When is an axe better than a gun for Home Defense?

In a long moment of passion, I wrote examples that seemed pertinent to this thread to a degree that I felt was fair in divulging personal information. It cannot be clarified enough by my writing abilities that I do not condone needlessly harming another living being. All accounts given were intended to be understood that life and limb was in danger in these events. I apologize for what I understand to be shock and misunderstanding of my description of the events. In all these cases, I was found in the right by local law enforcement. I would like to thank all who have challenged my point of view, I like a good debate, but I will refrain from posting here for now. In retrospect, my posts do not feel appropriate for our forum.
With respect, Mike
 
Frankly, mymindisamob, from what you've related, you sound like the type of person who should not be legally allowed to own firearms.

Shooting a thief at 75 yards? Was he aiming a rifle at you too?

Emptying your P85 into the car as it drove away?

I'm open to the possibility that there were extenuating circumstances, but just given the sketchy details here, were I on the jury, you would be in jail.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the use of deadly force in protecting your person or others, but not when someone is not presenting a direct threat, and in neither of those two examples do I get that sense.

To stay on the topic of the thread, I will modify my earlier answer by saying that lately if I've heard an odd noise in the rest of my place, the first thing I've grabbed has been the GB Mini hatchet in my room.
 
Gun, period! The only reason to use anything but, is if you don't have one, or are out of bullets. Mymindisamab, shooting someone at 75 yards is pretty sketchy man! Even if you have the right to (there taking your stuff) I wouldn't want that on my concience. Seeing people dead or messed up is no fun, and way to serious to be happening that many times with out reason. Either that, or you are the most UN-lucky guy in the world. Sorry to chime in, really, but it sounds like you have an itchy trigger finger, and I just don't see how you can shoot that many people and not be in jail. EDIT: Mymindisamob: you have edited your post eloquently, and you have been very respectful to this thread and forum. I just can't help but think, no matter the circumstances, that if your life or the life of those you love were in danger that often, than you had it coming. If I am wrong, and I don't think I am, I humbly apologize. Life can throw all kinds of curve balls at you, but usually you can "duck" out of the way of most. I guess what I'm trying to relate to you, and I know you could probubly careless what I have to say, is "life is what you make it". If your life has been violent or "bad", then I'm sorry to say, that you had something to do with that. I am NOT even close to perfect, but I can admit that all the fights I have had or trouble that I've gotten into is related to something dumb that I did or said. Gene
 
Old Geezer said:
"If you are a "prohibited person" (felon, alien, history of mental illness or drug abuse, etc.) who is barred from lawful firearm ownership"

Not to hijack the thread or go off on a tangent, but I have wondered about this for a while and never researched it, so I'll ask; if a person is a convicted felon and not able to own/possess or otherwise be around a gun, wouldn't they also be prohibited from having anything that could be construed as a weapon, like say a hawk?
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Under Federal law, felons -- and about a half dozen other groups of "prohibited persons" -- are subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years in Federal prison simply for being in the same room with a single round of .22 LR ammo that does not even belong to them. Federal law is seldom enforced at the state level, with a few notable exceptions.

State law varies from similar penalties to a misdemeanor to no charge for felon in possession of a longarm or ammo.

Felons typically may not possess knives or dangeous weapons while under court supervision (probation or parole). After that, they can usually do what they like as their sentence is over. A few states that prohibit CCW of knives add additional penalties to felons caught CCWing.

As far as I know, hatchets and tomahawks are not specifically prohibited by any state, thus lawful for anyone to possess in their own home. CCW or having it under the seat of your car is another matter.
 
forrest long said:
That would be the only time I choose an axe over a firearm.

But if you think about certain situations like:

you keep your firearm under lock and key or in a safe. wouldn't you go for the axe first until you could free up your glock.

or you wake up with an invader (zombie or not) standing over you. unless you sleep with a loaded gun under your pillow.
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If I kept my firearm under lock and key at night.

I don't though it is ready to go and is in its holster. My handgun is what I would use to get to my locked long guns. An AX would still be good to have though.
 
I keep an axe in the front bedroom, and others in other parts of the house. They could, of course, back up a firearm in a home invasion situation, but I think more of a means of facilitating an exit in case of fire, and running around to the rooms at the rear of the house and chopping through the back door and/or the walls if necessary, to get to other family members and pets. The same situation could arise if a tornado hit, and at one time, at least, my county led the state in tornado touch-downs, and includes two VERY close personal brushes with tornados. Just as with knives, "tactical" use may be a consideration, but life presents so many other emergencies we should also consider. So, the post that gave the "tree" reply is not so far-fetched; ever see a tree fall onto a house? Kinda hard to chop your way free from a tree hit with a shotgun, just as it's a little much to open a UPS package with a Glock.
 
