I agree. Also I have duplicate keys/fobs. In left pocket/right pocket. Newer cars give you 2. Also mine have red/ panic buttons.Press it…its LOUD!
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I keep the extra fob in the nightstand. In case of a break-in, I can hit the alarm button as added protection after retrieving my gun, of course. Could also get out the window and take off in my car if need be with the extra fob.
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@Wanda3 >>> you might also consider a handgun laser for Low light conditions to include home defense.
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Or is this when that flashlight comes in handy? I saw one on Olight I might get.
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Always good to have with you for any use.
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You can use different Hold Points - High over your head, Out to the side, etc.
Also get a light that has Strobe feature - ie a “Tactical Light”.
“Can”/might Dis-orient your attacker.
Streamlight and SureFire are very good and used by police.
See my review of lights below - at the end - TACTICAL FLASH LIGHT.
Threat assessments and a way of life.
This is Long but worth it - you should Know the principals.
I usually cover/teach this in my Home and Self Defense Class:
AWARENESS, AVOIDANCE, PREPARATION AND CONFRONTATIONS
“The best fight you can be in is the one you avoid”.
1st My qualifications:
- State and DHS Certified Pistol Instr
- Certified Defense of the Home Instr
- Range Safety Officer
- Weekly Combat Competition Shooter
- “Real Life” Experience with this - “Been There”.
- Survived 3 Real Gun Fights
- Avoided Several
Re PERSONAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS.
And Tactics of Threat Recognition and Engagement.
DEFENDERS - One of the standard “Personal” Early “AWARNESS/Alert Systems” we “Always” use (Anywhere we are) especially in Public ;
“COLOR CODE SYSTEM” of Awareness: - “State of Mind”/“Awareness” and a “Plan”.
PROGRESSIVE : State of Mind/Awareness Conditions:
1-White, 2-Yellow, 3-Orange, 4-Red, 5-Black.
YOUR - CONDITION(State of MInd):
1-WHITE -
“Head in the clouds”, aware of nothing around you, Day Dreaming, etc.
EXA - ONLY when you are safe at home . Surrounded by your security systems, dogs, etc.
ie You can relax. Usually NEVER in “Public”.
2- YELLOW - Scanning
General State of Awareness of everything around you or approaching you.
ie Out in Public. Especially “Transition Spaces” - Car to store, Store to car, Gas Station, etc.
But “Anywhere” Outside your home.
ie Relaxed Awareness
Step out of a building, your car, etc - Look around, scan all sides.
Not Paranoid - just generally Aware of who/what is around or approaching you.
I am Aware of my surroundings and Alert to any potential threat that may appear.
Early warning. And looking for or moving to - avenues of escape - store, car, crowd, etc.
Perhaps “Light them up” with your “Carry/Tactical” Light - in their eyes. Maybe Strobe mode.
3 - ORANGE - Alert
Alert - You have noticed something does not “Look Right”, the guy/group just standing in the shadows looking around, the guy wandering around trying to look innocent or dis-abled, etc.
“Someone approaching you” - perhaps “Looking” Innocent.
Maybe he approached and asked for help, money, etc
Some BS story about needing Help.
ALERT - My hand is “ON” my gun. But NOT “Drawn - Yet”.
(Note, here, Predators can MOVE Really-Fast and cover 20ft in less than 2 seconds!
Very Likely You will not out-run them.
With No weapon - what are you going to do?
“STOP THEM”, Hands Out - Announce “STOP RIGHT THERE”
ie Don’t let anyone get closer than say 20-30 ft.
4 - RED
Someone/s approaching you directly or at an angle - Perhaps looking casual or not.
But you are in FEAR - Perhaps for your life. Poses a direct threat to you.
You get that scared feeling, Spidy Sense up your back.
My Gun is out and pointed at the Threat or Down Low - at his feet.
Announce - STOP RIGHT THERE. Or My Preferred - "STOP Or “I “WILL” SHOOT YOU”.
Perhaps - “Light them up” with your Carry/Tactical LIght.
5 - BLACK
He continues - “I AM in Fear for Great Body Harm or my LIfe”
I am shooting “at Him” or - perhaps? into the ground in front of him.
“If” say he is un-armed.
Perhaps on Target - If he is Armed.
Situation Dependent.
