Home Defense

[dobedo]

I see in many discussions about home defense being about the type of weapon or caliber.

Home defense can be a conundrum, there is no correct answer or method. There are too many variables to be considered in a split second or waking up out of a sound sleep during a break in. Whatever weapon you have handy and that you are comfortable with is a start. Size, type, of defensive weapon used is very subjective.

The best thing is to develop a defensive posture just having a weapon for home defense is a small part of home defense.
You need to Identify the high-risk areas in your house. To identify areas in your home could be spots that allow intruders to hide. Such as narrow corridors that you could get trapped in.

With that said a good alarm system with cameras is a good start. This will help ID if there are any weapons and how many intruders there are.

If possible, create a safe room with doors and walls that can protect you and this makes it difficult for intruders to get to you so you can call 911 for help. If you have a master bedroom with a connected bathroom you could make the bathroom a safe room with nominal costs and do it yourself skills and materials. A cast iron tub to lay and ballistic panels to replace sheet rock with a steel door and frame opening out instead of in.

You need to think about possible escape routes from different areas of your home as intruders can strike any time. Living in an apartment is probably one of the worst places to live and to develop an adequate defensive posture. A portable fire escape ladder from a balcony or window should be considered. An apartment also brings additional challenges. A doorbell camera is a first line of defense. Where and how to store your weapon for ready access when you have children?

Next you need to know the local and state laws in your area. For example, do you live with 100 yards of a school? In some States if you do you may be violating the law if you have a gun in your house.

You need to be realistic with your skills and capabilities of your weapons. So do your family members to also protect themselves as you may not be there to protect them. I grew up learning to shoot and the important of safety at the age of 6. My wife does not like guns but understands the importance of them for when the SHTF or to defend from intruders. She has learned too properly to us them along with other items.

There is a lot more to think about other than caliber, size, and type of weapon.

 

[jmorris]

There are too many variables to be considered in a split second or waking up out of a sound sleep during a break in.

My goal is to consider the different situations and prepare my options long before the split second time constraint. I also cheat that last part too, outside my home. I am alerted if someone is on my property well before they reach my house, much less my bed room.

We have lots of time to consider strategy’s and tactics, no need to wait until the last second.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I have motion detector cameras with LED floodlights surrounding our home. My system picked up a car pull into my driveway. You see the doors start to open and their interior light come on. They see the camera and floodlight. The doors close and they leave.

 

[GEM]

Hard to get the entire family into a cast iron bath tub, I would think.

 

[CDW4ME]

I'll address some things the OP did not.

The gun you usually carry outside the home - no reason it can't be carried at home. You do carry at home, right? (rhetorical)
Dogs can be a warning/alert and maybe deterrent. A Chihuahua is a warning/alert (bark bark ) whereas German Shepherd, Rottweiler or Doberman is deterrent too.
Impact windows or security film on windows.
Actually locking windows & doors.

As with the dogs, any gun is better than none; but as I prefer a German Shepherd over a Chihuahua I also prefer a Glock 19 over a snub.

 

[The Night Rider]

The gun you usually carry outside the home - no reason it can't be carried at home.

I don't wear street clothes at home.

You do carry at home, right?

Does this count?

 

[Plano11]

Guys, I got to tell you, if I was in the market for a home defense gun............ hands down it would be a KelTek KS7 or the bigger brother, the KSG. At 7 and 13 rounds respectively of whatever you put in it, either one is formidable.

The KS7 is a better looking gun of the two, but obviously that ain't the main criteria for a home defense firearm. So, either one would work well and either would be my choice of a home defense gun.

And even though I agree with the author, a load of even #6's or #7 1/2's would do the job without question, my preference of loads would likely be single ought buck shot. At least the first 2 or 3 rounds. If I hadn't been able to stop any threat by then, I'd probably have the next 3 or 4 loaded with #4's.

Not a thing wrong with any gun suggestion here in this thread or the original article, but these two from Kel Tek would be for me.

 

[Scrapiron45]

Good to see a post on home defense come up on occasion as it's important to note that the NSSF has numbers showing approximately 5.4 million (14000/day) first time gun buyers last year. That's a lot of people to have suddenly realized that they are responsible for their own safety.
Too many of them see buying a weapon as a talisman against evil and delude themselves into feeling safe with a firearm on the top shelf in the closet.
As mentioned in previous posts, fences, gates, lights, cameras, alarms and dogs can all be can all be considered a first line of defense with the hardening of doors and windows an integral part of the plan, the idea being to make your home less desirable than the neighbors to break into.
Walk around the outside of your house looking for places goblins could hide, easy places to gain entry.
I like the idea of multiple safe rooms in a house depending on the family situation. Solid doors for bedrooms with a plan to barricade them is something we practice in our home. Seems I recall Ayoob mentioning somewhere the use of bookcases loaded with books as a type of "residental bulletproofing".
Make a plan with the members of the household on what to do in the event of an intruder, you don't want everyone running the halls while you're waiting on police in your barricaded bedroom. Youre family should have a plan for all emergencies, fires, storms, possible evacuations anyway.
If a firearm is part of your plan you should practice. Often. Lots of dry fire. Field strip it and clean it. Not necessarily because it's dirty but just to be familiar with it. If you're not familiar with your firearm take some classes. Practice some more. Middle of the night, someone trying to knock down the door is not when you question your weapon.
Don't forget to call 911. Know your location. "At the beach house" is not a location.
I didn't mean to get so long winded but it's a good subject that comes up often at our beginner firearms classes.
Thanks for the opportunity.

