Throwing Down
Drawing a bead on the gun dilemma
By David Lewis |
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You are relaxing in your bedroom, watching late night TV, when you hear an unfamiliar noise. Breaking glass? The background noise of the television is suddenly a deafening roar as you strain to hear over it, so you hit the mute button, just in time to catch the soft, unmistakable footstep. Oh my god, you think, there's someone in the house. Your craned neck cramps as you listen physically, every sound amplified by adrenaline - there was something. Was that the stairs? Desperately, you wish to be wrong - but you can feel that someone is there. Now a creak, the second stair from the bottom, the one that always squeaks, and that awful silence . . .
This terrifying scenario happens in Columbus more often than you might think. According to reports from the Columbus Police Department, there were 284 home invasions in the greater Columbus area during the two-week period between February 9th and the 23rd; of them, 63 were classified as 'robberies,' meaning a weapon or confrontation with the intruder was involved - and a look at a crime map shows that they happen all over town.
Learn how to protect yourself from intruders!
Photo: Chris Casella
While the vast majority of burglaries occur when no one is home, many citizens are taking steps to ensure that they don't become victims.
"Fact is, you have a right to bear arms. You have a right to defend yourself or others, if their life is in jeopardy," said Sgt. Rich Weiner, of the Columbus Police Department. "Quite frankly, people are getting tired of crime and criminals, and they are defending themselves now."
On February 23rd, while this story was being penned, a West Side resident shot an intruder in his home. In both January of this year and December of last, local news stations aired accounts of homeowners and residents who had shot intruders in their homes.
According to experts and reports, the number of people arming themselves is on the rise.
Almost anyone in Ohio can legally purchase a handgun, so long as they are at least 21 years of age, have no history of mental illness, and can pass the instant background check (which can occasionally take up to three days). Many people mistakenly believe that a permit is required to own or carry a pistol; this is only true if you wish to carry it in a concealed manner.
Massad Ayoob, a nationally recognized authority on lethal force and the author of many books and training videos on the subject, said that home invasions have evolved from single burglars acting alone to an increasing number of multiple-intruder situations. He speculated that break-ins increase during times of economic duress, and said that more citizens have responded by arming themselves, one part of a comprehensive approach to being prepared.
"There are people in the last few years who are seeing the increase in break-ins and are taking a 'systems approach,'" he said, adding that he teaches people to protect themselves every day. "I'm seeing it from the people who are into this enough that they are willing to pay me $800 and take a week out of their lives."
According to Ayoob, a firearm is only one step in the path to preparedness.
"A number of the people who come to me have hardened the perimeter," he said. "They have hardened the locks and catches on their doors and windows, invested in an alarm system, a dog, a better lock . . . "
A systems approach indicates an individual that is prepared and realistic, and, according to Ayoob, having a gun bodes well for the intended victim.
"Generally the armed homeowner has the element of surprise, and will generally win the encounter," said Ayoob.
In the wrong hands
So, if you buy a gun, do you just keep it under your pillow, or is it better unloaded and locked up?
"I would never combine the trigger-lock[ing device] and the loaded gun," said Ayoob, as the unlocking the device could set off the gun.
"One option is the quick release gun safe," he said. "You hit the outer shell and press the secret code and, in a second or two, the gun is in your hand."
Ayoob mentioned another interesting option: the Magna Trigger. The device can be installed on several models of automatic pistol and renders the gun harmless if the person holding it is not wearing a special magnetic ring - whether that person is small child, or an intruder that has wrestled the weapon away from the owner. The system costs $350-$400, or about the price of a mid-range automatic pistol.
"It's the only so-called 'smart gun' that I would say actually works," affirmed Ayoob.
Defending yourself after you've defended yourself
The rumors are persistent, and everyone has heard them: the burglar is shot in the house, but lives to tell the tale. Then, after a brief stay in the Big House, he sues the homeowner.
Worse, what happens if your bullet hits something (or someone) it wasn't supposed to?
While you are within your rights to shoot an individual threatening you or another, you DO NOT have the right to use lethal force to defend property, according to Sgt. Weiner.
"You've got to know the law, just to protect yourself from prosecution," he said. "There was an incident last year where someone was breaking into a car . . . the owner confronted that individual, took a gun out there, and at some point, he fired that gun, and killed that individual. He was later brought up on charges," said Weiner.
"There was [a different incident] not too long ago where someone was stealing a car and the owner started firing shots at the car. You can't do that," he continued. "The court has ruled many times that a person has the right to defend themselves, and they may use enough force to stop that aggression," he said, but added that both police officers and citizens, after pulling the trigger and shooting someone, are investigated the same way.
"Are the actions justified?" he asked. "Would a reasonable person look at that and say, 'It was justified'?"
Sgt. Doug Byers, who works with the burglary division, agreed.
"Don't buy one to protect property," he said. "A dog or an alarm system are better for that . . . but you can buy one to protect yourself or others. I definitely believe in the right to protect yourself."
Living like a Boy Scout (Be prepared!)
All experts agree: your grandfather's heirloom Luger pistol does not a home-security system make. Gun owners who don't take seek proper training are mostly dangerous to themselves. Preparation is critical.
"As long as you train and you are familiar with that weapon, you are able to secure it, use it, and you make valid decisions and use it in a proper manner, what could be wrong with that?" asked Weiner. "We run into problems when people just have guns. They just have it around, they don't train, and they aren't prepared."
Weiner, a long time patrol officer, said that thinking ahead and having a realistic plan is the key.
"You have to always be thinking, 'What am I going to do if this happens to me?'" he said. "What happens when you hear that window break? 'Should I call 911 first? What if they are already in the room, or have a knife?'"
And, perhaps most importantly, are you prepared to kill someone at all? While it is a question that is hard to answer beforehand, coming to a personal reckoning with your own values can save precious moments that, in the worst-case scenario, could be a lethal hesitation.
"Hopefully they will go and get some kind of training, and get familiar with the weapon," said Weiner, "so that, God forbid they ever have to pull the trigger, but they need to be confident when they make that decision."
"You have to understand the potential there is to take a human life. Are you prepared to do that? Once you pull that trigger, you can't take that bullet back," he concluded.
See: Tips you can trust from someone you can't
Originally Published: March 1, 2010
