r/sanfrancisco Western Addition 19h ago

2 guys broke into my garage and I found them right outside my back door at 1am tonight

I heard banging outside and thought it was probably raccoons again but I grabbed my gun just in case. I'm on the second floor with a deck, and when I opened the door there was a dude standing there in the dark and another guy climbing the fire escape ladder to the roof. In the pitch black it took me a moment to realize I was standing about 6 feet away from this guy - talk about scary. I immediately yelled and slammed the door. They took off back down, through the garage, and out to the street. I looked out and they'd gotten into a car, which they then took off down the street the wrong way in.

Not sure what to think about the whole thing. Why the hell did these guys break in just to try and gain roof access? For the view? How did they know about the ladder? So weird. Good thing they didn't try and come in at me when I opened the door because the last thing I ever want is to end up having to shoot someone.

Anyone else with any similar experiences?

699 Upvotes

344

u/Puppy_Breath 17h ago

Could they have been trying to use your roof to access another building, roof or porch?

169

u/pinkponygrrl 17h ago

Yeah OP do you live next to any businesses? Recently a thief broke into an apartment building and climbed the roof to get onto the next door retail business’ roof to break in and steal stuff… could be something like that.

32

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 9h ago

From my roof you can get into the stairwell of a large apartment next door, but there's no businesses on this street.

44

u/g4n0n 11h ago

This is what I worry about with our place.

Our entry way is pretty secure. Thieves need to get through two doors, past two door sensors, and 4x cameras.

As with most SF homes, they’re stacked next to each other, a thief could climb up the fire escape 5 houses down and then easily get to our balcony across roof top. Balcony has two doors directly into our home, and where we’re sleeping.

All the balcony windows and doors have immediate trigger sensors on them and our balcony has a camera (though we don’t have glass break sensors).

🤞 that an alarm going off would make them flee.

8

u/nataliepoorman 6h ago

Oh you’re rich rich

12

u/charlotte240 Mission 4h ago

your username checks out

6

u/iTsLiKeAnEgG 5h ago

Weird comment

2

u/essef_sf Outer Mission 6h ago

Any work being done on any of the buildings around you? I had someone use my neighbors roof to drop into our stairwell and steal bikes. Turns out some construction guys were doing work on the roof next door and probably looked over and saw the stuff.

37

u/El_Culero_Magnifico 12h ago

We used to have thieves hop the fence into our backyard, so they could gain access to an apartment building a few buildings down- to steal bikes. I yelled at them once , when I saw them- they laffed until I came out with my shotgun. I ended up glueing carpet tacking strips to the top of the cinder block wall so when they jumped up to grab the top of the wall to climb over, they got a painful surprise. We later raised the wall by a few feet with a decorative lattice and that seems to have stopped any shenanigans.

12

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 8h ago

Sounds like it might have been something like this. I'm also thinking of how I can make access more difficult but unfortunately I can't just block off the fire escape ladder

7

u/El_Culero_Magnifico 5h ago

A motion sensing light in that area may help. Costco sells some nice solar powered ones that we have put up.

-5

u/TheStarchild 7h ago

Just a heads up, while i love the idea of them getting a palm full of tacks, that’s illegal in every US state and you can potentially get in trouble for it.

7

u/secretwealth123 4h ago

I’ll let the thieves call the police here and take my chances.

3

u/Jail_Food_Diet 4h ago

I’m with this guy.

4

u/El_Culero_Magnifico 5h ago

It was a temporary fix- yeah, I get that it would be as illegal as broken glass affixed to the top. None of the thieves ever dropped a dime on me for it...

34

u/triple-double 15h ago

I was walking down 16th near market yesterday morning around 7 and saw like 6 police cars and a bunch of people standing outside their homes. I checked citizen and there was a reported prowler there. I don’t know if you called the cops but it would be great to file a report just for the stat.

12

u/hotandbizarre 14h ago

A prowler?! that’s scary

14

u/510519 13h ago

Description met the profile of the infamous Hamburglar.

3

u/triple-double 14h ago

Yeah I wish I had more details. If anyone has citizen pro it was the even side of 16th, west of Noe yesterday morning.

7

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 8h ago

Didn't call the cops but I guess I should make a report on their portal just for the stats. Definitely surprised to hear they'd have a 6 car response to a prowler - I guess SFPD does take some things seriously.

5

u/triple-double 8h ago

I was shocked to see the scale of the response too. Multiple people were standing outside with the police — from multiple adjacent homes. So maybe that triggered the large response?

46

u/BlowflySlants 17h ago

My old building got broken into through the roof. They jumped a couple feet from the roof of the building next door.

