Years ago, my family and I lived in a rough part of New Jersey. We lived in a large home with no way to protect ourselves (if you think MA gun laws are bad try a stint in NJ). Unfortunately, we would often be awaken by sounds in the middle of the night. Over the course of 2 years most were false alarms...only one was likely an attempted forced entry. I distinctly remember the fear I felt being responsible for the protection of my family and only having a can of bear spray (bad idea for indoor use) and a 4 inch knife.
For the past 4 years I have lived in Mass. Last night, for the first time, there was an incident at my home. A little after 12am, as I was upstairs getting ready for bed, I heard a loud sound...seemed like someone kicking a door. Somewhat in disbelief, I grabbed my Glock 27 and went downstairs to investigate. I checked the basement door (it is a folding door), front and rear door. I began to doubt that I ever heard anything and went back to bed.
However, while I was up stairs I heard another loud sound. This time I knew I heard it. It sounded as if someone had made a basement entry and was trying to force the basement folding door open. My next actions made this situation very different from my life in NJ.
Utilizing a quick release wall safe I grabbed my 16” AR equipped with a surefire light and a 20 round mag. I then proceeded to make sure that all my kids were in bed...then I drew back on the charging handle chambering a round.
As I went down the stairs in a ready firing position I was not scared. I knew that I had the right tool to give any threat to my family a bad time. After throughly checking the house, I could not find any evidence that there was an attempted entry. I do not know what the sounds I heard were.
Lessons learned...
I am so very thankful to have the ability to have the defensive tool of my choice for the protection of my family. Having been in similar situations with out the proper tools I can tell you having a full equipped AR-15 makes all the difference in the world.
I also realized that I have to do more training shooting at a low ready. Navigating my small house with a 16” AR would not allow me to bring the rifle to my shoulder.
Since I had time, I should have taken an additional 30 round mag with me. Not knowing what was awaiting me downstairs...two is better than one.
This next lesson came as a surprise to me. I had always figured that if I was in such a situation I would simply wait upstairs, with my rifle, and call 911 if an aggressor made certain entry. What seemed reasonable in peace time did not work out the way I had planned.
Heres why... The idea that I spend, who knows how much time, sweating and listening for the slightest sound is not a good option. In this situation it turned out that there was no aggressor. That means I could have spent an hour listening and losing several years off my life because of nerves.
I also was not expecting visitors to my home. It was possible that I had left as a few mags or rounds lying around. If the police came into my home I may have opened myself up to problems. Now in retrospect there was nothing in my house like that...however, I feared, at the time, to take the chance of becoming an “unsuitable” person.
In conclusion let reiterate that I was not scared as I had been in other situations...my actions were somewhat automatic. I believe I had the training, equipment, and drive necessary to meet the task at hand. There is no doubt that if a psychopath did break into my home, knowing that my vehicles were in the yard...his desire would have been to hurt my family. And it is also true that in combat victory is never certain.
However, if you are a betting man, I say place your money on the man who will do anything to protect his family. My point is that I was more motivated and likely better armed than any adversary could have been. I believe that the drive to protect life is far greater than the desire to maliciously hurt others.
For the past 4 years I have lived in Mass. Last night, for the first time, there was an incident at my home. A little after 12am, as I was upstairs getting ready for bed, I heard a loud sound...seemed like someone kicking a door. Somewhat in disbelief, I grabbed my Glock 27 and went downstairs to investigate. I checked the basement door (it is a folding door), front and rear door. I began to doubt that I ever heard anything and went back to bed.
However, while I was up stairs I heard another loud sound. This time I knew I heard it. It sounded as if someone had made a basement entry and was trying to force the basement folding door open. My next actions made this situation very different from my life in NJ.
Utilizing a quick release wall safe I grabbed my 16” AR equipped with a surefire light and a 20 round mag. I then proceeded to make sure that all my kids were in bed...then I drew back on the charging handle chambering a round.
As I went down the stairs in a ready firing position I was not scared. I knew that I had the right tool to give any threat to my family a bad time. After throughly checking the house, I could not find any evidence that there was an attempted entry. I do not know what the sounds I heard were.
Lessons learned...
I am so very thankful to have the ability to have the defensive tool of my choice for the protection of my family. Having been in similar situations with out the proper tools I can tell you having a full equipped AR-15 makes all the difference in the world.
I also realized that I have to do more training shooting at a low ready. Navigating my small house with a 16” AR would not allow me to bring the rifle to my shoulder.
Since I had time, I should have taken an additional 30 round mag with me. Not knowing what was awaiting me downstairs...two is better than one.
This next lesson came as a surprise to me. I had always figured that if I was in such a situation I would simply wait upstairs, with my rifle, and call 911 if an aggressor made certain entry. What seemed reasonable in peace time did not work out the way I had planned.
Heres why... The idea that I spend, who knows how much time, sweating and listening for the slightest sound is not a good option. In this situation it turned out that there was no aggressor. That means I could have spent an hour listening and losing several years off my life because of nerves.
I also was not expecting visitors to my home. It was possible that I had left as a few mags or rounds lying around. If the police came into my home I may have opened myself up to problems. Now in retrospect there was nothing in my house like that...however, I feared, at the time, to take the chance of becoming an “unsuitable” person.
In conclusion let reiterate that I was not scared as I had been in other situations...my actions were somewhat automatic. I believe I had the training, equipment, and drive necessary to meet the task at hand. There is no doubt that if a psychopath did break into my home, knowing that my vehicles were in the yard...his desire would have been to hurt my family. And it is also true that in combat victory is never certain.
However, if you are a betting man, I say place your money on the man who will do anything to protect his family. My point is that I was more motivated and likely better armed than any adversary could have been. I believe that the drive to protect life is far greater than the desire to maliciously hurt others.