Tools for home defense
Okay, I'll be stomping some toes, but if You know me in any way, You would know that I will not allow people to be misguided or get into a world of trouble as a result of any form of ignorance or lack of relevance. As I'm sure you know (otherwise you probably need to watch the news more often), the occurrence of home-invasions is increasing and the severity of it as well. Often a lot of friends and family members will advise you on a bunch of crap they use to smash in an intruder's face. Which is fine, in a sense, but is it as safe and effective as it could be? Sadly my friends and family members never gave me any proper advice on that matter most of them sounded purely insane or made me cringe (in a bad way).
So on that thought, Id, like to cover some basic tools every home should have handy. At least for 2 family members as well. And please do not stash your weapons and ammunition all over the damned home! You never know when, where, and at what time an intruder is willing to pop through your window for a surprise visit! And then, having stashed your weapons all over the home, you might find the least lethal weapon you can access facing a more lethal threat at hand! It's been seen over and over again that these invasions happen when least expected!
What is a home invasion?
A home invasion is not a normal type of crime, it is much more violent. Mostly committed by more seasoned criminals. A home invasion can turn very violent. With almost all home invasions the intruders have gained access using force, such as prying open a burglar bar or smashing in a window and even kicking down doors. Then they pull out their preferred weapons (force multiplier), usually a firearm or knife, they like to tie up the victims and beat them up for information on safes and other valuable items. In a worst-case scenario, women and children are raped and someone loses their lives. As such, you should take much more care to prepare for such a threat.
What type of tools should you have?
- Flashlight with strobe and stun function
- Force multiplier (Weapon of choice eg. a Firearm, Pepper spray, or Baseball bat.)
- Bulletproof vest
- Emergency phone
- Medical kit
- Tactical mindset - use your brain!
These are not necessarily in order of importance, as you will have to rely on your skills and tactics to make things effective. If you're not trained in using a piece of equipment, then you should first seek some guidance and training. It is of no use if your out in the open swinging baseball bats and an intruder whips out a 9mm. Force either needs force or equally effective tactics to stop it. If handing over your car keys will save a family member's life, do it. If it would more likely lead to a family member's death or dare I say it, rape, then do not do it! Of course, you need to be ready to engage with all your might when that situation occurs.
Conclusion:
Having different types of equipment is not nearly as effective as having the proper training and mindset to go with it. Will tools save your life? No, your tools alone probably won't. But using them in the right combination will undoubtedly increase your chances of survival! The real solution lies in the plans you put in place for the tools and tactics you wish to use. Laws differ from country to country and state to state, making it easier or more complicated for some. Your job is to keep on learning and find a way to work around the barriers you face. Until then, keep safe and look out for coming posts on some tools I recommend.