The views in this article are the opinion of the writer. Spotter Up will assume “no” liability for any use or misuse of information from this article. This article alone will not make the reader a TACTICS expert or can it be used as a substitute for PROFESSIONAL TACTICAL TRAINING. Spotter Up advises you to visit our site for training courses with a certified instructor on ALL weapon platforms. 

CQB. Close Quarters Battle. Techniques and tactics used for building and structure entry involve breaching and neutralizing immediate threats. Following this, teams made up of at least 2-3 officers/agents/soldiers ‘slice the pie’ and begin hallway and room clearing using techniques specifically designed for this purpose and not generally taught to civilians.

The typical entry team can be anywhere between 4-6 highly trained and experienced professionals who train almost daily. They have the proper equipment and they know how to use it.

This article will not promote nor defend your right or ability to attempt to perform the same tasks in your residence while acting in the capacity of armed home defender. Why? You have neither the skill nor the training nor the experience and even solid and seasoned professionals in the field would not do it unless under extreme circumstances.

What this article will do is first illustrate in detail what you should do in the event of a break in or home invasion by armed/unarmed intruders. It will then demonstrate the reasons why playing ‘one man SWAT Team’ is never a good idea and the results are often tragic.

Hmmnnn. What is that in the neighbor’s house? Let’s check it out!

For the purposes of this article and all examples found within, the decision to be an armed homeowner/resident has already been made. A firearm has already been chosen and purchased and at the very least a basic, intermediate or advanced firearms course has been taken.

The NRA has a number of outstanding courses taught by duly certified instructors in the areas of handgun, rifle and shotgun. Specialized courses such as Personal Protection in the Home should be mandatory in addition to any and all courses dealing directly with safe and effective handling of a firearm. The foundation of responsible firearms ownership.

Students learning low light techniques at Sage Dynamics with Jon D.

Noted experts in the field of firearms and home defense will quickly tell you to first sit down with your family preferably in the presence of a certified NRA instructor. First and foremost, do a walk through of the dwelling. You will be looking at possible fields of fire, cover and concealment options as well as all entry and exit points which includes doors as well as windows. If in fact there are any alarms in the home, make sure at this point they are completely operational and that those authorized with setting and neutralizing them are clear on their operation.

You will next choose a ‘safe room’ where the entire family will go in the event of a break in or home invasion of any type. Said room should contain both a house and fully charged cell phone in addition to the firearm(s) the family has chosen. Since homes come in many shapes, sizes and designs, it is imperative that your own ‘safe room’ should be easily accessible to all and in the event of infants or small children, all adults in the home need to insure they immediately check each room where the children sleep along with any closets as frightened children frequently go there when not in their respective room(s).

Once inside the ‘safe room’ make sure that your weapon(s) of choice are loaded and made safe if this has not already been done. Make sure the door is closed and locked once it has been established that all family members are present. Regardless of what you hear, think you hear or don’t hear at all stay put.

Your very first action should be to call the police . When they answer, give the officer/dispatcher location followed by your statement that there are intruders in your home followed by your location once again. Keep the line open. The vast majority of calls into a law enforcement agency are recorded especially those of an emergency nature. Any and all events that follow are therefore recorded and can be introduced in court as evidence. You realistically do not know how many are within the structure nor do you know if they are armed or not. You do not know their individual locations. They do not know the layout of your home. You do. So, listen.

Strongly refrain from the impulse to exit the ‘safe room’ and go searching for the intruders with your firearm. By doing so, you will have placed your own life in jeopardy and at the same time leaving the rest of your family wide open for attack.

Should I bring the pain or nawwwwwww….Screw that! Out of here!

No law enforcement officer anywhere will ever tell you to conduct a house search on your own. Nine times out of ten, police are called by a family when they’ve arrived home only to find their home has been ransacked and burglarized. Law enforcement will tell you that upon seeing this to be the case, exit immediately and contact police while in route to a safe place. You have no idea if there are still burglars in the home. Assume they are.