I think another aspect of this is the resolve of the defender. I could swing a bat at an attacker without hesitation. I like to think I could put a shotgun round in someones ass or legs, despite my fathers words, "don't shoot at anything unless you intend to kill it" (We sure killed the shit out of those milk jugs).

I consider myself pretty resolute when it comes to protecting my family and/or self defense, but the thought sinking a sharp, heavy object into some crackhead burgler's neck and watching him bleed to death on the floor in my hallway is particularly horrifying. We'de have to move.
 
Heh, I hope I never find out. Then again, I keep a truckman axe under my bed because I live in earthquake land...
 
why decide at all? hehehe

armory3_axe_gun.JPG
 
tyr_shadowblade said:
1.) The headline screaming: LOCAL MAN KILLS INTRUDER WITH AXE will do wonders for your social life, as well as your career.

2.) Po-lice say: "Hey! We've been looking for you!"

3.) Po-lice go: sniff sniff "I do believe I smell that evil weed! You jes hold still while I wake up da judge for a telephonic warrant."

4.) Your buddies would kick you out of your motorcycle club for being a pussy who calls the po-lice.

5.) Dog food is expensive.

:D
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LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best post ever. Also, #1 given by blade here is THE REASON you dont want to use a TOMAHAWK to kill an intruder.
 
forrest long said:
or you wake up with an invader (zombie or not) standing over you. unless you sleep with a loaded gun under your pillow.
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This is why I have an old Atlanta Cutlery 'hawk next to my bed. :D I also like the idea of keeping them handy for dog attacks, esp at my g/f's apartment complex where idiots keep Rotts, Pits and yes a GREAT DANE in little bitty apartments all day long. Some of these dogs are alone most of the day and can be very aggressive / territorial when being walked by their normally petite female owners (who I have no faith in being able to actually control their dogs).
 
I would go for a gun, but if you can throw a hatchet like mel gibson in the patriot both would be effective.
 
"Under what circumstances should an American choose an axe/'hawk rather than a legally-owned firearm for the purposes of home defense?"

Never. Same for swords, maces, staves, cudgels, knives, and any other primitive weapon devised.
 
Jeff Clark said:
If I was going to use a gun in an apartment or condo I would opt for a short .410 loaded with #9 shot. You really need a short gun if you have to work in the confined spaces of a home.
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I agree with everything else you said as well, but I particularly wanted to comment on this. . . A shotgun is the only firearm I would consider using in an apartment or condo. . . I'd hate to have a .44 round go through the wall and hit the little old lady next door, or her oxygen tank.
 
If you suspect someone is in your house the racking of a 12-guage will probably scare them off. I know that is one sound that would make me piss my pants. Your home invader breaks down into (approximately) 3 different types of people.

People who are not armed and are trying to use stealth to steal your stuff. This could be teenagers or professional cat burgalurs.

People who are more threatening than dangerous. First time theives, crackheads and the like.

Professional thieves and kidnappers and people who could kill you.

Fortunately the first type is most common and the last is extremely rare. If anyone enters my house uninvited I always have a blade or .40 S&W handy. I would be extremely hesitant to use the handgun. I think a hawk would be a great weapon if you know how to use it properly. The biggest problem with HTH combat is that you have no idea what experience the other person has, or if they are armed. Thus the great equalizer of the handgun. A good dog with a loud bark is probably the best defense IMHO.
 
The best tool is the one you are the best with. For me it's a shotgun. For Rambo it's the hawk. I wouldn't feel comfortable using a hawk for home defense unless I could get the proper training and lots of quality practice time.
 
I'd take my shotgun, hands down. But I got a kid in the house and a wife whose not too gun saavy and kinda a klutz, so I keep a cable lock on all my long guns and I keep the ammo locked away...except for 5 rounds hidden near the shotgun. If the BG is in the house then I gotta unloak and load and that's gonna take some time...and some clarity...neither of which will be in great supply when the SHTF. Therefore -- in my situation -- a hawk, knife, or baseball bat is deployable much faster and therefore probably a better option...for me...in my situation. So I've got all three within reach.
 
The best time to use a tomahawk instead of a firearm for home defense is when your firearm is out of commission, and all you have is a tomahawk.
 
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