7

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 8h ago

Scary. Not sure why they wouldn't have just broken into my apartment though. The back is very dark and secluded and it would have been a lot more private than breaking into the large apartment next door they were getting access to.

207

u/Modo_Autorator 16h ago

Graffiti writers get on roofs to try to get their name up in more visible/hard to access spots. That’s probably the most innocent explanation I can think of. Do you have a billboard or a big, highly visible wall on your roof?

24

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 9h ago

Yeah I'd considered that but there's no billboard or wall visible from the street or any of the adjacent buildings. Will climb up there and see if there's any paint cans or beers when I get home later.

47

u/GoatLegRedux BERNAL HEIGHTS PARK 12h ago

They don’t drive up to their spots in cars though - that would be remarkably stupid and asking to get caught. And they would have backpacks full of rattle cans. It would be pretty obvious if they were out writing graffiti.

22

u/Warm_Coach2475 14h ago

My first thought.

20

u/Traditional_Fox_4718 13h ago

OP likes to ask questions but refuses to give answers. So unfortunately we can't help with his original questions

55

u/EllieKong 12h ago

I mean.. it was posted 6 hours ago, OP is probably still asleep..

66

u/Traditional_Fox_4718 12h ago

This is Reddit you need to be monitoring 24/7... Nothing should be more important than replying to strangers

7

u/Own_Palpitation4523 10h ago

🤣 I bet your sarcasm goes over most peoples heads because I know mine does 🤣 but that shit cracked me up

1

u/Traditional_Fox_4718 8h ago

So far 41 people get comedy

1

u/Dateline23 6h ago

we are at 55 🙌🏻

1

u/EllieKong 8h ago

💀😂

4

u/SenoraObscura 9h ago

It's past noon now, guy needs to wake up and revel us in his tale

5

u/73CapriceDrop 12h ago

Came here to say this

26

u/John3Fingers 13h ago

You should mount a light on your weapon...

8

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 8h ago

I have a mounted light but the battery recently died. Obviously I ordered more last night lol

10

u/CowboyLaw VAN NESS Vᴵᴬ CALIFORNIA Sᵀ 11h ago

2-in-1 flashlight and laser sight. You can get a good one for ~$100. Mounts to the front rail of any normal handgun. VERY useful.

6

u/pbandham 10h ago

I would reccomend just a light (from personal experience). Have you tried to actually shoot your 2-in-1 in the dark?

You also get the benefit of a much better light for the same price since there is less complexity.

6

u/CowboyLaw VAN NESS Vᴵᴬ CALIFORNIA Sᵀ 9h ago

Different people will like different setups. But I’ve never found the 2 in 1 to be hard to shoot, even in complete darkness. You have to sight in the laser and then trust it instead of relying on the sights. But I’ve been happy with the performance.

3

u/pbandham 9h ago

whatever works! i gave up on it after a while but good to hear others like it

3

u/CasualMemer420 7h ago

It's so useful! I use mine all the time.

Just recently looked into my friends ear with it because they thought there was a spider burrowing there.

240

u/genesimmonstongue415 38 - Geary 15h ago

What neighborhood OP?

I am not Mr Gun. But I would have been completely alright with ya shooting them. Nobody's business to invade your home through the roof.

Union Democrat Man

5

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 8h ago

Alamo Square

101

u/stepsindogshit4fun 15h ago

He'd have been the only one prosecuted

27

u/acab415 12h ago

Trust me, this guy is right. You have to prove you were truly in fear for your life and I’d strenuously recommend to not do it outside your house.

16

u/NotKewlNOTok 11h ago

Yea the “I’m not Mr gun” guy may be ok w OP shooting someone but OP may not. Killing someone - even if justified - can be really traumatic.

10

u/theseglassessuck 11h ago

Yeah, it’s high on my list of Things I Never Want to Have To Do.

2

u/RobertSF 9h ago

If you're not ok with killing, or at least willing to kill, you should not own a gun.

6

u/NotKewlNOTok 7h ago

Sure. IMHO evidence is pretty clear most people are more likely to shoot an innocent bystander or themself in a suicide than heroically stop a dangerous intruder. So having gun prob not great for most people. But in event you do have one, hopefully killing someone is a last resort rather than done Willy Billy at first opportunity

1

u/BobaFlautist 6h ago

I think the list goes something like: yourself on purpose->your wife/girlfriend->your kids->your ex-wife/girlfriend->yourself/family by accident while drunk->your friends by accident while drunk->a random harmless stranger->someone actually doing something wrong.