 

[Old Dog]

In some States if you do you may be violating the law if you have a gun in your house.

What states would those be? As far as I'm aware, there is a process in every state for a citizen to acquire at least one firearm to lawfully keep within his/her abode.

Guys, I got to tell you, if I was in the market for a home defense gun............ hands down it would be a KelTek KS7 or the bigger brother, the KSG. At 7 and 13 rounds respectively of whatever you put in it, either one is formida

Well, it's all good that some know what they would want to buy if they were in the market for a home defense gun (um, why don't you already have one?).

"Formidable?" I digress...

But the reality is, if someone is already inside your home, you've already failed in your home defense scenario. Frankly, these days, no matter where one lives, if one doesn't have a layered system of home security (hardened windows, doors, alarms, cameras, monitoring, dogs, etc), forget about the firearm because you won't even have a chance to access it.

 

[JERRY]

Some folks make home defense a lot more complicated than it has to be.

Lock doors, basic outside lighting, a basic alarm system and some type of firearm.

If you have it between your ears that's really it.

 

[GRIZ22]

Okay...if you live 100 yds from a school and have a gun you are not breaking the law.

Please tell me the states you would be in violation.

 

[citizenconn]

Hard to get the entire family into a cast iron bath tub, I would think.

Only because my entire indoor family consists of 5 cats and me. The outdoor cat part of the family have their own individual strategies.

 

[citizenconn]

Guys, I got to tell you, if I was in the market for a home defense gun............ hands down it would be a KelTek KS7 or the bigger brother, the KSG. At 7 and 13 rounds respectively of whatever you put in it, either one is formidable.

The KS7 is a better looking gun of the two, but obviously that ain't the main criteria for a home defense firearm. So, either one would work well and either would be my choice of a home defense gun.

And even though I agree with the author, a load of even #6's or #7 1/2's would do the job without question, my preference of loads would likely be single ought buck shot. At least the first 2 or 3 rounds. If I hadn't been able to stop any threat by then, I'd probably have the next 3 or 4 loaded with #4's.

Not a thing wrong with any gun suggestion here in this thread or the original article, but these two from Kel Tek would be for me.

My home defense firearms are silenced ARs in subsonic .300 BLK because I find it very difficult to get electronic hearing protection on the 5 cats who live with me in a reasonable period of time.

 

[old lady new shooter]

if someone is already inside your home, you've already failed in your home defense scenario. Frankly, these days, no matter where one lives, if one doesn't have a layered system of home security (hardened windows, doors, alarms, cameras, monitoring, dogs, etc), forget about the firearm because you won't even have a chance to access it.

+1000

 

[hso]

For example, do you live with 100 yards of a school? In some States if you do you may be violating the law if you have a gun in your house.

That is an extraordinary claim. Please provide links to the specific states where having a firearm in your home near a school violates the law.

 

[film495]

That is an extraordinary claim. Please provide links to the specific states where having a firearm in your home violates the law.

Understanding And Defining The Gun-Free School Zones Act » Concealed Carry Inc

I don't know or understand the details of this, but 1,000 feet of the property line of a school is pretty broad if that is accurate. So, in theory, you need to know where your house it, it might be in a school zone, which may put someone in violation, but also just driving past a school, so - I'm not sure how this would be interpreted, probably someone smarter than me would have to dig into actual case law.

 

[hso]

I don't know or understand the details of this,

From your linked site-

What Are The Exceptions?
The prohibition of firearms in school zones does not apply if any of the following provisions are met. Note that I've added my own commentary in brackets [].

(i) on private property not part of school grounds; [like a home or other private property that is within 1000 feet of a school but isn't public property.​

From the law itself-

Exceptions
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(B):

[18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(A)] does not apply to the possession of a firearm—

(i) on private property not part of school grounds;​

Pretty straightforward language that the law does not restrict private property within a "school zone".

 

[Bazoo]

I don't wear street clothes at home.


View attachment 1158502

Does this count?

Cool 422, glad to see someone using an old bucklite.

 

[The Night Rider]

Cool 422, glad to see someone using an old bucklite.

