Bump...do you investigate?

HKguy9 · March 30, 2002, 10:25 PM

Everyone agrees that houseclearing is a crappy proposition.

You hear a bump and most likely it's nothing...but do you investigate anyway?

Please print legibly.

KSFreeman · March 30, 2002, 10:30 PM

Kalifornians are always hearing bumps.

Is it three bumps?

"Dude, I was dreaming of some tasty waves and Mr. Hand's history class, when, dude, I heard O.J."

What do you hear afterwards?

HKguy9 · March 30, 2002, 10:36 PM

If it doesn't fit....

pdmoderator · March 31, 2002, 04:48 AM

Skunkabilly,

Please see my reply in the bump-in-the-night scenario. Standard protocol (per NRA) is to proceed to your saferoom if possible, wait 15 minutes or longer for further noise, then investigate.

Different ideas welcome, long as they make sense...

HTH,
- pdmoderator

The Terminator · March 31, 2002, 06:00 AM

I check it out. I would never hide and wait. Anybody caught inside is toast. Anybody caught outside would certainy hear that sound that we all recognize, the pumping of the scattergun, it really carries on a quiet, clear night. I personally have heard it from the receiving end, and it put wings on my feet. I jumped a six foot ditch and never missed a stride. Best -

Nevada Fitch · March 31, 2002, 12:56 PM

I live in a rural area and calling the law every time I heard a bump is not an option.

The answer is, if the bump in the night or day concerns me I check it out with gun in hand if my guts tells me to. Possibly if I lived in a high crime area I would modify my behavior somewhat. I don't have a safe room but I do have plenty of loaded guns and the skill to use them if it came to that.

C.R.Sam · March 31, 2002, 01:38 PM

Yep, I check. Cautiously.

Sam

Erich · March 31, 2002, 01:42 PM

Creaks, no (wood floors do that). Bumps, yes. There's only me and my wife in our house, which makes houseclearing a simpler proposition.

Hemicuda · March 31, 2002, 08:35 PM

you bet your butt I check them out... slowly, carefully, and cautiously... with a loaded scattergun when possible...

pdmoderator · March 31, 2002, 09:06 PM

Has anyone responding so far had SWAT training?

- pdmoderator

G35 · March 31, 2002, 09:48 PM

<<Has anyone responding so far had SWAT training? >>

Oh Great... Now I need SWAT Training before investigating late-night noises... damn rules here and damn regulations there.. WHERE'S MY AR15, I think I hear something outside... post more later.. Me and "Mr. AR15" gotta go checkout something...

pdmoderator · March 31, 2002, 11:09 PM

Nope, you can do anything you want, and take the consequenses.

I'd just like to hear if anyone who's expressing an opinion here has been professionally trained in what they're expressing an opinion on.

- pdmoderator

Rickmeister · April 1, 2002, 12:42 PM

There's a story out there about some guy coming home at an unusual hour of the day and unexpectedly hearing a bump in his daughter's closet. "Fire first, ask questions later" was his motto; and only then did he learn that his daughter had played hooky that day and was not at school as he had believed.

You get my drift.

Christopher II · April 1, 2002, 01:20 PM

I don't care if you're the ne plus ultra of SWAT-trained SEAL Ranger Force Recon SAS badass, a one-man house clearing will get you dead.

Saferoom is a good idea. Having a multiplexed alarm system is even better. Dogs are better yet. Best is to mix and match, as your situation warrants.

- Chris

HKguy9 · April 1, 2002, 01:58 PM

OK I guess what I'm asking here is now HOW you're going to clear your house, but:

We know that houseclearing sucks.
But there's a bump that's probably not a person but enough to make you want to check it out. Again, chances are it's the freezer dropping ice into the icebox, some cans that you didn't stack up right in the cabinet, dishes in the sink that fell because they're piled up too high, etc. etc. etc.

