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Saturday morning in Gatlinburg, a homeowner was shot in the leg by home invaders.
The invaders were armed with semiautomatic handguns, according to WATE in Knoxville, and the suspects made off with the victiim's car, a 2003 Olds sedan, with a Tennessee tag:
824 WTT (If you see this car, call 911)
Home invaders don't call ahead, so it is your responsibility to be prepared when they come calling.
In my last article on home invasions, I talked about a selection of handguns that can be used effectively to combat invaders. Long guns, too, can be effectively used. From the simple to the sublime, long guns include everything from a .22 single shot, to the AR-15, to 12 guage shotguns.
There is such a large selection of long guns, I will discuss a few with some pros and cons of each type.
The .22 rifle is available in single shot, bolt action, lever action, autoloader, and pump. Probably the most popular autoloader in recent years is the Ruger 10-22. It comes in endless variety from plain vanilla to totally tricked out. Aftermarket parts and accessories are available to the limit of your budget. Other rifles are available from Marlin, Henry, Remington, and other makers.
.22 's are inexpensive to buy and feed, but have relatively low power. In spite of this, bullets can travel a long way through windows and walls.
High power rifles may include anything from the AR-15 in .223/5.56 caliber, to the 30-30 deer rifle, to a bolt action hunting rifle. Bullets from many of these will easily penetrate multiple walls, so must be carefully considered. The .223 tends to break up and lose energy after hitting a wall, but even then, if it goes through, it has enough energy to damage innocent people outside. Rule four must be observed.
Shotguns come in multiple action types, the pump action probably being the most popular as a home-defense weapon. There are also autoloaders, and the traditional double barrels. Ammo choices include bird shot, buck shot, and slugs. Slugs are not a good choice for the home, because of their ability to over-penetrate walls, also. Ditto buckshot. Bird shot, on the other hand, can be devestating at typical indoor distances, yet the small pellets are less likely to carry much energy beyond the walls.
At indoor distances, shotguns need to be aimed just like rifles. The pattern is so tight that it is otherwise too easy to miss.
The racking of a pump shotgun has been known to send invaders to the next county; but you can't depend on that noise to always work. So, as with any defensive firearm, you must make up your mind ahead of time whether or not you will use it.
Sights must be considered with shotgun or rifle. Avoid multiple power scopes for home defense. Iron sights, lasers, or red dot sights are best at such close ranges.
In practically all jurisdictions in the United States, deadly force is legal to defend one's home. It is legal to own handguns, rifles or shotguns in most. Recently in Chicago, where handguns are banned, two residents in separate incidents used handguns against home invaders. I am guessing that charges will not be filed against them.... and be looking for a ruling from the Supremes in the McDonald v Chicago case within the next couple of weeks.
If you enjoyed or learned from this article, here are more you might like:
Home invasions are getting too common - are you prepared?
Home invasions are getting too common - are you prepared? - part 2
Home invasions are getting too common - are you prepared? - part 3
Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gunrights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.
Comments
I would think a derringer in some caliber like a 32 or 38 caliber might be better.It is a close quarter gun but easily to conceal in your hand in case the party at the door is legitimate. Quick to use if it is tucked in your hand. The limitation is the two shots. The other is a airweight S&W in the same caliber that tucks into the back pocket easily. If the intruders are already in the house then a riot shotgun with an 18&1/2 inch barrel pump action(Mossberg 500 with pistol grip) comes in pretty handy. Six 12 gauge shots should discourage anyone from coming down the hallway. Just my suggestion.
Birdshot is for little birds. Use buckshot for bad guys.
www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot22_2.htm
Any effective self-defense round will also penetrate walls.
Birdshot at indoor distances is a semi solid mass and will blow a hole the size of a softball through the chest of a home invader. Struck at any appreciable angle it will however not penetrate a plaster and lathe interior wall. Does do quite a job at stripping the plaster down to bare wood though.
Thing is, any gun is better than no gun in a crisis if and only if you are willing and prepared to use it. Otherwise reinforce a safe room door and hope the 911 response time is short enough to do you some good. A firearm is not a magic wand, it's a power tool with a fairly long reach, and careless or improper use of tools has done more injury than all other accidents combined.
Learn and practice point and shoot. Most self defense shootings occur at close range and very quickly. You will most likely not have time or need to use any sort of sights on your defensive gun, though it is good to practice with them as well, of course.
As others have said, the most important thing needed to prepare for armed self defense is the mindset. You must already have made up your mind to do whatever is necessary to defend your life and that of your loved ones. You won't have time to debate it when confronted with someone who HAS made up his/her mind to kill - for whatever reason.
Summer = Walther PPS
Winter = Glock 19
War = .45
Always be safe and Always be ready!
Re the McDonald v. Chicago case, I'm predicting SCOTUS will issue its opinion on June 24, with a vote of 6-3, to strike down the ban. I think Justice Ginsberg will vote to incorporate with the five justices who voted for individual 2A rights in the Heller decision.
There IS one other facet, if I may. SOME home invaders wear body armor, kick in the (wrong) door and immediately look for dogs to kill / children to terrorize. They MAY have badges, who knows? If your door is kicked in, WILL you wait to see who's storming in? Will you assume that a badge or marked windbreaker are genuine? Or assume that they are props of the kind picked up at flea markets, or costume shops? You have less than three seconds from the first sound and splintering of the door, to decide and act.
IF you - like myself - have NO intention of waiting to see whether you & your family are killed by criminals, or just get a form letter apology from some LEOswatties for killing your pet and coming to the wrong house - then you DO want something that will penetrate body armor which, to me, indicates rifle calibers. A simple 30-30 will work, if you don't have the bucks for AR types; also, a 7.62 from an AK or SKS. My old 308 is ready to go.
Put the tangoes down first; ID them lat
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