National Carry AcademyShould You Carry At Home?
August 25, 2016
If you’re like me, the first thing you do when you get home from work is remove your pistol and holster and place them somewhere safe. After all, nobody wants to walk around their house with their pistol. Home is the one place you should be able to relax, right? However, what most people don’t realize is that they are more likely to need their pistol around their home than anywhere else.
The victim was home at the time of 26.7% of all home invasions.
In 26% of those invasions, the victim of the invasion was also a victim of violence. Roughly 1/8 of all home invasions is a small amount, but it is still enough to cause concern. (Source: Victimization During Household Burglary, Bureau of Justice Statistics, pg 1, 2003-2007)
These invasions don’t always occur early in the morning, in spite of what you may believe. An intruder could enter your home at any time of day. Home invaders tend to look for the best time to enter without resistance, which means that they are the ones choosing the time. When you are the offender, you make the decision about when to strike. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to always be ready.
Single women have the highest likelihood of being home during a break in—an average of 22.6 per 1,000 homes. (Source: Victimization During Household Burglary, Bureau of Justice Statistics, pg 3, 2003-2007)
It’s also likely that the person breaking into your home is someone you know.
“On average, household members became victims of violent crimes in about 266,560 burglaries annually. Offenders known to their victims accounted for 65% of these burglaries; strangers accounted for 28%.”
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report, National Crime Victimization Survey, Victimization During Household Burglary, September 2010, NCJ 227379, Shannan Catalano, Ph.D., BJS Statistician
Practice Different Scenarios to Know Your Best Solution
Now that it’s been made clear that carrying at home is likely a good thing to do, it’s time to discuss how to be prepared. Nobody ever knows whose home will be burglarized next, and there are worse solutions than being ready.
If there are children in your home and you need to keep your weapons secured, things become a bit more complicated. When your child is coming to you, it’s apparent that your first instinct will be to give them your attention, and you can’t leave your gun sitting on the kitchen table while you’re engaged in an activity with them.
A high-retention holster is typically the best method for a situation like this. It will allow you to go about your business around the house without worrying if your weapon is secure.
How about a night alone with your spouse? If you get the opportunity to have a romantic meal alone with your husband or wife, the last thing you want to worry about is keeping your gun on your hip.
Then there’s NFL Sundays. You have friends over drinking beer while you watch the Eagles beat the Cowboys. Getting drunk with your firearm isn’t a very good idea, so what should you do in that case?
You have to pick and choose when to carry. You determine when the best times are.
When it comes to putting your gun in a safe or keeping it on you in its holster the whole time, you have plenty of options. Here are the basics:
- Always keep weapons away from kids
- Keep your weapon secure when you’re not using it
- Set limits for yourself—if you’re going to drink, you should put the gun away.
When it comes down to it, you are the one in control. Whether you’re a bachelor with roommates, a single mother who wants to keep safe, or the head of a nuclear family, it is your responsibility to determine a balance between security and relaxation in your house.
Should You Carry At Home?
August 25, 2016
If you’re like me, the first thing you do when you get home from work is remove your pistol and holster and place them somewhere safe. After all, nobody wants to walk around their house with their pistol. Home is the one place you should be able to relax, right? However, what most people don’t realize is that they are more likely to need their pistol around their home than anywhere else.
The victim was home at the time of 26.7% of all home invasions.
In 26% of those invasions, the victim of the invasion was also a victim of violence. Roughly 1/8 of all home invasions is a small amount, but it is still enough to cause concern. (Source: Victimization During Household Burglary, Bureau of Justice Statistics, pg 1, 2003-2007)
These invasions don’t always occur early in the morning, in spite of what you may believe. An intruder could enter your home at any time of day. Home invaders tend to look for the best time to enter without resistance, which means that they are the ones choosing the time. When you are the offender, you make the decision about when to strike. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to always be ready.
Single women have the highest likelihood of being home during a break in—an average of 22.6 per 1,000 homes. (Source: Victimization During Household Burglary, Bureau of Justice Statistics, pg 3, 2003-2007)
It’s also likely that the person breaking into your home is someone you know.
“On average, household members became victims of violent crimes in about 266,560 burglaries annually. Offenders known to their victims accounted for 65% of these burglaries; strangers accounted for 28%.”
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report, National Crime Victimization Survey, Victimization During Household Burglary, September 2010, NCJ 227379, Shannan Catalano, Ph.D., BJS Statistician
Practice Different Scenarios to Know Your Best Solution
Now that it’s been made clear that carrying at home is likely a good thing to do, it’s time to discuss how to be prepared. Nobody ever knows whose home will be burglarized next, and there are worse solutions than being ready.
If there are children in your home and you need to keep your weapons secured, things become a bit more complicated. When your child is coming to you, it’s apparent that your first instinct will be to give them your attention, and you can’t leave your gun sitting on the kitchen table while you’re engaged in an activity with them.
A high-retention holster is typically the best method for a situation like this. It will allow you to go about your business around the house without worrying if your weapon is secure.
How about a night alone with your spouse? If you get the opportunity to have a romantic meal alone with your husband or wife, the last thing you want to worry about is keeping your gun on your hip.
Then there’s NFL Sundays. You have friends over drinking beer while you watch the Eagles beat the Cowboys. Getting drunk with your firearm isn’t a very good idea, so what should you do in that case?
You have to pick and choose when to carry. You determine when the best times are.
When it comes to putting your gun in a safe or keeping it on you in its holster the whole time, you have plenty of options. Here are the basics:
- Always keep weapons away from kids
- Keep your weapon secure when you’re not using it
- Set limits for yourself—if you’re going to drink, you should put the gun away.
When it comes down to it, you are the one in control. Whether you’re a bachelor with roommates, a single mother who wants to keep safe, or the head of a nuclear family, it is your responsibility to determine a balance between security and relaxation in your house.