Top Tools for Home Defense

July 10, 2024

Home Defense Tools You Should Consider

Your home is your fortress. That's why you should do everything you can to keep it secure. At Premier Body Armor, we’ll help you do just that by providing a range of tips and tools to keep you, your family, and your home safe from intruders. 

man and women in bedroom during home burglary. women on cell phone wearing female body armor

Home Defense Weapon Options:

  • Firearm
  • Pepper Spray
  • Stun Gun 
  • Baton

Home Defense Tools:

  • Body Armor Shield
  • Flashlight

Home Defense Technology:

  • Alarm System
  • Security Cameras 

It is our opinion that a firearm and body armor combination is the best solution for an effective self defense of your home. There are many things to consider when choosing an effective gun for self defense that would require an entire article. For now, we recommend choosing a firearm and becoming proficient with it.

A good duty-size handgun with at least a 15-round magazine loaded with high-quality hollow point ammunition and a weapon mounted light is a good starting point. A reliable 12-gauge pump shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot is also a popular choice. Rifles are typically not recommended in densely populated residential areas due to likelihood of over-penetration. 

If you want to create a truly fortified home, it's all but essential to have multiple lines of defense. Many of these tools are weapons, while some alert you and your household of danger. They work in tandem. So, with all that said, let's get to the best home defense tools.

 

Home Defense Tools

Pepper Spray Gun

Simple, cheap, yet clever. The pepper spray gun is one of the most effective tools for protecting you and your family. They can fire up to 12 feet and cause a burning sensation in the eyes and lungs, breathing difficulties, coughing, and temporary blindness, leaving an intruder out of action for 15-45 minutes. Plus, it is one of the best home safety devices because of its legally protected non-lethal weapon status, giving you the confidence to use force in self-defense.  

Because of their small size, you can conveniently tuck away your pepper spray gun into your bedside table for fast access. You can also scatter them around the house in locations you can quickly reach in times of emergency. pepper spray is a good tool for non-lethal home defense

There are some regulations regarding the possession and use of pepper spray. It’s important to know what they are in your area. In some areas, there may be restrictions on the size or type of pepper spray that you can carry, and there may be specific circumstances under which it’s legal to use pepper spray. 

Stun Gun

The stun gun is another simple yet effective tool for home defense. Like the pepper spray gun, the stun gun is easy to carry and use and also non-lethal. They’ll fire a high-voltage electric shock, stunning an intruder upon contact by passing electricity between two metal prongs at the weapon’s end. They’re extremely debilitating, too, and can travel long distances (some have a range of over 25 feet). Plus, stun guns are usually very affordable. 

Stun guns are legal in most states, but if you are thinking about purchasing a stun gun, check the laws in your state to make sure they are legal.

Baton

Next up: A good ol’ billystick. Often used by military groups and law enforcement for self-defense and crowd control, the baton is another solid tool for protecting your home, as it's extremely versatile and easy to wield. You get into more of the physical confrontation aspect of home defense with a baton. This means it's crucial to have the strength and quickness needed to swing the weapon at your intruder. 

Self-defense batons are available in a variety of styles and sizes. Some of them can be clipped, collapsed, or have locking mechanisms. Look for a product that is easy to use and transport. Like the stun gun, some states disallow civilians from carrying batons, so check local regulations before purchasing this self-defense weapon.

Premier Body Armor’s Home Shield

One of the best tools for home defense is Premier Body Armor’s Home Shield. Our level 3A/HG2 bulletproof shield is easy to hold, carry, and store away in your home, making it discreet when you have guests in your home, yet easy to grab in an active shooter situation – providing vital protection when escape isn't an option. 

We used a UHMWPE construction to ensure the shield was light enough for any member of the family. Additionally, we designed the shield to protect the head and cardiac box, as well as included ambidextrous handles. The cut corners allow for easier weapon manipulation.

man carrying bulletproof home shield with weapon to defend the house

Another benefit of using our home shield is that it protects from multiple angles. If an intruder charges at you from one direction, you can maneuver the shield to guard yourself while you retreat and take cover. In the event that the intruder moves to another angle, you can easily reposition and continue defending yourself.

Also, our shield is quite formidable in appearance and will leave your intruder retreating from your home. Bulletproof or ballistic shields are legal for self-defense in all 50 states, too.

 Flashlight

Don't underestimate a strong, tactical flashlight as a good weapon for self and home protection. A tactical flashlight can do many things to deter an intruder effectively. Some can even shine a light powerful enough to disorient an intruder optically.

a bright flashlight with strobe feature is great for home defense

Quick tip: A strobe function is the best for self-defense with flashlights. Try to find one with strobe frequencies of 18 Hz to 20 Hz, as a strobe in this frequency is extremely disorienting to an intruder while allowing you to see their movements clearly. 

Like a baton, you can also use a flashlight to initiate strikes upon your attacker. Of course, a flashlight is certainly non-lethal, too, and is completely legal for self-defense.

Personnel Safety Alarms

In lieu of weapons, personal safety alarms are a useful home defense tool. Personal safety alarms are small, sometimes portable devices that emit a high-pitched, attention-grabbing noise. They are activated by either a button on the alarm or by pulling an activation pin. This home defense product will warn your family of danger and effectively scare off intruders from your home without resorting to confrontation.   home alarm system keypad

A lot goes into these products and different alarms to different things. For example, at an extra cost, some alarms automatically inform law enforcement if it detects an intrusion. You may also want a camera system connected to your alarm system. There are many options. So, before buying a personal alarm system, determine your preferences. Then, do the research to find what you need.

Home Security Cameras

Another great, non-confrontational tool for home defense is a security camera. They can deter burglars and other intruders and provide evidence if a break-in does occur. 

When shopping around for the best security camera, it's important to consider several factors: resolution (the higher resolution, the clearer the image), night vision (look for cameras for good night vision capabilities if you want to see what's happening outside your home after dark), Online accessibility (you can access some security cameras remotely through a smartphone app or browser, which is useful in checking your home while you're away.) security camera to monitor your house

Placement is also critical. Where you place your security cameras can greatly impact their effectiveness. Consider placing cameras at all entry points to your home and in areas particularly vulnerable to break-ins (such as ground-floor windows).

Overall, these home defense weapons, tools, and techonologies are widely used and considered the best in home protection. However, it would be wise to use some of them only as a last resort. If possible, avoiding a physical altercation with an intruder is of utmost importance. That’s where home defense products like the alarm, security cameras, and even the home shield come into play, as they can protect your home without you directly engaging with danger.

Remember, your main goal in a home invasion should be keeping your loved ones safe. If you hear an intruder in your home, ideally, you maintain good situational awareness, stay put and call the police. 

 

Written by Andrew Schuler


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