Study Module 2 - Avoiding Criminal Attack

Home Safety and Self Defense Home Safety and Self Defense is based on the concept of:

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1. Prevention : Prevent a person from breaking into or entering your home with proper landscaping and security devices. 2. Escape: If an intruder is in your home, escape from your home if you have the opportunity to do so safely. 3. Retreat: If an intruder is in your home retreat to a safe area or room where you can protect you and your family, call the police, secure your area, do not engage the intruder unless absolutely necessary. 4. Stay on the phone with the dispatcher, you can help the police catch the intruder and stay safe at the same time. 5. If you must shoot to protect yourself, be sure you have properly identified the target as the intruder. Do not shoot through doors, walls or other objects at the suspected intruder 6. Because there is no duty to retreat in your home does not give you the right to shoot the intruder just because he is in your home. Your justification is self-defense. Remember your first and only requirement is the safety of you and your family not to catch the intruder . Target Identification Night or day, your decision to shoot someone must be based on the legal need to defend yourself (as described else where in this manual). Before you point your gun at someone and pull the trigger, you must correctly identify your target as the threat. Target identification must be visual . You must see the person who is threatening you and know that you have identified the threat. An armed homeowner or armed citizen may not be a threat to you even though he/she has a gun. To avoid shooting an innocent person, you must identify yourself, determine who the threatening person is, and give the verbal commands which are appropriate. A Criminal in Your Home Regardless of the steps you take to prevent someone from forcibly entering your home, illegal entries may occur. Plan your actions ahead of time so you will know what to do. Prepare for future emergen cies now by reviewing the options that you and your family have. To avoid a successful criminal attack

in your home: Be prepared: • Know the layout of your home and be familiar with all entrances. • Plan an escape route for you and for family members.

• Identify the room most likely to be your “safe spot” and have a telephone installed. • keep a flashlight near the phone and the police telephone number easily available. • If having a handgun is part of your master plan to avoid becoming a victim, know how it operates and how to use it. If a stranger is detected in your home: Keep your head, by remaining calm, you will make better use of the very short time you have to make critical decisions. Do not be complacent or deny that a criminal may be in your home.

Handgun Training Specialists