Listen Up Primitive Screw Heads!

"All right, you primitive screw-heads, listen up! See this? This... is my boomstick!"

-ASH, Army of Darkness, ca. 1993

ASH chose a shotgun.  I choose an AR15 variant, suppressed and short.  I have decided to write about the why this obviously scary looking tool is my preferred choice.  This post of course has been prompted by the ridiculous ruling recently handed down by the omniscient beings from Mt. Olympus in Wonderland, a.k.a. Maryland...

Why would anyone need an assault gun for home defense?  I wish the ignorance didn't burn so much, this is especially true among those who might call themselves supporters of the only right that matters: the second in the US Bill of Rights. (But politics is not the subject matter of my blog).

Let us explore the various options for confronting a deadly force threat inside your home.  The good as well as the bad.

Calling 9-1-1

When seconds count the police will be there in minutes.  While it is a given that 9-1-1 should be called regardless it is a silly instrument of self-defense and preservation.  It almost hurts to have to explain that the reality of a violent encounter will mean another human being trying to cause you bodily harm to the pain of death.  Since humans have yet to develop telepathy I will have to assume that another human's efforts at causing me pain are to the goal of ending my life.  I do not have to wait and see if it is their actual intent to kill me dead, it is a reasonable assumption that anyone attempting to cause me serious physical injury or using any instrument capable of expediting that endeavor is actually, in fact, an asshole.

What to do in the face of such dire and dreary circumstance? Defend yourself with a phone call! Said no one ever (who actually has a brain or has dealt with real violence instead of the cartoonish and unrealistic drivel on television, movies, or games).

Can anyone honestly believe that merely making a phone call is any sort of barrier against a violent stranger (or perhaps known subject) in your house to cause you harm? 

Seriously, what manner of buffoonery is this? Did the collective intelligence quotient of the species suddenly decline in the last decade?

If another human being wants to cause your physical harm to the pain of death and kill you dead, making a phone call will only make sure someone comes to collect your body. 

It's gruesome. Of course it is.  Violence isn't pretty. It's not supposed to look clean or sanitized.  It's not supposed to make you feel all fuzzy inside (unless you are victorious, then you absolutely will feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy).

Less-than-Lethal Options

What the hell does that even mean?  Someone, presumably wants me dead as a door nail, and my response is less-than-lethal? Electronic disruptive devices, chemical irritants, Kung-fu, loud noises?

"Theatricality and deception are powerful agents for the uninitiated...."

The key element in understanding the role of less lethal options is that they have high failure rates.  They are meant to gain compliance, not win fights.  In law enforcement circles they fall on a use of force continuum. This is an important idea to understand. Law enforcement places less lethal very low on the response chart to a lethal threat.  So should you.  You don't bring pepper spray or a taser to a gunfight. Or a knife fight.

Why?

I suggest, given the opportunity and barring any preexisting medical conditions, that you experience first hand being tasered or pepper-sprayed.  Do it where you have to fight during it.  What are going to discover?  That you can fight through it.  And if you can fight through it, so can the guy trying to inflict death upon you.

There is a time and place for the use of less-lethal force options.  They are not when someone is trying to end your life.

Although, not technically a less-lethal force option I'm going to include knives into this sub-category.  Maybe not battle axes or a samurai katana, but a knife and even a stick. (Read baseball bat and golf club, too).

Why? Because this is my house and the bad guy is in it trying to harm me and mine.  Distance is my friend.  Terrain is my friend (this is my house who knows it better?).  Why would I give up distance and close by choice, having chosen a knife as my tool, and risk finding out this guy is Bruce Lee reincarnated? 

I don't know this guy, most likely, and even if I did, why give up advantage?

If you find yourself in a fair fight for your life your tactics suck.

This brings us to firearms. Oh, does that open a can of worms...

"Don't disparage another man's favorite firearm, you'd be better off talking about his mother than speaking ill of his choice of firearm for "home defense"."

Well, I would make fun of your mother but in some countries cows are sacred.....

Firearms

What are the rules of a gunfight?

1. Bring a gun.  Preferably a long-gun.

A long-gun isn't a 6" barreled handgun.

