Every so many weeks, the topic of carrying a pistol at home comes up on the gun forums. The argument invariably comes back to the point that you are VERY unlikely to be randomly targeted by home invasion robbers. I tend to agree with this point, but like to remind people that there are many "passive" ways to attract a home invader.
A home invader is going to be on the look out for two targets, soft targets, and valuable targets.
You can become a valuable target by doing something as simple as throwing away a pill bottle. Drugs are valuable, and if you show that you have them, you just became a valuable target.
You can become a soft target by doing something as simple as turning on the light when you go to the bathroom. If your bathroom has a window that is visible from a public or common area, a home invader would be able to see that you are currently occupied, and are unlikely to resist or react quickly enough to a forced entry. The same goes for taking a shower.
The point is that there are far too many ways to become marked as a valuable or soft target to keep from becoming marked. The only way you can protect yourself, your family and your property, is to be prepared with the most effective weapon available to you.
Gun owner or no, there's little excuse for being caught off guard in your own home.
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The question that comes to my mind, which I love to ask of others who share this view of "the odds", is...
"If the odds were one in a zillion trillion billion that you, in whatever your current circumstances might be, might be assaulted or attacked... do these former odds give you comfort and relief as you lie dying on the floor after the attack?"
When people start talking about the odds, I remind them that people still do win the lottery...
Where most homeowners make their biggest mistake is they purchase a weapon without doing any real, thorough research into the topic. They don’t consider the type of weapon to best suit their needs; do not seek out proper training classes prior to and after the purchase, there’s no real “gameplan” developed or talked about with the family, no thought as to proper, safe storage of the weapon, and they really don’t know their own house any more than the intruder does. They approach the subject with no real clue as to how to defend themselves, much less, the family or the house.
Generally, most people shoot a weapon under “ideal” conditions and it is usually a pistol. It is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT story when you’re stressed, scared, and it’s dark. Realistically, you can’t hit anything with a pistol unless you’ve been shooting in varied conditions for years. It is beneficial to seek training or training references through your local police department, REPUTABLE gun shop, or the NRA. All three are excellent starting points.
Generally, the best choice for home defense, tactical movement inside buildings, firepower, low cost and pure fear factor is a shotgun. They're easy to use and criminals, as well as insurgents, dread getting anywhere near the business end of a shotgun. I have first hand experience through years of training and multiple combat tours that a shotgun is the top choice for home defense. The 12-Gauge Remington 870 “Youth Model” makes an excellent choice because of it size, dependability, ease of use, and cost. It is also best suited for women due to their smaller frame. Several sources and schools are available to help the homeowner out with the research and training. Talk to your local police department prior to your purchase and gather the information concerning licensure, regulations, and registry of any weapon in your possession. It makes your life easier and you get to meet some of your local law enforcement under great conditions. Remember, BOTH of the adults in the house need to know how to use the weapon. The kids should learn through the same training source used by the homeowner when they reach the proper age.
The other issue has to be addressed by the homeowner himself. They may know what the square footage of the house is, but they don’t “know” their own house. They have no clue as to the quirks of the house, normal versus non-normal noises, and layout of the house. They have no idea where the vulnerable points of entry of the house are. They cannot navigate from one end of the house to the other when it’s dark (try it once blindfolded, you’d be surprised). Then there’s the furniture layout that is too varied to describe but they don’t pay attention to it until the situation is too late. Memorize your house and where the furniture is. This will give you the “Home Field Advantage” and, more practically, it could actually save your life. Research the neighborhood prior to the house purchase, in other words, talk to the cops about crime in the area. Check the home inspector’s report. Find out about emergency services in your area. This will save them a ton of headaches later on.
Finally there’s the attitude of today’s homeowner. We can thank lawyers for the majority of that through frivolous lawsuits where the intended invader/murderer lived through the experience and successfully sued the homeowner for defending himself and his family. The other part is the “softening” of Americans as a whole through various mediums. They’ve taken the “Cowboy” out of today’s American. When you decide to purchase a weapon, specifically for home defense, you better make sure you know the intent of that weapon is to kill something in order to save your life. Don’t worry about the damage to the house and your stuff because it’s going to happen, and you can always replace it. You can’t replace your family. Put time into your research and training in order to assure success for yourself and your loved ones.
Well stated, CC... and very valid points to boot!
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