A Life Changing Decision.
6 - Call 911 ASAP
Lay any weapon on the ground near you.
Perhaps stand on it.
Hands “In the air”
DO “NOT” be" Holding a Gun" when Cops arrive.
Note - Tools/weapons:
Carry Gun -
BUT - IF you are going to carry a gun - you NEED TRAINING in how to Observe/Deter/Defend/Fight with it. ITS NOT - “Even Nearly - As Easy as it Looks”.
THIS - Is WAY different from Range Shooting. Get some Real Defensive “Training”.
“TACTICAL FLASH-LIGHT” -
Always carry one.
Most Cops Carry one.
Usually 1in Dia, 4-6 in long, Tail Cap switch, Glass Break/Defensive Bezzle(Front),
Top Brands - Streamlight, Surefire, etc.
Often 5 Modes - Low, Mid, High, Strobe, SOS. “Very Handy”.
You want at least, say, 1k Lumens - Brightness.
Most Can also be used as a Defensive Fighting/Striking Weapon.
end
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Defender…Thank you for your well written, well thought out, and expert advice. I take your words to heart.
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You are most welcome.
I like talking to those who see the need and want to learn.
Sorry this is So Long but - Things you should know.
Hope this makes sense - hard to edit in here.
Another Important note on “Lights in the Home”.
Some thoughts on the “Tactics” of Using a Light.
And “Hand Held” vs “Gun-Mounted” Lights.
Consider this - If you hear that “Bump in the Night”. Get your gun out.
Then what?
Unless you keep all your lights “On” at night you are going to be “In the Dark”
all over your house. If you turn your lights on - you may expose yourself to a threat.
Hmmm
So :
If you think you may have an intruder - you are going to need to
ID who or what it is. A dog?, Drunk uncle Fred in the wrong house?, etc
So - You Need a Tactical Light “With” your gun.
Even better - A Gun-Mounted Light.
If you have only a Hand-Held Light with your gun - then you will be shooting with One Hand !!??
How much shooting, under stress, at night, have you done with 1 hand ??
Not ideal for even Pros.
SO :
“I” have a “Gun-mounted Light” on my “Night-Stand Gun”. So if I need to shoot I am
shooting with a better 2 hand Grip. And it makes moving at night easier.
You can also just “Flash It” to ck things. So Ck for “Flash Mode” on your light.
Vs Holding a light in one hand and shooting with the other.
How much shooting have you done with 1 hand only while holding a light ?
Again Streamlight and Surefire are top brands in Hand-Held and Gun-Mounted Tactical Lights.
I have several Hand-Held Tactical Lights, staged in places and 1 Gun mounted light on my House Pistol.
I also have a House Rifle and House PCC - All with “Mounted” Lights. All “Staged” in the house.
All with Flash Mode.
Another issue with Gun-Mounted lights to be aware of is -
You don’t want to Point your muzzle at “Anyone” ie Straight down a hallway.
There may be other people sleeping in other rooms behind or to the side.
ie The Shoot-thru problem with sheet-rock walls.
To avoid this - Point your Gun with/mounted light near the Threat but
at a Base-Board or Ceiling/wall interface.
You should get enough “Splash” to be able to ID who is in the Hall Way.
Another reason why you want at least 1k Lumens power light.
These lights have a Bright Focused Round beam in the middle and a wider beam on the peripheral.
Also most have a Strobe-Mode that can Disorient a Threat if you can “Flash” his eyes.
ANOTHER "CAUTION’ - re “House Clearing”
House “Clearing” can be Very dangerous stuff.
Especially stair-ways, halls with multiple entry points, etc.
And not recommended for the Untrained.
So - Many Cops, if not most, much prefer to work in teams of at least 2.
When I am Training a student, one of my last shooting stages is:
“You” are lying in bed. In “Total Dark”.
Three threat targets are 15ft away. Oriented like in “Your” bedroom.
In the total dark - you must get your gun and Hand-held light from its place
and put 2 well placed shots in each threat. ie Shooting with 1 hand.
Then repeat with Gun-mounted light.
ie Shooting with Both Hands.
THEN is when Students “See the Light” 
(Gun Mounted Light)
So I have Gun-mounted lights on my House Guns.
And several other Tactical Lights for many uses.
I “Wear” at least 1 Hand-held Tac Light - ALWAYS.
