Where was your flashlight?
Not meaning to criticize, just learn.
I have grown fond of carrying a Sure-Fire 6z *everywere*.
I started carrying a little teeny Photon light months ago, and much like
having a pocketknife, I found that I used it a *LOT*. So, I decided to get
a rechargable larger light (Streamlight Poly Stinger). It was a bit big,
but I loved having that brigh light when I needed it. I wanted the
rechargable because I was intimidated by the price of lithium batteries for
the smaller lights.
I have now recently decided that it is worth the price of the batteries to
carry the Sure Fire 6z. I also found that I can get 10 batteries for $30
from Botach, so that has helped ease my mind about the cost of batteries
(they cost up to and beyond $8 EACH in the stores, the the average
flashlight takes 2 of them!). Also, now that I am carrying the Sure Fire
6z, I use my light a lot, and have not had to change the batteries yet, so
they do last a while. The light puts out more light power than a car
headlight and is very small.
I am going to try out a Sure Fire 3p also, which is half as long, puts out
half the light (which is still more light than a large MagLight), and only
takes one $3 battery to operate.
Anyway, I have really grown to love having a light on me at all times, and
I think that if you had had a light, it would have helped you clear your
house much more safely and effectively (or "tactically", as much as I have
grown tired of that word these days). This is a question more than
preaching, but: maybe one of your lessons was that you should always carry
a good light with you?
> From: Carlos A. Alvarez <carlos@THERIVER.COM>
> To: AZRKBA@asu.edu
> Subject: Clearing your own house at night
> Date: Monday, November 08, 1999 5:56 PM
>
> Last night I took a late trip to the store. I returned 15 minutes later and
> just as I was closing the door, I heard arustle and something fall. Before
> I knew what happened, I had my Glock 27 in my hand and I'd crouched into a
> shooting position but holding the gun close to me. I also realized I'd left
> the back door open.
>
> After listening for a few seconds, I started to realize that it was
> probably nothing. I looked around the corner, G27 in hand, and saw that a
> plastic-wrapped roll of large paper had just happened to fall over as I
> came in.
>
> Just for the hell of it, I went ahead and "cleared" the huse. I realized
> that I could have been killed a few times over. I didn't really have a
> strategy for turning on the lights and moving from room to room without
> casting shadows or being seen. I realized that in my house, the light
> switches are not always at the same height or the same distance from the
> door/corner.
>
> Now of course, in a situation where someone is in your house, you should
> leave and call the PD if you can. However, what if you can't? What if your
> kids are at one end of the house and a urglar at the other? What if...?
>
> Practice clearing your house. Practice with your spouse, and practice
> alone. Do it with an unloaded weapon. Learn the potential hiding spots, and
> learn where you can enter a room so that you are not vulnerable to
> side/rear attacks.
>
> Like I said, nobody should go in their own house if there is a probability
> of a burglar. But you should be prepared in case you have to.
>
> --
> Carlos Alvarez, Tucson, AZ, USA, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
> http://www.neta.com/~carlos
>
> "Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark
> side, and it holds the universe together..."
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