There has been a recent resurgence in interest in having firearms for lawful defense. Many of the ones being purchased are long arms, which are not readily concealable, so a lot of the interest is obviously in home defense.
When choices are available, one question that arises is that of what kind of firearm one should acquire. We have had a lot of lengthy discussion on that here on THR.
That question is worthy of discussion, but it is not really all that important. As Jeff White said in a thread on this subject six months ago,
"The gun you choose is not really important. People have successfully defended their homes with everything from single shot shotguns to an old break top revolver."
He went on to say, "your time, money and energy will be better spent hardening your home. The harder you make it for someone to get in, the more time you will have to execute your plan to defend the home. Start with early warning. If you live in the country a driveway alarm. If you live in town, a video doorbell or a sensor at the door that warn when someone is there. Shrubbery or other obstacles under windows. Good locks.....and most importantly...a plan that everyone understands and has rehearsed."
I have not selected any parts of that for emphasis, because it is all very important.
Sooner or later, the question of the choice of firearm will come up. Some people will think it terms of how effectively a firearm will "stop" an intruder.
That should not be "Priority One".
Most people seem to think that keeping the gun in the bedroom is the best idea. They either assume that a sudden forceable entry will occur when they are in the bedroom, or they somehow believe that they will be afforded the time to go and retrieve it when the need arises. Neither is a really good assumption.
Six months ago, we had a discussion on this subject. The thread is linked below.
Here are a few high points to consider before getting started:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/thinking-about-firearms-for-home-defense.862242/
When choices are available, one question that arises is that of what kind of firearm one should acquire. We have had a lot of lengthy discussion on that here on THR.
That question is worthy of discussion, but it is not really all that important. As Jeff White said in a thread on this subject six months ago,
"The gun you choose is not really important. People have successfully defended their homes with everything from single shot shotguns to an old break top revolver."
He went on to say, "your time, money and energy will be better spent hardening your home. The harder you make it for someone to get in, the more time you will have to execute your plan to defend the home. Start with early warning. If you live in the country a driveway alarm. If you live in town, a video doorbell or a sensor at the door that warn when someone is there. Shrubbery or other obstacles under windows. Good locks.....and most importantly...a plan that everyone understands and has rehearsed."
I have not selected any parts of that for emphasis, because it is all very important.
Sooner or later, the question of the choice of firearm will come up. Some people will think it terms of how effectively a firearm will "stop" an intruder.
That should not be "Priority One".
Most people seem to think that keeping the gun in the bedroom is the best idea. They either assume that a sudden forceable entry will occur when they are in the bedroom, or they somehow believe that they will be afforded the time to go and retrieve it when the need arises. Neither is a really good assumption.
Six months ago, we had a discussion on this subject. The thread is linked below.
Here are a few high points to consider before getting started:
- Some of the most popular firearms on the market today are so loud--that is, they create so much sound pressure--that it is not a good idea to shoot them indoors. The defender will not be able to hear other people--police or family--for some time afterward, and they can cause permanent noise-induced hearing damage. Full power loads in .357 Magnum, 12 GA shot-shells, and 5.56MM rifle cartridges are effective, but they are so loud that one does not want shoot them in the house. They are bad enough on an indoor gun range when one is wearing both protection muffs and earplugs.
- Any firearm is worthless unless it is immediately accessible from where the defender happens to be when the need arises.
- The old adage that one cannot miss with a shotgun is pure myth. When shotguns are "patterned" in testing for bird hunting, that is done at forty yards. A typical indoor defensive shooting distance may be fifteen feet. The pattern may open up to an inch and a half or so at that range.
- Going back to that plan that Jeff mentioned: One should not imagine oneself traipsing around the house with gun in hand looking for "bad guys". That stuff is for screen fiction. The defender should let the threat come to him or her. Those who have engaged in Force on Force simulation know well that the defender who leaves cover to find the threat is at an extreme disadvantage. The gun cannot serve as a force field to protect against incoming fire.
- In closing, one should never shoot at anyone before making an identification of the target. Terrible tragedies that should have been avoided were not.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/thinking-about-firearms-for-home-defense.862242/
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