Now before anyone loses their minds let's talk 'bout it.

Handguns

First and foremost a handgun is mostly a secondary or back-up weapon.  The advantages of a handgun are most recognizable within the United States.  For better or for worse our society generally is not comfortable with seeing firearms out in public.  I blame several sources for this irrational mindset, but I cannot change the forces that influenced society in the past, so I must work in the present.

Granted, in some places open carry is generally more accepted, but without digressing too much I believe open carry is not a good tactic.  It could play into a strategy, but for a lone, everyday person carrying a weapon for self protection, open carry is a poor option.  I prefer to advocate CCW and believe that CCW should not require a permit.  I believe in training almost to the point of advocating some form of mandatory training, but I feel it is incumbent upon the responsible, truly responsible member of my community, to pay for training with at least as much money as he has spent on tacticool gear.

Another advantage of a handgun in a house is the ability to strategically place weapons in various locations throughout your house.  However, as nice and cool as this sounds, is it realistic or a product of the influence of popular media?  I'll the individual decide.  If you honestly believe the possibility exists for a running gun battle lasting a long time within your house, then plan accordingly.

So, we see that the main advantage of a handgun is in CCW carry in the outside world.  Now, here's why I don't think it's the "ideal" option for "home defense":

It's a handgun.

That should end the argument, but I don't believe in being smug.  I believe in providing some form of education.  So, let's start with basic gunfighting knowledge.  How do bullets stop threats? Well, in the real world there are only three (a fourth, as well, but it can hardly be considered).  I list them as follows:

1. Central Nervous System

• Computer chip shot
• head shot
• Taking out the brains ability to communicate with the rest of the body
• With this target no matter what the subject is doing gravity will take over

The most effective method bullets stop a threat is by destroying the CNS.  End game.  Gravity takes over and that's all she wrote.  This is not the most common method.  Most effective, yes. But the CNS target area is small and in a gunfight usually not sitting still.

2. Loss of Blood / Hydraulics

• Injuries to vital organ: heart, lungs, etc
• Injuries to arteries, blood flow disruption
• As a result of bullet wounds, blood flow to the brain is disrupted
• Takes time
• Takes lots of bullets

The next way that bullets stop a threat is by disrupting the blood flow to the brain and trauma to the vital organs.  This takes time.  Up to a minute or longer.  Granted it could happen quicker, but even if you deliver fatal hits to the vital organs it could take up to a minute for the bad guy to stop.  In that time he can still shoot at you.  Tenths of seconds mean a whole lot here.  Imagine if the bad guy just doesn't want to stop.  Tenths of a second can feel like an eternity waiting for bad guy to bleed out and shutdown.

And, with modern medical advancements, you are more likely to survive being shot than instantly dying as a result.  I've talked to lots of people shot up and still breathing to this day.

3. Musculoskeletal / structural Damage

• Injury caused to muscles, joints, ligaments, support that are not fatal but impair ability to fight.

This is shooting the fingers of the bad guy.  He's not going to die, but he can't exactly shoot with that hand.  Knees, ankles, broken bones, severed tendons and torn muscles.  No guarantees here. In fact, these wounds are not fatal and their percent of effectiveness is less than loss of blood.  But, it is the third way bullets stop a threat.  Sometimes bad guy gets shot in the hand. drops the gun, and runs.  But you'd have better odds winning billions in Vegas.  This is not the place to bet your life.

4. Psychological

I'm only mentioning this because it is "technically" considered a way bullets/guns stop threats.  But once it is explained you will see why this should never be considered by anyone serious about this business.

Psychological is when you shoot at your threat, completely miss, and this scares off your attacker.  This is where the myth of one shot stops originates.  Or stopping power.

We are not mind readers.  In many cases once the rounds start to fly no one can tell who's missing and who's hitting.  This, in my opinion, should not be listed in popular literature as a method of stopping a threat.  It is random, not based in the physical world, and completely reliant upon factors that cannot be in some way controlled.  By this, I mean that shooting the head is some degree of control of ending the threat.  Shooting vital organs and causing blood loss is some degree of control.  You can know that eventually these will stop the threat.  Even shooting the musculoskeletal support system enough will eventually degrade an attackers ability to continue the fight. But shooting for psychological effect?  Silly.

