10 easy home defense tips

Frank great points. I strongly recommend a book “Strong on Defense” by Stafford Strong. He was the head of LA police dept. some years ago. The book covers cases pertinent to what we are all talking about. He explains how people save their lives in critical situations like home invasions, abductions, fire,muggings robbery etc. He also explains the things they didn’t do which cost their lives along with their families. I believe the best highest powered ammo one can have is knowledge and practice it so you can use as needed. His book can be purchase used,if wanted, on Amozon. I lent it to many friends who loved the info. Your tips Frank are very well taken.

Frank as usual you are 100% accurate, you have put a lot of effort in thinking of every possible scenario and building a defense to counteract it. At first you talked about everybody thinking you are crazy for doing all these things. Like my family does me, they listen, they know damn well to, but they don’t believe a damn word I say. However, I make sure they know what to do in case something does happen. I’ve also told them that in a group the one’s who wouldn’t fight or help in any way were to be killed first. Friend or foe if they want help but are able then they are a liability and must be wasted. The only you can trust, as you well know is yourself. I carry a small caliber pistol in my pocketI have a small Pistol Loaded with 22 LR Hollow Points. If I get robbed I will start bitching and sounding pitiful about them taking a poor man’s last dollar and as I reach into my pocket to get my money guess what comes out and is discharged immediately. I also carry an innocent looking knife clipped in my right pocket, It is a thumb assist Hog Killing sharp knife that will open up a juggler vain before a cat can lick it’s ass. Another good thing to have around your house is a thin but stout (electric fence wire will do) wire secured with posts (cut up electric fence posts) about four to six inches above the ground. It’s a pain to mow around but needs to stay as cloaked as possible. This will trip him/her and put a kink at least in their plans. Ask your critics this: Do you have a spare tire on your car? When they say yes – Ask- “Why, are you expecting to have a flat tire?” Enough said and your point is driven home.
Col. Dana Gillespie
You are you one and only true friend!

Frank all good stuff to stoke our minds in a productive direction. I’ve been involved with martial arts my whole life and I’ve never been slow to get the jump on a latent bad situation. so whenever anyone spoke guns to me it was a voice in the wilderness. .. I know-wise fool. Until… I spoke with a gent who found himself in the security industry after being an out of work, downsized project manager. He mentioned some pointers involving firearms that made a lot of sense.

Position yourself in a room that is at the top of the stairs or in another scenerio where your “backs to the wall”. Let him find you because you want him to. Hes got bad intentions for your family and your going to let him know what victims feel like.

Use a shotgun as the broad spectrum of the buck shot will increase your chances of hitting the sillouette that will most likely be difficult to see in the dark.

In addition that 10% better that you are than everyone else at the gun range that makes you a rockstar there goes away when your adrenaline and heart are pumping 240. That relaxed hand prerequisite is gone and you’re as good as that guy whos shooting for the first time. You will most likely miss. …and when we miss in a home chances are good that the slug may find its way thru the wall into one of the kids rooms.

For close range as I know the argument is going to be the long barrel is longer and easy to grab, keep a knife by the bed. This is the point where you have to admit your in it, Lets see him grab ahold of that in the same dark that gave him the confidence to sneak up on you when your sleeping.

Just my take on the night home intrusion phenomenon.

Thanks for what you do!

Couple of small points:

1. Using pepper spray indoors is really a bad idea. You will get sprayed, too, and if you plan to live in that room again the cleanup is a bugger.

2. Instead of keeping a gun in the living room, or where you normally spend most of your time, why not just carry it? I carry all the time when I am awake in my house. (well, not in the shower, of course). That way if I am “surprised”, I will be able to react immediately instead of having to “go for the gun”.

Just my $.02. Great article! Thank you.

Doc

Thanks Frank your survivor information it’s very good, and l hope someday that we as humans will be able to live in peace, but only with a common understanding of equailizum in the world will this be possible.

l am a strong believer that we as humans are entiteled to four things, good healthy food, clean drinkable water, good affordable housing and a job to become selfsuficant for sence of worth and better understanding of the world around us.

