_invasion.html
http://www.professorshouse.com/your-hom ... stics.aspx
http://www.homesecurity911.com/home-inv ... -a-victim/