So, sorry for the brief (not really) primer into the way bullets stop threats, but it is necessary if we are going to have a valid discussion on the role of a "home defense" weapon.

Back to Handguns.

.22LR to .500S&W.  There are a lot of calibers to choose from.  However, statistically speaking, handguns are poor man stoppers.  Without arguing 9mm vs 45ACP the key with handguns are making lots of holes.

For the home consider trying to quickly stop a threat from down the hall, while receiving fire, and trying to make accurate hits.  Add in hollow point ammunition or FMJ and any miss is punching through drywall and intermediate barriers within your house.

Handguns typically have limited capacity magazines or cylinders.  Handguns require a lot of training and practice to actually get good at.  Here's a simple drill.  Set up a target at 7 yards.  Using a shot timer draw and empty your gun as fast as you can.  Don't cheat, burn those suckers out.  Now look at your target.

Honestly ask yourself, add in distance in a house, moving target, low light, reciprocated threat, and ammunition that won't quit.  Especially, if you have family members in other parts of the house perhaps beyond your target who may not have a clue what's going on.

The concealability advantage of a handgun suddenly looses appeal in a "home defense" environment.
This is not a tactics post.  A handgun is better than nothing.

SHOTGUN
All I need to do is rack my pump action and that punk will be running.  I don't need to aim, just point and click.

If you believe any of the above statements, let me help you.

A shotgun is ultimately better than nothing, but not without severe consideration into its deployment.

Relying on the psychological effect of racking a pump shotgun is stupid.  We're talking about defending your life and the lives of those who live in your house (presumably loved ones).

Contrary to popular belief within the ranges of CQC typically found inside a house you DO have to AIM a shotgun in order to hit your target.

Which brings us to the the ammunition.  Buckshot and slugs are completely ill-suited.  You miss and a slug is traveling to presumably the next county.  A typical residence offers poor cover, it primarily provides concealment.

If your counter argument is that you use birdshot, you don't want to stop a threat?  You're right I wouldn't want to get shot with birdshot (or anything for that matter), but I might prefer it if my opponent is using it against me.

And then shotguns typically have even poor ammunition capacity than handguns are are slower, more complicate to get back into a fight.  You're going to rely on 4-7 shots in close quarters?  With ammunition that will most likely over penetrate? Is slow to reload?  Might not have a light or be really, really long?

Shotguns serve a very specialized role.  Even a short barreled shotgun is designed for something else.  Better than nothing, but we're are talking about making a choice and not what tactics to employ with your only options.

AR15
The evil black rifle.  I feel this is the best option.  There is ammunition available that limits over penetration.  It might not be the best field ammunition, but it works great inside residences.

You have at least 30 rounds of available ammunition.  Less time between reloads.  It is quicker to get back into a fight if you have to dump the magazine and replenish your ammunition.

Two handed shooting = accuracy.  Available CQC red dots/holographic sights designed perfectly for ranges needed.

You can get the rifle in a short barrel without losing ammunition capacity or functionality.

Add a suppressor to your short barrel.  Add a 60 round magazine.  Use proper ammunition.  Mount a light.

I feel like I shouldn't even have to list the vast array of advantages.  It almost seems like trying to explain the advantages of having a sun. (Life on earth wouldn't exist without one...)

Any argument against the AR15 can easily be countered with real-world, functional replies.  Ammunition available is less likely to over penetrate like handgun rounds or shotgun rounds and still be lethal to stop the threat unlike birdshot or wad cutters.

Length is mitigated by going with a short barreled rifle or AR-pistol.  Ammunition capacity, barring those that live in less free states, is great.  30-60 rounds without sacrificing mobility.

Add a red dot/holo sight for quick/accurate targeting along with two handed shooting for mitigating stray rounds.

A suppressor mitigates flash and sound disruption.  Nothing like launching a round from a short barreled AR inside a house to simulate flashbanging yourself. (Or a 16" barrel for that matter).  Consider a muzzle device if suppressors are not an option, but owning an AR is.

