There’s a lot “wrong” with this video. I’m a home carry advocate, but who sleeps with a revolver in his hand? (Well, this was in South Africa.) Why did the lady defender stand there like a lemon when the bad guys were out and about? (MOVE!) Why didn’t anyone call 911 immediately? Who doesn’t edit out five minutes of irrelevant feline footage from destined-for-viral YouTube “I almost shot someone” video? Anyway, none of that really matters – save the boring catasthenics and the fact that the good guys won and the bad guys didn’t. Result! Only why not avoid this scenario in the first place . . .
It can’t be said enough: the only gunfight you’re guaranteed to win is the one you don’t have. If you can escape or evade an attack and/or ensuing defensive gun use, do so. (If nothing else you’ll avoid a TON of paperwork.) Which is why I advise newbies aspiring to armed home defense to get back to me after they buy an alarm system and put some stickers on their doors and windows.
If you have an alarm sign or sticker on your house or apartment, chances are burglarly-oriented bad guys will opt for a different target. If your alarm system goes off when they enter, chances are they’ll leave. Yup. Just like that. Mind you, it’s “chances are” not “always” . . .
If a home invader is a professional who wants exactly what you’ve got, they may savvy enough to disconnect your alarm system. If they’re someone with a vendetta (i.e. a psycho), they may not care about your alarm system – and force you to call off the police. These horrific scenarios are unlikely, but worthy of consideration. As is the option of owning a dog, who’s not as easily disconnected.
Anyway, an alarm system isn’t just a deterrent. It’s . . . wait for it . . . an alarm. A literal wake-up call to occupants to get their you-know-what together and deal with an impending threat.
Armed self-defenders often worry about the speed of their response. Will I be quick enough? As any sixth grader will tell you, speed = distance / time. The more time you have to do something in your own defense – from getting your glasses and gun to calling 911 – the greater the distance to the threat and the less speed you need to deal with it.
An alarm is the gift of time.
Remember: it needn’t be a sophisticated system; main door and window alarms can be enough. It needn’t be connected to a monitoring company; that middle-of-the-crisis ringing phone (to see if you’re alright) can be a real PITA, and you can call 911 just as fast or faster your ADT BFFs. And it needn’t be nighttime-only deal (panic buttons are a thing).
I know there are readers who want to shoot home invaders should they appear. I fully appreciate the life-saving qualities of rage. (The main reason it exists.) But really, why shoot your gun if you don’t have to? But an alarm system. Use it. Keep calm and carry on.