The problem is we don’t believe in equality, the governments of the world, make it impossible for us to live in peace. Since the beginning of man, we do not know any difference, from the life we live. So in closing all l can say is GOD have mercy on our soul’s, send down the mother ship and get me off this rock !!!

Great information for anyone. Common sense approach is a fresh idea and glad you share this with everyone who wants to use it.

And to JLS – Thank your for your service! But you have got to be kidding!! I respectfullly disagree.

A revolver is simply point and shoot. You don’t have to rack the slide, (which most women have trouble doing) they don’t get hung up like semi-autos do and if the person is fat and your gun is against their belly, the cylinder doesn’t get stuck by fat like a slide would on blowback. They are also easier to clean. What is harder to do is load them. You have to push the cylinder release button, dump the shells and reload. However, if you practice and have a speed loader, you can do that as easily as you can drop a semi auto magazine and reload it.

Wyman’s suggestion below is great but our neighbor was home invaded and the way they got in was to smash the rear sliding door. 35% of the time entry is through the front door but don’t count on that. As to saving extra food and water for them – oh no! If they don’t have common sense they will get NONE of ours. Charity begins at home and if they won’t help themselves, we will NOT help them. Stupid is as stupid does. Its like those without a gun to protect themselves……we will NOT waste ammo helping them if they won’t listen and learn.

And a peep hole??? Oh No – unless you get the new ones with a cover where you can stand back 7 feet and see out as the traditional peep hole allows those with a reverse viewer to see right in to your home. You can also only see straight out and you need more vision that that. The best way to handle seeing who is at your front door is using a camera mounted on the outside or through the bell button. If you put your eye to a traditional peep hole, a shadow is created and if someone wants to enter they can merely shoot through the peep hole. They also know you are home….thus ruining the surprise element which is on our side.

And frames – replace pine or soft wood door frames with hard wood.
The suggestion below about throny bushes is a good one – thanks for posting it.

Get your heighbors involved in being prepared. They will become your alliens instead of enemies.
Save extra food and water for them if they don’t do it themselves.

Frank, most outside doors are strong enough if they don’t have glass in or around them. Make your doors solid with a peep hole. Another issue are the screws, most are only a 1/2-1 1/4 inch long. These tear out easily. replace your door hinges, handles plates with 3-4 inch screws, these will go all the way into the door frame, making the door stronger. also add door stops that flip down to the inside or have door wedges handy These will help prevent the doors from being forced open. The flip down door stops are easy to employ even as your trying to hold the door with your shoulder as someone attempts to push it open against you.
Heavy duty screens over the windows and thorny bushes below them just on the outside prevents an easy entrance. Having a blanket or a throw rug to help escape is a good idea during fire evacuations to protect you when escape through the is necessary.

Being a retired Police Sgt and Taser instructor there are two things that need to be cleared up. First of all the use of a Taser on a subject has not caused the deaths they have been accused of causing. Check out any reputable source on Tasers and you will see the deaths were connected with drugs and improper care of the suspect after the Taser was used. But the Taser itself did not cause the death. Secondly a revolver is not normally easier to use, a semi-automatic hand gun is easier. There are several studies out there indicating this.

Frank I dont call 911 Richard end of story.

The only point that I can say is good, is the dog. A large dog is good but any dog that barks when they hear or sence something is what you need and the only thing needed. Replace your doors with stronger ones. Come on, get real. The same for alarms. Motion detectors are good especially with a light. Neighborhood watch???????????? Who are you trying to keep out anyway. There may be one or two other families in your neighborhood that are as prepared as you and maybe will join with you to look out for each other. A GUN. Great thinking. Just make sure you have plenty of ammo.
A family plan is good also. If a crisis comes your way, you will want to know where to go, to meet, how to get there. Cell phones will do no good nor will this computer. They all will be shut down by our government along with GPS and any transportation such as air travel, buses, trains. So make your plans carefully.

