Say Uncle points out an observation made over at Lew Rockwell:

They Never Mention Guns
Every so often one one of the “major” broadcast networks airs a report on home safety. A security expert will go on and on about locking doors and windows, installing alarm systems, using motion detectors and a bunch of other things that a home owner might do including, of course, calling the police. But what about that useful, portable, concealable, reusable and affordable equalizer and tool of last resort? In fact, when have we ever been told not to rely on the state for anything?

Apparently, even cactus are too dangerous for mere citizens to rely on when it comes to home defense. After the savage 2007 home invasion in Cheshire, CT, that left a prominent doctor’s wife and two daughters dead, an expert on ABC’s Good Morning America suggested that wind chimes and cactus on window sills would deter criminals.

As a commenter pointed out:

If cactus was actually effective at stopping malefactors, CT and MA would’ve required a license to buy, sell, and transport it long ago.

Guns, of course, shouldn’t be counted on as the first, last, and only line of home defense. Effective home security requires a layered approach, and different tactics are going to work against different threats.

Against random burglars and violent criminals selecting targets of opportunity, locked doors, motion-detecting lights, and even wind chimes and cactus on the window sill can provide a certain level of security. Man’s best friend, the dog, can also do an awful lot to ward off chance encounters. Better to never face a home invader than to have to shoot one.

Against criminals who have selected a specific target ahead of time, however, passive defenses aren’t nearly so effective. All but the dumbest home invader will have at least a rudimentary plan to deal with common passive defenses. These are the ones where guns might be the only hope.

Pulling the trigger should always be an absolute last resort. The problems arise when the bad guys escalate to last resort territory with their first move.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 4:49 pm and is filed under Castle Doctrine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.