No hardware is as effective as a gun in securing your household. It has the reach, accuracy, and lethality in neutralizing an intruder or a group of intruders. Furthermore, it can be utilized either defensively or offensively, depending on the circumstances. Unlike passive devices such as alarms in which burglars or home invaders can leave the premise unscathed at their leisure, “active” deterrence such as impact, edge, and projectile weapons can force a perpetrator to leave in a hurry and out of harm’s way. Whatever mystique and sensationalism Hollywood has portrayed guns in the minds of viewers, in reality they are just tools to accomplish certain tasks. Their effectiveness depend on the type of firearm, the skill of the user, and the surrounding area.

The sheer variety of guns in today’s market can certainly overwhelm a novice would-be buyer. The home dweller must choose the right weapon since the parameter is confined to defending the household. A pistol instead of a rifle or shotgun is more appropriate in smaller or cramped dwellings. Moreover, a short gun is harder to grab and affords the defender a one-handed grip of the weapon, freeing the other hand to do other tasks such as opening doors, moving furniture, or controlling an assailant.

Also, a handgun is more maneuverable and faster to deploy than wielding a long gun. Heed to this lesson of survival as experienced by Israeli commandos during the Yom Kippur War when they successfully raided Egyptian posts. Using the element of surprise and wielding the famous Uzi submachine gun, the commandos overran the Egyptian regulars carrying the standard AK-47 rifle. Although the Uzi fired a smaller caliber bullet than the AK, it is more compact and lighter, making it a faster weapon to aim and fire. Whoever shoots first and hits gets to live another day to fight. Additionally, a pistol is stealthier, less easily spotted, when the defender rounds corners of walls. This tactic is called “slicing the pie” in law enforcement terms.

Numerous gun magazine articles have been published in regard to which pistol is “better,” the revolver or semiautomatic handgun. In my humble opinion after years of firing both types, either one is appropriate depending on what you use it for. A revolver is more than adequate for home defense since it is simpler to operate, easier to clean, more reliable, and requires less maintenance. Although the cylinder might only hold 5 or 6 rounds usually, FBI studies indicate in most gun battles, combatants shoot a total of 2 to 4 rounds at a distance between 5 to 10 feet apart. Besides, speed loaders are commercially available if you need to reload your revolver quickly.

One such revolver that is close to ideal is the Ruger SP101 in stainless steel with a 3 inch barrel. Ruger revolvers are designed to be more rugged than their comparable Smith

a conservative american with a background in law enforcement, martial arts, engineering, and information systems. an array of self-defense devices, child and home protection, and surveillance equipment are available at www.striker701.com .

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