by Paul Cleaver

Created on: March 12, 2010   Last Updated: March 14, 2010

Why should we have guns in our homes for personal protection? The primary reason behind such an idea is to use the gun in question to fire a projectile into a human body whenever we are threatened. If for any reason you cannot perform this task then having a gun in your home is a futile gesture.

There are some important facts to consider when you are choosing the gun that you will use to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones. One of the most important is to insure that the weapon you choose is only going to kill the intruder that you shoot.

If you buy the wrong type of weapon, then you might well fire an errant shot missing the intruder and then the round you fire penetrates the sheetrock wall behind your intruder and perhaps kills or seriously injures one of your kids sleeping in the bedroom beyond that wall.  

Or if you live in an apartment building with multiple apartments above, below and to the side of your dwelling, the errant round that you fire which might miss the intruder penetrates the shared wall, floor or ceiling. The possibility of the round you fire killing a poor innocent neighbor is greatly increased by the caliber of the round being too large.

Many people feel that if they choose a “cannon” such as a .44 Magnum or a 10mm handgun that they will be safer. When in actuality the size of the round isn’t as important as the accuracy of the shooter.

Firing a .32 caliber on target is going to render your intruder fatally wounded as well as saving the neighbors or one of your own family should the round penetrate the wall or closed door behind the intruder.

One of the most effective weapons for home protection is a short barrel 20 gauge pump shotgun with #6 birdshot. The shot will impact your intruder and will definitely prove fatal at close range. And if there is any errant round or loose birdshot that impacts the wall behind your intruder, it will not penetrate because of the slower muzzle velocity and the dissipation of the ammunition upon impact.

If you must use a handgun for protection due to size constraints, choose a smaller caliber such as a .32 or .380 semi-automatic handgun. Then choose the ammunition that will render your intruder incapable of injuring you or your family while keeping any errant rounds from causing damage to any innocent human bystanders.

Purchase a “shovel nose” or hollow point round for your handgun. They will render your intruder lifeless while separating upon impact with any object such as sheetrock and two by fours. The hollow points are designed for exactly that purpose.

Then of course the most important part of a successful defense of your home and family with a handgun is practice, practice, practice. Going to a firing range in your area at least once a year will help your confidence when firing your weapon and you will become accustomed to the sound of your gun when firing. The more practice the better.  

You need to remember that the sound is as terrifying for the intruder as the actual impact of a round. And the sound your new handgun makes inside your home is increased by the enclosed spaces. So practice getting used to firing on target and not flinching when the sound resonates as your round fires.

Make the gun your friend and you will never be afraid to fire it.    

Learn more about this author, Paul Cleaver.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.