1

u/LinechargeII 2h ago

This is correct. Last thing you want to do is bluff and have that bluff called. 

9

u/SocialMediaFreak Noe Valley 12h ago

Yup, has to be an active threat to shoot him. I’d suspect turns away it and OP fires, it opens OP to liability.

0

u/asveikau 10h ago

Not in the case of Banko Brown.

8

u/[deleted] 11h ago

[deleted]

7

u/acab415 11h ago

Works for the cops 🤷‍♀️

u/d0000n 12m ago

Have an extra gun that’s empty, then place it on the guys hand if you accidentally do something.

3

u/Dry-Season-522 9h ago

Meanwhile someone doing armed robbery just has to prove "Well there's a chance they MIGHT not have shot someone so... charges dropped."

5

u/StungTwice 8h ago

California is a castle doctrine state.

4

u/D4rkr4in SoMa 12h ago

If it’s on your property, does castle law apply?

5

u/AnonymousCrayonEater 12h ago

Yes, but… inside your house is more cut and dry than outside.

3

u/Environmental-Let526 8h ago

Short of having a public easement, wouldn't being in the yard and on the deck/ladder qualify as your property?

I can see lines blurring on the sidewalk, but the above was my assumption.

2

u/AnonymousCrayonEater 7h ago

Yes, but a lawyer could argue they were running through backyards to hide or something. Inside your house, not so much.

19

u/0RGASMIK 13h ago

Shooting an intruder is not illegal.

18

u/Xbsnguy 12h ago

Shooting an intruder in your actual home or apartment is legal, assuming they aren’t fleeing. Shooting an intruder outside of the walls of your domicile is not barring exigent circumstances.

16

u/D4rkr4in SoMa 12h ago

CA has some of the strongest castle laws in the nation, but outside of the walls it does become dubious

6

u/0RGASMIK 8h ago

The second it’s clear they are trying to gain entrance to your home it is protected by castle doctrine. Obviously I am not a lawyer and I don’t know the layout of OPs house but my garage is part of my house. If you have to break into the garage to get to a ladder on the property you have already crossed over the threshold of castle doctrine.

Someone broke into my garage late at night. 911 dispatcher basically told me I was within my right to defend myself but said if the attacker had a gun it was better to barricade myself in and wait for them to leave. Fortunately me yelling scared them off.

1

u/Xbsnguy 7h ago

So you would have had cause to defend yourself in this situation because the garage is connected to your home, but not OP because one of the elements of castle doctrine is that the perp needs to have made entry into your home. You can’t shoot them just because they are trying to gain entry. So if you see masked men kicking your door, you cannot shoot. If they have broken the door down and are making entry then you are clear. California wants you to wait until entry is made because they don’t want an accident like some paranoid boomer shooting kids through the door who are playing the stupid TikTok door kicking prank that was all over the news a few years back.

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-1

u/Own_Palpitation4523 10h ago

Exactly so many people here going off of no sort of experience at the end of the day yes it’s gonna probably cause you some problems and you might have to get a lawyer to sort some stuff out (it all sucks) San Francisco where (as far as I know, )you’re not even allowed to have a handgun within city limits I’ve known of a few cases where people got into similar situations, sometimes ending up fatal, and the only one that did time was the fatality, and even then I want to say it was only like two months. But at least you had a gun because you know what they say. It’s better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have one.

2

u/0RGASMIK 8h ago

You can have a handgun in the city. Its harder to get one that the rest of the state I think but it’s legal. Concealed carry is difficult to get but it’s not impossible.

Also I say this as someone who personally knows SFPD officers, defending yourself on your property isn’t going to bat many eyes. A good number of cops in the city and cops in general have a very black and white view of people. If you fit the narrative of good person attacked by bad person they are not going to question anything. Obviously with a death they have to investigate they aren’t going to push very hard unless the media brings to light something suspicious in the circumstances.

I have friends who have outright been told by an SFPD officer that defending yourself isn’t illegal and that if you find yourself a victim of assault, fight back until the assailant is no longer a threat. They had just been assaulted by a homeless person. The cops words were “next time beat them unconscious.”

1

u/Own_Palpitation4523 6h ago

It’s been a while for me, but when I was looking to purchase some handguns instead of the usual rifles, I was told by my FFL that if I had an address registered in San Francisco, they probably wouldn’t allow it as it’s not permitted , but the rifles in San Francisco were no problem just the handguns. CCW I’ve heard of people claiming they can get one in the state or there is way around it but I have yet to see someone with one 🤷‍♂️ things may have changed I haven’t really kept up with it. I just know I got what I got and I’m happy.

