Security Plans

Why don’t men recognize their role in protecting their families? Why would anyone sluff off this responsibility to an agency who admits it’s really not their responsibility? The government tells us they are not responsible.
June 28, 2005, New York Times - “The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the police did not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm…”
So, if the police are not duty bound to protect our family, who is?
The Family, A Proclamation to The World tells us:
“By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.”
Husbands and fathers have 3 primary roles in the family. The 3 P’s, if you will. Preside, Provide, and Protect. What does it mean to protect your family? I believe it means to teach correct principles so that family members can govern themselves. It also means making our homes a refuge from the world. Keeping unrighteous and unworthy things out of our homes.
This also means we have a lock on our front doors for physical protection. The problem is, just a cheap lock is not enough on a front door. We’re fooling ourselves if we think that a flimsy little chain will actually keep someone out of our house. Securing our homes is another way of protecting.
Last but not least, teach your family to protect themselves. How is this done? Several ways. First is situational awareness, and knowing what is going on around them wherever they are. Next comes the subject that freaks everyone out. Personal protection.
None of us can have a personal body guard. It’s not practical financially or really any other way. So now you have other options. Teaching your family about guns and how to be safe and shoot can be a good way of protection. Of course, doing so legally is also required. A license for your wife, and training for the whole family. There are other weapons that may be legal or not in your area. Teaching hand to hand combat in the way of martial arts can be good too. The point is, it is our responsibility. Why are we not taking this seriously?
Doctrine and Covenants 134:11 says:
…we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded. (Doctrine and Covenants 134:11)
There is a condition. We are justified in defending ourselves, our family and friends, our property, and our nation when another recourse is not available given the time constraints. This caveat perfectly illustrates why every family should be armed and knowledgeable in defense. Most rely on the police to defend them should something happen, but the average response time of a police officer nationwide is seven minutes. This amount of time, of course, is an eternity when faced with an immediate threat. The reality is that the police do not prevent crime at all-their job is primarily to write crime reports after the crime took place. Sometimes they even get lucky and solve a crime. But by no means are they a proper and adequate substitution for personal defense. How can they be? There is not a police officer assigned to every person in the U.S. That would be called a body guard.
This serious business fathers. How do we do it? First, we stop buying into the liberal, pansy rhetoric that is being shoved down our throats. Second we change our thinking. Even the Savior wanted his Apostles to have a sward or two with them when he went into Gethsemane. A weapon does not mean that you will murder someone. It also does not mean that you will have an accident. How many of us have many knives in our home? Ever stab someone to death? Probably not. A gun is exactly the same. We leave knives out all the time and teach our children to not touch them or to be safe with them. One of the things that I learned with my own children is that if you let your kids be familiar with guns that it takes away the mystery. Whenever my kids wanted to see a gun I would show them. When they were small I would make the gun safe, remind them of the safety rules, and then let them see the gun. I would take them to the range when they were little (our age was 8) and they would shoot. (We started with .22 rifles and worked up to larger calibers and pistols) By the time they were teenagers they knew the safety rules that we pounded into them, and knew a lot about different guns and how they work. It was no longer a big mystery that kids can’t touch. Those that liked guns continued on with that hobby and those that were not real interested would be reminded often about safety rules, and would go to the range enough to have some fun shooting and some experience. My wife has been the same. She has shot everything we own but is still not a “gun nut” like her husband. Yet she knows safety and has similar experience like the kids. She carries so she will have more experience with safety and she practices more than they shoot. Only a few of my kids have really become semi-gun nuts.
Expose your family to all kinds of lethal and non-lethal weapons. Let them participate in security planning and making your home a refuge.
It is not unreasonable to have a fire drill in your home. Using seatbelts, bicycle helmets, and having fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are not unusual. Why wouldn’t security drills and practices be important for your family too.
Planning is very important. Have your family involved in safety and security planning for your family’s home and lives. Reviewing important rules, procedures, and skills is not something that should be foreign to your family.
Security planning will give you peace of mind and let your family relax and feel secure at home. You as the father of your home will find blessing and insight as you help your family in these more secure times than when times fall apart.
I realize not every home has a father. But the head of each home should be leading the family to a safe and secure place. For those of you with fathers, Fathers step up!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn