With all that is going on in the world today, how does one protect themselves, their family and their property without using a gun?

You can protect yourself, your family, and your home without the use of a gun, provided that you use a combination of other deterrents.  These deterrents can include a dog, a dead-bolt lock, a home security system, a taser, pepper spray or even a baseball bat. These will keep you safe, but when used in combination with a gun, you will be more safe.

Let me start out by saying that this article is neither pro-gun, or anti-gun.  I have intentionally written this article with the intent of helping you decide the best solution for you and your needs.  My hope is that you will read with an unbiased mind, and hopefully, I will offer a solution you just may not have considered.  So, let’s get started.

What Does “Safe” Look Like?

When we think about being safe, we think of protecting our own person, our family and our property, in order to be safe.

In fact, there are basically 3 types of threats that we need to protect ourselves from.  Each type of threat has been around since the founding of this nation, (in this case, the United States of America).

• A Burglar
• Mob Rule
• The State

A Threat from Burglars

You may think that the odds of you being a victim of home robbery is far fetched, but consider the following.  

• 3 out of every 4 homes will be burglarized within the next 20 years 
• 65% of these burglaries will take place between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

These statistics are real, which is why you constantly see television commercials offering home security systems to protect your family and loved ones from those who might want to steal your possessions, or may cause you harm in the process.  How is one to protect themselves from such a threat without a firearm?

Though burglary is the first thing that may come to mind when we consider the most immediate threat, you should not limit your thinking exclusively to burglary.  There are other threats, one that you may not even see coming.

A Threat from Mob Rule

We live in a time where mob-rule could be a real threat, and not just in an urban city, but the suburbs as well.  For example, consider those you may have seen in the news who have sat down with their family and friends for a meal at restaurant in 2019-2020, only to be harassed, shouted at, and in some cases, have had their tables over-turned solely because they refused to share and demonstrate the political opinion of the ruling mob. 

You and your family just might become a target, so how do you protect your family from such a threat without a gun?

A Threat from the State?

Though this may not sound like an immediate threat, if the government were to decide to break into your home without cause, hauling you off to jail, while confiscating your property, how are you to protect yourself from the State?  You don’t think that can happen?  The Jews who lived in Germany in 1943 also didn’t think that could happen.  How can you stay safe and protect yourself without a gun?  

Why do you think there is such a big push by those in government to remove your right to own a gun?  Those in government want power, and they know that if they can confiscate the guns from it’s citizens, they will have complete power over their them.  You don’t believe it could happen?  Just ask those who live in England about the Firearms Amendment that was passed in 1997 that banned all all guns, or the Australians about the Firearms Act of 1996 which did the same.

Who Are You Protecting?

You are Protecting Yourself

People are born with a natural sense of self preservation.  This is why we (most of us anyway), don’t jump off of cliffs or out of airplanes, or swim with sharks.  We don’t want to risk doing something that might cause harm or even death.

We take preventive measures to ensure our own protection.  This is why we lock the door at night before going to bed, or take the dog with us when we go for a jog at night.

You are Protecting your Family and Loved Ones

Like a mother bear protecting her cubs, I would venture a guess that there is nothing that you wouldn’t do to protect your family. 

With that in mind, you probably have already taken measures to protect them, such as locking the door at night, getting a family dog, or perhaps you have installed a home security system. 

You are Protecting your Property

Securing your home not only protects your family, but all of your possessions as well.  Home security systems not only protect you from unwelcome intruders, but will alert you from things such an extreme increase in temperature (fire), a water leak that could flood your basement, or even freezing pipes so that you can take preventive measures to ensure that permanent damage does not occur.

Alternatives to Guns

Below is a list of some of the more popular measures you can take to protect yourself, all of which serve as excellent deterrents to predictors or intruders.

A Dog

A dog is known as a man’s best friend.  Not only are they friendly, but they instinctively protect.  It’s just built into them. Their sense of smell, sight, and hearing far exceed that of people.

Another really great thing about having a dog, is that it regardless of the size of the dog, it will still serve as a deterrent.  Sure, large dogs are more threatening and have bigger teeth, but small dogs can be just as effective because they yap and give the intruder away.

For further reading on this subject, I would highly recommend that you check out the article I wrote, entitled, “Do Dogs and Fences Deter Burglars?”

A Dead-Bolt Lock

A dead-bolt lock is a strong deterrent for break-ins, considering that 34% of burglars enter the home through the front door.  This is why it’s a great idea to not only invest in a good dead-bolt lock, but also in a solid door.
For maximum security, ensure that the dead-bolt lock extends through the door-frame and well into the walls of your home. 

For further reading on this subject, I would highly recommend that you check out the article I wrote, entitled, “Are Composit Door Safer and More Secure”

A Home Security System

Home Security System work.  A well placed sign outside showing all that you have a home security system installed does not hurt either.  

