Girl, 15, Accidentally Kills Boyfriend Playing With Gun: Deputies

[Kaleva]

37. There's many things one should do and learn to do before getting a gun.

I try to be aware of the situation around me. I know where the exits are in the stores and other places I go to. I spent $230 on my revolver but much more then that on reinforcing the doors, exterior lighting, Ring surveillance door bells and better quality locks and deadbolts . The master bedroom door is reinforced and has a deadbolt. I practice on what to do if there is a break in of which retreating to the master bedroom which is the saferoom. I will not confront a home invader unless I have no way to get to the safe room and cannot retreat otherwise.

For a long time I open carried in my own home mainly for training. So I'd get used to it and practice daily on how to safely handle it. However, I only did that when it was just me and my wife at home. I secured the gun in a safe in the bedroom located near my side of the bed when going to bed or when the grandkids or other people came over. With more and more grandkids, I finally decided not to carry anymore. I never carried outside my property unless going to the local shooting range.

We keep the exterior doors locked at night. If there's an intruder, my wife will get out of bed, grab her cell phone and go to the entrance of the master bathroom, lie down on the floor and call 911. I'll roll out of bed, retrieve my gun, go and lock the bedroom door and then get back to my side of the bed to kneel beside it using it as cover. I'll yell out I'm armed and the police have been called. Only if they attempt to kick in our bedroom door will I use the gun.

The response will be different if there are grandkids staying over night. I'll retrieve my gun and go and cover the top of the stairs which is near our bedroom door while my wife will grab her cell phone and go to the spare bedrooms down the hall where the grandkids will be and call the police from there. I'll yell out I'm armed and the police have been called. If the intruder(s) attempt to come up the stairs, I'll use the gun.