Choosing a Handgun for Personal Protection

The choice to own or carry a firearm for protection is highly personal. It is a decision that could change one's life. Although many people own firearms for hunting, collecting, or collecting dust, more and more people make the choice to have a firearm for self or family defense. Today's discussion will not focus on longguns, although they can be optimum home defense weapons. The shotgun, as well as the rifle, has its place in a personal defense arsenal. However, today's focus is to discuss legally carrying a weapon for protection. Shotguns and rifles are not easily carried or concealed in pubic.

There are plenty of sayings out there pertaining to which weapon to carry. One notable saying, "any caliber is a good caliber as long as it's .40 or above," has been repeated by many in the gun industry. Although larger calibers are highly effective and make large wound channels, they are not the "be all and end all of self defense." In short, the best weapon to carry for self defense is one with which you will practice and carry consistently. For example, a 5'1" in female who weighs 105 lbs. may find that she does not feel comfortable carrying and shooting a large and powerful .40 caliber pistol. The same is true for the 6'4" 250 lb. former football star. He may not be comfortable carrying a diminutive .380 or .22 caliber weapon.

A weapon serves no purpose when it is locked in a case at home or when it is stored in the trunk of a vehicle. It is recommended that one takes the time to learn and comply with the local laws governing concealed carry. Most states require a licensing process to be completed prior to carrying a concealed weapon. Whatever you do, make sure you are legal. Beyond that one should take continuing training or instruction on proper safety, accuracy, threat assessment, situational awareness, and legal ramifications of self defensive actions, whether civil or criminal. Much goes into selecting and preparing to use a weapon for self defense. Make sure you get some help if you choose to arm yourself. Your local gun shop, police department, and supportive services such as KNM Consulting can help make your decision a legal, safe, and effective one.

Please remember that no one has any business carrying a weapon for self defense if they are not 100% sure they can use it and use it effectively, where it performs its job without placing the public at risk. Contact KNM Consulting if you have any questions or if you would like to receive instruction and training to help you protect yourself, with or without a weapon.

HOME SECURITY TIPS

In Plantation, Florida successful labor attorney, Melissa Lewis, was recently found floating dead in a canal less than two miles from her home. Evidence spoke of a violent struggle in her garage. The victim was known to be a vigilant, security conscious individual, who prepared herself by carrying pepper spray everywhere she went. Copious amounts of pepper spray residue were found in her garage, as well as in her abandoned vehicle.

Details of the investigation have not been released, so we do not know how the pepper spray was used. It could have come from the victim's defensive use of pepper spray or it could have resulted from the murderer's attempt to subdue her. We know the victim was not murdered by a firearm or a knife. We also know that as a result of the use of pepper spray, it appears there was a struggle and she had notice of an imminent attack.

After days of investigation we now know an alleged killer has been arrested. It turns out he was the estranged husband of a friend. He is a strong and fit man, who has been accused of being violent and aggressive toward his family in the past. It appears the victim in this case was physically overpowered by the murderer. If she used her pepper spray, it was useless. What could she have done to prevent her tragic death?

Sadly, carrying pepper spray, taking self defense classes, and even carrying a firearm all provide a false sense of security. It is my professional opinion, however, that only a firearm would have prevented this murder. Pepper spray did not stop this intruder's attack. Even if it was the attacker's pepper spray, the description of the scene leads us to believe he would have been exposed to it. If it was the victim's pepper spray, we can conclude she had time to pull it out, ready the cannister, and spray it. In this same amount of time, with proper training, she could have pulled a firearm and shot the killer, thus effectively ending the attack.

However, even guns provide a false sense of security, since we can still be at risk while carrying one. How many police officers are killed every month across the country, firearm at their sides or in their hands? There is no way to eliminate all risk or to provide absolute physical security.

With this in mind, here is a list of things to consider to remain safe at your home:

• Keep your garage door down and locked at all times.
• Utilize deadbolts on all exterior doors.
• Securely lock windows and consider the use of a "pin type" or wedge device to provide extra window security.
• Install the best security system you can afford.
• Lighting deters criminals. Install adequate outside lighting, preferably with motion detection capability.
• Keep your bedroom dark but consider background lighting in other rooms to provide illumination of an intruder.
• Sleep with a cell phone near the bed. Home phone lines can be cut by an intruder.
• Locate "equalizers" in various locations in the home. Conceal firearms or other weapons in strategic locations, which allow quick access when needed. Other equalizers include, knives, baseball bats, pepper spray, golf clubs, or anything else which can level the playing field. When placing weapons, ensure children, burglars, and others are unable to get immediate access to them. (We teach our clients means of securing firearms and other weapons).
• Keep a bright ("blinding") flashlight near your bed.
• Have a "panic room" or other area designated as a place to hide.
• One should practice responses in the event of a security breach. For example, one should have a plan for locating and protecting chidren and other family members. They should know and rehearse this plan. (We teach this as well).
• In general, let an intruder come to you, unless you have to secure loved ones.
• Ensure the outside of the home is free of obtrusive landscaping or other items that might provide concealment for an intruder. Privacy fences protect your privacy but they also allow intruders to operate out of sight of neighbors or passersby. Trees and shrubs can also work in the intruder's favor. Be sure to keep all shrubs properly trimmed and make sure that they don't block the view of doors, windows, etc.
• Do not hide a spare key outside.
• When returning home, do not let your guard down until you know you are alone and the house is secure.

This list is by all means not conclusive. Rather, it is just a sample of areas covered in our interaction with clients and it provides you with a good starting point for remaining safe. For a complete Home Security Assessment and training program, call us at 256.679.7405 or email us at knmconsultinggrp@aol.com. We teach about specifics such as types of doors, locks, windows, security systems and other hardware. We also practice and role play home invasions and defense against burglary, robbery, and abduction attempts. We help you come up with a plan to stay in charge and SAFE!!!!!

Copyright 2008 KNM Security and Risk Consultants

Disclaimer: KNM is not a law firm and does not render legal advice or engage in the practice of law. KNM Consulting and its employees shall have no liability to any persons or entities with respect to any loss, liability, or damage alleged to be caused by the application of information or opinions expressed in accordance with a consulting contract, its website, blog, or via complimentary marketing survey reports (MSR’s).