Civilians & Home Defense

Training Training and Tactics
1

The subject of civy home defense interests me greatly and thought I would share my opinion on this subject. My position is not the gospel, but simply how I intend to react if I have an intruder in my home/property.

Many of us live in States that do not allow us to shoot an unarmed intruder. We must first show that we used a non-lethal form of deterrent (OC/CS, Baton, Etc.). I know that many of us follow the saying, “better to judged by 12 than carried by 6”, but I wonder if that is really the best policy. How do I defend/support my family if I am in jail?

My personal home defense setup, includes the following:

G19 w/SF X200B, Crimson Trace laser grip
AR15 w/Weaponlight and Hornady 75gr TAP
ALS OC Grenade
Handheld Surefire
Two phones (one being a cell)

All of these items sit in my bedroom. The mistakes I think people make is that they only have one weapon in the bedroom. If for some reason you have to leave the bedroom, you have now left your spouse defenseless. This is a bad idea.
I set my G19 up so that all my wife has to do is squeeze the grip and she gets a light and a laser. I also like the Glock because there is no hammer or safety for her to remember. We (as men) have to remember that our wives don’t get to shoot a lot (if at all) and we need to keep things simple for them.

Now to the actual breaking in. It is 0200 and you hear someone coming in the back door. You have no idea who they are, if they armed and if there is more than one.
If you have a dog and they are in the bedroom with you, kick them into the hall and let them bark at or attack the intruder. In the dark of night, an English Springer (which is what I have) sounds just like a much bigger, meaner dog!

Now grab your children (if you have any) and bring them into your bedroom. I would then grab my OC grenade and toss it down the hall and close the door. Put a towel under the door and move a dresser in front of it. The spouse should have already dialed 911 by this time. From my understanding, it is very common these days for bad guys to cut the phone lines coming from your house. Keep a cell phone in your room (two is one and one is none).

You have now exhibited the use of non-lethal force (OC). You have barricaded yourself into your room and given yourself the advantage if the bad guys comes through the door. One of the side advantages of the OC grenade is that it tells you what type of person you are dealing with. Anyone that stands in a hall way filled with OC and attempts to break down a barricaded door is VERY serious about doing harm to you and your family. The last thing to remember in this chain of events (as the bad guy is coming through the door) is to yell as loud as you can “GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT” and then pull the trigger as many times as necessary to put the bad guy down (failure drill). The purpose of yelling for the person to get out is the last thing any neighbor or family member will remember before you pulled the trigger is that you told them to leave (which is an important point if you ever had to go to court).

This post was intended to be a discussion on what to do in a home invasion situation so please post your opinions/ideas on this subject.

C4

2

I think you have a sound tactical concept of operation there.
My plan is much the same, although I don’t have the OC grenade and the duty to use LTL force first in my state.
My only concern is that with children present, you may not have enough time to retrieve them into the master bedroom and barricade in before the criminals get to you. You may have to run and gun in the hallway or make your stand in their bedroom. This becomes a complex issue when there are several loved one in different bedrooms.
My plan is basically the same, although we have no kids so it is vastly simplified. We are locked down at night, both outside and inside (master bedroom) perimeters. We have an alarm on every down-stairs orfice into the house. When activated, we assume battle stations in the bedroom, call 911, and wait. I run a G-19. My wife is an accomplished G-26 shooter so I have a built-in partner. We also have tac lights and BOK’s. I will not go into detail about our specific tactics, but we have an inter-locking field of fire on the only door into our bedroom. If they come through that door, they will die. If they don’t, I will not pursue. Their choice.
We also have G-19 and G-26 airsoft pistols that we practice scenario training with. While home invasion is a viable threat, I feel that we are much more likely to have a violent encounter outside the home so we also train for different scenarios, such as walking to and from your car, carjackings, etc.

3

“I would then grab my OC grenade and toss it down the hall and close the door. Put a towel under the door and move a dresser in front of it.”

If I may, some houses (mine included) have a cold air return vent in the hallway. Even if you stuff a towel under the door, OC may still come through your A/C vent.

Just something to consider.

4

Agree. One must know their house lay out. My hallway does not have an air intake vent.

C4

5

OC Grenade? Where’d you get such a thing, or is it not that special?

6

You need to spend more time in the dealer forums my friend! :smiley:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=1083

C4

7

Well… I’ve actually checked out that page. Is the “OC Grenade (6oz) $14” the white can with black cap, black label and orange lettering shown underneath it? Is that what you’ve got for home defense or do you have the $40 version (Pocket CS Grenade) and what is the difference?

8

Yes, it is the $14 6oz can. You don’t want to ignite a pocket CS grenade in your own home (as you may burn it down and will never get the CS gas out). :eek:

C4

9

Sweet!!