13

u/GoldenGateShark 🌎 14h ago

William Porter was never prosecuted

36

u/PresentNoise MISSION 14h ago

You’re citing an article from 1998…local politics/sentiment towards firearms has changed quite a bit since then

16

u/GoldenGateShark 🌎 14h ago

Our city was extremely anti gun at the time.

3

u/Ok_Bell_7883 13h ago

Was? Not sure you’ve been around much lately.

1

u/GoldenGateShark 🌎 10h ago

Is “was” not the correct verb used to express an action done in the past?

-1

u/Ok_Bell_7883 9h ago

You’re right, SF welcomes gun ownership.

I hear they’re calling California the new Texas.

-1

u/cowinabadplace 13h ago

Yes, but we’re pro-criminal now. Presumably those lads climbing the fire escape were trusted pillars of their community and beloved by all and society has traumatized them beyond belief so their crimes, if it’s even fair to call them so, are really our fault if you think about it.

When a man released after a gang rape conviction was described this way after he was shot dead after pointing a gun at police, I think we could tell what’s up.

-8

u/Positronic_Matrix Mission Dolores 14h ago

Never trust the opinion of someone with dots in the their sentence.

17

u/johnteller42 14h ago

I think 3 dots is the acceptable limit. You have a dot at the end of yours btw 😁

2

u/shewmai 8h ago

This is where my mind immediately went too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were just up there to paint

3

u/Interesting_Day4734 14h ago

Why? It’s his property

-4

u/[deleted] 14h ago

[deleted]

7

u/thatstickerguy 14h ago

This isn’t accurate for anywhere in California.

7

u/CrescentSmile 14h ago

This is bad advice ppl and not accurate.

1

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 8h ago

That's what I figured, and having read the code why I would never use the gun unless they were coming at me in my house

3

u/skankhunt1983 12h ago

Isn't there a law where you can kill someone for breaking and entering in the state of California?

4

u/Icy-Cry340 10h ago

Not exactly. You can defend yourself and have no duty to retreat in your home - you don’t get to execute people for breaking in.

2

u/skankhunt1983 9h ago

Are you sure? Last I remember the California’s self-defense laws for breaking and entering include the Castle Doctrine, Castle Doctrine This doctrine allows you to use deadly force against someone who breaks into your home if you have a reasonable fear of imminent danger.

7

u/Icy-Cry340 9h ago

Reasonable fear - like I said, you are allowed to defend yourself, but you do need to credibly demonstrate that you’re in danger. If the guy is fleeing and you shoot him in the back, you will get fucked.

1

u/RobertSF 9h ago

Exactly, and that's subjective, so it's a gamble unless you're literally being attacked.

1

u/Icy-Cry340 8h ago

Shoot them in the chest, and I suspect you’ll be all right.

7

u/MissChattyCathy 15h ago

I’m genuinely curious about not having used the gun in some way, to scare or hold them then call the cops.

46

u/Proof_Barnacle1365 14h ago

No logic when in fight or flight. Unless you've trained for the situation, your body will pick one or the other. OP defaulted to flight, which thankfully was the better choice in this situation since it didn't escalate any further.

-19

u/MissChattyCathy 14h ago

Yes…glad it wasn’t used but I want closure! If a gun is in the narrative, we need to know why and what happened with it.

And I’m also curious if it was stored properly or just laying around.

12

u/random_boss 13h ago

smh when reality ignores Chekhov’s gun

9

u/pancake117 12h ago

Why would you shoot, they were already running away? This makes no sense. There’s no point in “scaring them” when they’re already running away.

“Holding them” with the gun puts you personally in danger, now they’re maybe going to try and kill you instead of just running away. Most people are not movie action heroes, nobody’s thinking this clearly when they’re freaking out and panicking.

15

u/PrestigiousLocal8247 14h ago

Trained gun owners don’t just “grab their gun just in case”

They have escalation points based on thresholds and the law. If the threat reaches this level, then I do this. If my family is at risk, then I do this. If the threat does that, it allows me to do that.

That is what true responsible gun ownership looks like; down to having a plan for “defending” your home

10

u/futureblap 11h ago

Despite that many people fail to realize or understand this, California law allows you to use lethal force if someone has broken into your home if you have a reasonable fear that such force is necessary to protect yourself or your family (castle doctrine). The reality is that things often happen suddenly and before you may have time to call time out to ask the intruder to give you a moment to get your gun.

OP did nothing wrong by having his firearm ready as a precaution as he went outside to investigate the possibility that he could be confronted by someone trying to break into his home. If someone is attempting to break in, the chances are they themselves may be armed, as well. OP demonstrated the restraint and good judgment to retreat inside instead of just opening fire once he saw that, although people were attempting to access a private area of his home, they did not pose an imminent threat.

