Becky Yackley highlights the responsibilities of providers and caretakers to own, respect and secure not only their firearms, but also to see to the proper integration of these assets into a family home defense plan. This protects what is most precious – our children – as well as all the tangibles and intangibles that make a family what it is. Becky offers a common sense and personal approach to safeguard loved ones across their time and their space.
An initiatory and realistic look at priorities cannot be understated. While some videos and quips about the easy way and the right way to create a home defense plan can suit a populous, it’s the careful tweaking of a “unique-to-us” plan that makes the magic. Kids or no kids? In Suess-ian style, do neighbors necessitate nuances or not? Whatever the formula, Becky harkens to realism first. While I may fantasize about creating and refining a home defense plan in the middle of the Ozarks, I would be remiss if young suburban families did not wrestle with the subtleties of their own bases of operations.
At the risk of morphing into a senior-English beast at the keyboard – read! The antidote to ignorance is sifting through details to discover “the why” and this happens best when finding the professionals with experience. Sources such as USA Carry can get the ball rolling but ultimately, the mater-paterfamilias combo reigns supreme in the decision-making process.
Leadership is influencing people by providing purpose, direction and motivation. Planning, observation, communication and refinement are the trademark tools of keeping this ongoing family defense plan moving. Not dissimilar to militarized wargaming, massage out the what-ifs through scenario rotations and involve as many key players as possible into the planning and risk mitigation process. Sooner, rather than too late, the physical and spiritual fabric of the family home defense plan will take shape and to quote every proficient non-commissioned officer ever, “rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.” -IBR
Whatever you decide to do to prepare your family’s home, empower your kids and neighbors to be aware. Begin not a neighborhood watch, but a neighborhood readiness group. Help other families, and this could be a great way to make sure parents have an opportunity to talk about firearms and safety, if they feel this is appropriate. If your kids have friends they hunt with, or maybe teammates from trap league; whatever context guns and youth in your home fit into, make sure that YOUR house rules on firearms are clear. Our families are more importantly than any worldly possession, and we owe it to ourselves to own, respect, and secure them before everything else in life.
It doesn’t end here; view the rest of the original post and find a fast list of considerations to get going. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the NSSF’s important program, Project ChildSafe.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
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