Atlanta home invasion (courtesy ajc.com)

Back in August 2016, we ran a post about an Atlanta woman who survived a home invasion. “‘He told me to lie down on the bed and put my face in the pillow,’ Barbara Lyles-Anderson told Channel 2 Action News. ‘And I thought then he was going to rape me and shoot me in the back of the head.’” He did neither; we highlighted the story as a cautionary tale. (Nanny cam video here.) Yesterday, Ms. Lyles-Anderson commented under our post, providing new details about the crime . . .

Barbara Lyles-Anderson (courtesy dailymail.co.uk)

Hi! I’m Barbara Lyles-Anderson, the woman who was robbed at gunpoint in your article. Just to clarify in this situation…

He was already facing me with an AK-47. He had the laser pointed at my forehead so there was no time to grab a gun. And in actuality, when the same man robbed a Brookhaven home, the homeowner did try to get to his gun first but was unsuccessful. So the assailant shot him first with a pistol.

Every situation is different and I do think it is a good idea to have a gun in your home for protection. But…only if you have everyone in the home trained in its use & all are aware that it may not always be wise to go for it.

Ironically for me, I used to own a 357 magnum that I kept in a drawer beside my bed. But on December 13, 1989, I was the victim of another crime. 3 men burglarized my home and stole many things.. including my 357 magnum!!

To which we’ll add that security is like an onion (or a parfait). Make you abode a hard target (lock windows and doors). Use an alarm system (schnauzers make a great backup). Have a home defense plan. Keep a cell phone nearby. And home carry.

In terms of use, point gun at bad guy, pull trigger until the threat stops. Still, as the Ms. Lyles-Anderson implies, there are times when you’re SOL. In that case, don’t freeze. Wait — no look for an opportunity to counter-attack. Take if and when you can. That is all.

19 COMMENTS

  1. THE WISE, THE PRUDENT ALWAYS ARE ARMED, THE SIDEARM ALWAYS WORN ON THE PERSON, NEVER KEPT IN A DRAWER AND ALWAYS KEPT UNDER THE PILLOW WHEN IN BED. OTHERWISE, THE PERSON IS SIMPLY ONE WHO HAS OBVIOUSLY CHOSEN HE OPTION OF ‘THE ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK” AND THE POTENTIAL END RESULTS IS EITHER INJURY OR DEATH; THIS SIMPLY A PROVEN FACT OF LIFE and exactly like the decision to either accept or reject Our Triune God’s offer of Grace; Unmerited Favor and the rejection assures eternal regret.

    • i’ve never put a gun under a pillow, but fail to see what the big deal is. the danger of a modern, well made gun going off by itself is nil.

      i’ve slept with a loaded M-16. I’ve slept with a loaded M9.

      at home, i’ve slept with a loaded LCP II in my pocket on the couch.

      • Your hand might find that gun under the pillow while you are asleep, and your finger could go to the trigger through muscle memory. I have been accused of boob squeezing in my sleep. Luckily, she mostly thought it was funny. Mostly. Some people do stranger things in their sleep, like sleepwalking. So sleep shooting doesn’t seem like such a stretch if your hand finds it’s way to a gun.

        I’ll stick with the bedside table.

  2. Another confirmation of the eternal truth: Getting ambushed sucks.

    I’m glad she survived unharmed, and also glad that she seems to have a very clear-eyed view of reality.

  3. ATTENTION PEOPLE…… DO NOT SLEEP WITH A GUN UNDER YOUR PILLOW! This is not a good idea, and it’s not something that anyone should push as acceptable. There are many bedside options that will put your defensive firearm within easy and quick reach when/if you hear that bump in the night. Sleeping with a gun under your pillow is not one of those good options! Be smart!

  4. the article omits the critical fact of the story: how did the perp get into her house???

    if he had to break in, the noise would allow a defender to arm.

    if the doors were unlocked, “you’re fooked”, to paraphrase Braveheart.

  5. Well she got damned lucky. . . . . . . A gun under your pillow, that’s OK. Here’s what happened to me. Had gun under pillow, perp broke in the house,noise woke me up. Guy jumped on top of me and started chocking me, I reached under pillow and couldn’t find the gun. Had a hell of a fight but I won. No more guns under pillows for me.

  6. Christopher ‘Kit’ Carson slept with his two pistols half cocked by his head and his rifle under his blanket next to him. Today we see neighborhoods (Atlanta) as wild as the West of Carson’s day and the reason to mimic his behavior.

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