How would you investigate?

foghornl · April 1, 2002, 02:09 PM

Very carefully, with 5 D-Cell Maglite in one hand, and Ruger .45ACP in the other.

fix · April 1, 2002, 02:55 PM

If the dogs don't bark...why worry?

If the dogs bark, yell "SHUT UP!!!" and see if they stop. If they don't stop, investigate.

If the dogs bark and growl and I hear human screams...sleep tight and clean up in the morning.

If the dogs squeal and yelp, and/or I hear gunshots, it's time to start dialing and chambering.

pdmoderator · April 1, 2002, 05:29 PM

Quote:

But there's a bump that's probably not a person but enough to make you want to check it out. Again, chances are it's the freezer dropping ice into the icebox, some cans that you didn't stack up right in the cabinet, dishes in the sink that fell because they're piled up too high, etc. etc. etc.

How would you investigate?

Depends on how worried I was that there had been a break-in. If I was worried, I'd check the exterior of the house first to confirm or deny the break-in. If I did see signs of a break-in, the folks in blue get a phone call. If I didn't, I'd just go check it, with a flashlight -- and cellphone and armed if I was concerned that someone could have gotten in without me knowing.

Gotten rid of more dirty dishes that way...

- pdmoderator

striderteen · April 1, 2002, 05:59 PM

If I hear a bump, I turn around. Dorm rooms have little room for anything.

KSFreeman · April 1, 2002, 06:20 PM

Chris II, your concerns are unfounded. First, I've done a lot of `puter gaming therefore I really know what I'm doing. Second, I'm a graduate, summa cum latte, of Gunshop Commando skul. We learned that a mad minute is the correct response. Inside your house, a free fire zone, you can just spray lead through the walls. I keep an M14 with AP for such occassions in my subdivision.

However, YMMV. For example, as MPFreeman dislikes such a weenie load and keeps 2 BARs in .338WM with Hornady big game bullets for him and his wife. His children 3 and 1 are highly trained as they spend hours at night shooting and learning to duck.

Dave R · April 2, 2002, 12:09 PM

Like fix, I let the dog do the recon.

If the dog is sleeping, I ignore.

If the dog gives her "alarm bark", which is different from her "answering another dog" bark, then I investigate, quietly, flashlight (off) and Hi-Power in hand. There is plenty of ambient light throughout our house and I have good night vision. My wife has the cell phone and backup.

Bogie · April 2, 2002, 06:58 PM

Okay, picture this...

Doin' the horizontal bop with the girlfriend, about two ayem... havin' a grand ol' time, and approaching an even grander ol' time... Hear a monster crash from my "gun room." She says it was the fastest she'd EVER see someone disengage from combat, hit the floor, grab a rifle, insert a magazine, chamber a round, and belly crawl through a door...

A rubbermaid container had had another stacked on top, but was defective, and slowly bent until the one on top fell over.

Seeker · April 3, 2002, 03:54 AM

I agree with Fix and Dave R. Listen to the dogs. They got the nose tha knows.

O' course sometimes the dogs get all excited about the very dangerous and threatning kitty-cat or polecat crossing the yard and need to be told that there's no real threat and that they are good dogs for letting you know of the 'danger'.

Erich · April 3, 2002, 10:22 AM

Bogie,

That must have been a painful belly crawl!

CMichael · April 3, 2002, 10:56 AM

Yes I investigate with my 12 gauge.

Michael

March 30, 2002, 10:25 PM	#1
HKguy9 Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2001 Posts: 2,132	Bump...do you investigate? Everyone agrees that houseclearing is a crappy proposition. You hear a bump and most likely it's nothing...but do you investigate anyway? Please print legibly. __________________ P7M8, VP9

March 30, 2002, 10:30 PM	#2
KSFreeman Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2001 Location: Lafayette, Indiana--American-occupied America Posts: 5,418	Kalifornians are always hearing bumps. Is it three bumps? "Dude, I was dreaming of some tasty waves and Mr. Hand's history class, when, dude, I heard O.J." What do you hear afterwards? __________________ "Arguments of policy must give way to a constitutional command." Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 602 (1980).