Even though 38% of homes in the United States use a home security system, surprisingly, not all of homes actually use it.  So, if you are going to invest in a home security system, make sure that every family member knows how to turn it on, and turn it off, and most importantly, is disciplined enough to to enable it.

For further reading on this subject, I would highly recommend that you check out the article I wrote, entitled, “Why You Should Consider a Home Security System”

A Taser

A taser may look like a gun, but it isn’t.  It shoots darts that are connected to the taser by wires that provide a consistent electric current for up to 30 seconds which will completely incapacitate the assailant. 

This is a very effective means of incapacitating an intruder.  In fact, once the darts have penetrated the skin of the intruder, technically, you could even pull the trigger again after the first 30 seconds for another jolt of continuous electricity to make its way into the assailant for yet another 30 seconds.  You *could* keep doing this until the cops showed up, or until the battery on the taser failed.

For further reading on this subject, I would highly recommend that you check out the article I wrote, entitled, “Taser vs Stun Gun: What’s the Difference?”

A Baseball Bat

A bit primitive, but still effective.  My only suggestion is that if you use a baseball bat, swing for the fences.  Swing hard and repeatedly as though your life depended on it, because it almost certainly would.  Don’t hesitate, just keep swinging hard and fast until they are gone.  Trust me, they won’t stick around.  They will look for the fastest way out.

Pepper Spray

This is one of my favorites.  There are so many advantages to using Pepper Spray.  Below are just a few:

• It’s small, lightweight and compact.  So much so that it could easily be placed in a purse, or even a front pocket.
• You can walk or jog with it in your hand, ready for use.
• It is inexpensive.
• It is readily available and you can find it anywhere.
• You can use it from a distance of 
• Some brands can shoot shoot 4 million scoville heat units at 90 mph at a distance of up to 15 feet.
• It is legal in all 50 states.

This is what my son-in-law buys for my daughter.  It’s what any Dad should buy for his teenage daughter, for sure.

For further reading on this subject, I would highly recommend that you check out the article I wrote, entitled, “Is Pepper Spray Good for Self-Defence?”

There is a Reason Why Guns Work

All of the aforementioned options serve as deterrents.  They do work.  The can prevent an intruder from breaking in, or can prevent someone from attacking you, but they do not eliminate the threat.  Let me explain.  Even if you use a taser gun, and completely incapacitate the intruder, until the Police come and haul him off to jail, there is nothing to prevent him from trying to break into your house again, or attack you at a later time.  

Deterrents can go a long way to prevent harm to you, your family, and your property.  But none of them will prevent someone who is determined from trying again.

Guns can eliminate the threat permanently, and an assailant knows that.  More than anything, they are afraid that you might have a gun and use it on them.  They may be willing to risk Pepper Spray, a dog, (they will bring treats for your dog), or even a Taser, but they won’t risk it if they know that you have a gun.  That’s just something to think about.  

Can I Protect Myself, Family and Property Without a Gun?

OK, so guns do work, but even so, maybe you do not want to use a gun to protect yourself.  That’s OK.  There is nothing wrong with that.  

You absolutely can protect yourself, your family and property without the use of a gun.  Is it guaranteed to work 100% of the time?  No, but the odds are in your favor, if you employ a combination of the preventive measures we have already discussed.  The more preventive measures you take, the greater the odds of keeping yourself, your family and your property safe.

I would agree, that even if you did have a gun, there is no guarantee that if you took that shot, that it would hit its mark. But I can tell you that the most feared sound a thief could hear is racking the slide of a 12 gauge shotgun.  You know, the “SHHHHHK – CHHHHHHK!!!!” sound.  The sound alone is more of a threat than any other deterrent previously mentioned, because they know what comes next.  The threat of pepper-spray, a home alarm system, or even a dog, does not have the same effect or get the same response.

One final note regarding a real “gun”. It is possible to use non-deadly rounds (bean bags or rubber bullets) in a shotgun. Hearing that racking sound coupled with getting shot with a PAINFUL non-deadly round is enough to send them flying out the door. The adrenaline and fear won’t even allow them to realize they’ve been hit with a non-deadly round.

But again, if you are dead set against using a gun to stay safe, it’s OK.  As discussed, there are several other preventive measures you can take for protection.  Just be sure to use as many as you can, because the more you use, the safer you will be.

Closing Thoughts

There are ways that you can protect yourself, your family, and your property without the use of a gun.  Many of these are great solutions, but a combination of them makes for a safe place for you, your family and even your property.  

Sometimes, however, the only way to stop a thief stealing from you, or causing you and your loved ones harm, is to stop them cold in their tracks with a gun.  But that should only ever be used as a last resort when you feel that you or your family’s life is threatened.