You have heard the sound of someone trying to enter your home or you know that they have already gained entry. You have made the 911 call and either told the operator what is happening or just laid the phone down without hanging it up. Now what do you do?
1. The next step is crucial. Find a safe place. Hopefully you have already thought this out way before you have found yourself experiencing a home invasion and you already know where that place is in your home. If you are alone, find a safe and secure place to hide. Look for some basic form of cover. I suggest taking a closet and making it your safe place. Install a dead bolt on the inside and keep an old cell phone inside constantly on charge. All cell phones can call 911 regardless if it is on a carrier plan.
“Find a safe place”
Lock yourself in this room and get away from the door. It wouldn’t hurt to plan ahead on this part, either. Know where you can safely go inside your own home. Would it be best to stay where you are rather than run the risk of encountering an intruder. Don’t leave your safe place or the room you are in with a bat or a flashlight. A surprised intruder is likely to react violently. You have better options available to you than attempting to confront the intruder. If you have family to protect you cannot protect them if the intruder gets past you. Hide and wait for police.
2. If you’re not alone, if you are home with family or friends, then things get more complicated. You have to remain calm. There might not be the time to do certain things depending on your house size and whether an intruder has gained entry or is in the process of breaking in. If you don’t have a safe room, gather your family in a room, lock the door and barricade it with furniture and other heavy objects. Choose the most secure room with the best door and lock, stay there.
If the intruder reaches the room and turns the doorknob, be prepared to act. Do not call out, “I’ve called the police.” By doing so, you will give away your location.
However, if the intruder has not reached your room and you no longer hear any disturbance then:
3. You can either wait for the authorities or clear your home. This is a decision you will have to decide. My thoughts are two fold:
a. If you are going to clear your home and there are family or friends there then you have to ensure they stay hidden, and don’t move (or that they follow along with you, if that is the only safe option).
b. If you are in a secure location, and everyone is accounted for, you may choose to wait for the threat to come to you, which is probably better.
I suggest that you don’t go looking for trouble, if you don’t have to. If you must move, think ahead. Move slowly and quietly and listen closely. Move room by room and realize that larger homes make this more challenging and dangerous. Keep as much of your body behind cover as possible when looking through doors, or rounding corners. And only use your light when you have to and only use the handheld one holding it away from your body. If you leave the light on it gives away your position immediately.
“don’t go looking for trouble, if you don’t have to”
One of the most important skills is actual threat evaluation. What if the sound you’ve mistaken for a burglary is actually a teenage son? It has happened and in some cases it ended in tragedy. Speak clearly and loudly to anyone you encounter in the dark. Tell them your intentions. Trust in the advantage of your weapon. This is why it is crucial to train train train train with the weapon or weapons that you use for home defense! Do not be caught in a high stress situation fumbling to find the safety or trying to rack a pump action shotgun only to not be able to find the action bar release in the dark.
4. Finally you must engage the threat.
You may still choose to issue a verbal warning. On the other hand, you may not have that time. Rely on your training and engage the threat. And don’t let your guard down. You must confront the threat with violence. By that I mean you become the aggressor and the only thing that should be on your mind at this point is stopping the threat. This is not TV. This is the real deal and you must win this fight. There are no rules, no sympathy or second chances!
If you are forced to shoot an intruder, remember he or she may not be alone. There may be others in the house, or there may be accomplices outside the house.
Don’t become complacent until the authorities have relieved you!
Conclusions
This by no means is an in-depth study but is meant only to lay a ground work to encourage you to start thinking seriously about your home defense plan and to make sure that above all else….DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY!
You need to train. Arming yourself is only part of the process. While spending time at your local gun range will help with basic shooting skills, you should also practice tactics and strategies in your home. And as always if you practice with a firearm MAKE SURE IT IS UNLOADED!
Look for opportunities to train in your areas. Many providers of force on force training will help you simulate real life scenarios, and can do more for mental preparation than simply shooting at stationary targets. If nothing else get a few people together and start talking home defense plans and share ideas and strategies.
However you choose to approach your training and preparations, do it safely. But prepare both physically and mentally and hopefully you’ll never have to test your abilities.
BamaCarry believes that every home should be protected and we are here to help point you in the right direction.
Visit BamaCarry @ www.bamacarry.org