This message is for charlie White – What is going to happen April of this Year? Were you talking about the Boston thing? If so how did you know? Your post was 33 days ago? Do you know something we don’t know? There are still days left in April, please let us know.

A few items worth mentioning.
1. Have solar powered battery Hand Cranked operated Radio and find out you local County emergency radio station frequency.
2. Even better if you our a HAM Operator buy a Transceiver that Transmits and Received
on the Amaeture Radio Bands plus Short Wave and FM.
3. Some clear plastic coated Medical Instructions Sheets, so They dont get dirty or bloody
during a emergency. Have Surival Manual and Medical Aid Kit on topics that a normal
person could read and follow for broken limbs etc. Some medical devices, temperature
gauage that you can check personnel,
4. Restraining TY Wraps for unruling Visitors Handcuffs and A containment box, closet, room
etc.
5. Some Gas Masks and Instructions on how to use them properly. Decontamanation
procedures and instructions
6. Water Purification tablets and water containers both full and empty.
7. Gas containers or Bottle Gas for cooking along with one of the NEW STOVE
THAT BURN ALMOST ANYTHING FOR FUEL AND THE ONES THAT THEY ARE
USING IN INDIA AND AFRICA THAT USE LESS FUEL IE. WOOD , OR COMBUSTIABLE
FUELS AND ARE EFFIENCENT, WHEN IN USE.
8. A supply of your medications for a 90 day period.
9. Portable recharable Lights, Flashlights, handheld and Headlights Battery type
that have a elastic band you can wear on your head.
10. A Set of Map s, all types local, state, country and a compass
11. Provide you near a water sources a boat , etc bionculars or teleascope.
12. A four wheel vehicle for hauling heavy loads and going off road, where danger
badits, will be waiting.
13. Have a scanner, if possible for your local police, and emergency vehicles
that you can monitor for info.
14. Remember you maybe on your own, BE PREPARED TO GO IT ALONE
NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS COULD BECOME HOSTILE UNDER HOSTILE CONDITIONS.

Very good suggestions and I would like to add one….have a couple of radios going on timer(a great deterrent). We can never be too careful and it doesn’t hurt to keep a gun by your bed and one in the living room if that is where you usually spend your time. You wouldn’t want to do that if there are children in the home.

I am a 70 year old widow But I have a 38 Special gun. No body better not try to get in my house.I’ll shoot first and ask questions later…

Good advise.
I want to point out that depending on the situation protecting your home alone may not be enough. Your advise is good for general protection i.e. burglary/weather disasters, but I feel if it is a total collapse of the system you might need to take a diffrent approach.
If a total collapse occurs you might think about recruiting your neighbors ASAP to help, call it a support group. You are never the “only” target because if these people know you were not willing to help one neighbor or your neighbors were not willing to help you they will move to the next house even if you stop them from entering yours. The advise I give is to stop them before they gain the power of FEAR! Once these people have the power of FEAR there is little most peope can do to overcome it. If a situation in the area starts be proactive and try to prevent it, this sends the message that the Entire Area is secure and not just my home, this will also allow others less inclined to get involved to become proactive as well. Even if this means leaving your sanctuary of safety because if you just protect yourself and let them over run the neighborhood it won’t be long before they come back. Remember these people will not likey care about what happens to the others in thier group, so thier motive won’t be of revenge, it will likely be just to prove that your not safe NO MATTER WHAT.
As stated your overall advise is good but like many of us have been thinking: Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Thanks for another great e-mail and keep fighting the good fight.
Dave S

One way to keep a bit more secure….don’t talk about what you are up to.. no one needs to know you have a seed vault, a food and water stash, a loaded gun on top of the TV cabinet

good advice for those wise enough to use it

Another great blog, Thanks, Patrick

you know the story about feeding your neighboor a fish or TEACHING him how to fish!

i think its a great opening to share thoughts about survival with your neighbors. There is a great article in POPULAR MECHANICS,april issue on basic food storage for survival. the site is
“popularmechanics.com/disasterprep” Its a minimal investment and you can’t loose–in a year you can eat it. you don’t have to be a prepper or build a bunker to use some common sense—Lord knows we need it.
Hey Frank—-what better security than a block full of neighboors who share your mindset.???

