It’s a real simple question. What are you going to do if someone kicks down your door? The standard response of a gun owner is: I’m going to grab my gun and take care of the situation.

However, have you really thought out what you’re going to do in various situations? Have you really made a plan that takes into account the many variables of a home invasion? If the invader is a punk who doesn’t really know what he’s doing, then grabbing a gun and running down the hall could very possibly be all that is needed. But, what if this is not some random robbery, or if the attacker has some skill and knowledge of what he or she is doing? Have you integrated that possibility into your plan? There could even be multiple assailants, which can really change everything about the situation.

Other factors that should be thought out beforehand include how many family members are in the home and where they are located at the time. If you’re home alone, your best bet is to hole up in a room with a single entrance and call the police. But, if your child is down the hall, you have to make sure the child is safe, and the best way to do that is by planning ahead.

The best plan might be for you and your spouse to make a tactical advance to the child’s room, where you stay until the police are there. However, it might be better for one, or both, of you to bring the child back to your room. Without key knowledge of the home and the skills of the owners, I can’t tell anyone what is best for them. But I can tell everyone that a plan is best when it’s made early and practiced often.