part 2

Back In-Country

If you’re not willing to take my word for it that the handgun is by far the best interior-search tool, consider the “Tunnel Rats” of the Vietnam War. If you are not familiar with their story, the Tunnel Rats, as they called themselves, were the bravest of the brave: They were the soldiers who volunteered to search and clear the tunnels that the Viet Cong employed to live undetected, store equipment and supplies, and commit attacks against our personnel.These tunnels were extensive and deep — and not easily destroyed. The Tunnel Rats were

ultimately tasked with gathering intel concerning future Viet Cong operations, killing or capturing any occupants, and seizing and destroying enemy materiel. Clearing these tunnels was done in very close confinement under the worst of lighting conditions, all while watching for booby traps and enemy soldiers.Our soldiers quickly found out that these confines were no place for an M16 rifle or even an M1 carbine. The Tunnel Rats went into those deathtraps armed with handguns.Space in the tunnels was limited to say the least. Remember

that the average North Vietnamese combatant of the day was much smaller than the average U.S. soldier, and the tunnels were sized accordingly. Our soldiers quickly found out that these confines were no place for an M16 rifle or even an M1 carbine. The Tunnel Rats went into those deathtraps armed with handguns.Pictures abound of Tunnel Rats entering tunnels armed with venerable Colt 1911A1s, whose large .45-caliber projectiles would excel at stopping threats at the distances encountered inside. I have also seen — quite surprisingly I

might add, though word is that they preferred the softer report — pictures of Tunnel Rats entering tunnels using Victory Model Smith & Wesson six-shot .38s. Bear in mind, this would have been without the benefit of modern speedloaders; that’s nerve.Atop everything else, there was no such thing as a “tactical light” back then. The Tunnel Rats entered with old military “L”-head two-cell flashlights, whose illumination abilities were very limited. Yet the Tunnel Rats accomplished their missions time and again.Even in extreme situations, where confines were tight and the danger level almost indescribable, the Tunnel Rats, by choice or lack of choice, used handguns for their operations. If it worked for them…

Close Game

The average home or apartment is not that large in terms of interior distances. There is not a lot of maneuvering room available, whether in a hallway or in the average bedroom. Unless you live in a mansion, you are not likely to exceed 60 feet of uncluttered distance upstairs, with perhaps greater distances found in the basement. A rifle isn’t needed to control and dominate those distances, but you should still make sure your range time includes shooting at your target from “home-threat” distances. If you haven’t been doing that, you need to

start.One of the primary advantages of a handgun when clearing or checking your home is that you can very easily remain ready to engage — barrel pointed straight in front of you but tucked in to prevent a gun-grab attempt — while doing something with your other hand. With a rifle (even an SBR), the barrel is leading the way ahead of you.To minimize barrel exposure and not give away your position, you spend a lot of time raising an AR from low-ready to high-ready (rather than being continually ready to confront a direct threat if it appears

in front of you) as you search for threats while moving through the house. As part of your home-threat training, you need to practice shooting from a “hip-tuck” or “high-tuck” position.It is also important to never forget that, unless you have loved ones to round up and defend, clearing your home after it’s been invaded is often not in your best interest. For the sake of discussion, let’s look at the “standard” home-invasion scenario: You’re asleep in your bed, and something goes “bump” in the night. Let’s also assume that you live alone or, if you

don’t, that the only other person in your home is in the same bedroom as you and that there are no children or anyone else who needs to be defended.You can keep your phone in your support hand and talk while you hold your handgun in your strong hand and prepare to shoot if the intruder decides to come in.The best thing for you to do may be to lock yourself in your bedroom (especially if you don’t live in a “stand your ground” state) and take a position behind your bed, using it for cover and concealment while you point your handgun at the

door and call 911. You can keep your phone in your support hand and talk while you hold your handgun in your strong hand and prepare to shoot if the intruder decides to come in.You can also give challenges to the intruder from behind cover; shout repeatedly, “Get out, I have a gun and I will shoot you if you come in!” or something similar. Advise the 911 dispatcher that you have armed yourself, and ask him or her to let you know when officers arrive. As a cop, I don’t mind you being armed; in fact, I encourage it. I just don’t want to end up on

either side of a mistake.The situation changes when you have children in your home or if you are caring for an elderly or ill relative. While you still don’t have to clear your entire house, you do have to move to protect those who can’t protect themselves, which will end up being more of a partial clearing.I have already planned with my wife that, if we hear an entry in our home after bedtime, I will take the lead and get a position in the hall with my handgun while she grabs the .38 I have hidden away for her. She will move under my cover into our son’s

bedroom and take a position behind his bed with him, covering the doorway. If I remain behind the protection of the doorway, I still have a commanding position of control of our hallway should the intruder make the mistake of coming down it. By this time, my wife will be on the phone to 911.If this is a scenario that you are preparing for in your home, you don’t want a rifle or shotgun involved unless that is the only weapon you have. There is simply too much maneuvering involved.Note that the 911 call comes after establishing a protective barrier

around our son. After that barrier is established, I can slowly and carefully clear the house if that seems like the best option at the moment. If this is a scenario that you are preparing for in your home, you don’t want a rifle or shotgun involved unless that is the only weapon you have. There is simply too much maneuvering involved.