Have a blessed Easter—-Jerry

This is an eye opener, but this is somethlng I’ve slowly been worklng on. I try to really keep up with what is going on in the world. Things are getting spooky. We have to help each other as much as possible. Everything you said is true, an loved the tips.

Thanks Frank

U HAVE OPENED MY EYES TO THE FACT I NEED 2 DO MUCH MORE REALY FAST 2 PREPARE FOR WHATS GOING 2 HAPPEN IN-APRIL OF THIS YEAR THANK U – CHARLIE

Frank,what about when the government goons want to take what you have stockpiled and take you and your family to Fema detention centres.You will not be able to stop them and they have all the surveilance equipment to watch everybody.You need to have a well equiped hideout that is virtually undetectable.Smoke from cooking and heating,and air exchangers need to be filtered and spread out and disguised.You can run but you can’t hide.You need a network of people you can trust and that is getting scarce these days.The government goons have mega resources and orders to kill those who oppose them.Look at what happened after Katrina when citizens were being killed.Don’t think they will have any mercy for people who oppose them.

Yea Frank, those defense tips were very good! A few of them were things that I believe I have to set in motion. A couple of them I have the materials and all I need to do is put them in place. But had it not been for your alert they would have just been left alone as they were before. Thanks for the tip. I will look into that EZ Armor Ultimate Security Door.

Tanks Loads, Arnie

The average hunter’s shotgun is a better home defense weapon than a pistol. 1. The object is to overwhelmingly intimidate the intruder so he or she leaves! There is a perception that even an old lady can’t miss with a scattergun. Police use them for riot guns because of the intimidation factor. No sane person challenges a scattergun. The sound of a round being chambered is distinct and know from the movies.. 2. The shotgun is more lethal at close range where an intruder is more dangerous to you. 3. Many pistol rounds can easily penetrate walls and enter rooms or homes where innocents are located. 4. If there is a perception that you can’t handle the pistol or are unwilling to fire than it might be taken away from you or your family member and end up in the hands of the intruder. 5. You don’t really want to have to kill someone or accidently harm an innocent. Either case will bring legal questions even if you are justified. Trained police officers are scrutinized every time they fire their weapons. My home and person were threatened because of my job actions and remote location. I borrowed a shotgun, not a pistol. My neighbor fired shot over the heads of these same people who were chasing his daughters. They did not return.

You want them to leave!

What happens when the government decides it needs to take your food and water to share with the masses? I believe the government knows how low the food supply is, is going to take our guns so we can’t rebell when the food lines start. Things are going to get tougher than anyone can imagine, if we can’t stop those in our government that are so far removed from the farm that they think milk is made in the grocery store. We’re being brought down to a third world country on purpose. Those in power now are trying to set us up for a one world government run by the U.N. possibly, and we all know how effective they are. This is probably the most scary time in our country’s history. The Brits were a cakewalk. Our own government has become a living entity and we as citizens must feed it. Things MUST change.

I don’t agree with leaving the home, this give you so many disadvantages against an intruder. You know your own home and there will more than likely be others. #1 rule is never get in a car to be kidnapped, as it is a well known fact your likely survival turns to almost zero chance.

Many states have a castle doctrine for self defense and a right to defend yourself and fa,ily at all cost.

Please modify this advise, this is just wrong in so many cases, unless instructed to do so by a law enforcement officer who is at or near your home.

When you consider new windows for your home, for more efficient control of heat loss ( helps lower power needed = lower demand for power needs to generate, a given ) if you choose plate glass windows, they are much harder to break, Evan will help from rocks breaking glass within limites, rocks, a bolder would have to hit the glass dead straight on. And the intended intruder may move on to another house, plus if they can’t break down a steel or wood door with the before mentioned locks and lock plates, and a jamb bar from door to floor at 45 degree angle, I believe that’s the right angle, or the mentioned 2×4 across, the door, other thing with your windows a bar ( round bar or angle iron) between the windows that slide open, you can paint the bar the same color as window frame for looks and it hides them when looking In the window from the outside, simple combo with plate glass and the thief moves on to a easier target house. Most people have done this with sliding glass patio doors for years using a simple wood dowel, or old broom handle cut both sides to fit, Necessary to cut off the rounded top of handle for better safety. This combo with plate glass is a big help, and again the crook moves on.

