Owning a firearm for home defense is a serious responsibility. But a gun is only one part of protecting your family, and it should be the last resort. The best home-defense plan is a layered one, designed so you never have to fire a shot.
Layer 1: Make your home a hard target
- Lights. Motion-activated exterior lights deter intruders.
- Locks. Use solid-core exterior doors, deadbolts with long screws in the strike plate and secure sliding doors with a bar.
- Alarms and cameras. A visible alarm sign and cameras discourage break-ins and give early warning.
- Landscaping. Trim bushes near windows and doors so there’s nowhere to hide.
- Dogs. A barking dog is one of the best early-warning systems there is.
Layer 2: Have a family plan
Everyone in the home should know what to do if someone breaks in:
- Pick a safe room, usually the room where the children sleep or a central bedroom, where the family gathers.
- Decide who calls 911 and keep a phone in the safe room.
- Set a rule: family members stay put. No one wanders the house.
- Practice it. A plan you’ve never practiced won’t work under stress.
Layer 3: Defend, don’t search
Clearing a house is extremely dangerous, even for trained police teams. In most cases, the safer choice is to gather your family in the safe room, call 911, take a defensible position covering the door and wait. Let police search the house.
Layer 4: The firearm
- Choose a gun you can operate well under stress, whether a pistol, shotgun or rifle.
- Add a weapon light so you can identify who is in front of you.
- Store it securely, accessible to you and inaccessible to children and unauthorized people. Quick-access safes are designed for exactly this.
- Know your home’s walls. Bullets can pass through interior walls. Know where family members sleep and consider your angles.
- Follow the rules: treat every gun as loaded, keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot, and be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.
Layer 5: Training and the law
Take a defensive firearms class, and learn your state’s laws on the use of force in the home. Knowing when you can and can’t use deadly force matters as much as knowing how to shoot.
After an incident
If you ever have to use a firearm in self-defense, call 911, follow police instructions, and contact a lawyer before giving a detailed statement. Many gun owners carry self-defense legal coverage for this reason.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
