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glock23 wrote:I, for one, still have plenty to learn and it's alot better to ask all these questions and answere them now than in the middle of the night with our hearts pounding and weapons in hand.

That's the beauty of talking out things that happened to someone else, or just playing "what if" games. We can discuss it and trade ideas with other people who've had some of the same questions.
Having some sort of plan, any plan, just having at some point asked yourself "what would I do if . . . " puts you way ahead of the people who never consider such things.

In defensive driving classes, people are taught to look ahead. "That guy probably sees me and won't pull out in front of me. But what do I do if he does pull out?" Same thing. You're in line at the store and you ask yourself, "what would I do if someone pulled a gun right NOW? Where's cover? Where's the exit? What's a good defensible location? Do I try to intervene or just try to get out?" Asking yourself those questions, I think, will go a long way to being more prepared if something does happen someday.

So here I can not only think "what would I do?" But I can ask other people "what would you do?" Their input might give me insight into something I haven't considered.

Excaliber wrote:As you may have guessed, IMHO, going outside to investigate noises in the night is not generally a good idea.

Excaliber's points are definately something to think about. All of them, even if you don't agree on every detail, they all must be considered.

There are people who call police every time a cat climbs the fence, the wind blows the tree branches against the house, or some kids are walking down the alley much later than they should be out and about. Remember the little boy who cried "wolf"?

Some people ignore the noises as just normal noises.

Some people may barricade themselves within the house and wait it out when they hear the noises.

Some people are going to go investigate. Perhaps putting themselves in a less favorable tactical situation should it turn out to be a serious threat. But perhaps protecting their vehicles/property from theives and vandals.

And some people are oblivious. "What noises?"

We each have to decide where in there we want to be and at what point we want to take action, what that action may be, and at what point to call the police.
Where you live, what your level of training is, and where you place your priorities will help you decide what action to take, on a case by case basis.

Maybe you have neighbors you can discuss this with in advance and incorporate into a plan.
** ring ring ** "Bob, sorry to wake you. I think I heard somethign between our houses. I think we should . . . "
Just thinking out loud. I haven't put much thought into that one.
My old room mate, before he lived with me, lived in an apartment complex with a bunch of college students in Waco. They had formed their own loose neighborhood watch. Every time a car alarm went off, six guys with shotguns ran outside to see what was going on. Over reaction maybe. But they never had a vehicle burglarized. (And surprisingly, there was never a weapon discharged either )