Easily add a weapon light to help with target ID (the big one.  Blue on blue in your house is one of the most tragic events you could ever hope not to experience) and help disrupt the night adjusted vision of your opponent.

Throw a sling on and if you have transition to go hands on or use just one hand, you're covered.  Even with a 16" barrel AR you are not giving up that much mobility within your house.  You have the defensive position.  Post up and wait.  But again, this is not a tactics post.

In short, there is no good argument against the AR15 as the ideal home defense weapon.  Money/cost?  This is your castle, your home.  Start pinching pennies.

The only one thing would be local laws.  If you don't live in a free state I can't help you.  It doesn't change the effectiveness of the AR platform, though.

Finally, a rifle round (even though it is still technically small arms) is better than a handgun round at incapacitating a threat.  And the ultimate purpose is stopping the deadly threat you have just found inside YOUR house.

I hope this helps explain some things about the reality of choosing a home defense weapon.  Ultimately, something is better than nothing, you just have to realize the limitations of each and train/adjust accordingly.

Whatever you choose, train.  Train.  Train.

Ready. Set. Go.

I believe in being ready.  I believe in being able to face any situation ready.  Mentally first, and then physically.

What does being ready mean?  Well, it does not mean paranoia nor over-zealousness.  It means being ready.

When we say we’re ready it means go ahead with the scenario.  It means starts the test.  It means let’s go.

In short being ready means: I’ve done all I can to prepare let’s begin.  Being ready isn’t perfect and oft-times more mental than physical, but being ready is a constant state.

Let’s talk about two places to be ready: 

1.  Ready anywhere you go.

2.  Ready to get home from you are.

Ready anywhere you go.  This is sometimes called EDC or Every Day Carry.  And this can get completely out of control.

The best way to avoid complete failure in a stressful, critical situation is to keep things simple.   This should apply to EDC, but many times it does not.  I’ve seen EDC that looks more like long-term survival gear than I’m going to the grocery store EDC.

So, what’s wrong with that?  Support gear supports need, not defines need.  Theoretically you can carry a rucksack everywhere you go and at a moment’s notice setup permanent camp. But you have drifted away from the principle of being ready.  You have moved outside the realm of practical where your support gear supports your needs, not defines them.

For this reason you should compartmentalize.  Unless you live in a remote area the majority of possible scenarios are simple and easily dealt with.

1. Ready anywhere you go.

Ask the question the next time you are inside the grocery store or pumping gas.  What do I need right now on my person?  If something should go awry: the most celebrated of these types of scenarios is a robbery or attack.  I say celebrated because it usually the more frequently cited yet rarest of occurrences.  However, it shouldn’t be discounted simply because of its rarity, due to the fact it is perhaps the most important one to be ready for.

So the ultimate worst thing that could happen at any given moment is being attacked: not simply robbed, but another human being trying to hurt, kill, or maim you.

At that moment what do you need?  Is it a pocket water filter?  A compact emergency bivy? 50 feet of paracord? A GPS?  What is it you need at that moment?

A weapon, preferably a gun with a spare magazine carried in a quality holster with a quality gun belt.  Or a knife, even better a gun and pocket knife.  Think CCW.

So, for that moment that’s all you need.  But let’s go one step further and talk about what you need in the moment the attack is over, with you preferably being the victor because you were ready mentally and physically.

What do you need? A med kit.  Chances are it was a surprise attack and the bad guy hit first.  Better patch yourself up.  A cell phone.  You better be calling the police after this.  And you’re going to need medics on scene.

And if this incident took place at night you should have a small but decent light.

That about covers the need for the ultimate worst scenario.

But that doesn’t happen every time you go buy your coco puffs. So, do we need to expand our EDC?

Just a tiny bit, a pen and paper can be a valuable EDC item when out and about.  Take some notes down when on the phone, jot down an idea, leave a note if you door ding someone, &c.

In urban non-apocalyptic America that about covers it.  Obviously I left out wallet, driver’s license, insurance cards, &c.  If you’re not carrying that stuff around, well, you need more personal guidance than a blog post.

