How do you open the door at home?

[speedsix]

...area doesn't matter these days...home invasions hit the poor or the rich...the self-employed and the employees...if you can fog a mirror, you should be careful...

[The Annoyed Man]

What do you do if it is someone you do not mind being on the front step? How do you account for your strange posture, and your sudden need to rid yourself of a firearm? Just wondering? I will be the first to admit that I have a nasty habit of opening the door to people that I end up telling to shove off. I need a good in-between policy.

RJ

Everybody I know understands that they are about to enter the home of a certifiable gun nut. Strangely.....or not.....they usually seem to feel safer because of it. It depends on who's at the door as to whether I make any attempt to conceal the gun as I let them in. If there are children involved, the gun stays out of sight. If there are no kids and the visitor is one of my "gun buddies," I'll just holster the gun or set it aside as they come in, and there is no issue because they would do the same in their houses. If it is someone else, I'll either holster the gun concealed, or put it in a drawer before opening the door—retrieving it later. If the pistol is one of my smaller ones, I'll just pocket it.

[RPB]

What do you do if it is someone you do not mind being on the front step? How do you account for your strange posture, and your sudden need to rid yourself of a firearm? Just wondering? I will be the first to admit that I have a nasty habit of opening the door to people that I end up telling to shove off. I need a good in-between policy.

RJ

I have no "strange posture" ... It's "normal" that I'm shirtless, in cargo shorts, carrying holstered IWB ... working in the yard or in the house.
I answer the door the same way I pull weeds, weedeat, etc ...shirtless, in cargo shorts, carrying holstered IWB
Neighbors are glad to see me working in the yard armed as they drive off to work and leave their house unoccupied all day ... (Advice: get to know all neighbors up and down the street, they'll look out for your house maybe too)
Why would I rid myself of a firearm? I just move it to a different position when I sleep ... usually it's at 3:00 ... well, yeah, I take it off for a shower every month or so, but it's close.

Thanks everyone for you interesting responses. I defenetly picked up a few good tips. Just out of curiosity, can you guys profile your area? I mean something like "bad part of town" , "hi end suburb" downtown Dallas", "out in the country" etc.
It'll be very interesting I think to compare the behavior to the area.

Currently Small Central Texas Hill Country town, residential neighborhood, 8 blocks from Courthouse, 2 blocks from Police/Fire/EMS 5 blocks from DPS/Sheriff; open carry holstered in the yard shirtless for years, know my neighbors all up n down the block, they wave..

When I lived in Pasadena, I opened door same way in the house, but wore shirt for yard work; concealing outdoors in the yard

[Oldgringo]

I usually demand to know who it is before opening the door, if it is someone I have to open up for but don't know very well then I typically open the door with my left hand while the door frame hides the pistol in my right.

WINNER! The above procedure also applies to our little RV that we're in 5 months out of the year.

[The Annoyed Man]

Thanks everyone for you interesting responses. I defenetly picked up a few good tips. Just out of curiosity, can you guys profile your area? I mean something like "bad part of town" , "hi end suburb" downtown Dallas", "out in the country" etc.
It'll be very interesting I think to compare the behavior to the area.

Suburban Grapevine. It's a very nice, quite neighborhood, low crime, and my street has very little traffic on it. It's only one block long, and while it is open at both ends, it is used almost exclusively by residents of my block who are trying to ingress/egress the neighborhood. In fact, in the 5 years that I've lived in this house, I don't recall a single crime anywhere in my neighborhood—unless you can count something low grade like a teenager smoking weed in his back yard or something.

[karder]

I glad your ok. It sounds to me like they were testing the waters with a potential home invasion, but when they saw a big guy at the door, they moved on. Having small kids (or even not that small kids) makes it hard to keep guns out and accessible. I would recommend carrying OWB when at home.
If you live in a house you own, rather than an apartment, I would strongly recommend security doors. An all steel door with a steel screen will allow you to open the main door, see out, and not be seen unless it is night and you are backlight. The security door opens out rather than in, so they would be able to bash it open. The doors are not cheap, but they are worth every penny. For the cost of a high end rifle, you can get a steel door which will buy you the time to need to get to that mossberg in an emergency. By the time they get through the door, your 12 gauge will take care of the rest.
During the summer, I leave my main door open and the security door locked. That way I can see and hear everything going on outside but remain secured and unseen.

[Running Arrow Bill]

We have 2 alarm systems and video surveillance. Alarms "ding" if someone enters our gate.

I always have my SA at arm's length or holstered. Open carry on our ranch. Only time I would conceal here is if some unknown customer came by. Other friends, neighbors, known customers know/see that I'm carrying.

If someone comes to door, I don't stand broadside to it. Same when going out my doors. Also have 2 dogs...

Wife has her own backups...

IF I accidentally am carrying and someone comes in I don't know, and they look down at my gun and get a funny look on their face...I just say "we've had problems with skunks, opossums, and stray predators...I'm a pretty good shot..."

[speedsix]

...you left out vaccuum cleaner salesmen...oh, I used one c too many...or I've seen one too many, whichever!!!

[kjolly]

Not answering makes them think no one is at home and can encouage a break in. suggest putting in a intercom and maybe a CCTV at the door. Also have heard of a incident where they will try distracting you at the front door while a confederate will storm the back door.
If the gun is not on you its too far away.

[SQLGeek]

My wife had a pushy salesman show up one evening while I was working late that unnerved me a little bit. I don't remember what he was selling but my wife was in the middle of trying to wrangle the baby and she said he didn't seem too eager to leave. She finally stepped aside from the door and let our 40 pound retriever / dalmatian puppy run around on the front step. She's a playful mutt but I guess this spooked the salesman enough to run him off.

She's still not keen on guns herself but thankfully we at least have our dog and some watchful and well armed neighbors. Now that I'm a homeowner and a dad, I've become, dare I say, quite a bit more paranoid about threats to our home.

[Dragonfighter]

<SNIP>
The "This Home Protected by Smith and Wesson" sticker might work well too!

And let 'em know you have guns to steal...unless they are a Colt or Glock person, then they'll shrug and move on.

[v-rog]

a couple of stratigically placed M18A1 claymore mines does wonders

[Dragonfighter]

a couple of stratigically placed M18A1 claymore mines does wonders

Only if you check them regularly to ensure that "Front Towards Enemy" is not visible. That could be awkward.

[speedsix]

...when I was a salesmen, the land mines I had to watch out for on the way up to the door din't have no writin' on 'em...

[alvins]

everyone knows to call before they come over. If im expecting someone i wont answer the door with my gun. anyone else i have atleast my hand gun.and i always ask who is it through the door. if its middle of the night expect to know i will have my shotgun pointed at the door when i ask who is it.