Concealed Carry 101: Should You Carry a Gun Inside Your Home?

According to research done by John R. Lott, one of America’s most prestigious statisticians, as of 2021, there have been 21.52 million concealed weapon permits issued in the United States. But now, 29 states allow constitutional carry. So, there’s no accurate way to forecast the exact number of people who carry guns outside the home for self-defense. Personally, I’m in the John Lott camp where more guns equal less crime. This is why I advocate that people carry a gun inside the home as well.

Why Should You Carry a Gun At Home

It was a hot summer day by Michigan standards. Much like right now, with temperatures soaring into the nineties. So, of course, my wife wanted me to rearrange the furniture in the living room.

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I don’t know why, but every few months she makes me move the couch, the recliner, or the rocking chair. I think it’s silly, but … who am I to argue over something so trivial?

So, there we were, moving a table, when there was a brief knock on our front door. We were about 12 feet from the entrance, and the door opened, revealing a man in his thirties. A man I didn’t know. He poked his head inside and seemed surprised to see us home.

I let go of the table and made eye contact with him. My eyes narrowed as I spoke.

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“Is there something I can help you with?”

The man hesitated, glanced down at the Smith & Wesson 9mm full frame on my hip, and then he looked back up.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I wanted to talk to you about a business opportunity, but I can see that you’re busy right now.”

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And then he closed the door and walked away. As he did so, I glanced out the side window beside the door and saw another man walk past. Both men hurriedly got into their car and drove away, never to be seen by us again.

Was he scared off by the gun on my hip? I believe so. And that’s why I’m never more than a few feet away from a loaded firearm, even inside my house.

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Making the Case for Carrying at Home

I’ve been teaching concealed carry here in my home state of Michigan for 25 years. During this time, I have taught well over 20,000 people how to legally and safely carry concealed. I wish every responsible citizen would carry as much as is legally possible.

However, there’s one aspect of carrying a pistol for defense that most people are oblivious to. And what is it? It’s carrying while on your property or inside your home. Very few people do that or even think that it’s necessary, but the stats say otherwise.

Did you know that 78 percent of all defensive gun uses occur either inside your home or somewhere on your own property? That’s an amazing number!

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I recently read some statistics by well-known self-defense attorney Tom Grieve from Wisconsin.

What are the stats? Every year in the US, Americans use firearms defensively 500,000 to 3 million times, according to a 2013 CDC report.

• The 2021 national firearms survey estimated 1.67 million defensive gun uses every year.
• 25% of all defensive gun uses occur inside the home.
• 53.4% of all defensive gun uses occur on your property.
• 31% of home invasions are stopped by informing the invader you have a gun.
• 91.1% of defensive gun uses do not require firing a shot.
• 498k defensive gun uses occur specifically inside the home.
• According to the DOJ national victimization crime survey, women who comply with their attacker are 250% more likely to be injured, compared to women who resist using a firearm.

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Defensive Gun Use Inside the Home

I’ve been studying concealed carry and personal defense for decades now, but those numbers surprised me. A quarter of all defensive gun uses occur inside your home. That means, in your bedroom, in your living room, and in your kitchen, all places where we feel safest.

Now, add to that the 53.4 percent of all defensive gun uses that occur on your property: in your yard, in the pole barn, a toolshed, the children’s swing set, and you get a staggering 78.4 percent! That’s incredible!

I know what you’re thinking. It’s silly to walk around inside my own house with a gun strapped to my hip. I have an alarm system, locks on my doors and windows, and a dog that barks out a warning every time Amazon or UPS makes a delivery. Why do I need a gun on my hip? After all, nothing bad has ever happened before.

Think about it this way. How many times does it have to happen before it becomes a significant event in your life? The obvious answer is, just once.

But yes, I understand the reality of the situation. You work hard all day for your family. When you come home, you want to relax, recharge your batteries, and spend some quality time with the ones you love. Those are all good things and need to be done. However, it doesn’t have to be an either/or situation.

After all, I’m at home in my office right now, unarmed, at my desk, hammering away on my laptop. I’m not afraid. I’m not paranoid. But I am ready. Right behind me, in a Hornady RapidSafe, is one of several firearms that I use for personal defense.

Two- and Five-Second Rules

Here’s my own personal code governing firearms and self-defense. I have a two-second rule and a five-second rule. Here’s how it works.

When I’m away from home, I need to be able to have a firearm in my hand in less than two seconds. Why? Because it takes the average concealed carry holder two seconds to clear the cover garment, draw, and put the first shot on target. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for error. So, I practice my drawing and shooting skills weekly.

When I’m inside my home, I allow myself five seconds to get to a gun. Why the extra three seconds? Because, on average, it takes only five seconds to break down your front door. Usually, they kick it one to three times, and the half-inch pine door casing gives way, and now violent criminals are inside your home.

As a minimum, I stage gun safes on each level of my home. For me, that means one in the basement, one on the ground floor, and one on the second floor. The bottom line is this: I’m never more than 15 feet away from a loaded gun inside my home.

My favorite gun safe is the Hornady RapidSafe with RFID technology. I wear a bracelet on my wrist housing a computer chip. I simply tap the big button and hold my bracelet a few inches away, and it immediately opens.

If you don’t like bracelets, then it also comes with a key fob, decals, and even a fake credit card that opens it the same way. I like the bracelet because it never leaves my wrist. So, the kids are less likely to find it and gain unauthorized access to the safe.

Always Have Your Gun Close by In Your Home

Think about it this way. According to surveys done of home invaders while imprisoned, their number one fear is a homeowner with a gun.

What does that mean to the average home/gun owner? Well, let me refer you back to this statistic: 91.1% of defensive gun uses do not require firing a shot. But that’s just part of the story. Here’s another stat for you that puts it all into perspective: 100% of all defensive gun uses require you to have a gun in your hand and ready to use.

Let’s be honest here. Most gun owners keep their defensive gun locked up inside a gun safe in the master bedroom. If you have a multi-story home, that’s going to take longer than five seconds to retrieve and put to use.

The most effective way to protect your family from home invasion is to carry a gun on your person 24/7. In the interest of full disclosure, I’m not able to do that. However, while the two-second rule requires you to have the gun on your person, the five-second rule does not.

Just have it locked up safely but readily accessible to all authorized persons. It may not be convenient or comfortable, but it is a rule that you and your family can live with.

When I recall the two men who visited us while we were moving furniture, I keep asking myself: Was he scared off by the gun on my hip? I believe so. And that’s why I’m never more than a few feet away from a loaded firearm, even inside my house.

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