Home security considerations

       Like a similar article I did on food security, everyone's situation will probably be different, so this article focuses on considerations vice some kind of checklist.

            The most important thing is to make your peace about having to shoot somebody, or otherwise do them harm. Like if you can't harm someone who trying to do harm to you, your Family, or friends, then this article is not for you.

            Now even I have made my peace with the idea of  poor destitute beggars, maybe even foragers, showing up on my doorstep during a rainy and cold day. Maybe they will even be a poor Family, or even the women and children. What am I to do?  Well, for me I have an overflow area that will at least put them out of the rain, with a wood stove for heat to boot.  There's an outhouse there, too, and plenty of pond water to boil to make it clean. I'll have to donate a pot for boiling water, I guess. And as for food, I will help them once, "as best I can". Like I say, it will all depend on the situation. And I will probably have my own problems, too. Said even another way,  I cannot save the world, but do choose to help the poor and needy "as best I can". In an older day, one might even call it "providing a grub stake". After all, people do have to help themselves, too.

            But if I get home invaded, then I can also do whatever I need to do to protect myself, my Family, and my Friends who may be here. In other words, I have made my peace with myself.

            Now having  gotten over that big hump, then things get a little simpler to me...more like checklist things.

            Like a security plan. That probably includes people being on alert or patrol, all with defined jobs, like this is your area to watch and defend, or this is your area to patrol and report as best you can. In whatever case, one should probably teach and rehearse some of these things when it is convenient.  And don't bite off more than you can chew. While a police department has a politically defined area of responsibility, you can define your own area of responsibility, like a defensible area. Even in a neighborhood  situation where some neighbors don't want to participate for their own reasons,  go with the flow. KISS - keep it simple stupid, is usually a good way to go.

            And always have a reaction force to reinforce those on patrol. Now how to call out a reaction force can be as simple as a holler,  or a siren,  a chuck wagon triangle clangor for calling the cowboys to come eat at the chuck wagon, or whatever you come up with.  But for sure rehearse many times (when it is convenient) so one knows what to do when it is for real. Now who controls the call out is another question to resolve.

            Now ideas like patrol routes or foxhole locations are easier than one might think. Do it ahead of time if you can, and use free internet resources like Google Earth or Map Quest to help make  the maps that go with patrol responsibilities and needs. If you don't do it ahead of time, then one can still hand draw maps to help those doing patrolling. What's the old saying...a picture is worth a thousand words. Worse case, one just does a verbal briefing before patrols.

            And then there is the "judgment" call. Like will the "bad" people come when the times are harsh,  like a cold and rainy and night time, or when it is warm and convenient for them. In fact, will the "bad" people be poor and bad off people, or existing  government people collecting for the "common good"? Now that is a judgment call related to your situation at the time.

            Now we spoiled Americans think we all need guns for security. I personally disagree. About anything will do, like guns, crossbows, bows, slingshots, sharpened tools, spears, machetes, knives, booby traps, obstacles, pepper spray;  I've used them all. The basic idea is called improvisation.  We humans have lots of good ways to defend ourselves, our Family, and our friends. Don't forgot deception and camouflage, too.

            Now, remember, the bad people want to live, too.  So one can just mess with their mind as one possibility.  After all, one bad person usually tells another 30 similar people the bad news, and that is a pretty good defense, too.

            Of course, sometimes you just have to fight, too.

            Take care of the people who do patrols, especially during harsh weather times.  The expectation of warm broth, rock gut coffee, about anything warm,  is really good for their morale while they are out and about, but also knowing  their patrol time is coming to an end. Been there, done that, so to speak.

            Last, during good times, just call 911 for home security things. During hard times, you are the 911. That's what this article is about, like to help you in your situation if hard times should come about.