As crime continues to increase in many places, and as economic conditions continue to decimate local law enforcement staffing levels, more and more people are turning to lethal tools for the ability to participate in the defense of one's own home and family. From martial arts training, to pepper spray, to Tasers and guns, people are preparing like never before against the possibility of home invasion.
Recently, a friend of mine named Gary, took me through some of the training available through the NRA. It is the course that allows the successful trainee to apply to carry a gun. The decision to introduce a firearm into the home was not easy, nor was it made quickly. In fact, the training made it easier for my wife and I to make a more informed decision.
The primary goal of the training is to ensure that a gun owner will be responsible, and that any kind of potentially harmful or lethal solution is a very last resort. That being the case, and given my proclivity for the safety and security of homes and families, it wasn't long before Gary and I began discussing ways to safely and effectively add a weapon to the home security plan. Hopefully, this entry will give you some additional food for thought on the subject.
If a potentially lethal weapon is the last resort, make sure to take measures to keep a situation from coming to that. Security company signs should be the first line of defense. An outdoor lighting plan deters people who use the cover of darkness for concealment. Good locks and solid doors and windows, when well secured will make it difficult for someone to get in. Next, the alarm system might help to make the intruder's stay more brief. The sounder will also give you ample warning of the presence of the intruder, giving you time to react. Using a commanding voice to order the intruder out, immediately, can cause the perpetrator to doubt their ability to control the encounter.
Then as you introduce a gun into the scenario, recognize that it could be one of the first things an intruder might try to take. Training will help take care of some obvious precautions, so make sure to take ample training. Be sure to store it in a place that is easily accessible for you, but difficult for an intruder to find and steal.
The jury seems to be out on whether children should be aware of a gun in the house. I have chosen to educate them; enough that they will be neither curious nor fearful. Under predetermined conditions, everyone in the home has been appointed a specific place to take cover. There is also a phrase to indicate that the situation is under control. Not only does this keep them hidden from an intruder, but keeps them out of certain lanes of fire, should it come to that.
The legal ramifications should you need to use a gun are not easily stated and it is strongly recommended that you prepare to defend any action you may take should you have to go to court over it. You should also be prepared to manage potential, negative, emotional consequences of having used such force, for yourself and the family.
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