Like most guys, I love a good shoot’um up movie, but I’m always irritated when the protagonist dives behind a couch, or some other flimsy object, right before the bad guy sprays the object with bullets. And even though the object would have never stopped a bullet—much less multiple bullets—the hero jumps up unharmed and drops the bad guy with a well-placed shot.

The irritation doesn’t come from the actual movie scene. I know it’s just a movie, but I’m always curious about how many people see that and believe that a couch, sheet rock wall or interior door can stop a large-caliber pistol round. These objects provide good concealment, but they’re not cover, and hiding behind them in a lethal-force encounter is not the best idea, though they can be better than nothing.

Concealment is any object that can be hidden behind such as a wall, table, couch or door. In your own home, concealment can be useful since you are intimate with your surroundings, which provides some tactical advantage. From concealment you can watch for potential dangers while keeping yourself hidden from view. Almost any large object can be used as concealment. However, concealment will not stop a bullet if you are fired upon by an intruder.

Cover, on the other hand, provides both concealment and protection from attack. Cover can be a reinforced door, a book case with books, a refrigerator or some other item thick enough to stop a bullet. When developing your home-defense plan, be sure to take into account cover versus concealment and leave the couch for the movies.