A Good Self Defense Plan Must Have Layers

[ZeSpectre]

Got a "live run" of our self defense/neighborhood watch plan last night and it showed the value of having several layers of protection.

layer #1) Information (via radio scanner and phones).
I was in the home office doing work when the scanner came alive with a report of "shots fired" and a foot pursuit in progress. Incident began just south of our house and was headed in a northerly direction (right towards us in other words).

Wife called the "phone tree" of neighbors to either side and advised them to get themselves and their kids inside and "fort up" for a bit.

layer #2) Have a plan.
We already had a "shelter in place" plan and were able to light up our perimeter with the recently fixed external lighting (Thank you Landlord for prompt action on that). The wife and I both grabbed our cell phones and she went back to the office (semi-underground) while I made sure everything was secured and then I joined her.

layer #3) Have equipment
Scanner, a (somewhat) hardened/break-in resistant house, self defense tools, communication tools.

layer #4) Have a distraction
Sitting around tensely waiting for something to happen is nerve wracking so you need to have something else to do in the meanwhile. In our case it was sitting in the office and just continuing to do work on the computers, business as usual, until the scanner finally announced that they had caught the suspect. We then called the neighbors to give them the all clear.

So in the end the entire situation was (thank God) wrapped up quickly, without any further involvement on our part, and although details were lacking overall, the wife and I never felt like there was any direct threat that we weren't ready to handle (or at least as ready as you can be).

Just as a side note, apparently the chase did go through the alley beside the neighbors house so it really was a close thing.

 

[Creature]

Excellent write up...well thought out.

I have always had a "plan" that is cobbled from bits and pieces of advice I have heard and things I have read...sort of....kept mostly in my head. But never a properly thought-out and coalesced plan. Your thread has motivated me to really think it through and prepare.

Thanks!

 

[The Unknown User]

That's scary thinking about something happening so close. Good think you're all okay.

 

[Regolith]

For some reason I read the title as "A good self defense plan must have lawyers."


Perhaps lawyers should make up one of the layers? You're probably going to need one if you're involved in a shooting, so it might not be a bad idea...

 

[ZeSpectre]

A good self defense plan must have lawyers

You know you have a good point there. I already have lawyers so I didn't really think about that part much.

 

[MinnMooney]

Good emergency plan!

That's a pretty good plan for just such an emergency. I'd be willing to bet that a vast majority of people have little or no plan for a 'shots fired' or chase thru the streets like you do.
Keep up the good work.
Do you run your scanner at all times that you're home?

 

[Robert Hairless]

I'm curious about whether your group coordinates its actions with local law enforcement? (Perhaps you covered the point but I missed it.)

One of my friends told me of his involvement with a neighborhood group that sounded similar. He repeatedly stressed the point that they were not vigilantes and considered themselves to be only additional eyes and ears for law enforcement. When they saw a problem--and in his neighborhood they often did--they contacted the police for appropriate action, and the police responded quickly. Interestingly, the neighborhood's organized cooperation with the police did succeed in reducing crime to the point that the group eventually had little or nothing to do and disbanded.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

A few years ago, we had a shooting of a police officer downtown by a guy who'd been ejected from a club.
We were so close that I heard the shotgun go off in rapid succession when he shot the officer. I locked the house down immediately because I knew it could only be a block or two away. And, we had a lot of gang activity there, so I assumed that a war of some kind was starting.

That was when I emphasized to my girlfriend to be quiet when she saw me getting up and going for the guns in the middle of the night instead of loudly saying "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHY DO YOU HAVE YOUR GUN?"

Since then, I've implemented other layers including scanners, Close quarter weapons (slice and bludgeon), and non-firearm ranged weapons. I've also developed a discipline of making sure that my cell phone is charged up before bed.

Now that I live in an apartment community in the city (which I detest ), I'm reevaluating my firearm choices for HD, reevaluating escape routes for fire and emergency, and revamping my HD layers in general.
Very good thread.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Do you run your scanner at all times that you're home?

MinnMooney,
Yeah usually. I have a base unit set up next to my computer and I generally just leave it running now. Things are quite a bit more quiet in my new location than they were in DC where the scanner just never shut up.

I'm curious about whether your group coordinates its actions with local law enforcement? (Perhaps you covered the point but I missed it.)

Robert Hairless,
There is an "official" neighborhood watch. They don't do squat overall but to be fair there really hasn't been much for them to do anyway. The new neighborhood is generally pretty quiet with oldsters sitting out on porches and neighbors sitting out in yards jawin' until the sun goes down.

Me being who I am, I got to know the new neighbors pretty quick and the topic of some recent vandalism came up and I suggested we all just spend a little extra time keeping our eyes open. Someone else did a beautiful "observe and report" to the police and shazam, no more vandalism .

So on the heels of that success the evening, backyard conversations turned to other "emergency planning" and we started our own little phone tree just for our immediate neighborhood. Yes it also includes one person contacting the police (me for right now ) if necessary. I'm actually really impressed with my neighbors. All it took was a few small suggestions to dramatically improve the communication and safety of our little two block area. I'm hoping it'll continue to spread.

Of course it also helps that the Staunton police seem to be extremely community oriented.