A Georgia mother grabbed her gun and nine-year old twins and hid in an attic as an intruder forced his way into her home, and then shot him after he stumbled onto their hiding place, according to multiple media reports.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the intruder began knocking on the door. The mother told her children not to answer. When the visitor began repeatedly ringing the doorbell, she called her husband at work.
“Get the kids and hide,” he told his wife.
As he dialed 911, his 37-year-old spouse, who works from home, collected the children and hid with them in a crawlspace adjoining her office.
The intruder rummaged through the home, eventually working his way up to the attic office. When he opened the closet where the family was hiding, the woman fired six bullets at the suspect, five of which hit alleged suspect Paul Ali Slater in the face and neck area.
She tried to avoid using the weapon by hiding, but when faced with a threat to her safety and that of her children, she did what she had to do.
Many gun owners say this is the reason they own a firearm, but what if you don't have a gun?
What are you going to do if you end up facing a similar situation?
While there is no single best way to respond to a potentially dangerous situation such as this you need to consider possible actions you or your children would be willing and able to take in an emergency.
1. If a stranger knocks at your door what should you do? See who it is, preferably through a peephole in the door or by looking out a window.
2. You don't know the person. You could ask who it is and what they want, but don't open the door! If it is a burglar they will probably leave when they realize someone is home.
3. What if you choose not to answer and they continue knocking, or ringing the doorbell more than 3 or 4 times? If you don't know the person and don't want to answer then immediately call the police and report it. Burglars will make a lot of noise before they break in. They don't want to be surprised by the owner.
4. The intruder begins trying to force open the door or window? Call 911 immediately and leave out a door or window opposite from the one the intruder is trying to break into.
5. I can't leave because of health issues, young children, etc. Take the phone to a room with a door that locks and has furniture or items that you can use to barricade the door. Call 911 and tell them where in the house you are located and your description. Check around the room for items that you might use to defend yourself. One woman grabbed a bedpost and hit her assailant on the head and escaped.
Being prepared for an emergency is best, so develop an escape plan. You should already have one in place in case of fire.
If you have children make sure to role-play an emergency situation with them. This will help to determine if your plan will actually work and will give you and your kids some experience responding to an emergency.
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