I bought my first one in the early nineties at Fort Carson. Somebody stole it this one is a replacement

 

[tepin]

I live in a 55+ community in Tucson, AZ (~1600 homes and growing) that is gated but far from "secure" and my house backs up to a dry shallow wash that exists to channel water during monsoon season. The wash contains river rock which are large stones that are slightly bigger than a softball. Our backyard is all pavers and the patio / porch is standard concrete slab, covered and is off the living room and kitchen. No window treatments as we don't have anyone directly behind us.

Last Monday I went out in the backyard and noticed a rock from the wash was placed on the edge of my property line, sitting on my pavers. Interesting. We spend a lot of time on the patio watching TV or the wife will take a nap in her hammock, etc... day and night. Needless to say, the rock on the pavers has freaked us out a bit. It didn't get there by itself i.e. roll up hill into my yard. So, we probably won't be spending time on the patio at night anymore.

Don't laugh but we talk to a highly intuitive person about various things and she's been right more times than she's been wrong. We sent her a photo of the rock in the backyard and she believes there was a man dressed in black holding the rock in his hand. He had a lot of anger / rage but for some reason put the rock down and left.

I don't really know any of my neighbors and in a 55+ community I doubt it was someone that lives here. Plus I am one home of many so random selection would also seem strange. The best I can come up with is... my wife and I are very generous with tipping at the clubhouse and have given cash gifts to our favorite bartenders / wait staff (kids mostly) during holidays etc... and maybe they talk to people that talk to people that are interested in taking other peoples stuff??? Anyway, now I feel I am targeted for a home invasion. Luckily my wife and I both work from home. We now have a camera on the patio and the 12GA and AR15 are no longer covered in dust.

Any thoughts??

 

[The Night Rider]

I live in a 55+ community in Tucson, AZ (~1600 homes and growing) that is gated but far from "secure" and my house backs up to a dry shallow wash that exists to channel water during monsoon season. The wash contains river rock which are large stones that are slightly bigger than a softball. Our backyard is all pavers and the patio / porch is standard concrete slab, covered and is off the living room and kitchen. No window treatments as we don't have anyone directly behind us.

Last Monday I went out in the backyard and noticed a rock from the wash was placed on the edge of my property line, sitting on my pavers. Interesting. We spend a lot of time on the patio watching TV or the wife will take a nap in her hammock, etc... day and night. Needless to say, the rock on the pavers has freaked us out a bit. It didn't get there by itself i.e. roll up hill into my yard. So, we probably won't be spending time on the patio at night anymore.

Don't laugh but we talk to a highly intuitive person about various things and she's been right more times than she's been wrong. We sent her a photo of the rock in the backyard and she believes there was a man dressed in black holding the rock in his hand. He had a lot of anger / rage but for some reason put the rock down and left.

I don't really know any of my neighbors and in a 55+ community I doubt it was someone that lives here. Plus I am one home of many so random selection would also seem strange. The best I can come up with is... my wife and I are very generous with tipping at the clubhouse and have given cash gifts to our favorite bartenders / wait staff (kids mostly) during holidays etc... and maybe they talk to people that talk to people that are interested in taking other peoples stuff??? Anyway, now I feel I am targeted for a home invasion. Luckily my wife and I both work from home. We now have a camera on the patio and the 12GA and AR15 are no longer covered in dust.

Any thoughts??

Remove three or four feet of pavers from your backyard and plant cactus

 

[hso]

So, we probably won't be spending time on the patio at night anymore.

Plant Bougainvillea as a barrier. It can be planted densely and has very serious thorns and is good in your climate.

 

[JTHunter]

Plant Bougainvillea as a barrier. It can be planted densely and has very serious thorns and is good in your climate.

And bougainvillea grows more quickly than most (if not all) cacti. But it requires more water than cacti do so there is that trade-off.

 

[jeepnik]

Back in the late 70's I was discussing this with a LAPD guy at the local PD range. He said the answer is very simple. Keep them outside. Now you don't have to turn your home into a fortress. But good door and windows backed up by good locks is a fine start. There are other layers you can add "outside" to disuade intruders. The point is to make your home unattractive to thieves while you neighbor does not.

 

[hso]

The point is to make your home unattractive to thieves while you neighbor does not.

That's the gist of it if your concern is random break-ins. Make your property the least "attractive" in the neighborhood to criminals. Establish a clear perimeter, install motion sensor lights and cameras, post an alarm company sign, put a big dog igloo where the back or side can be easily spotted from the alley and street, don't park expensive cars out where they can be seen from the street or alley.

Then add natural barriers along the edge of the perimeter like thorny bushes thickly planted, clear hiding places away from the walls and windows of the house (or plant those in blood drawing flowering plants with large thorns), harden doors and windows against forced entry by replacing deadbolts with higher security versions, upgrade striker plates, and replace frame and hardware screws with long screws that go all the way into the 2x4 framing. If the doors themselves are weak, replace them with solid wood, fiberglass, or steel. The objective is to make it clearly difficult to enter the property and the house.