Owning a firearm for home defense or personal safety is a step that many Americans take to protect themselves and their families. However, it is relatively easy to make the purchase, get the permit, even take the class. On the flip side, depending on where you live, these tasks, in and of themselves, can require a significant amount of effort. But do not let that hurdle be the goal post at which you attain and stop! Once you have accomplished these tasks, remember that vigilance and goal-setting in the use of that firearm is just as important as having one in the first place.
Here are a few ways we can all stay vigilant when it comes to our choice to own and use firearms in daily life.
The Single Female
Many women who live alone choose to purchase a firearm and take a class to be able to protect themselves. Whether your class was one day or over the course of several weeks, it does not necessarily ingrain enough muscle memory, and skill with a firearm.
Using a firearm on a range in a controlled environment is one thing. Having to use it at the blink of an eye under stress to save your life or the life of someone else is an entirely different situation.
If you live in an area where you think that you might be called on to do this, or if you’re the sort of person who feels that were you in a situation where an armed citizen needed to step up—and you could—then you should consider setting some goals.
The goal could be taking additional classes with someone who teaches firearms for personal defense (as opposed to a general class that you might’ve needed to take in order to secure your concealed carry permit). Classes of this nature are going to cover topics more specific to personal defense or home defense in your area. Looking for an instructor who teaches not just physical skills, but also covers the legal considerations is a wise choice.
Another good goal is training with your firearm in the method in which you carry it. That can be on body, off body or perhaps you keep it locked in a safe or vault in your home. It is reasonable to take your handgun vault that fits in your nightstand and bring it to the range and train, accessing how you access it, in real time.
The Family and Home Defense
Many families choose to own firearms to protect themselves. Having children in your household adds another layer of vigilance. It is not enough for just the parents to understand firearm use and safety. Depending on the age of the children, they too need firearm safety instruction or to learn how to shoot, as well as have additional firearm safety training.
All too often there are news stories of teenagers home alone who have saved themselves, their siblings or their family from an intruder. Ingraining the four rules of firearm safety, as well as an understanding of the law, is something for which teenagers can begin to develop an understanding. We trust them with motor vehicles, surely we need to ensure their understanding of the responsibility and diligence to safety that owning a firearm requires. This is not to be confused with teaching them home defense per se, but teaching them steps to get to a safe place, call for help, as well as the safe way to use a firearm, should there be no other option.
While there are age-appropriate programs for young children, such as Eddie Eagle, basic Hunter Safety is a good start for teenagers needing more exposure to firearm safety. Additionally, instruction from someone qualified to teach and with knowledge of the laws in your specific area is something families should consider doing as a family.
Elderly Home Alone
s we age, we must make some serious decisions about where we live and how we do things. Many independent adults who can manage their daily activities often choose to live in their own home.
While it is a reality that old age does bring some frailty, owning a firearm for personal defense can be a very wise choice that positions an elderly person as less of a “soft target.” And helping prepare parents to defend themselves is a reality that should at least be discussed. Perhaps a class with your parents and the whole family is something to get everyone on the same page about personal safety.
A lightweight firearm that is manageable for a person of advanced age could give them more than just a sense of security, it could give them a means of protecting themself. Taking grandpa and grandma to the range with you, letting them shoot something like a pistol caliber carbine that is easy to manipulate would give them a firearm easily controlled with two hands, and does not require great hand strength to operate.
A choice like this obviously necessitates reevaluation as time progresses. But positioning parents and grandparents so that they are not alone, without any tools, waiting for someone on the other end of the phone to respond to a call for help, can help them navigate one of the realities of living alone. It also might be a reality that sways them toward a living situation where there are other adults present to help them.
In the end, we should look at firearm ownership not as a box we check, but rather, a facet of our lifestyle choices that holds an ongoing commitment to being vigilant and bettering our security and the security of those around us.