END
NOTE: Unless you have been well trained in the TTP’s of House Clearing it is generally recommended
that you Not attempt it.
TTP’s - Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures.
Better - Retreat to your 'Safe Room" - Call 911.
Defender…Thank you so much. So here is the deal…I am a gun enthusiast but I have one fire arm I use for EDC. I have trouble concealing it and for all the money I spent on holsters, I could have bought another gun! But anyway, if I put a light on this gun, I will not be able to conceal it and it makes it heavier, right? My other thought is…if I had a light on my gun and its dark in the house but I know there is an intruder (is it Fred the drunk from next door? idk). but if it is someone intending to harm me and I light my gun up, now they know where in the vicinity I am and why not fire randomly to shoot me? I have now let them know where I am within about arms length. I know the 1K lumen or more would hopefully blind them for the moment but what if there is more than one?
I have not had training shooting one handed although I have tried it at the range. so I see your point and it makes sense. Would I have the presence of mind to hold a flashlight and a gun with adrenalin pumping? Idk. That being said, do you think its a good idea to not sleep in total darkness but to have some light in the room. for example, my power strip has a pretty bright light on it that can serve as some illumination. That and yelling out that I can defend myself, better than nothing. There is some illumination inside the house because of outside lights also.
I have a plan in my mind if I realize someone has broken in. Thanks to scenarios from USCCA. And it brings me some peace of mind to know what I would do if that scenario happened. I always have my cell phone charged and on night stand. 911 here we come… and my fervent prayer is to never need to implement any of this.
I will look into the brands of lights you suggested. I was thinking about Olight. Any thoughts?? Again, thank you for your expertise.
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Hi Wanda, check out the lights from NEBO. I have 6 now and have been giving as gifts I like them so much. Also easy to operate and 1/4 the price. 
[
RM230
](https://www.nebotools.com/p/RM230/602)
230 lumens ● CR123A
$44.99
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Bruce…they do have good prices, thanks for the tip. Dumb question number 987, do they make a light that could slide on and off the fire arm easily? that way I could mount it for night time use but take it off for daytime carry. If not, why hasn’t anyone invented this?
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You can turn this one by hand to tighten and loosen it by hand and pinch the two sides and it will open up and come right off.
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I didn’t know that! That may help me a lot. I thought I had a million dollar idea but…back to the drawing board!
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its only 230 lumens though…I thought they should 1K or more…
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More then enough. Your not shooting 100yds with a rifle.
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I am developing a good response for you.
We had a power failure here.
So - Later tonight or tomorrow - I hope.
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I feel your pain.
On Home set-up, Safe-Room, Tactics, etc
Use of a light, Room/House “Clearing”, etc
Carry “In public”
How to “Not get shot”. And “Not” Shoot Uncle Fred.
There is a “LOT To” all this.
On Your “Use of a Light” Issues.
Here is a “One Gun” Solution for your “Use of a Light Issues”.
The “One Gun” Solution is “2 Lights”.
- 1 - Gun-Mounted Light
- 1 - Hand Held Light
Use a Gun Mounted Light when you are Home.
Also use a Hand-Held Light when you are Home.
Use a Hand-Held Light when you are Out.
I recommend having a Hand-Held light “Always” with you - In or Out.
And a “Gun-Mounted Light” “ON your gun” - When you are In.
Just take it off when you go Out. Takes 5 seconds.
Put it back on when you get back home.
But more “Fundamentally” :
You need some Actual/Hands-on “Training” in the TTP’s of Home Defense.
(Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures.)
All that - Includes how to Clear a Room, House, “Not get shot”, etc.
I am Certified and teach it. But it has to be - “Hands On”.
“House Clearing” Can be “Really Dangerous”.
It is a LOT of info. “Hands ON” actual/real “Training” - the way “I” do it.
How to clear a room/house and NOT get shot.
In Military Terms it is called CQB and XCQB.
Close Qtrs Battle, Extreme Close Qtrs. Battle
More on all that later.
“For Now” - Until you are trained in CQB AND XCQB
ie How to clear a Room, a House and NOT get shot.
AND even Before all that you need to understand/learn the fundamental
differences between “Flat Range Shooting” and “Defensive/Combat Shooting”.
