Home Defense... My thoughts... Very Long

[Ksail101]

Wow great ideas everyone.

Code word or saying something to alert those in other rooms, is something I will work with. My biggest fear is my trying to do good puts the ones I love in danger. Like the part of Bad Guy running in occupied room. So a word or two would be good.

And I was happy to hear someone else say stashing guns is dumb. I hear of people doing this and it never makes sense cause I feel they will end up in the wrong hands being used against me. So the same gun goes on the nightstand every night and the its size ammo around the house.

A grab bag is a good idea for a problem that you may have some warning to. I do have a backpack that I have water, some canned food blanket, a box of bullets, a knife, flashlight, and lighter in. I always have it hanging in easy reach at the front of my closet by my shoes on a hook. But I dont think it will be on my mind for the quick reaction. But it is good to have. I know I will be oaky for a night if trouble is on the way and I need to go.

I have had this fear that America is more vulnerable than ever and war here on our soil is more real than ever. It sucks to think about but our enimies see us as being our weakest rightnow. I live in a major port city on the coast and know that where I live is a strategic point to caputure. We have many landing strips and airplane hangers with Boeing, and wonderful water front for a navy to use. So It is a real thing I think about. I believe that America has the best Militia and we all would give anyone some hell but still it could get shaky. So with alot of our military deployed you or I could very well be the groud pounder.

[twyacht]

Hey Ksail, as far as a foreign incursion, a Japanese general shortly after Pearl Harbor, stated an invasion of mainland USA would never work because there would be guns behind every blade of grass.

Hopefully, that still holds true in the eyes of the world today.

The threat from within concerns me more. I too live in a coastal town with a military ammo storage facility and a few bases very close by. The current economic times can make BG's more desperate, home invasions, B&E's, car jackings, etc,..

All the more reason to "keep that situational awareness", but you already have been there done that!

These are the times we're all in, and its great to share with others the things that count in the defense of our family, property, and inalienable rights in our own home.

Take Care.

[tombogan03884]

Ksail, that was a plan that alot of people need to realize when and if that bump in the night is a real threat.  Robert Pincus of the Valhalla Combat Focus Shooting Center, has a DVD series, (or a couple thousand bucks to spend a week at his Colorado center), going over exactly what you covered. If you get a chance, he gives out a free DVD that cover SD ammo in the home and other important issues that can save one's life.

The big "BUT" that changes equations, are for some, "the kids", for those that have kids in another section of the house, confronting and letting loose on a BG can have consequences.

As my son is older, 13,  I have told him to listen for my "Code Red", its a word or two that lets him know, in the middle of the night, to get on the floor as I will be aiming waist or chest high. It would be totally different with toddlers or younger children.

So many factors involved, but I can get around my house in the dark, I know where the chair leg sticks out, and the sideboard takes a little off the hallway corner, the BG doesn't.  That is my advantage.

I hope you and all on this forum never have to engage a BG in one' own home, but the BG will "Rue The Day!" if he comes in mine.

Great post, It gives me chills because I have had a Close Encounter with a B&E, but "it" ran away, thanks to my dog and a verbal threat from me.   Adrenalin, fear, and most important, state of mind, focus, training, and a heap of practice, DO make a difference.

Stay Safe

Tom W

Just walk around you house barefoot in the dark, you WILL find ALL that stuff 

On one of the podcasts MB talks about going through his homes with an airsoft gun checking sightlines, choke points etc.

[shooter32]

Well thought out, Ksail.

I would like to also recommend setting up a "safe room" in your house (designated room everyone runs to when you yell "safe room"). have safe room drills just like fire drills. As Gunman1911 stated...put solid doors with deadbolts on the safe room. I would also like to recommend some items for the safe room...12 gauge pump (unmistakable sound that means business), cell phone (an old phone with no service can still call 911), and an extra set of keys for the front door (this is so you can chuck the keys out the window when the police arrive...beats them kicking in the front door).

Just my two cents.

cz,I'm thinking of setting up a safe room do you have any "do or don'ts" ?

[unique]

Just a quick point, and maybe a picky one.  You used the term "cover", and I think when talking about walls, the best term is "concealment".  For a doorway, you probably have two studs (3"), then drywall.  Outside corners, at an angle, maybe seven inches in of studs, maybe not.  Depending on what your attacker is using, a stud may not stop a bullet, and drywall sure won't.
We tend to think of our homes as "protection" when really all they do is cover our movements, they can be, as the western writers say "shot to doll rags" with very little effort.
Art

[Sponsor]

[JohnJacobH]

Taking the Fight Outside.

