Skill Set: Home Defense
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About ten days ago I had surgery on my foot to
fix some old injuries that had become seriously painful. I was confined to bed
with the foot elevated. I read until my brain was tired, watched four seasons
of "Dragnet," and slept a lot. I also had time to play the "What
if someone does make it past the dog, into the house, and the fight starts with
me in bed?" game.
When it comes to the specifics of home defense - the design of your house, your life style, and family makeup, etc. - everyone's situation is different. For example where is it possible, or likely, for a threat to enter your house? Where are the areas a threat could hide, or what objects would provide you with cover? Are there children or elderly folks that you have to factor into your response? What's your best option for escape?
The answers to these questions, and a host of others, need to be worked out in advance. The more you can figure out prior to trouble the better you're able to focus on the specifics of that particular confrontation.
I'm in bed and figuring out how to see more of the environment around me from that location. There's a picture on the wall. In the reflection of the glass I can see around the corner of that doorway. There's a nightlight in the corner of the next room so if anyone is in there they'll create shadows on the bedroom wall. I know where the bookcases are; books provide pretty good cover. Setting up your house so it's user friendly is fairly simple to accomplish.
Having access to a weapon is essential, but at the same time you have to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. There are a variety of safes that contain and control your weapon but permit you to get to the firearm quickly. GunVault is one of the more popular, and on my last trip to the hardware store I noticed they had quick-access safes on the shelves. As with all your gear and equipment the key is consistency and practice. Determine where the weapon will be stored. That's where it should always be. Decide what condition it's in, i.e. "Condition 1" - a full mag and a round in the chamber. Practice how to access the weapon under a variety of conditions, especially in the dark.
You need to determine what role, if any, family members are capable of playing. The family's response must to be practiced, just like you would a fire drill or any other type emergency. Maybe you know what needs to be done, but if you have four other people that don't have a clue runnin' 'round it's going to complicate your problem.
Home defense is all about preparation. Make it difficult for an attack to occur. Have a plan for the whole family. If a problem does develop think about avoidance, escape, or holding in a safe area until the law shows up. Never go looking for trouble, but should it show up be ready to deal with it.
Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns," writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, "Fighting With The 1911 -http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html Website: www.shootrite.org
When it comes to the specifics of home defense - the design of your house, your life style, and family makeup, etc. - everyone's situation is different. For example where is it possible, or likely, for a threat to enter your house? Where are the areas a threat could hide, or what objects would provide you with cover? Are there children or elderly folks that you have to factor into your response? What's your best option for escape?
The answers to these questions, and a host of others, need to be worked out in advance. The more you can figure out prior to trouble the better you're able to focus on the specifics of that particular confrontation.
I'm in bed and figuring out how to see more of the environment around me from that location. There's a picture on the wall. In the reflection of the glass I can see around the corner of that doorway. There's a nightlight in the corner of the next room so if anyone is in there they'll create shadows on the bedroom wall. I know where the bookcases are; books provide pretty good cover. Setting up your house so it's user friendly is fairly simple to accomplish.
Having access to a weapon is essential, but at the same time you have to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. There are a variety of safes that contain and control your weapon but permit you to get to the firearm quickly. GunVault is one of the more popular, and on my last trip to the hardware store I noticed they had quick-access safes on the shelves. As with all your gear and equipment the key is consistency and practice. Determine where the weapon will be stored. That's where it should always be. Decide what condition it's in, i.e. "Condition 1" - a full mag and a round in the chamber. Practice how to access the weapon under a variety of conditions, especially in the dark.
You need to determine what role, if any, family members are capable of playing. The family's response must to be practiced, just like you would a fire drill or any other type emergency. Maybe you know what needs to be done, but if you have four other people that don't have a clue runnin' 'round it's going to complicate your problem.
Home defense is all about preparation. Make it difficult for an attack to occur. Have a plan for the whole family. If a problem does develop think about avoidance, escape, or holding in a safe area until the law shows up. Never go looking for trouble, but should it show up be ready to deal with it.
Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns," writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, "Fighting With The 1911 -http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html Website: www.shootrite.org
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