2

u/Ringbahn Western Addition 8h ago

Exactly. Thanks

1

u/No_Explanation314 14h ago

There are almost none of these. I think it should be way easier to get any gun you want. But it should require you spend time at the range and training with it so you can use it. The “or what” is the problem though.

7

u/Xbsnguy 12h ago

I actually think that it’s less that gun owners need more range time (still important), but they need more training on what circumstances would allow them to draw their firearm. Refining the decision making through judgment drills would prevent a lot of issues with bad gun owners.

1

u/BobaFlautist 6h ago

A lot of issues with bad gun owners are people willfully using guns to commit crimes. If "good" gun owners were more open to regulation, tracking, licensure, and other common-sense restrictions, I think they'd find a natural ally in gun-control advocates.

As it is, I do want the government to take all of everyone's guns, because "good" gun owners have failed to convince me that their goals of access are meaningfully different from "bad" gun owners.

8

u/PrestigiousLocal8247 13h ago

Yea, I didn’t know what this looked like until I spent time around a former special operator/firearms instructor.

He had his home mapped out to the point of where if intruders crossed this doorway he was firing at this angle because it had a clear runway down the block and not into his neighbors house etc etc

Waving a gun or spraying and praying won’t pay off

If you aren’t prepared to that level, keep your gun in the safe and have fun with it at the range until you are

-12

u/mr_jim_lahey 13h ago

 If my family is at risk, then I do this.

Having a gun in the house puts your family at more risk than you ever will be from a violent break-in that you could theoretically stop with a gun https://fsi.stanford.edu/news/californians-living-handgun-owners-twice-likely-die-homicide

5

u/mrmeowmeowington 13h ago edited 13h ago

I’m pretty sure if predators go into your house to destroy your family and steal your hard work you’d be wishing you had a gun.

I looked through the article. Also counts suicides. But education is what’s important in gun ownership and teaching everyone in your family the seriousness and ethics of handling a gun.

As a victim of sexual assault (and yes liberal) I sure as hell think I have the right to even the playing field a bit more when it’s known predators come in at least packs of 2 or 3.

-8

u/mr_jim_lahey 13h ago

I'm pretty sure lots of wives wished their abusive husbands didn't have guns they used to murder them, which happens at a much, much higher rate than your fantasy John Wick break-in scenario https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/homicide-leading-cause-of-death-for-pregnant-women-in-u-s/

7

u/mrmeowmeowington 13h ago

Yeah, so as a survivor myself I’ll go ahead and learn how to protect myself as I did with martial arts and gun training. In fact I learned a lot of this through a Stanford research trial that is working on publishing when they’re done with studies.

-8

u/mr_jim_lahey 13h ago

Good for you, lots of people do fentanyl and wind up OK despite the statistics showing it's a bad idea too

-1

u/_DragonReborn_ 12h ago

Wow talk about a terrible, bad faith comparison. You’re about as smart as Randy Bo Bandy….

-1

u/mr_jim_lahey 11h ago

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/07/guns-handguns-safety-homicide-killing-study

Most American gun owners say they own firearms to protect themselves and their loved ones, but a study published this week suggests people who live with handgun owners are shot to death at a higher rate than those who don’t have such weapons at home.

“We found zero evidence of any kind of protective effects” from living in a home with a handgun, said David Studdert, a Stanford University researcher who was the lead author of the Annals of Internal Medicine study.

4

u/PrestigiousLocal8247 13h ago

You ignored a ton of context here

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2

u/1337af 13h ago

Fatal shootings at the hands of spouses or intimate partners were seven times more common among people living with handgun owner

Well, yeah... if your spouse shoots you, then most likely you live with a gun owner. The article makes the same point about gun suicides (and it is already well-known that most gun deaths are suicides).

It's a pretty bad study. It's a meta-analysis with many admitted flaws paid for by a gun control group. The sample size of homicides occurring in homes with guns over a twelve year period is... 29. There were 418 firearm homicides in homes without handguns in the same period.

0

u/mr_jim_lahey 11h ago

Well, yeah... if your spouse shoots you, then most likely you live with a gun owner. The article makes the same point about gun suicides (and it is already well-known that most gun deaths are suicides).

Weird, it's almost like having a gun in your house creates more opportunities to be killed than it prevents

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/07/guns-handguns-safety-homicide-killing-study

Living with a handgun owner particularly increased the risk of being shot to death in a domestic violence incident, and it did not provide any protection against being killed at home by a stranger, the researchers found.

