Home Turf: Plan for the Worst

Editor’s Note: The following is a syndicated article by author John Caile that first appeared in USCCA’s Concealed Carry Magazine Volume 14, Issue 7, April 2017 under the title, “Home Turf: Plan for the Worst.” 

As a firearms instructor, I have had literally hundreds of discussions with individuals and groups.

In some ways, the term “home defense” is somewhat misleading — “self-defense in the home” would be more accurate. After all, what we are truly concerned about is not the home itself but the safety of the people inside of it.

Watch interviews with individuals who’ve had their homes destroyed by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or wildfires. These survivors all tend to express the same sentiment: “Yeah, the house is gone, but thankfully, none of us were hurt.” It’s simply a reality of human nature that only when the worst happens do we realize what matters most to us.

Now there’s nothing wrong with protecting our possessions; that’s why we have safes and insurance policies. But defense in the home should be focused on protecting human life rather than property.

Get into Character

Start by looking at your residence from the viewpoint of a criminal. Do you live in an apartment or condo? If so, is it on the ground floor or an upper floor? Does your building have secure entrances which require a key or magnetic card for entry, or can just anyone walk in, day or night?

If you live in a single-family home or townhouse, how many entry points does it have? If there is a backyard, is it fenced? Excessive landscaping can provide cover for someone intent on burglary … or worse.

Lighting is another issue. In apartments and condos, if you see too many dark areas, express your concerns, in writing, to the property managers. For homes and townhouses, installing motion-sensitive lighting is a relatively inexpensive way to deter potential threats. I know of several neighbors who have infrared trail cameras set up to capture late-night interlopers.

Get to know your neighbors. Especially in multi-unit residences, knowing who is literally a few steps away from you is important. On the plus side, you can keep an eye on each other’s homes, and it might alert you to potential “problem” neighbors.

By the way, many local police or sheriff’s departments will often be willing to do a “walkaround” and point out some of the less obvious weak spots in your property. If possible, arrange such an assessment.

The Basics

It sounds almost absurdly obvious, but having good locks is essential. However, they only work if you actually use them. The number of robberies and sexual assaults that occur simply because people forget (or neglect) to lock their doors is staggering. In fact, police reports show that one of the most common points of entry for invaders is through an unlocked sliding glass patio door.

Home alarm systems are simpler, more effective and more affordable than ever. Some include surveillance cameras; consider using them, with or without monitoring services. As with most things in life, prevention beats cure, so deterrence of an attack in the first place is better in pretty much every conceivable way than having to engage in a gunfight.

Dogs are another great deterrent. Interviews with criminals in prison have shown that they all hate dogs. Even a small one can inflict a nasty bite, not to mention alert neighbors. Here again, think like a criminal: Would you want to risk meeting someone’s not-so-friendly Rottweiler? Even if you don’t have a dog, a “Beware of Dog” sign (better yet, an “I Love My Pit Bull” sign) can be an effective deterrent. And if you have a yard, a large water dish with a name like Magnum or Odin painted on the side can be remarkably effective, all for just a couple of bucks.

Any Time is Crime Time

One of the most common mistakes that people make is assuming that bad things only happen at night, and this is partly caused by media brain-washing. Whether a TV drama or a commercial for an alarm service, the scenario always unfolds in the dark, and the “bad guy” is invariably dressed in black, wearing a ski mask and usually carrying a tire iron. It’s literally become a cliché; all he’s missing is the black-and-white-striped “burglar shirt.”

Reality is quite different. Back when I lived in the Chicago area, one serial rapist limited his attacks to midday hours, usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. He would first scout a subdivision to determine which residences contained women who were always home alone during the day (often “work-at-home” moms). He attacked and victimized dozens of women over several months.

In his mid-30s, he would dress in a jogging suit and running shoes, fitting in perfectly with the upscale neighborhood where joggers were a common sight. After forcing his way in and assaulting the women, he left them tied up and gagged. When he was finally caught and interrogated, he told the police that all he had to do was knock, because “80 percent of the time, they just opened the door.”

But what was particularly illuminating was that at least two of his victims testified that they had firearms in the house. Unfortunately, in both instances, the guns were tucked away in their bedrooms. As we’ve seen all too many times, merely owning a gun is not enough.

Have a Plan

It’s a good idea to establish family safety protocols, especially if you have teenagers. Make sure everyone, friends included, who has access to your home knows the “house rules” about entering, particularly late at night (such as always immediately identifying themselves), as well as other basic dos and don’ts. One of the most important of these is to never open the door to a stranger, even during the daytime and certainly not because he or she simply looks or sounds “legit.”

Even an official-looking uniform with an I.D. card is no guarantee. Sexual predators have impersonated delivery people, utility workers and even cops. If someone shows up without you requesting his or her presence, ask who he or she represents and call the company before opening the door. Doing so only takes a moment, and it can prevent a lifetime of tragedy.

It’s important here to distinguish between “burglars” and truly terrifying home invaders. Burglars just want stuff; they don’t want to confront a homeowner, especially one who might be armed. As a result, you are unlikely to encounter a burglar except by chance, like if you unexpectedly come home sick in the middle of the day. Though such encounters can turn violent, most actual burglars would rather flee than fight.

The ones we need to be the most concerned about are the truly evil actors, the sexual predators and violent sociopaths. Unlike burglars, these ruthless creatures actually hope you are home … for reasons darker than most of us would care to imagine.

Legally Speaking

OK, you lock your doors, you have an alarm system, you have a dog (or appear to) and you have established safety rules and procedures for everyone in the household. What else should you do to protect yourself, especially when it comes to the legal system?

Keep your guns properly stored when not in use. If you have children but want your gun instantly available, consider one of those quick-release gun safes — I recommend the mechanical (number-coded) versions, since, when you go analog, you don’t have to worry about dead batteries.

Have a high-intensity flashlight alongside (or attached to) your in-home firearm. It can temporarily blind an attacker, and, even more importantly, it will help you see what you are about to shoot, which can prevent you from making a terrible mistake. When creeping around armed in the dark, too many people have unintentionally shot intoxicated neighbors or, worse, their own children. Simple as it sounds, a strong light absolutely must be part of your home-defense equipment.

Your Home is Not a ‘Free Fire’ Zone

Be warned that, contrary to some internet myths, while statutes like the Castle Doctrine are good ideas, they do not represent “get-out-of-jail-free” cards. All common-law self-defense principles still apply. Numerous cases of homeowners shooting and killing persons in their residences have resulted in manslaughter and even murder charges. In one case, a homeowner was convicted because he ambushed two unarmed teenagers. In another, the homeowner unnecessarily left the safety of his domicile to “investigate” a noise out in the garage, ending with him shooting yet another unarmed youth.

In one bizarre case, a man went further, setting a trap in his detached garage, complete with motion detectors and a woman’s purse as “bait.” When he left his house and ended up killing a young man in the garage, he too was convicted of murder. Remember, statutes (or even “case law”) won’t be determining your guilt — a jury will.

Finally, before the worst happens, make sure you know exactly how to call 911 and what to say (and not say) when the police arrive. And, of course, have a criminal defense attorney’s number in your cellphone and in your wallet, and call them immediately after you call 911. Then, follow your attorney’s instructions to the letter.

Lethal force, even in the home, should always be a last resort. Be prepared. Be smart. Be safe.

Discover how you can join nearly 300,000 responsibly armed Americans who already rely on the USCCA to protect their families, futures and freedoms: USCCA.com/gunsamerica.

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