So, I'm reading on Facebook a series of posts from an old high school buddy on how his wife was attacked in their neighborhood yesterday. They got the perp, but lo and behold, he happens to live in the same hood. So, he's going to have to worry about this eventually when the thug gets out / off / escapes or whatever.
Someone suggested in comments that he get a shotgun, and while I'd love to chime in and agree, I can't.
Now, I've not spoken with this guy since I was in school and I cannot tell you if he already has a firearm for home protection or not, but I'd like to use this example to dispel a myth unfortunately perpetuated by many gun owners.
Getting a shotgun isn't going to keep you safe. It's not a magical talisman that wards off evil spirits. The only thing it does is help give you the advantage you need to survive a fight.
Before one thinks about getting any firearm for home defense, they should ask themselves a few questions
The first one is a doozey. I don't personally ever want to cause another human being's death, but I won't hesitate to protect my family. Their lives are more important than the lives of those who would try to harm them. I've gone through the scenarios over and over in my mind to prepare myself mentally in case I'm ever in a situation. The last thing you want to do in self defense is hesitate because you're not sure you can do it. Holding a gun you are unwilling to fire is more dangerous than not having it at all.
Again, with emphasis – You do not shoot to kill. You shoot (and continue shooting) until the threat is neutralized. If that happens to end in the death of your attacker, that is not anything you can help. Unfortunately, life is not like the movies and we're not all crack shots that can shoot the gun out of the thug's hands then knock him or her down with follow ups to the knees. The easiest places to hit also contain the most organs that, if hit, can lead to death. Are you mentally prepared to accept that outcome?
The second is vital to understand, because without the knowledge on how to operate your firearm, you may find yourself in a situation and not be able to put rounds on target. A jam could happen, the gun may not fire (is the safety off? Is it loaded?), or you may not realize that your shots are going through your walls and into your neighbor's residence.
Training is important. Hit the range every few months at the least. Make sure you can not only handle the recoil of your weapon (a shotgun can kick like a mule), but that you're able to accurately put the rounds on the target. A miss with a 12 gauge is still a miss. Then, since you are responsible for every projectile that leaves your firearm, you need to know what lies behind your target. Bullets go through things, and that includes walls.
Finally, you need to make sure your weapons are safely stored. This doesn't mean ammo in one room, firing pin removed and locked in the attic, and the weapon disassembled and stored in a locked container. This means you have it where you can reach it when needed and in a state that will not get in the way come time for it. Trigger locks are great for guns you do not use for self defense, but when someone breaks in at 3 AM, that is not the time to try to fumble with a key.
You are responsible for that gun, make sure kids can't get to it. If you have children, make sure they are aware of what to do if they find a firearm. You teach them to not talk to strangers, to not play with knives or the chemicals under the sink, make sure you keep them safe around firearms.
Back to the main point, at the time of an emergency, none of this is helpful if you've not prepared for it. This is stuff you have to do well ahead of time. Statistically, you'll never need it, and that's a good thing, but for people like my friend (and even myself), statistics don't mean shit when it happens to you.
I hope my buddy's wife is ok and I hope there is no more trouble. If he hasn't already considered a firearm for home defense, I hope that he considers what I've mentioned above before he commits to it.
Any thoughts or suggestions?