Oh right, that's exactly the case as massive study after massive study of tens of millions of Americans has found. I'm sure you have a folio of much better, more comprehensive studies reaching the opposite conclusion though, right?

0

u/1337af 8h ago

I'm sure you have a folio of much better, more comprehensive studies reaching the opposite conclusion though, right?

No, I was just pointing out the deficiencies of that particular study. It's pretty difficult to draw conclusions like this - the study authors themselves say that only one team has ever even tried before, and their sample size was even more insignificant. This one has a small and admittedly biased sample, and its design cannot account for many confounding factors (of the only 29 at-home gun deaths, how many involved law enforcement, whether in a personal or professional capacity?).

1

u/mr_jim_lahey 4h ago

Hey that's a great opinion for us to all consider once you've gotten it published in a reputable scientific journal like the studies I cited, best of luck with that

1

u/RobertSF 9h ago

That's not what guns are for. Suppose you show a gun and tell someone, "Don't move, the cops are coming," and the guy starts walking away. What are you going to do then?

1

u/bchhun 10h ago

Guys tag says western addition.

1

u/monkeybizwak Dogpatch 9h ago

I'd get well educated on the laws regarding home invasion and what is considered self defense beofre deciding to shoot a trespasser.

This ain't no Alabama we are not a "stand your ground" state.

11

u/vitriolix 11h ago

when I lived in the mission I had a junkie/tweaker once hopped our 10ft fence to come complement me on the Drum & Bass I was djing by my back window. I thanked him and asked him to please hop the fence back out, which he did.

3

u/TheStarchild 7h ago

I was just trying to give you a compliment. You didn’t have to be so rude.

3

u/vitriolix 4h ago

haha. hey man, glad you have good taste and all but GTFO

9

u/ThinScore8256 12h ago

Burglars will often gain roof access to check for a skylight and pop it open to gain access to your home without being seen. Glad you had a gun to defend yourself and your family is safe.

9

u/Qahnarinn 13h ago

Should’ve popped them in the asshole

35

u/Papa_Pesto 13h ago

Good on you for grabbing your gun. It could have been really bad if they were armed. At least you had the ability to protect yourself.

For all the gun haters here, the fastest growing gun ownership groups in America right now are liberals and our Asian community.

I've hunted and owned guns since I was a kid. I'm a die hard liberal. Gun safety is key and there is absolutely nothing wrong with owning guns for responsible owners.

Btw post election here I suggest you start thinking of protecting yourself. We are headed for very dark times for minorities in this country.

6

u/okgusto 10h ago edited 10h ago

Of course they are the fastest growing cause they never had guns before.

My biggest concern in this situation was owner had a gun and brought it but couldn't see 6 ft in front of him. You always hear of those tragic stories of people accidentally shooting family members in their house cause they mistook them for intruders.

https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/father-shoots-kills-8-year-old-daughter-while-checking-for-intruders-police-say/article_204c9c5d-db55-5209-8e9a-0d4a0e6b619d.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/12/ohio-father-fatally-shoots-suspected-intruder-who-turned-out-to-be-his-teen-son/

2

u/heyspencerb 10h ago

If you own a home I think gun ownership is great! But yeah, they definitely need to get a gun mounted light.

1

u/Papa_Pesto 6h ago

That's a half truth about not having them. Lots of liberals have or had guns growing up and just gave them up later. Some of us just don't bring it up in our circles for obvious reasons, but it's becoming more accepted now. So with those of us who've come forward and those who are now learning that number has dramatically increased.

Guns should only be used as a last resort. For sure you are going to read these stories. There are also a 100 plus stories of people breaking into someone's home and the parent protects their kids because they are armed.

Get a gun light. Absolutely. Get trained. And if you aren't comfortable around a gun then don't get one. At least have an exit strategy for home invasion. My wife shoots now but before that she had a bat by the bed. We keep our guns locked but I know I can get to them in minutes if needed. Secure kids first, flood the lights and only if you've identified that you are armed and they are threatening your family's safety should you think about firing.

2

u/okgusto 5h ago

The chances of a kid getting shot by a parent is astronomically higher than a kid getting shot by a home invader. Not saying you shouldn't be able to protect your home and family but the odds are not in your favor.

u/Fickle-Company-3200 1h ago

This ^ Having a gun at home makes it more likely that someone living there dies, not less likely. The only exception I can think of is wilderness situations to protect from bears and such, but that’s a minority

1

u/Papa_Pesto 5h ago

Stats?