“BIG” Difference. ie Dark vs Daylight.
The best Strategy for you, for now, is to establish a “Safe Room”.
Stay there, Armed, call 911. Or come here and I will teach you in 3-4 hr.
How close are you to Knoxville Tn ?
Or find a Certified Defensive or Combat Instructor near you.
Another training option for you:
Find where the nearest IDPA Matches are held near you.
IDPA - Intl Defensive Pistol Assoc.
See the web. Held all over the US - usually monthly.
Usually at a Gun Club.
I shoot in one every month and have for the last 10 yr, and Combat Rifle, and Multi-gun.
Call the sponsor/gun club whoever. Go watch a match.
Talk to the match Director - he will know who teaches “Defensive Shooting”
in your area.
Seems a good strategy - For You - “NOW” “At Home” is to Hole-up in your “Safe Room” - Armed.
And with a good Tactical Hand-Held light. And Gun-Mounted light - On your gun.
I also have a list of other recommended items to keep in your “Safe Room”.
And discussion of Gun-Mounted lights and how to use them.
There is a Lot-to all this. Not to mention the TTP’s of House Clearing.
Tactics, Techniques and Procedures.
I will talk about all that later.
Safe Room - How/where to set one up, what items to have in there, etc.
SO :
For Now - “2 Lights for 1 Gun”
I suggest you get a Gun Mounted light for your gun.
Streamlight TLR1s is what “I” have. For a long time now.
ON, Flash, Strobe
Mount it (Your “Gun-Light”) on your gun “When you are Home”.
It is Very Easy to Take Off and Put ON - Every Day.
Take the “Gun Light” Off when you plan to leave(Leave -The “Gun Light” - in your gun box)
and take a your Gun and a “Hand Held Light” with you when you leave.
You will find a Light way more “Handy” (Often More than a gun) when “Out and About”.
But at least you will have a Gun and a Light when you are “Out”.
One-Hand shooting BUT, if at night, beats hell out of a Gun and No Light.
And you may be able to stop an attack with just the light - “light them up”.
I '‘Have" done just that before.
I once stopped 5 men-all with rifles, coming at me up a logging road.
This was in the mountains at the Deliverance River - I was leading a canoe trip there.
I had 15 women and children behind me I was protecting.
"I’ had only a 5 shot 38cal snub nose revolver
I let them get to within 45ft, turned the light on in their eyes.
ANNOUNCED - “THAT IS FAR ENOUGH, STOP RIGHT THERE OR I 'WILL SHOOT YOU”".
They stopped Cold, turned and left. Thank God.
Often predators are like Rats and will look for easier prey.
For You:
So “You” will have a Gun & “Mounted Light” when you are “IN”.
Solid - Once you are Trained.
And a Gun and a Hand-Held Light when you are OUT.
Not the “Best” but Not Bad.
Its workable.
Going Out - Carrying “A Light”:
Put/Carry the Light #2 (The Hand-Held Light) on your Off-Side in a Light-Carry Pouch - Say 9 Oclock.
And your “Holstered Gun” on your Gun-Hand side - like always - 3 Oclock ? - (Typical for R.Handed).
Draw your gun with your R Hand, and Your Light with your L Hand(As needed).
More often than not you will Draw/Use your Light Way-More than your Gun.
And can even Stop Cold bad guys with just a light - Light them up.
I have actually done just that - a few times myself.
(I have been doing this for a “Long” Time.)
But if you Do Need your Gun - You will “NEED” it.
And if it is at Night you will have and likely NEED a Light to use with it.
AND - “At Home” - You will have a gun with a “Mounted Light”.
Keep in mind
Some FBI Gun Fight Data:
The "Rule of 3’s.
Statistically
Most gun fights :
- Happen inside of 3 yards - Say 10ft
- 3 shots are fired
- Last for 3 seconds
Let me know if I need to clarify anything above.
Lastly: “The best gun-fight you can be in is the one you Avoid.”
Practice “Awareness” and “Early Threat Detection”.
Once again, thanks for the wealth of knowledge. I’m going to shop the internet for a light that fits my SW. Im nowhere near TN but I’m sure I could learn a lot if I did have a 3-4 hours lesson. Your advice of planning the safe room applies to me well and I have that thought out. I need to digest all this info but I will post asap. Thanks Defender!!!
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