Darkness Is Your Friend

by
posted on April 7, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
patio.jpg

The military has a term for giving away your position by turning on your flashlight at the wrong moment-white-light AD (accidental discharge). For a lawful, gun-owning homeowner things are different, though. You need to positively identify a potential threat before your firearm comes into play. You also “own” any bullet you send, therefore due consideration must be given to anything downrange.

If the exterior of your house is like mine, lights deliberately go on at dusk. It’s a great criminal deterrent and done right it gives you a slight advantage when investigating those “bumps” in the night. Even my back patio has solar lights that come on at dusk, illuminating just about every corner, but something strange was going on earlier this week at 4 a.m.

Our Great Dane puppy had to go outside and his growling and barking began instantly. It wasn’t one of those distant warnings, either. It was “danger close.”

As you can see by the photo, if I have the carport light on my silhouette would make a lovely target through the door’s glass. Most opportunistic criminals would flee at the sight of a phone-wielding homeowner, but not all of them. So the interior lights were off as I scanned to determine if it was an animal or a two-legged predator that had him unnerved.

The same principle applies to other windows in the house. Do you really want a perpetrator to know exactly where your wife is sitting while watching late-night TV? I don’t. Draw the curtains and at least once a year walk around your house after sunset to see what is visible from the outside. Are the vehicles throwing shadows for hiding once your driveway lighting comes on? If you peek through the front window blinds is it obvious outside? Does your tactical flashlight escape window coverings?

Don’t get me wrong. A phone to dial 911, a self-defense gun, flashlight and training should be the front line of defense. But, if members of our Armed Forces are being taught to avoid position-printing white-light ADs, it’s something worthy of consideration by lawful citizens.

And don’t forget those organic motion sensors. In my case, a 101-pound “puppy” issued the initial alert, but it wasn’t until the springtime frogs silenced on my neighbor’s property that I spotted someone in his lights that morning. Light management is a serious subject, but it boils down to employing the common sense that could provide you a slight element of surprise if the unthinkable happens, and makes you and your family a harder target.

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.