5 Things to Consider When Implementing a Home Defense Strategy

Home Defense Strategies
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5 Things to Consider When Implementing a Home Defense Strategy

Developing a home defense plan is essential to keep your family safe no matter the scenario

Home defense is a multi-faceted issue.

You can’t rely on a single method when ensuring your family’s safety. Sure, having firearms on-site is a good start, but you need more than guns when dealing with an intruder.

The plan you have in place will be just as important as the firepower you purchase. 

It’s also advisable to make your home a less likely target in the first place, so you don’t ever find yourself in a situation where you have to defend your property with force.

And every family member should know what’s expected of them when the time comes.

While it’s impossible to prepare for every scenario you could encounter when dealing with a break-in, preparing your family for any situation is a good starting point.

Here’s a look at five things to keep in mind when developing a home defense plan with your family. 

Key Takeaways

  • Having firearms on-site is only a part of home defense
  • Developing a plan is equally as important
  • A solid strategy should cover as many scenarios as possible

1. Storing your weapons

Where will you store your firearms in the home? You’ll want to find a spot that’s accessible yet secure.

After all, you’ll need to reach your weapons quickly if there’s an intruder, but you don’t want your children or other visitors to have access to your guns. 

Your best bet in this situation is a gun safe, which ensures your weapons are in a secure location that only approved people can access.

You can place the safe almost anywhere, so it’s quick and easy for you to access. These safes can be hidden in plain sight, too, as many homeowners disguise them as furniture.

Another aspect to consider when selecting a safe is whether you can open it in a stressful situation.

Safes with large keypads or biometric access panels are easier to open while under duress, making them a lifesaver when you’re in a hurry.

Consider how a safe will fit into your home and whether you will be able to access and open it quickly when selecting the best one for your residence.

2. Using interior decor to your advantage

Everything inside your home can become part of your home defense strategy.

Your furniture and interior décor, for example, can provide you with an advantage when attempting to fend off an intruder.

For instance, purchasing thick furniture with wood construction gives you something to hide behind if bullets fly inside your house.

Heavy items like oak dressers and tables, large bookcases, and metal filing cabinets can also provide value if you need to barricade a door to escape danger.

The doors you install around the house are also crucial to your home defense plan.

Buying sturdy metal or wooden exterior doors is a solid start, and you might even consider installing exterior doors between rooms in your house to provide an added layer of protection.

Upgrading your locks and windows can also make it more challenging to get into your home in the first place.

Have a look around your house to see where you can add some furniture, fixtures, and décor with solid features to give you more options in a home defense situation. 

3. Placing your defense measures

The first two points on this list examine items you can buy to make your home a safer place for you and your family.

However, making the most of these purchases is dependent on where you place them.

Putting your safe and furniture in the best possible position is a vital part of your home defense plan.

For example, your safe won’t do you much good if it’s in the attic or behind a bunch of furniture that makes it impossible to access in a hurry.

You’ll likely want it in your bedroom or living room, so you can grab your gun immediately if you need it.

The placement of your furniture and décor is also critical if you plan to use them for home defense.

Where you end up putting these items will depend on your home, as you’ll want to find a location that’s good for aesthetics while also giving you a strategic advantage when defending your property.

No matter where you end up placing these items, keep them in mind every time you walk through your house.

Knowing the layout of your home and practicing getting to these essential places are important to executing your home defense plan.

4. Identifying safe rooms

If you have the room and the means, setting up a safe room in your home is an excellent idea.

This room will become the last line of defense as you protect your home, and how you set it up depends on your preferences.

Many people will fortify the room, making it far more challenging for an intruder to get into it.

This room could be where you store heavy furniture, and you might also install a heavy exterior door on the entrance.

Emergency guns and ammo could also be included in your safe room, as it all depends on how you want to organize it.

Your safe room is where your children and other loved ones will retreat at the first sign of danger.

As you implement your home defense strategy, ensure everyone knows where they’re supposed to go if there’s an intruder.

For most of the family, the safe room is the place they’ll head until the danger has passed.

5. Implementing an early warning system

Finally, you should have some sort of early warning system that puts your plan into action.

The method you use will depend on your budget.

Some homeowners will install a complete home security system while others might use motion-activated exterior lights or smaller alarms on their doors and windows.

Even putting toys, bells, or other unavoidable items under your windows could alert you that someone is entering your home and give your family time to respond.

As a bonus, there’s also a good chance your early warning system will scare a potential intruder away, so you don’t have to resort to using force. 

Getting started

A lot goes into developing a home defense plan, and it’s advisable to start early so your entire family understands their roles.

You can continually work on your plan, too, improving it over the years.

Ammunition Depot can assist as you develop a home defense plan by supplying the ammo, firearms, tactical gear, and other items that will help you prepare your property.

Visit our eCommerce store to see what we currently have in stock.

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