This thread touches on two important topics. #1., Gun safety in the home and #2., home security. Nothing I can add to gun safety that has not been addressed so...
I think all would agree the best defense is a defense in depth with multiple layers overlapping, supporting and complimenting each other. First, lock your house door's at night and even when you are home during the day. Lock all
first floor windows at night. Sleep with your primary means of Commo next to your bed...cell phone or land line. Install motion activated lights all around the perimeter of the house; install them on out buildings and sheds as well. Deny bad guys cover by keeping shrubs and bushes near the house well trimmed. Invest in a very loud alarm system tied into your local LE and have the key pad installed in your bedroom. Buy a dog...if circumstances do not permit a dog...go to a pet shop and buy the biggest dog dish you can find and leave it in the most likely avenue of approach for any bad guy to see. If you do buy a dog; a 130lb man stopper is not necessary --just a dog that barks when alerted. When you see local/State LE, introduce yourself and let them know who you are etc...get the phone number to the dispatch desk not just 911. It's your decision if you want to tell them about the firearms you have in the house...some people may want to keep that on the down-low
. Train your spouse on how to use the home defense weapon of choice. Develop a plan to defend the house if all above fails. I tell my wife (recently diagnosed as pregnant with our 1st BTW) that all she needs to do is defend the bedroom and call the cops and stay on the line as long as is practical. If the bad guy makes it through all the above (not to mention a big guard dog) then he is motivated and truly dangerous and not some crackhead looking for loose change. Train her to shoot until the threat stops moving...completley.
Just some tips...any others???