March 30, 2002, 10:36 PM	#3
HKguy9 Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2001 Posts: 2,132	If it doesn't fit.... __________________ P7M8, VP9

March 31, 2002, 04:48 AM	#4
pdmoderator Registration in progress Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,202	Skunkabilly, Please see my reply in the bump-in-the-night scenario. Standard protocol (per NRA) is to proceed to your saferoom if possible, wait 15 minutes or longer for further noise, then investigate. Different ideas welcome, long as they make sense... HTH, - pdmoderator __________________ Give up no state. Give up no ground.

March 31, 2002, 06:00 AM	#5
The Terminator Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2002 Location: Georgia, 35 miles Northwest of the armpit Posts: 946	I check it out. I would never hide and wait. Anybody caught inside is toast. Anybody caught outside would certainy hear that sound that we all recognize, the pumping of the scattergun, it really carries on a quiet, clear night. I personally have heard it from the receiving end, and it put wings on my feet. I jumped a six foot ditch and never missed a stride. Best - __________________ The Terminator John 3:16 (I hope to see You over there.)

March 31, 2002, 12:56 PM	#6
Nevada Fitch Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2000 Posts: 261	I live in a rural area and calling the law every time I heard a bump is not an option. The answer is, if the bump in the night or day concerns me I check it out with gun in hand if my guts tells me to. Possibly if I lived in a high crime area I would modify my behavior somewhat. I don't have a safe room but I do have plenty of loaded guns and the skill to use them if it came to that.

March 31, 2002, 01:38 PM	#7
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Yep, I check. Cautiously. Sam

March 31, 2002, 01:42 PM	#8
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	Creaks, no (wood floors do that). Bumps, yes. There's only me and my wife in our house, which makes houseclearing a simpler proposition.

March 31, 2002, 08:35 PM	#9
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,757	you bet your butt I check them out... slowly, carefully, and cautiously... with a loaded scattergun when possible... __________________ Hemi. gun and car collector. Rare cars, and rarer guns.

March 31, 2002, 09:06 PM	#10
pdmoderator Registration in progress Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,202	Has anyone responding so far had SWAT training? - pdmoderator __________________ Give up no state. Give up no ground.

March 31, 2002, 09:48 PM	#11
G35 Member Join Date: October 10, 1998 Posts: 50	<<Has anyone responding so far had SWAT training? >> Oh Great... Now I need SWAT Training before investigating late-night noises... damn rules here and damn regulations there.. WHERE'S MY AR15, I think I hear something outside... post more later.. Me and "Mr. AR15" gotta go checkout something...

March 31, 2002, 11:09 PM	#12
pdmoderator Registration in progress Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,202	Nope, you can do anything you want, and take the consequenses. I'd just like to hear if anyone who's expressing an opinion here has been professionally trained in what they're expressing an opinion on. - pdmoderator __________________ Give up no state. Give up no ground.

April 1, 2002, 12:42 PM	#13
Rickmeister Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 797	There's a story out there about some guy coming home at an unusual hour of the day and unexpectedly hearing a bump in his daughter's closet. "Fire first, ask questions later" was his motto; and only then did he learn that his daughter had played hooky that day and was not at school as he had believed. You get my drift.

