Take a look at this article about a 65-year-old Texas woman who was forced to shoot a home invader after the attacker assaulted and choked a 73-year-old homeowner and see what type of lessons can be learned for your own self-defense.
Gillespie County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call around 12:45 a.m. that an intruder had been shot by a person inside the home. Officials said the homeowner, 73-year-old Curtis Roys, was asleep when he heard a loud banging noise outside. He then discovered a young man on his back patio who, when confronted, pushed his way inside through the patio door and began to assault Roys with a blunt object. Reportedly, he then put Roys into a chokehold, causing him to lose consciousness.
Deputies said Roys' fiancée, 65-year-old Melody Lumpkin, pled several times for the man to stop assaulting him, but the man did not comply. She then retrieved a handgun from the bedroom and fired a warning shot, but deputies said the alleged intruder continued his assault.
When she noticed Roys was not moving, Lumpkin then reportedly fired another shot, striking the man in the head. When Roys regained consciousness, officials said they then called 911.
The 19-year-old suspect was treated by EMS and taken to two different hospitals where he was later pronounced dead. Law enforcement officials are working on the assumption that he was under the influence of drugs.
Some discussion points to consider in this self-defense situation:
It's after midnight. You hear a loud banging on your back patio. You get out of bed to investigate.
Reasonable or not reasonable to respond with your firearm to this type of situation?
You confront a young man. When you do, he pushes his way inside.
Is he just drunk and at the wrong house? Do you recognize him?
Did you open the door to yell at him? Why?
What does this type of 'tumultuous entry' tell you about the level of seriousness this situation has just reached?
The intruder starts beating you with an impact weapon.
You are 73-years-old. He is 19. Is there a disparity of force here?
Is it reasonable to believe that someone beating you with a blunt object can kill you or seriously injure you?
Have you trained to defend against a club? Do you know how to stop and trap this kind of attack?
Can you at least protect your head and minimize the damage?
Do you have the empty-hand skills to counter attack?
Do you have your handgun with you?
The attacker now is strangling you with what's described in the article as a "chokehold".
Is it reasonable to believe you are in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury?
Do you know how to escape a rear choke or headlock?
How many seconds do you have to respond before you black out and are completely helpless?
Do you have your handgun with you?
Now, you are the 65-year-old woman who is witnessing this attack on your fiancee. You are yelling and pleading with the attacker to stop. The criminal does not stop the beating so you run to the bedroom and retrieve a handgun.
Have you trained and practiced enough to be able to operate and use this handgun under pressure?
You see the attacker choking your fiancee -- and your notice your fiancee is no longer moving. Is it reasonable to think your fiancee is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury?
Should you fire a warning shot?
What do you do if the attacker still does not stop?
If you need to shoot him to make him stop, where on his body is the best place to shoot without endangering your fiancee?
There are a lot of questions here that need to be considered and answered when defending yourself and your loved ones in dangerous situations that are dynamic, fluid, and rapidly evolving.
Get training.
Practice.
Repeat.