So how does the little white one work? I can pretty much guess at the others :wink:

10

OC Grenade would do more harm to your dog than anything…other than that I concur.

11

Ever use a bug bomb? :wink:

C4

12

I much prefer to use CS, but not in my own home. While OC is not going to stop anyone in their tracks, it would show a jury that you tried to use a non-lethal form of defense.

C4

13

No, I don’t have that problem! I can figure it out though. I think I need one of the $40 CS “tactical” models for photoshoots…

:smiley:

can a civilian buy one?

14

CS is 100% legal for Civy’s to own. My own requirement is that you fax me an ID so I can make sure your over 18.

C4

15

There is no way I would use OC in my house as my family and I may hurt worse than the perp.

I have used OC in very close quarters and if enough is used it could possibly incapacitate everyone in the household. If you said what is the problem with that you need to know that that stuff effects everyone differently.

I have seen and sprayed gallons of that stuff on people (while on duty) and the guy that has done alot of jail or prison time is sort of used to the stuff. Alot of them can function through it!

Can you???

There have been countless times where LEOs get killed or assaulted after they deploy OC spray on the same guy that woops there butt.

My position is that it has a use, but for defending your home from boarders I would recommend that lead at a few thousand feet per second be the order of the day. That is if you are in fear for your life…or the life of your family…

By the way, I think that is the key line that you are to say, if you say anything to an LEO after sending the lead down range.

You must be able to explain yourself in court, or at least hire an outstanding attorney that will be able to assist in your defense.

One more note…for anyone that thinks they are going to have enough time to rack that 870 as they are searching the house… get real…charge that thing up…shit happens real fast. The reason for my last comment is that I conducted active shooter simunitions training in my Dept. with our 870s and over half of out people didn’t have one in the pipe as they were searching for the shooter (me). It was a great day to be the bad guy!!!

Be careful out there and keep your head down…on your front sight.

G

16

I have been hit with both OC and CS (tear gas). OC isn’t that bad when compared to CS!

Being able to justify yourself to the law is the hole point of this thread. In most States you cannot shoot a home invader unless they have a weapon. If they don’t have weapon and you shoot them, then you might be looking at manslaughter. OC gas is a simple, non lethal way to say that you did everything you could to get them out of your home.

Every bullet has a lawyer attached to it.

C4

17

Once again, I am glad to live where I do.

I personally hesitate to give out too many details on my plans and preparations in public, but thats just me.

And having had first hand experience with CS…thats some nasty stuff.

18

I agree, but wanted people to start thinking about what they would do in a home invasion situation (don’t think people put much thought into it). People also don’t have ANY idea about their States laws.

C4

19

Very interesting thread. A couple of observations from my experiences:

-Know the law in your jurisdiction. Don’t guess, don’t take internet info, find out. Every state is different. Some have retreat provisions, some don’t. If you own a gun, know the laws. I’ll leave the ignoring them or do what you have to do parts to you own judgment.

-How many people die in horror movies in this scenario: “Oh, I hear a noise. You stay here…I’ll go look.” Secure your family and room and stay put if it tactically sound to do so. I knew of a course by a rather well known instructor that had people in a home burglary situation secure their family and then clear the house. WTF? Let me get this right, I have my loved ones safe, police are on the way, bad guys are quite content with looting and leaving and I’m going to go hunt them? This guy was serious. I left.

-Because of some job related unpleasantness, I have taken precautions above what most would do. Cutting the phone lines is a very common tactic but most alarm systems, like mine, automatically send the 911 call when cut. 500 watt halogen floods take care of the yard (GE, we bring good things to light!) Maybe even a CCC or two.

I have the advantage of a two floor colonial home with only one stairway up. My bedroom and my daughter’s are upstairs. You can have all of the fun you want on the first floor and basement. Drink my scotch, smoke my cigars, take the silver…whatever. But the stairs are no man’s land. The master bedroom has a reinforced door with a deadbolt. Some items within:

cell phones
M4
SF lights
BOK
pistol
vest
NVG

I have a dummy claymore that I wanted to put on a shelf at the top of the stairs but HH6 nixed that. Would have given pause though.:smiley:

So if it all goes to plan, we stay snug and wait for the po-po to arrive. If not…well then to each his own. Again, do what you think you have to.

Take it from me. There is no better feeling on Earth than to see the reaction on some POS’s face when he is getting arraigned and he finds out who you are for the first time. By the time he’s done, he wished he went up those stairs instead.

20

Amen Brother! I taught a no light/low light class at the local gun club and the look of shock when I told them to NEVER search their house alone or “investigate that bump in the night” was funny.

My personal opinion is that you SHOULD have a bullet proof vest in the bedroom along with hearing protection! Or better yet, just get a can so you don’t wake the kids! :smiley:

C4