That’s EDC ready in a nutshell.  You remain light, fast, unencumbered, and most important you are ready for just about any modern urban non-apocalyptic American scenario. Almost everything else can wait to get fixed when you get home.

EDC for yourself.  Of course, this is if you drive everywhere you go.   And if you drive you must be in a vehicle.

EDC for a vehicle is something a father figure should have taught you.  I’ll briefly go over some items for most places in urban America:

Something to change a flat, battery, fuse, wipers, and small lights. Jumper cables too.

Insurance and registration

Snacks and a water bottle (for long nights home stuck in traffic due to a fatal accident, or if you have kids with you during said traffic jam)

Flares and flashlight

First aid kit

Maps

Camera

Extra Ammo (a spare magazine – not an arsenal)

Pen and paper (which should be part of your personal EDC)

Depending on season, a jacket or sweater in case of a sudden weather change.  Just toss it in the backseat.

The above-suggested items support need for almost every imaginable scenario in urban non-apocalyptic America.  It will get you through just about every car break down, traffic jam, minor collision you can think of without requiring a Mad Max truck.

As with the personal EDC anything else isn’t an emergency and can be fixed later.

The key to the above lists is that they’re simple.  You can get away with carrying that stuff and still blend.  You won’t draw attention to yourself but still be ready.  It’s not the forefront of your day but if the situation turns south you’re ready.

Everybody talks about preparing for when the SHTF or the end of the world as we know it.  That’s cool and let’s you get away with all sorts of neat gadgets.  But, that’s not EDC, and that stuff should be in your house.

And even that should be kept to support need not dictate it.  Natural disasters happen far more frequently than societal collapse.

Now, the second EDC I’ll talk about is #2.

2. Ready to get home from where you are.

This is a bag.  Preferably a backpack.  And this is for those times when earthquake or flood or other disaster has blocked the roads home.  This is for when you have to walk home from where you were earlier in the day: work or fun.  But this is not an end of the world bag.  It’s something you can toss in your trunk or backseat and forget about.  Checking on it every month to make sure items are fresh or season appropriate.

Being stranded in your vehicle is not a good thing.  Walking home, even if it takes a night is better.   How frequently does this happen?  Highways get taken out and people stranded somewhat regularly.  A natural disaster can wipe out your way home for a day or two.

Depending on the situation and your personal capability.  Walking home could be the best option.  And it doesn’t have to be a disaster.  You could have catastrophic vehicle failure and have no one to come help you and no funds for a motel, taxi, tow truck, whatever.  Rather than suffer it out, walk home.  For me from where I work to where I live is an average 35 mile distance.  So, most likely an overnight walk.

The “Get Home Bag” is just as simple as everything else.  Remember this is not for the apocalypse.   Here are some suggested items:

You will notice many of these items cross over from the other two lists we just spoke about.  Simplicity.

Climate appropriate spare clothing (ie a jacket)

Change of small clothes (a change of underwear and spare pair of socks)

GPS and compass

Paper maps

Flashlight

Fire Kit

Batteries

Water (or small filter) and bottle (I like the platypus bottles)

Emergency Bivy

Pen and Paper

First Aid Kit

High Energy Snack

Hat and Sunglasses

Extra prescription glasses or contacts

Paracord

Extra Ammo (a spare magazine or two)

It has a couple items that blur into the SHTF, but walking home because all roads are inaccessible, though not permanent, can be a crazier scenario than the situations you’ll encounter just EDC.  It is, after all, a get home bag and if you can’t drive home or get a ride home and end up walking a tad bit extra won’t hurt.

Or the Get Home Bag could just be what you take with you into a motel until the roads clear up.  It doesn’t have to be the end of the known world.  And this bag isn’t set up for a sudden end of the world scenario happening while you went grocery shopping.

Society might not have collapsed forever, but the next couple days could be hectic.  It’s nice to be able to say, “Ready.”  When asked to face such a scenario.

Remember to always ask yourself if the gear supports need or is defining your need.  Keep it simple, blend, and remember the mental will keep you alive the longest.  Be able to you’re ready.