Do You Have The Right to Answer Your Door Armed?

[Paratus]

New Mexico police shot and killed a man after they went to the wrong house while responding to a domestic violence call | CNN

Authorities are investigating the shooting of a man killed by police at his northwestern New Mexico home after they arrived at the wrong address, police said.

www.cnn.com

Cops answer a domestic disturbance call at the wrong address.

Homeowner answers door armed. Ends up shot.

Wife trades shots with police before realizing they are police.

No word on how many shots were fired or if the homeowner fired first.

If the cops can shoot you with impunity for having a weapon in your own home you don’t actually have a 2nd amendment right to be armed or to defend yourself.


For our responsibly armed forum members how have you decided that you’ll answer your front door late at night and be able to distinguish between a threat, a harmless visitor, and the police?

 

[ivwshane]

The solution is obvious, more guns are needed. People need to be able to protect themselves from the police and the police need to protect themselves from a heavily armed populace. I think once everyone is concealed carrying a hand gun and a semi automatic rifle things will finally calm down and we’ll see a dramatic drop in gun violence.

To facilitate this and to get to that tipping point I think we should start giving out guns. After all, if you don’t have a gun then how can you exercise the most important right in the constitution?

Prove me wrong.

 

[blackangst1]

Yes. You also have the obligation to be responsible.

 

[Paratus]

The solution is obvious, more guns are needed. People need to be able to protect themselves from the police and the police need to protect themselves from a heavily armed populace. I think once everyone is concealed carrying a hand gun and a semi automatic rifle things will finally calm down and we’ll see a dramatic drop in gun violence.

To facilitate this and to get to that tipping point I think we should start giving out guns. After all, if you don’t have a gun then how can you exercise the most important right in the constitution?

Prove me wrong.

It seems like a good shoot by the police. They didn’t know they were at the wrong address and the homeowner was armed so better safe than sorry.

For the homeowner I’m sure he was concerned about someone showing up to his door that late would be armed and might do him harm. Which was why he needed to answer his door armed. It turned out he was absolutely right about them being armed and they did end up killing him.

However if he’d been a responsible gun owner he should have thought about how he could confront and calm the police before causing them to shoot him.

Since I am not a gun owner I haven’t thought about how I would confront police safely while armed which is why I’d like to hear from some our responsible gun owners how they’ve already decided to deal with a situation like this.

 

[MtnMan]

First, don't open the door unless you know who is on the other side, and why.

 

[nakedfrog]

You left out the part where his armed wife also exchanged gunfire with them, so it could have been even worse.

Armed with a handgun, Dotson’s wife exchanged gunfire with officers, but she was not injured, authorities said.

“Once again, officer(s) fired. Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officer’s commands,” state police said in their statement.

Sure is a good thing that more guns = more safety for everyone (and somehow we're still not yet the safest country on Earth)

 

[Paratus]

First, don't open the door unless you know who is on the other side, and why.

So in my situation I think I would need a couple of good night vision equipped security cameras so I could see our porch and the street without coming to the door and putting my face in the window. That way I could tell if there were police out there or if it was normal person.

Of course if it’s a normal person I don’t recognize I can’t tell if it’s someone who needs help, has the wrong address, or is up to something. Which still suggest not answering the door armed or otherwise.

You left out the part where his armed wife also exchanged gunfire with them, so it could have been even worse.

Sure is a good thing that more guns = more safety for everyone (and somehow we're still not yet the safest country on Earth)

I mentioned it - third sentence down.

Agree with the rest.

 

[eelw]

So in my situation I think I would need a couple of good night vision equipped security cameras so I could see our porch and the street without coming to the door and putting my face in the window. That way I could tell if there were police out there or if it was normal person.
.

Yup security camera far more important than this gun fetish.

 

[Vic]

So much for Castle Doctrine.

If LEO can come to your house without warrant or probable cause and gun you down at the threshold because you are armed inside your own house, then the 2a doesn't exist anymore.

 

[nakedfrog]

So in my situation I think I would need a couple of good night vision equipped security cameras so I could see our porch and the street without coming to the door and putting my face in the window. That way I could tell if there were police out there or if it was normal person.

Of course if it’s a normal person I don’t recognize I can’t tell if it’s someone who needs help, has the wrong address, or is up to something. Which still suggest not answering the door armed or otherwise.

I mentioned it - third sentence down.

Agree with the rest.

Derp Dunno how I missed that.

 

[UNCjigga]

Yes. You also have the obligation to be responsible.

