[angsniper]

I was unsure where to put this so feel free Paulo to move it to where it needs to be.

My question involves clearing a house by yourself such as if you heard someone trying to break into your house.

I have a hallway where the kids bedrooms are and a bathroom. The bathroom door is directly across from one of the bedrooms. How would one go about clearing the first one without exposing your back to the second? The fact that kids may be in those rooms poses an entirely different problem so I'm limiting myself to the easier issue first.
:?

 

[marinesg1012]

Everyone is going to have a different idea... as a single person clearing a house I would go with a target recovery then into a clearing role...
so for example I would leave your bedroom with your wife or whatever staying in that room, then I would quickly close to the bedrooms with your kids in it... get your kids... retreat to the bedroom leave your kids with your wife... with her on the phone and all that good such.... then go about clearing the rooms one by one... with a t intersection or a double door scenario like your mentioning either or... pick one and go for it no matter what you have a 50 50 shot......

 

[paulosantos]

Clearing rooms with 2-3 people is hard enough, but with 1 person it is even worse. I know the correct answer is never clear a house by yourself, but when it is your family, then all bets are off.

There are several ways that you could do it, but, this is what I would do: I would walk down the hall, since my goal would be to reach my kids, I would clear the other rooms first, preforably in order (in your case, I would do the bathroom first) and then clear the kids rooms and get them out and take them to the main bedroom. Preforably, I would like to clear the rooms in order, but if there is an open door, I would clear that one first. Also, if I heard any noises or screaming from one of the rooms, that would be a priority.

When you clear the rooms, you will have your back turned to the others. It is pretty much impossible not to turn your back when you are by yourself. At least if the rooms are closed and someone comes out of them, you can hear the door opening.

 

[davej518]

I would agree with Paulo, if you heard someone coming into your house and they got into the kids room they would most likely be letting you know something was wrong. If you did hear one of your kids calling for help/screaming/crying that is your priority. You go past any potential threat areas to get to them. If there is no indication that there is a problem with them I would check the bathroom first and then get the kids back to one location with your significant other. If you clear the rest of the house I would suggest never going past an open door, always take that room first.

Now here is the problem, in Minnesota where I live we do not have a "Castle Doctrine." There is a belief that you must attempt to retreat until you can no longer retreat in your house. So if you went actively looking as a private citizen and hurt or kill the person you may be in trouble. I would check on your specific state statutes to determine what your best course of action would be.

 

[angsniper]

Thanks guys. I agree with everything said here as far as noise from a certain room etc. I'm not "big" on the layout of the house anyway. The kids rooms are on the other side of the house from our. We did that for privacy, however in hindsight, in case of an emergency it sucks. I think I would peer into the first bedroom and use the mirror to scope the other side of the room, then clear the bathroom, then turn my full attention back to that first bedroom. The other 2 rooms are almost the same senario but the oldest keeps her door shut so I would clear the open room first and hers last.
In OK. we have the right to defend ourselves if threatened in the house. But, I'm afraid that if I lived in a place where they say I have to retreat, and I found someone in my house, I'd put them down and they would just have to take me to trial. He's in my house, he's there for no other reason than to cause harm as far as I'm concerned.

 

[davej518]

I most certainly agree.

 

[marinesg1012]

This thread got me to check my state laws... Castle doctrine check.. you dont need to retreat on your land your house or any outlying buildings....

and they just passed a law smiler to Florida where you have no need to retreat from where ever you are standing... be it public place or not....

Need to get home and get the CCW law book to make sure