At one time or another, just about every human being has given serious thought to the unthinkable—about what it might be like to be the victim of a home invasion. Those of us who regularly carry guns in public also understand that we may have to defend ourselves at home. Even hunters will admit to having considered how they might have to use their duck gun or deer rifle to protect themselves or their loved ones.

But while having a gun in your home is certainly a good idea, it is (or should be) only one element in your personal protection plan. You DO have a plan, don’t you? Not anything “set in stone”—just some basic steps that you and/or any member of your household understand and follow. After all, as the old military saying goes, “No battle plan survives the first ten seconds of contact with the enemy.”

Where to start? First of all, consider the kinds of simple basic steps that can be done long before an actual confrontation. Burglar alarms are getting more sophisticated and less expensive. Whether you choose the simple motion-activated units that only notify the homeowner, or the more advanced systems that automatically call 911, having some form of warning system is almost a no-brainer.

By the way, as astonishing as it sounds, in a disturbing number of home invasions, police discovered that doors and/or windows weren’t even locked. In warm weather areas, windows and patio doors often have nothing but screens to stop attackers.

Dogs can be very helpful. Even in an apartment or condo (if allowed), a small dog can yelp up a storm, alerting you to the presence of an unwanted guest. As a bonus, they can also act as a deterrent to burglars when you are not at home. Criminals of all stripes prefer to avoid dogs.

But what if you don’t, or can’t (due to allergies or other issues), own a dog? No problem. If you live in a single-family home or townhouse where it is possible, just buy a big dog watering dish and place it conspicuously in the back yard. A “Beware of Dog” sign (or an “I Love my Pit Bull” sticker at the front door) can have the same effect.

Educate yourself, and everyone else in the household, about the wide variety of threats that can materialize. Contrary to the typical “guy in a ski-mask with a tire iron” shown on TV, home invaders can strike at any hour of the day, not just in the middle of the night. Many rapists purposely target at-home women during daytime hours.

By the way, taking the above steps can also help you legally, should you ever have to defend yourself or your loved ones. Your preventive steps can be effectively used by your defense attorney to convince a jury that you were acting as a conscientious and responsible citizen. Conversely, prosecutor may attacked a homeowner for their lack of defensive measures.

The bottom line is that preparation and deterrence can prevent an attack in the first place, which is always preferable to defending ourselves in court.

You’re reading. You’re ready for bed, but you heard it…the bump of a chair against the table downstairs. Could it have been the dog? Why take a chance?

What’s the first thing you’re going to do?

Turn out the reading light.
​
Then you take your carry pistol from the drawer (or shotgun from under the bed). Softly rack a round if one is not already chambered. Be still and let your eyes adjust. If it is possible to silently move so that anyone coming up the stairs will be backlit, you want to do that.
You know by now that it wasn’t the dog, and so you worry. If you are prepared, I would argue that you should wait before calling 9-1-1. Circumstances are impossible to forecast. Situations are volumetric in number and proportion. But one size—one answer—does not fit all.
Unless you are absolutely caught unawares, the odds are in your favor. You know the layout of your house or office. You know just how the coffee table juts into the living room aisle, how chairs are positioned around the table. Your knowledge of your surroundings is your first, best defense. The intruder is feeling his way in the dark or semi-dark.

Even if he has visited your home before—as a guest or even burglarizing it earlier—he’s going to bump, break, scratch. You’re going to hear him, know exactly where he is, and you can almost hear his heavy breathing as he fumbles in the darkness.
There’s an intruder. You find your concealed carry protection and turn out the light…right?
Now, the question…
Should you turn on a diversionary light? Unless you can flip a switch remotely or have installed some motion-activated burglar alarm, the answer is probably no. Moving around—even crawling—makes noise and informs the intruder of your position. That means movement is going to cause the plywood-covered joists to squeak, even if you worm your way across the carpet like a turtle. An aggressive or frightened intruder might fire up through the ceiling and floor if he believes you are tracking him, ready to ambush him—and, of course, you are.
Large caliber handgun bullets are not stopped by residential floors or walls (cement, sure). This could be a problem when you unleash your .45 at the shadow stalking up the stairs of the apartment. Some of those bullets may hit, but some will cause your neighbors to—the scientific term is “freak out.”
I believe the best solution is to take a ready position with the lights out. Allow your vision, and especially your peripheral vision, to work for you. Your first job is to be safe and safeguard your family. Keep the lights out. Do not try to move and call 911. 
Be alert. You are armed; you are dangerous—and the person who has broken into your house in the dark should be afraid, very afraid.