July 16, 2012

Simulated home invasion.

• It is assumed that you have doors locked and other precautions are followed.
• Determine those things that would signal such an attack
• Sound of breaking glass or door crashing in
• Dog barking or engaged in a struggle with a stranger
• What else might signal an attack?

Carry out your plan

• Everyone to safe room - take cover as planned and practiced
• Obtain defensive gun and make sure it is loaded (simulate loading gun for this drill or use dummy rounds. Never use live ammunition for a drill inside your home or dry fire area.)
• Seek cover 
• If possible, Call 911 - DO NOT HANG UP - (simulate call)
• YELL AT intruder, as loud and strongly as possible:

STOP! I HAVE A GUN AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT!
GO AWAY OR I WILL SHOOT YOU!
THE POLICE ARE ON THE WAY!

It is important to really and truly YELL this out, loud as you can for this drill. Get used to the way it feels. This will help you get over inhibitions that might stop you from yelling at an intruder.

Getting this message across may be the difference between having to shoot and not needing to. It’s important.

[PLEASE NOTE: Warning shot - A shot not aimed at the attacker, used to frighten or dissuade them. This is seriously discouraged and will often be illegal. It places bystanders at increased risk from a stray bullet, and places YOU at much greater risk because it will give the attacker more time and greater opportunity to harm you. If your life is in immediate danger, you must shoot to stop the attack. If you have time and opportunity for a “warning shot,” you probably do not have solid justification to shoot at all.]

Practice the following as if they were actually happening, going through all the steps.

If intruder goes away

• Wait IN THE SAFE ROOM until the police come.
• Carry out plan to meet the police (see PPIH handbook)
• Holster gun or put it down. Do not meet police with drawn gun.
• Do not allow children or other family members to leave safe room until the police tell you the intruder is no longer present anywhere.

If intruder continues to attack

• You must shoot until the threat is stopped.
• Carry out plan to meet the police (see PPIH handbook)
• Holster gun or put it down. Do not meet police with drawn gun! Let them come to you!
• Do not allow children or other family members to leave safe room until the police tell you it is safe.
• Carry out your plan for the aftermath of a defensive shooting.

If intruder surrenders! (This would be a challenging situation indeed!)

• The best professional advice available instructs us to keep our gun at a low ready position, not pointed at the person, but held so that it could be fired very quickly if necessary.
• Have the intruder lay down on the floor with arms and legs spread, face turned to a wall or away from you. Make sure he understands that if he tries to get up or makes a threatening move, you WILL shoot.
• If possible, put your own back to a wall where you can watch the doors. Continue to scan for other threats! The intruder may use surrender as a decoy so his partner can attack.
• If at all possible, have someone else call 911 or talk to the operator if you are already on the line with them. Tell them simply that the intruder has surrendered and that you are holding him at gunpoint until the police arrive. This can be a very dangerous situation, so the clearer and calmer you are, the better.
• Carry out your plan for the aftermath of a defensive shooting.

Review this drill. Identify areas that need extra practice.
Don’t hang up after calling 911
Do not meet police with gun in your hand. Let them come to you in the safe room.
Do not allow children or others to leave the safe room until the police have made sure there is no more danger from an intruder (who might also take them hostage). Also remember that the police might mistake you or them for the intruder!!
Remember that in a real attack, you would not be thinking clearly or react normally to much of anything. You will be in shock, so the needed actions must be practiced and part of your muscle memory!

After these intense and emotional exercises, it is suggested that you plan to do something specific to rest, relax and regain your perspective.

It is important to remind children, especially, that this is practice for something that will probably never happen, but as with a fire drill or other planning, it is better to be prepared. Discuss the drill ahead of time and do what you can to balance the serious nature of it with the potential for fear and over reaction in children. Do not make this a “game” or treat it as anything less than a serious drill. All of your lives may very well depend on their absolute, unquestioning obedience.

If you have practiced these things alone previously, and can do them in a firm and calm manner, the children should not have any problem participating. Only you know what your children are ready to deal with and how to present it to them, but the bottom line is that they must be prepared to follow the plan instantly so that you will be free to defend yourself and them if the need arises.

If you have questions or concerns not addressed here, please feel free to call your instructor. If you have not yet attended the classes in the Personal Protection series, you are urged to register and participate in them.

This concludes the series on self defense here. Your feedback is welcome, and may be used to develop other topics for the Price of Liberty blog to come in the next few weeks.