Law enforcement is trained, experienced and equipped to gain entry and to go through the entire house in a safe and effective manner. If in fact you are in the home at the time of the break in, immediately implement the plans you made during your home meetings. Depending on the size and design of the home, you may have more than one ‘safe room’ chosen. Get there.

What do you believe you will gain by leaving your family on their own while you grab the shotgun, handgun or both and  go on a room to room search?

You will have opened your wife up to rape, assault and serious bodily injury as well as the possibility of death. You will have left your children open to any manner of attack. All happening while one of the intruders sneaks up behind you and jams a butcher knife in your back and takes your weapon (s). Let us not forget one more option.

When law enforcement receives a burglary call, it is rare they are told the intruder(s) are still in the location. It is generally accepted police are called when the evidence of a burglary has been discovered by one or more family members. When they are dispatched to a location involving an intruder still in the home or possible active shooter, the entire game changes. The mindset of every officer involved changes.

Adrenalin goes through the roof and all training and experience takes over. Upon arrival to the location, they observe an individual in the window with a firearm. Exigent circumstances allows officers at this point to gain entry to the location without a warrant.

Exigent circumstances can include but not be limited to destruction of evidence, audible screams, fear of bodily harm, etc. The officers will act accordingly and will break through the door if necessary. Upon entry, they observe a person with a pump shotgun in their hands. “Don’t move.” “Drop your weapon.” The person turns towards the direction of the police with the weapon in hand now pointing at the officers. Officers react accordingly to the imminent threat of deadly force. One dead homeowner. Will it be you?

This is supposed to be a motivating meme. Maybe heed it’s advice in a different kind of way…

In conclusion, devise a plan and implement it. If in fact the armed intruders kick down the door to your ‘safe room’ react accordingly. Force them to come to you. Those are your tactics. It is your home. Do not allow an armed intruder the option of changing your game plan. You have a responsibility to yourself and to your family to remain safe. Conducting room to room searches on your own is not just foolish but it can end up being tragic.

The views in this article are the opinion of the writer. Spotter Up will assume “no” liability for any use or misuse of information from this article. This article alone will not make the reader a TACTICS expert or can it be used as a substitute for PROFESSIONAL TACTICAL TRAINING. Spotter Up advises you to visit our site for training courses with a certified instructor On ALL weapon platforms. 

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By Sam

Sam has been in federal law enforcement for 6 years. During his brief time with his agency he was tasked to play an intricate role in the successful organization of a Tactical Response Team. He has trained with some of the top law enforcement agencies and shooting/tactics instructors in the US. His prior experience came from approx. 9 years of local law enforcement working in one of the top five most dangerous areas in America. Of those years, 7 were spent on the city SWAT Team, 2 years in Street Crimes and he spent hundreds of additional hours working DUI. Sam has over 200 tactical missions under his belt, and over 400 drug and warrant arrests. During his career in law enforcement he successfully completed and received several certifications to include: • Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy • Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC) • NRA Law Enforcement handgun/shotgun Instructor • Basic Firearm Instructor • Basic Tactics Instructor • Law Enforcement Instructor Training Program • General Instructor • Rappel Master/Instructor • SWAT Level 1 Certification • Basic/Advanced SWAT Certification (Illinois State Police) • Active Shooter Response • Individual Protective Measures Training Program • Protective Service Operations Training Program • Dignitary and Witness Protection for Law Enforcement (LEGION) • High Risk Environmental Protection Program (LEGION) • First Aid/CPR/TCCC • Hand to hand assault/counter assault • Advanced defensive driving Sam was deployed to an active war zone for several months, where he was a team leader for motorcade movements while overseas in hostile territory. His responsibilities were scheduled pick-up/drop-offs, route recon, advanced firearms training and emergency Quick Response Force training for his team. Jay subscribes to the Spotter Up way of life. “I will either find a way or I will make one”.

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