Carrying Armed at Home – A Good Idea in 2023?

Carrying Armed at Home

Photo by Doug / CC BY

Doing what now? The idea of carrying a gun with you at home might seem crazy to some. Your home is your castle and your safe space. It’s where you are in your comfort zone and not even thinking of anything bad happening. But

Now, you shouldn’t be paranoid, but you should be prepared. The number of threats out there and real-life examples of people being accosted at home going far beyond the scope of this article. I won’t quote any statistics or the chance of these things happening since that varies by area. Just keep in mind that these things do happen, and there is always a chance.

But we will go over several of the most common and best practices for carrying at home.

Home Invasions

Growing up, I didn’t live in the best neighborhood. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for my family to watch TV on the floor whenever we heard gunshots. I remember vividly one of those nights when there was a SWAT raid right across the street.

I tell you that to tell you the next neighborhood we lived in seemed like a huge improvement. But still there were three home invasions in one year alone. Not a robbery or theft, an invasion of their home while they were watching TV on the couch with their family or eating dinner at the table! Luckily, they were only after material objects but it’s a scary thought.

Having your door kicked in and multiple masked men with weapons enter. If you’re not able to react immediately and with the appropriate force, then your only option is to comply. Which may or may not be your best choice depending on your attacker’s intentions.

There have also been instances where people returning home walk in on a robbery. In this case having a concealed weapon on your person is crucial. It’s critical not to get too comfortable even though you’ve pulled into the driveway. I know I’m guilty of putting my gun on the passenger seat on the drive home and forgetting it under my jacket.

Finally, if you’re a single woman living alone, the two things I highly recommend you get are a gun and dog. There’s an extreme sense of false security given by baseball bats and other means of self-defense to women if you ask me.

HOME CARRY: is Carrying a Gun at Home necessary?

Animal Threats

Another threat not too often considered is the four-legged variety, especially in urban environments. Whether a rabid stray or someone’s attack dog that got out, canines are an excellent reason to be armed at nearly all times. And if you have small children who play outside and/or pets of your own, this goes double.

In more rural or remote areas, you may have to worry about opportunistic coyotes, mountain lions, or even bears which are all plenty good reasons to have something handy. Should an animal target you or a loved one your first move should be a warning shot at the ground in front of it.

Of course, if there’s no time for a warning shot make sure you know what’s behind your target before firing, especially if it’s tangled up with someone.

Stay Aware

The best thing you can do is to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings even when at home. This is getting easier with doorbell cameras and technology in general. I’m also a huge advocate of dogs and cats as they can serve as early warning systems, and large dogs are often security systems themselves.

Remember that someone with ill intentions won’t always kick the door in. Sometimes they knock politely with some ploy to get you to open the door. This could be that their car broke down nearby and their phone died or who knows what.

This doesn’t mean you can try to help should they be genuine. But doing things like offering to make the call for them can save your life. If they really need help, they’ll let you call someone for them. And always keep your doors locked if everyone is inside.

What to Carry

Do you need to have a rifle slung over your shoulder and be in full battle rattle 24/7? Of course not! For the majority of people in urban areas, a small handgun on your person is more than enough.

Personally I prefer something that can fit in my pocket. A subcompact 9mm, .380, or something similar is all you need. Something you can carry around just as easily in jeans or sweats. If it’s not comfortable to carry, you more than likely will end up not carrying it after all. Considering we are preparing for an up close and personal encounter caliber isn’t as much of an issue as comfort when carrying and operating.

Although honestly this can be a rare opportunity to tout around that Desert Eagle you’ve been keeping in the safe because it’s too big to conceal.

Where To Keep Your Gun at Home-Best Gun Security?

Final Thoughts

I’m not trying to make anyone paranoid or feel unsafe in their own home. If anything I’m hoping to alleviate anyone who might feel like they’re overreacting and make more people aware of possible threats. If your home is secure and then feel free to let your guard down a little and kick up your feet, it’s your right.

But there’s no reason not to have something available should something change suddenly. Take a good long look at where you live and decide for yourself what level of security you need to maintain.

Having lived in a variety of locations from big cities to rural area, I like to keep a weapon handy no matter what. It pays to remember that no matter how nice of a neighborhood you live in, you more than likely don’t live on an island all by yourself. Criminals have no problem traveling to their target.

Something you should also have on hand whenever dealing with firearms is a well-equipped first aid kit. One geared toward treating gunshot wounds and stopping bleeding. Compression bandages, tourniquets and hemostatic gauze (like QuikClot) are a must. As is proper education and practice on how to use them. Good luck!

  • Stephen Ball is a former U.S. Marine, blog writer, and gun enthusiast. He has 20+ years of experience hunting and handling firearms. He’s had the opportunity to work with nearly every caliber and model available on the market from 1911’s to P90’s. His favorite carry gun is the Glock 26.

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