If the state doesn’t have the same obligation and can act with impunity, why should citizens be expected to be “responsible”?

 

[nakedfrog]

Yes. You also have the obligation to be responsible.

2nd Amendment doesn't say shit about being responsible

 

[blackangst1]

If the state doesn’t have the same obligation and can act with impunity, why should citizens be expected to be “responsible”?

Is that a serious question?

2nd Amendment doesn't say shit about being responsible

Of course it doesnt. Its not a legal requirement. Its a social one.

 

[cliftonite]

I guess the homeowner needed a bigger gun than the police.

 

[shortylickens]

Perfect example of a "right" being wrong.

DEAD wrong!

 

[pcgeek11]

New Mexico police shot and killed a man after they went to the wrong house while responding to a domestic violence call | CNN

Authorities are investigating the shooting of a man killed by police at his northwestern New Mexico home after they arrived at the wrong address, police said.

www.cnn.com

Cops answer a domestic disturbance call at the wrong address.

Homeowner answers door armed. Ends up shot.

Wife trades shots with police before realizing they are police.

No word on how many shots were fired or if the homeowner fired first.

If the cops can shoot you with impunity for having a weapon in your own home you don’t actually have a 2nd amendment right to be armed or to defend yourself.


For our responsibly armed forum members how have you decided that you’ll answer your front door late at night and be able to distinguish between a threat, a harmless visitor, and the police?

I personally have never felt the need to be actually armed when answering the door at night. Armed meaning having the weapon loaded, round in the chamber and in my hand. Handgun is available if and when it is needed. Then again I don't live in the city or a shitty neighborhood.

I have windows where I can see the front porch and a peephole in my door. Look and see who is there, or speak to them through the door before you open it. They will show you ID.

I assume they were uniformed officers going to the domestic dispute call.

 

[MrSquished]

The solution is obvious, more guns are needed. People need to be able to protect themselves from the police and the police need to protect themselves from a heavily armed populace. I think once everyone is concealed carrying a hand gun and a semi automatic rifle things will finally calm down and we’ll see a dramatic drop in gun violence.

To facilitate this and to get to that tipping point I think we should start giving out guns. After all, if you don’t have a gun then how can you exercise the most important right in the constitution?

Prove me wrong.

This is the way. Guns for teachers, guns for grocery store workers, guns for stewards and stewardesses, guns for sanitation workers, guns for all investment bankers, etc..

This is the American dream.

 

[ivwshane]

This is the way. Guns for teachers, guns for grocery store workers, guns for stewards and stewardesses, guns for sanitation workers, guns for all investment bankers, etc..

This is the American dream.

Lol I think that might actually make a pretty kick ass movie though.

 

[Tsinni Dave]

When I hear a vehicle come up the driveway, the biggest decision I have to make is whether I need to put clothes on or not. I think you may have a serious problem down there.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

It seems like a good shoot by the police. They didn’t know they were at the wrong address and the homeowner was armed so better safe than sorry

Eh? He was innocent, by virtue of this it was not a 'good shoot'. By this logic cops should fire upon anyone they encounter, everyone could be a threat.

 

[sandorski]

Are there any Good Guys anymore? Anyone can be the one that shoots you down.

This is a Choice.

 

[nickqt]

First, don't answer your door if you don't already know who it is.

Second, if you can afford a firearm, you can afford a Ring doorbell camera. That in and of itself is going to keep a lot of riffraff away.

Third, if you do decide to answer the door and it's uniformed police, brandishing a firearm is probably a death sentence regardless of your rights, so you need to decide if exercising your second amendment right is more important than your life.

 

[shortylickens]

When I hear a vehicle come up the driveway, the biggest decision I have to make is whether I need to put clothes on or not. I think you may have a serious problem down there.

Well if you been watching the news, THESE DAYS you should be more scared of cops shooting you in your home than burglars or even random psychos. And since its legal for cops to shoot your in your home I dont know what the solution is.

 

[brycejones]

Thank god this man had a fun in his home for protection it saved his life.


Also amazing work by his local PD that’s a top notch department with the best standards and training.

 

[Zorba]

It seems like a good shoot by the police. They didn’t know they were at the wrong address and the homeowner was armed so better safe than sorry.

I hate guns. I hate open carry. But this is bullshit. Police don't have a right to shoot someone just because they have a gun. If police don't want everyone they deal with having guns, maybe they should stop supporting republicans by massive margins.

Now if he was pointing the gun at them, maybe it was justified. But a gun on the hip or at his side, no.