Handgun Stuff: Part Deaux

If you haven't been professionally trained in the use of a handgun, here are three quick reasons why you shouldn't buy one to defend your home:

1. You might think a burglar climbing in your window across the room would be a hard target to miss but if just one of your rounds goes astray, who's it likely to strike instead? Your daughter sleeping in the next room? Your neighbor? The guy walking his dog across the street?

2. Are you familiar with all of the laws that apply to the use of deadly force in your community? Are you even entitled to own a handgun in your town? An Illinois resident shot and wounded a man who had broken into his home. The burglar went to the hospital. The homeowner was charged with a firearms violation.

3. Are you ready to take a human life? That's not a frivolous question. Even police officers who have killed in self-defense often are beseiged by guilt for years afterward. And if you aren't ready to shoot to kill, there's a better than even chance you'll be giving the Bad Guy a weapon to use on you or your loved ones.

Some better ideas:

Any cop will tell you the reason one house gets hit when others around it do not is because (a) the residents refuse to lock their doors or (b) they rely on six-dollar locks to protect million dollar homes. Close and lock your windows, too, even on the second floor. Look at it this way: the tougher you make it for a crook to get into your house, the more likely he'll go after your neighbor's place.

Like dogs? Get a big one. Yeah they eat a lot but their bulk and bark at a critical moment could save you far more than what you spend to feed them.

Light it up! Bad Guys love darkness. Install motion-sensor lights outside, and keep a couple of lights on timers inside. While you're at it, if you have bushes or trees that block the view of your front door from the street, get rid of them. Burglars like to lurk where others can't see. And the most common home invasion starts with a kicked-in door.

Consider alarm systems. Yep, the good ones are expensive and require professional installation and monitoring. Is the peace of mind worth it? Absolutely.

Finally, keep this in mind if you're worried about a close quarters attack, whether in your home or on the street. Forget Mace or pepper spray. An old cop I know suggests carrying a can of oven cleaner. As far as I know, it's not outlawed in any state, can be carried in pocket or purse or kept in a car or beside your bed. Take a look at the ingredients. Spraying oven cleaner in an attacker's eyes will likely cause extreme pain and blindness, and both conditions are excellent for changing their mind.