Gregory Kielma • May 26, 2024
What is the best thing to do during a home invasion?
What is the best thing to do during a home invasion?
Gregg Kielma
Says Kielma; short answer: Don´t let one happen. Good security is prevention not mitigation. Please trust your training with Tactical K Training and Firearms and Instructor Gregg Kielma. Do it for peace of MIND.
To stay safe, you must stack the deck in your favor to make an invasion as difficult as possible and in the event of it happening make it cost dearly to the invader(s). Obviously, it all depends on how and where you live. Appartements, especially the ones higher than the bottom floor are usually a bit easier to secure because they often only feature one entry point, and balconies are difficult to access. Houses tend to be more vulnerable especially if they are isolated, case in point some criminals specialize in targeting houses that are located on properties outside of town.
• Good lighting outside your home. That can´t be overstated and it´s the first and cheapest way of improving home security. Good light has a deterring effect on potential invaders and burglars.
• Secure every entry point in your home. That means every door and window. Locks, frames, glass. Have it upgraded and proofed by a professional security firm.
• Alarms. Maybe even cameras.
• A dog is a very good addition to your security system. I am not talking about a family pet. Bobby the labrador won´t protect you against a violent invader “because it loves you”, I have posted about this earlier. I am not talking about a sport dog either (aka fake protection dog), these dogs aren´t bred to fight they are bred to compete in sports (IPO/neo Schutzhund, French ring etc) they very seldom possess the true qualities that make a dog truly capable of fighting a violent aggressor. I am talking about a real protection dog or family protection dog.
• Firearms. Own them and train to use them proficiently and safely. Anyone else in the home should know how to and yes that includes children from the age of 14. This would be your last line of defense. If you must pull out your home defense gun that means every other measure you put in place has been compromised. Unless life is threatened you should not fire that thing at anybody. Easier said than done in the heat of the moment but it needs to be said. Naturally gun laws differ largely depending on where you live, so does self-defense legislation. But in my honest opinion, if I own a gun and invaders threaten to harm my family or me, they´re getting it. Period. I would rather deal with the law later than must live with the other alternative.
Now in the event of the extremely bad scenario that is being subject to an ongoing home invasion and not having any means to defend yourself all I can say is context will dictate what to do but basically, if you can, lock yourself up in a room and call the cops (if there are any cops to rely on) or help…
That being mentioned home invasion is a special kind of event because perpetrators perform the intrusion being perfectly aware that the inhabitants are inside.
That is the nature of this crime as opposed to classic burglary which would often be attempted when the inhabitant(s) are away from home or trying to furtively take advantage of their sleep or other distractions.
Therefore, the perpetrator(s) of a home invasion often have the means and the will or even likely a purposeful intent to hurt people inside the home. The motivation can be robbery, battery/aggravated battery, sexual assault, intimidation, kidnapping, murder… None of these are mutually exclusive as this sort of violence can imply overlapping in many combinations.
That makes a home invasion a particularly frightening situation to experience. As someone who is a security expert and lived in parts of the world where home invasions are a common occurrence, I have a significant first and secondhand experience of this situation with various developments and various outcomes.
I have seen people defending themselves successfully, I have seen people barely getting away with their lives, I have seen people getting away unscathed by obeying the robbers passively, I have seen a guard dog saving people from armed robbers, I have seen shitty alleged guard dogs fail to do so and I have seen people not make it…
Increasing your chances of survival means having a home defense plan and first and foremost good prevention measures to avoid ending up in such a situation. Stack the deck in your favor.
Please trust your training with Tactical K Training and Firearms and Instructor Gregg Kielma. Do it for peace of MIND.
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Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