Hi, Frank,
May I suggest one addition to your pepper/taser/gun trio? Since my goal is to incapacitate the villain, not harm innocents,and pay as little as possible, I recommend WASP NEST SPRAY INSECTICIDE. A lot cheaper than any of our trio above–about five bucks–the aerosol can propels a pencil-sized stream about 30 feet. While not fatal to humans, my information is that any eye hit with it must receive hospital-level medical attention to see again. Since the can sprays for quite a while, no worries like missing with a one-shot taser, getting close enough to hit the bad guy with pepper spray, or using up all 7 rounds in your Obamaclip. Keep a can by your bed, by each door, and in your car. But, I also keep my Mossberg Persuader handy for any goggle-wearing intruders.

Thanks for the information. Thanks to the friend who sent it to me also. I concur with everything you wrote about, especially the part how to better protect my home and yard…..a dog would be nice too.

Dear Frank,

I am well aware of the defense suggestions. My problem is a sliding glass door off my deck. You know the type, glass in the sliding part the slides against another glass panel. My yard is fenced but this door faces a heavy treed lot that belongs to the city. Any suggestions?

I work in law enforcement so, although I don’t know it all, I would like to add to this list a little. First I would like to point out a huge misconception that about 90% of burglary victims (as well as this list) have about the security of their doors. You can buy a solid steel door with a solid steel striker plate, but if your door frame is not strong, then it’s a waste of money. There are 3 parts to a solid doorway. 1) The door: just as you said must be strong (Just because it’s “metal” on the outside does not mean that it’s strong. Make sure it’s a solid core door. 2) The striker plate: make sure that it’s not only strong, but buy one that cover a lot of surface area (The more surface area covered, the stronger it is). 3) The door frame: a simple modification using a long strip of metal as a shank inside the door frame works wonders. Just cut out a notch in the frame behind the striker plate and replace the wood with the shank. For aesthetics, just cover the shank with the left over wood. A little wood putty and paint will hide the modification. This, in addition to the frame being strongly tied into the supporting wall, will be almost impossible to force open.

The next thing addresses plants around windows. If you’re going to have them, make sure that they are thorny.

Finally, if you’re going to spend your money on an alarm, don’t just get a base level system. The average alarm has a 15 sec delay before going off. Then some alarm companies will try to call the residence before contacting police (3-5 min). Then the alarm company contacts police, a dispatcher takes the call, dispatches an officer, and the officer responds (5-15 min). This is a delay of around 8-20 min. So a basic system is just letting the police know that your stuff is gone. Either invest in an alarm with cameras or supplement your alarm with something as simple as a game camera with IR flash. This will help in prosecuting the burglar after the fact.

Hope this helps. God bless.

Stop mail through post office . stop paper delivery.Trust one or two people at most and and help them watch thier place as well .surround yourself with good defense like the other people commenting say .let your security people know your schedule .

A few years ago my rather pricey front porch furniture was stolen while I was on vacation. I had the feeling perhaps someone involved in the delivery of my newspapers might have tipped one of their thug hoodlum friends. The folks who get up at Zero Dark Thirty to toss the LA Times on my porch are truly hard workers. The folks who answer the phones and take the vacation stop info……
In any event, a month ago it was revealed through a police investigation that my suspicions were correct. Someone involved in the vacation stop process was tipping off a burglary ring. Better to have a trusted neighbor or friend deal with the newspapers and mail.

Frank, We need some all around American Support to provide safety solutions and it seems the government will not help, listen or reply.
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We are looking for funding and I am working on some solar powered cells from your system!!!!!
These is well beyond Home Defense
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