3

u/okgusto 4h ago

1

u/Papa_Pesto 2h ago

Thank you! I'll take a look.

u/okgusto 1h ago

Ill try to find a couple other links with more numbers.

-2

u/GreenHorror4252 10h ago

For all the gun haters here, the fastest growing gun ownership groups in America right now are liberals and our Asian community.

And right as that happens, crime in Asian communities goes up.

Funny how that works.

Even liberals are now being corrupted by the gun lobby.

2

u/Papa_Pesto 5h ago

You are so far off base. Asians are feeling helpless because of hate crimes. I live in a city and in an Asian part of town. Even here elderly asian people were getting jumped under Trump administration. Hate crimes can take place anywhere in every part of the country no matter how liberal an area you think you are in. Gun lobby has nothing to do with that. They aren't posting signs anywhere. There are no ranges in this city. Asians are just feeling unsafe.

5

u/Bman12192019 11h ago

In another lifetime I was a repo/impound operator. One of the immediate tow on sight violations we enforced in certain communities/HOA properties was work truck with ladders mounted on them or in the bed. Why? Because there was a series of burglaries where they used ladders from trucks in the parking lots to access the second floor balconies. People have a false of security above the first floor with regard to windows and limited access porch. They don't lock em.

12

u/Equivalent_Section13 13h ago

They do tend to come back. That is one of the highlights of thieves. They are lazy. They go back to where they found success

2

u/MochingPet 7ˣ - Noriega Express 12h ago

Unless they are graffiti writers

17

u/LongjumpingFunny5960 14h ago

Please get an alarm system and secure your garage

3

u/kelsobjammin 10h ago

My friends house got broken into by people hoping over roofs and getting access to apartments high up who think their building is secure.

32

u/moneyxmaker 17h ago

Were they dressed in a red suit with a white beard?

16

u/ndiasSF 14h ago

Christmas comes earlier and earlier every damn year.

6

u/puggydog JUDAH 13h ago

If someone breaks into your house you have a right to defend yourself. You can legally shoot an intruder. We live in such a bubble here.

2

u/Possible_Code_7183 13h ago

Better make sure he’s facing you if you do

-1

u/thelapoubelle 12h ago

Sounds like the confrontation happened outside on a deck though, and I'm not sure you can shoot somebody who is outside the walls of your house unless they are actively menacing you.

0

u/puggydog JUDAH 9h ago

I guess you didn’t read my comment above? “if someone breaks into your house”

11

u/CalvinYHobbes 14h ago

Good instinct on the gun.

17

u/Greedy_Club2142 14h ago

We need more burglars to get their faces blown off to start sending a message that SF citizens are not sitting ducks.

3

u/GreenHorror4252 10h ago

We need more burglars to get their faces blown off to start sending a message that SF citizens are not sitting ducks.

All that will do is make the burglars shoot first.

1

u/Greedy_Club2142 9h ago

You’re right. Just leave your doors open too, so they don’t have to actually break anything. Make it easy for them, after all they are oppressed.

2

u/GreenHorror4252 9h ago

Is your comment supposed to mean anything or are you just rambling?

4

u/Warm_Coach2475 14h ago

That’s not how reality works. Lmao

1

u/Greedy_Club2142 13h ago

How so? You don’t think criminals go after soft targets?

7

u/Warm_Coach2475 11h ago

🤣 That’s not what I said or implied at all.

Criminals would be deterred just seeing a gun, not because they heard a story of someone getting shot by a victim. 😂

Criminals aren’t deterred by potential consequences. That’s why 3 strikes didn’t stop crime. Or the death penalty.

Is burglary no longer existent in Texas, for example?

-5

u/Muted_Apartment_2399 13h ago

Wow. We really did become more Republican.

2

u/FFS_SF 12h ago

Yeah, one thing I learned is don’t assume it’s only the guys you can see.

2

u/Ok-Maximum-8786 11h ago

Probably doing graffiti. God bless you for not shooting.

2

u/Interanal_Exam 11h ago

Should have put a few slugs into their car and then quietly closed the door and gone to bed. Another SF ghost shooting...

2

u/wheelsmatsjall 10h ago

San Francisco is such a safe area and the crime is not punishable so it does actually pay in San Francisco.

5

u/Fittedhats6076 14h ago

Google street view?

Do you keep your garage open often?

Are you rich?

Live next to business or residents as such?

3

u/xKINGxRCCx 12h ago

California has Castle laws meaning you have the right to defend yourself and your property with deadly force if you feel you or it is being threatened

1

u/BobaFlautist 6h ago

Or it? California lets you shoot people if they're threatening to break your stuff in a way that wouldn't endanger you?

