The arrival of Hurricane Sandy and the ensuing storm underlined the fact that home defense is not just about having guns and shooting bad guys. It is truly about protecting your family and home from whatever devastating problems may arise, natural or man-made.
Just as we have a plan for dealing with a home invasion, it is also wise to have a plan to deal with flood, fire, storm and/or riot. And, for the plan to work, the whole family should be involved in the planning and in carrying out the operation of that plan. When you list all of the things that need to be done, it is easy to see there are jobs that can be carried out by the children as well as grandma and grandpa.
At the family meeting, it is wise to identify the various problems that can impact the family and home, and then make a list of things that must be done to deal with the situation. Each family member should have a job to do, and the rest of the family should know what those jobs are.
One often wonders how old children should be before they are made a part of the home defense plans. I would suggest when they are old enough to understand and carry out a task, they are old enough to participate. We saw this on the American frontier, when kids took part in virtually everything that went on around the family farm or ranch. It gives kids a sense of belonging, and it is amazing how well they can hold up their end of the work.
When guns are in the home, children should be taught basic safety and then taught to shoot. One of the best ways to accomplish this task is to enroll the kids in the various NRA youth programs, 4-H shooting programs or both. Help them understand, at an early age, the responsibility that comes with gun ownership.
Many families will have thought about these eventualities beforehand and are prepared to deal with them. Is your family one of those?
