Being Able To Defend Your Home Is More Important Than Ever

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

The ability to defend your life and property from violent threats is the most crucial survival skill anyone can have. The best method for self-defense is a reliable firearm, but you also have to undergo proper training and education. Being able to defend your home is more important than ever in this rapidly changing world.

Self-Defense Is Trending Upward

Believe it or not, self-defense wasn’t always the main reason why Americans owned guns. The founding fathers certainly cared about self-defense, but the national attitude about firearms changed in the mid-late 20th century. During this period of prosperity, most people primarily owned guns for hunting and other recreational purposes.

The focus started to shift back toward self-defense at the turn of the century. From 1999 to 2013, self-defense increased by 22% as the main reason for firearm ownership. Only 26% of people owned guns for personal protection in 1999, and that number jumped to 48% in less than 15 years.

A more recent Gallup poll from 2019 found 63% of American gun owners cited personal safety as their main motivation. The statistics speak loud and clear — tens of millions of Americans are making self-defense their top priority. It’s easy to see why people are taking personal protection seriously again.

The Rise of Violent Crime

America is not as safe as it used to be. Economic turmoil, social unrest and law enforcement shortcomings have led to a substantial increase in violent crime. Despite a drop in homicide rates, the rates of other violent crimes such as rape, robbery and assault remained dramatically higher than pre-COVID levels.

Major metropolitan areas have seen the most disturbing increases in violent crime. New York experienced a 23% increase from 2021–2022, while Los Angeles saw an 8% increase. However, this trend is happening nationwide. Suburban areas experienced more than 300,000 violent crimes, including 43,096 robberies during the height of the pandemic in 2020.

Keep in mind that these numbers only include violent crimes the authorities have formally investigated. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only 40.9% of violent crimes ever get reported to the police. These statistics paint a gloomy picture. The average American household is more vulnerable to an attack than ever before.

Tips for Home Defense:

If you want to keep yourself, your loved ones and your property safe, you need to improve firearm proficiency and home security. These five tips will help you address both points and make your home a safer place.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Buying a gun is just the first step in self defense. You also need to practice shooting your weapon and keep it in good condition. Familiarizing yourself with the gun will enable you to use it effectively during a high-stress emergency. The gun must become an extension of yourself during self defense situations.

2. Hide the Gun in a Safe Place

Keeping a firearm in your household comes with a degree of risk — especially if you have young children. Misfires happen all the time, and sometimes they result in severe injury or death. You need to hide your gun in a safe place to prevent it from getting into the wrong hands, ideally in a locked container.

3. Improve Your Home Security System

According to surveys of convicted criminals, 60% of home intruders admit they would change targets if they saw a security system. Adding simple security devices such as alarms, cameras, flood lights and motion detectors can significantly reduce your home’s chances of getting burglarized.

4. Get Involved in Law Enforcement

Getting involved in law enforcement is a great way to earn real-world experience dealing with crimes and gain important insights into your community’s vulnerabilities. You don’t even have to change your career and become a full-time officer — become a volunteer deputy or join your local neighborhood watch program.

5. Watch Your Social Media Activity

You also need to be careful on social media. Criminals track people’s social media activity and seek opportunities to burglarize empty homes. Don’t tell anyone about your daily activities or upcoming travel plans. Don’t show off your guns or post any videos showing your home’s interior layout. Anything that might be useful to a criminal should stay off social media.

Get Proactive With Home Defense

With violent crime on the rise, you can’t sit idly by and wait for your home to become a target. You need to get proactive with your home defense efforts. Practice shooting and firearm safety, bolster your security system, connect with law enforcement and watch what you say on social media. These steps will go a long way toward keeping your home safe.

Author Bio

Jack Shaw is an experienced hunter and avid writer on all things survival. He’s the senior editor of the men’s lifestyle magazine Modded, and a regular contributor to several publications centered on self and home defense.