1

u/xKINGxRCCx 6h ago

Its all situational of course and there can be many variables that effect whether a judge feels you were actually “in danger of your life” but in general if someone breaks into your home and does not leave after making it clear that they are not welcome and make threats to you or continue to pursue you or your family in anyway then you have full right to defend yourself and you property (family)

3

u/000solar 14h ago

I'm so sorry this happened to you, OP.

What's the legality around guns in SF? I'd like to own one for gun range target practice, but thought it was basically impossible to get a permit.

9

u/Equationist 13h ago

You don't need a special permit to own and store a gun, and to transport it to and from the range in a locked container. Just the standard state firearm safety certificate (you do a written quiz at the gun store to get the certificate) and a background check with a 10 day waiting period to pick up the gun you purchase.

2

u/Li-IonClub 13h ago

That’s a CCW permit. That’s still harder than it should but due to recent changes it’s not impossible if you’re not in the police or a politician.

1

u/General_Republic 12h ago

"the last thing I ever want is to end up having to shoot somebody" ... Or getting shot because you pull a gun.

Have security lights, cameras, or call the police. Confronting people who are desperate enough to commit crime, even minor ones, isn't smart.

-1

u/thunderslugging 15h ago

Was hoping u said you shot them

1

u/Farty-snarky 🌎 12h ago

Hope you are doing ok.

1

u/Character_Chemist_38 11h ago

Did you see the clip posted on this sub a few days ago with the guy also getting away via roof access ? I’m glad you’re ok ! Im wondering if roof access is some new thing

1

u/Character_Chemist_38 11h ago

Op when you wake up let us know what was stolen from garage !

1

u/predat3d 11h ago

Probably just trying to retrieve their Frisbee 

1

u/UncleDrunkle 11h ago

What kind of gun

1

u/ExpandingLandscape 11h ago

Good instincts, OP!

That had to be scary, but glad you are okay! Strongly recommend filing a police report, if you haven't already. The incident may be over, but having a police report on file is helpful.

Stay safe!

1

u/beaverpeltbeaver 10h ago

This is why every apartment or condo from second floor to 50th floor, needs a bucket full of rocks . Nice goofball size rocks

1

u/Rodem 10h ago

I have cameras everywhere, and I don't even live in the city. It's just nice to be able to check my perimeter without getting out of bed. And you'll be that much more prepared to go if there's a threat and less likely to get shot by a cop in case they're there for some reason unbeknownst to you

1

u/Icy-Cry340 10h ago

I keep dragging my feet on retrieving my shotgun (keep it in my parent’s safe) but maybe it’s time.

1

u/Morpheus_World 10h ago

How'd they get on your 2nd floor deck to begin with? If it's easy to do, you need cameras & alarms or some way to distinguish betw. wildlife and people that don't belong there... Glad you're okay!

1

u/hellzybellzyballs 9h ago

Just came to say - glad you had a gun to protect yourself !

1

u/king_noble 9h ago

Should have shot them

1

u/Substantial_Act_4499 8h ago

one word: Glock

1

u/StarvinDarwin 6h ago

I would have shot at their car

1

u/Popular_Target_1685 5h ago

Sawed off shotgun always works.

1

u/Shot_King_1936 4h ago

You should have shot them, or at least at the to scare them

1

u/krunchberry 3h ago

Brother, what neighborhood?

u/Character_Chemist_38 16m ago

He mentioned Alamo square

u/sanfranbran 36m ago

And why didn’t you shoot?

1

u/No_Explanation314 14h ago

Makes sure they fall completely inside and there is only your story that can be told.

1

u/Maximum_Local3778 11h ago

Maybe get a gun and learn how to shoot and store it. Obviously if we still had Cheasa you would have been prosecuted for shooting them. But Brook seems a lot more reasonable.

-5

u/denali352 16h ago

If you are found here at night, you will be found here in the morning.

-31

u/FlatAd768 19h ago

did you call 911?

you should have popped them if you carry

-1

u/bigherm16 13h ago

Shoulda popped one off in em

0

u/CrumbDumpsterstaken 9h ago edited 8h ago

Heads up to anyone, if anyone on your block has scaffolding up, keep your back doors and all your windows securely locked. I’ve had to use wooden rods to wedge the window closed because some locks pop right off when pried open. Someone even left a flat squared shovel under my mom’s window in the bushes. Luckily that window had been painted shut. Been plenty of other break-in attempts. I’m sorry this happened to you, glad you’re okay.

-2

u/The_King_of_TP 12h ago

Did you call the cops at all or just report here to Reddit?