This thread has brought back a lot of memories. I built most of our first home; I did a really nice job, too; and I'd have been the last person to want to destroy anything inside it. (You know, like: The French glass doors, the dining room chandelier, the plumbing or wiring in the walls, the refrigerator, or TV - That sort of stuff!) So after thinking about it, and remembering Sam Giancana, I decided that if a 22 LR pistol were good enough for Sam Giancana then it was good enough for me, too. I thought hard before making this decision. I'm more than, 'decent' with a pistol; so is my wife. The distances involved would be extremely close: 10 yards at the absolute most; and, more than likely, a lot closer-in than that.
Thereafter, my nighttime weapon of choice became a long barreled, semiautomatic, Smith & Wesson 22 LR caliber pistol. (Repeatedly hitting a target, essentially, the size of a pie plate would have been ridiculously ease for me.) During the ten years that we went to bed like this I only needed to actually have that pistol in hand exactly one time; and, when the, ‘pregnant moment’ arrived, I was downstairs in the living room; and the pistol, along with two extra magazines, was upstairs in the bedroom; so, ……. .
After managing to squeak-through this event one of my wife’s older friends came to us for advice. She knew that I was, ‘into guns’. (Although I can’t imagine how?) She lived alone, had some health issues with her older bones, and felt that too many people in the neighborhood knew that she was all by herself. Me? At first I didn’t have the slightest idea what to tell her? She was afraid of guns; I knew she’d never practice the way she should; and, probably, would have no better than a 50/50 chance of hitting an attacker no matter what I recommended for her to use. After thinking about things for a while I decided that she absolutely had to learn the basics of, both, firearm safety and competent gun handling.
There weren’t going to be any, ‘multiple platforms’ or alternatives for her, no backups, and only one gun and one home defense scenario. So, with these considerations in mind I taught her how to safely handle a firearm; and I kept at it with her until I was sure that she understood. Then I began to familiarize her with the mechanics and functions of the weapon I’d chosen for her to use. (I didn’t want to confuse her; consequently, I kept things as simple and uncomplicated as possible.) I taught her how to: disassemble, assemble, load, fire, and make the weapon safe. I even showed her how to clean it! Because having her aim the weapon conventionally was not really possible, I also taught her how I wanted her to hold and point the weapon, too. The woman did so well with her safety training, and gun handling that she convinced me she was ready to buy the one and only firearm she would ever own.
Of equal importance with learning how to safely handle a gun I gave her the textbook NRA, ‘Personal Defense Inside The Home’ self-defense course - There were no frills; and, importantly, I did NOT tell her what I would do in a similar situation. Instead I taught her the textbook-approved and conventional way for her to behave. (Neither did I want her to keep the weapon in C-1. Instead I wanted her to give herself a chance to wake up, and clear her mind BEFORE beginning to operate the weapon.)
She learned to always go to bed with a: cell phone, a flashlight, a set of house keys, and a C-3 firearm underneath the far side of her bed. I didn’t want her to fool around with backup magazines or reloads because the potential to screw up was clearly present. We stayed at it until I was satisfied that she knew how to correctly insert the magazine, operate the bolt, and take the safety, both, off and on. (I did NOT want her to keep the weapon in C-1. Instead I wanted her to give herself a chance to wake up, and clear her mind BEFORE trying to operate the weapon.)
Thereafter I taught her not to ever let her curiosity get the better of her. I warned her to never go to see what had just gone, ‘bump in the night’. Instead I wanted her to always make the, ‘bump in the night’ come to her. When she was alarmed I taught her to immediately dial 911, and place the phone on its external speaker BEFORE calling out to any suspected intruder. The cell phone was to be left in the middle of the room, turned on, and connected to 911. She understood to speak in a loud clear voice while advising anyone who might be listening that she was armed, in fear of her life, ready to use deadly force; AND, after doing this, to move away from where she’d been speaking and get into her final firing position. (Where I expected her to remain absolutely silent.)
What firearm did she buy? Well, one that I continue to consider to be ideal for an older person with arthritis or another partially restrictive health issue. One that doesn’t require frequent reloading, holds a goodly number of second shots AND chances to survive, and - at room fighting distance - can be used with the stock tucked underneath the support arm and fired by simply pointing the barrel at the (preferably closing) target. Instead of trying to turn her into a, ‘domestic commando’ I discouraged her from using a tac light. I didn’t want her flashing on and off. Neither did I want her to attempt to manipulate both the tac light, and the gun, all, at the same time. She was to stay put, stay quiet, keep the cell phone connected to 911, and away from herself while she, simply, watched the hallway and door. (When the police arrived I wanted her to initially talk to them through an open window, and toss them the house keys for easy access to the home.)
One additional thing I, also, recommended is that she sleep with the hallway light on. By doing this she could still remain in substantial darkness while, at the same time, being able to clearly see whoever might be approaching her. The final thing I taught this woman was to carefully mark her target; and I put in enough range time with her to reassure myself that - at room fighting distances - she could, indeed, hit what she carefully pointed her gun at.
So, what was the gun? An AR-15 tactical carbine with: A 20 round clip,* minimal recoil, plenty of, ‘second chances’, and a realistic potential for only slight damage anywhere in and around the home. I, also, taught her to be aware of her lines and angles-of-fire. (Which every home defense AR shooter should always pay attention to BEFORE pulling the trigger.)**
NOTES:
A few years later her house did end up being robbed; and the thief (or thieves) got away with her entire pocketbook; but, happily, nobody ever came inside. This woman had the habit of coming home and placing her handbag on a cupboard just underneath a dining room window. The thief (or thieves) were aware of her habits and, simply, cut through the screen, one warm summer day, in order to get her pocketbook.
* Yeah, yeah, I know; but the NRA says that it's all right!
** We live alone; and our entire home has already been memorized and laid out in available lines and angles-of-fire. If the occasion should ever arise I’m NOT going to be ventilating the new (really big) TV, our expensive computer, or any of the kitchen appliances, refrigerator, etc. I, also, like to think that, in many instances, I’ll be able to avoid most of the plumbing and electrical lines, as well. (Surrounding neighbors aren’t a problem; we’ve only got them straight in front of us, and across the road. The sides and rear of the house are wide open.)