Yesterday while I had some down time I decided, instead of wasting time watching John Wayne beat Scar the evil Chief in The Searchers, I would go through my house again with a tactical mind set to find fields of fire and cover. If I should ever encounter a time when I must shoot my out or protect someone in my house I want to have the upper hand by knowing where to go and what I can use. Instead of improvising.


I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on what to do. Dont know what but HD has really been on my mind lately.

The amount of thought you have put into this is impressive and puts you way ahead of the game. 

The late Colonel Jeff Cooper did some work on what he referred to as "defensive urban architecture" and there are magazine articles where he demonstrated how to control access to secure areas of the house and make sure everyone one is safe.

The real problem is threats and  bad guys come in all shapes and flavors.  Two examples would be the case of Elizabeth Smart:

Link:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWDBkITE5OU&NR=1

And of course, the tragic case of Mary Carpenter's Grandchildren:

Link:

http://johnjacobh.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/merced-pitchfork-murders-part-1/

Link:

http://johnjacobh.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/merced-pitchfork-murders-part-2/

Warning: not for the faint hearted.

To get into an extended firefight with an unknown number assailants in the middle of the night in your own home  is pretty far down the list of probabilities unless your name is David Koresh or Randy Weaver.

There are trainers on this board who could probably give some basics about where your focus should be to make sure you and your family emerge from any threat intact and unharmed. 

Definitely a safe room should be numero uno on the list with a drill so everyone understands what to do when the siren sounds.

The entire family should be involved in discussions about what to do and how to do it when trouble comes a-calling.

In my house we NEVER answer the door directly. Even if we are downstairs we ALWAYS run to the upstairs window and answer it from there.  A small simple habit that has become ingrained in everyone's consciousness which has cut short many discussions with annoying salesmen who provide us all with handy intermittent  impromptu rehearsals.

A good way to initiate family discussions is to find examples from the paper or news and in a casual conversational manner talk about what could have been done differently in that situation or how to avoid the problem altogether whether you are in your home, at work, on the street, in a mall or hotel or traveling on our public highways.

Just a few observations.

Best regards,

[gunman1911]

Just a quick point, and maybe a picky one.  You used the term "cover", and I think when talking about walls, the best term is "concealment".  For a doorway, you probably have two studs (3"), then drywall.  Outside corners, at an angle, maybe seven inches in of studs, maybe not.  Depending on what your attacker is using, a stud may not stop a bullet, and drywall sure won't.
We tend to think of our homes as "protection" when really all they do is cover our movements, they can be, as the western writers say "shot to doll rags" with very little effort.
Art

I am kind of luck in the wall aspect as my house was built around a log cabin and the walls are at least a foot thick, The reason I stated that ALL bedroom doors should be solid with dead bolt lock and I am the only one with the keys is that if Mr. Bad guy is down the hall between me and the rooms that you want to evacuate they will be safe until the situation can be approperatly handled .

[Ksail101]

JohnJacobH- Thank you very much for all the info there. I try to read as much as I can so I really find that these links will help.

I cant remember who commented on my Cover term. I couldn't think of a better word at the time, but I hope I made it clear that really it is a place for me to get to help protect me best that it can. No where is perfect unless it was built spec. for a shooting situation. But thank you for pointing that out. Some people may think that cause they are behind a wall they are ok. Over seas I saw many people shot threw the ottter wall of a house. So no most walls will not stop a bullet.

[Teresa Heilevang]

You know.. I am just reading all of this and sitting her with my mouth open. I am so impressed!
I have done NONE of this. Oh sure, I have my 9mm by my bed.. but I have not planned or thought about any of this kind of stuff. maybe it is because I live in a very teeny rural community and it is so quiet and the most crime we get in town is someone trying to maybe steal your lawn mower gas can. There are people in the country that get their barns broke into and tack and chainsaws stolen.. but honestly.. crime here is very low. I just don't think about a scenario in my home where I would have to go to those lengths.
 Maybe I better though as the way things are going .. this sleepy little town.. which is only 90 miles from Wichita Ks (aircraft capitol )
may not be so sleepy in the near future.
 
Thanks Ksail and everyone for posting great information. Stuff like this is invaluable.   

[gunman1911]

I am glad to see that with all the combined knowladge of the members that we take advantage of it and would also like to take the time to thank everyone who responeds. It is one of the resones that makes this site so great!