Hey everyone,
I'm in the process of buying my first handgun for home defense.
What are some things you would recommend I purchase to complement the gun in terms of maintenance, storage, and other must-haves or even nice-to-haves?
Already on my list is a carrying case, fire-proof safe, dummy rounds for dry-fire practice, and a good pair of ear plugs for the range. Not sure if I should throw in a speed-loader with that or not. I feel like I'm missing some stuff, hence this post.
For the future, I plan to build the gun out. I have already decided on purchasing an optics-ready pistol, so I can throw a red-dot on it down the line, and also a light.
Looking forward to your responses, cheers!
Work out a detailed defense plan. If you're woken up by someone kicking in your door in the middle of the night you are not going to make good decisions. So make them in advance. Figure out where you and your family need to go and what cover is available. Work out ways to minimize how much you have to expose yourself. (Don't go looking for an intruder.) Think about whether you want to turn on house lights or use something else. One way or another you never want to shoot at a target you have not positively identified.
It's also important to think about what you are willing to do in various situations. Are you prepared to kill someone to defend yourself and your family? The answer is almost certainly yes, but give it some thought in advance. Are you willing to kill someone to protect your property? Does any intrusion warrant lethal force or only if they approach you or your family? The questions are simple and the answers may be obvious to you, but make them in advance when you are not under threat and can take the time to think them through.
Talk through your plans and decisions with anyone else in the house. Everyone should know what they are supposed to do.
Stay safe.