Are Handguns Adequate for Home Defense?
Many people choose to get firearms for the first time out of the desire or need to defend their homes. If you’re new to gun ownership, walking into a store can feel overwhelming. You naturally want to get the right firearm to deter an intruder, but you should also make sure you keep other people safe from negligent discharge. Handguns are one of the go-to choices for home defense because they offer several benefits in situations that are unique to having to defend a residence. The firearms safety and training experts from LTC Austin, a premier provider of online LTC classes, explain how a handgun can be beneficial when defending your home.
Cover Close to Mid-Range Encounters
If your first instinct is to look for the highest-powered gun possible, it might help to take a step back. Other types of guns might have more power and greater precision, but you may not need all of that. In a residential encounter, you’re likely to be fairly close to your target. A handgun will be easier for you to aim in this type of situation, and you might even find it easier to carry and handle your gun in tighter quarters, such as in a narrow hallway or small room.
Make Intruders Think Twice
The ideal home defense situation involves never actually having to fire your weapon. Home invaders often want to get in and out of houses as quickly as possible to achieve their goals without being harmed. Some burglars don’t even carry weapons, although you should always assume they could be. Seeing a gun in your hand might be all a burglar needs to rethink his or her plan and just flee your house.
Keep Your Firearm Close
Handguns are smaller than other types of guns, and their compact size comes in handy for home defense plans. Instead of having to lock your firearm in a tall safe that might have to stay in your closet, you can choose to keep a handgun in a smaller container located closer to your bed. Your handgun will also be more portable, which means you can carry it with you to different rooms so it’s always close by at any time of day or night.
Feel Confident about Your Technique
Familiarity with your firearm is critical for you to make fast movements as you prepare to defend your home. A handgun is often one of the first types of firearms people learn to use, and you’ll be able to easily transport yours to the shooting range for lessons and practice sessions. Carrying and practicing using your weapon regularly trains your muscle memory so using your handgun feels natural if the time comes to use it in your house.
Protect Your Loved Ones & Neighbors
Although high-powered rifles can offer greater precision, they come with the risk of having too much power. If you must draw your weapon against an intruder, the last thing you want is to have a missed shot go crashing through a wall where your loved ones might be taking shelter. This is especially critical if you have children in your home or share walls with another family. With a handgun, you’ll have enough power to stop a threat to your life in its tracks without risking the safety of innocent parties.
If you own a handgun to protect yourself, your family, and your home, make sure you know how to use it safely, and be aware of all the laws that apply in your jurisdiction. Call on the firearms education pros at LTC Austin for the highest-quality Texas license to carry training available. Whether you’re looking for LTC proficiency testing or you want to take an LTC online course, call us today at 512-766-3039.