April 1, 2002, 01:20 PM	#14
Christopher II Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 2,349	I don't care if you're the ne plus ultra of SWAT-trained SEAL Ranger Force Recon SAS badass, a one-man house clearing will get you dead. Saferoom is a good idea. Having a multiplexed alarm system is even better. Dogs are better yet. Best is to mix and match, as your situation warrants. - Chris __________________ "There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him." – Robert Heinlein "Contrary to popular belief, your vote does not matter, and you cannot make a difference." - Bob Murphy, "Picking Neither of Two Evils" My PGP Public Key

April 1, 2002, 01:58 PM	#15
HKguy9 Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2001 Posts: 2,132	OK I guess what I'm asking here is now HOW you're going to clear your house, but: We know that houseclearing sucks. But there's a bump that's probably not a person but enough to make you want to check it out. Again, chances are it's the freezer dropping ice into the icebox, some cans that you didn't stack up right in the cabinet, dishes in the sink that fell because they're piled up too high, etc. etc. etc. How would you investigate? __________________ P7M8, VP9

April 1, 2002, 02:09 PM	#16
foghornl Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,354	Very carefully, with 5 D-Cell Maglite in one hand, and Ruger .45ACP in the other.

April 1, 2002, 02:55 PM	#17
fix Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2001 Posts: 919	If the dogs don't bark...why worry? If the dogs bark, yell "SHUT UP!!!" and see if they stop. If they don't stop, investigate. If the dogs bark and growl and I hear human screams...sleep tight and clean up in the morning. If the dogs squeal and yelp, and/or I hear gunshots, it's time to start dialing and chambering.

April 1, 2002, 05:59 PM	#19
striderteen Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Pasadena, California Posts: 590	If I hear a bump, I turn around. Dorm rooms have little room for anything.

April 1, 2002, 06:20 PM	#20
KSFreeman Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2001 Location: Lafayette, Indiana--American-occupied America Posts: 5,418	Chris II, your concerns are unfounded. First, I've done a lot of `puter gaming therefore I really know what I'm doing. Second, I'm a graduate, summa cum latte, of Gunshop Commando skul. We learned that a mad minute is the correct response. Inside your house, a free fire zone, you can just spray lead through the walls. I keep an M14 with AP for such occassions in my subdivision. However, YMMV. For example, as MPFreeman dislikes such a weenie load and keeps 2 BARs in .338WM with Hornady big game bullets for him and his wife. His children 3 and 1 are highly trained as they spend hours at night shooting and learning to duck. __________________ "Arguments of policy must give way to a constitutional command." Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 602 (1980).

April 2, 2002, 12:09 PM	#21
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	Like fix, I let the dog do the recon. If the dog is sleeping, I ignore. If the dog gives her "alarm bark", which is different from her "answering another dog" bark, then I investigate, quietly, flashlight (off) and Hi-Power in hand. There is plenty of ambient light throughout our house and I have good night vision. My wife has the cell phone and backup. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

April 2, 2002, 06:58 PM	#22
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	Okay, picture this... Doin' the horizontal bop with the girlfriend, about two ayem... havin' a grand ol' time, and approaching an even grander ol' time... Hear a monster crash from my "gun room." She says it was the fastest she'd EVER see someone disengage from combat, hit the floor, grab a rifle, insert a magazine, chamber a round, and belly crawl through a door... A rubbermaid container had had another stacked on top, but was defective, and slowly bent until the one on top fell over. __________________ Job hunting, but helping a friend out at www.vikingmachineusa.com - and learning the finer aspects of becoming a precision machinist. And making the world's greatest bottle openers!

April 3, 2002, 03:54 AM	#23
Seeker Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2001 Location: Lacomb, Oregon Posts: 1,393	I agree with Fix and Dave R. Listen to the dogs. They got the nose tha knows. O' course sometimes the dogs get all excited about the very dangerous and threatning kitty-cat or polecat crossing the yard and need to be told that there's no real threat and that they are good dogs for letting you know of the 'danger'. __________________ Molon Labe Seeker "The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed." --Thomas Jefferson Don't Tread On Me! "Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none" -- Thomas Jefferson In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us. -Thich Nhat Hanh

April 3, 2002, 10:22 AM	#24
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	Bogie, That must have been a painful belly crawl!

April 3, 2002, 10:56 AM	#25
CMichael Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2001 Location: MI Posts: 1,516	Yes I investigate with my 12 gauge. Michael