What's your plan if there is a bump in the night, and it's not the cat? Or you and your wife are accosted in the mall parking lot? Do you think about it? Have a plan? How do you feel about weapons in the home? Or about law abiding, trained citizens having the right to keep and bear weapons for self defense? What if you surrender your money and valuables and it's not enough, the criminal wants to harm you or your family?
We love the Lord and are thankful for His care, but also know it's our responsibility to protect our family to our ability. While we hate to even think about facing the decision to use deadly force against another human being, we know that it's a dangerous world we're living in. Little Rock has a terrible crime problem, and rapes, assaults, home invasions are common on the nightly news. And much of the violence now occurs at the mall, Burger King, and places "decent" people frequent in their everyday life.
Our four children are grown and have their own families of their own, so Jenny and I live here alone, and defensive weapons are a part of our defense plan. We take care to "disarm the fortress" when the grandchildren are here.
I have a carry permit and haven't left the property unarmed in many years. I normally carry a Taurus PT140 Millennium Pro, .40 cal. semi-auto., with 10 in the magazine and one in the chamber, along with a spare magazine with 10 additional rounds (you may have to face multiple assailiants). I carried a Glock model 23, .40 cal. for several years, but after a lot of shooting and carry training I much prefer the Taurus.
My wife prefers a .38 cal. snubby, and she is very accurate with it. We both use our local indoor range regularly to stay sharp. We enjoy the shooting sports, so we have fun tearing up targets as we keep ourselves skilled with the weapons.
But there is no handgun in the world with the devastating stopping power of a long gun, especially a shotgun. Cops regularly shoot criminals multiple times with handguns without stopping them. While there are loaded handguns on each of our nightstands, my first choice in the home is a side by side double barrel 20 gauge shotgun with exposed hammers. I can leave it beside the bed fully loaded, and it's completely safe unless the hammers are cocked. I keep a bandoleer (50 shell capacity) that slips over the shoulder beside the shotgun.
Until recently I used my riot gun, a Remington 12 gauge pump shotgun, with extended magazine (8 shells), with a short 18 inch barrel. My neuropathy problems have made the 12 gauge recoil very painful to shoot, and it has become more difficult for me to cycle the slide. The 20 gauge has less than half the felt recoil of the 12 gauge, and still delivers a devasting load if needed. I use #3 buckshot for defense ammunition.
Besides, looking down the muzzle of a double barreled shotgun is a frightening sight. Hopefully frightening enough to possibly prevent the necessity of having to escalate it to the next level.
In addition to the weapons we have very good solid exterior doors with first class double locks, pinned windows, and an 85 pound Boxer (Tucker) that shares our bed who sounds the alarm and roars like a lion at any noise.
We sleep well.
Tuck
