A homeowner in Limestone County, Alabama, avoided a potentially tragic situation when he used his firearm to defend himself against a home intruder. The incident shines a critical spotlight on the importance of gun ownership and the ability to defend one’s life and property.

According to a report from local authorities, the would-be burglar met his end while trying to break into a residence in the early hours of the morning. The homeowner exercised his right to self-defense and confronted the intruder.

The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement detailing the altercation on Facebook.

On February 10, 2024, at 4:20 a.m., Limestone County Deputies responded to the 17000 Block of Morris Rd. in Elkmont, AL, on a report of a Burglary in progress. The homeowner reported that they were awakened by someone violently attempting to gain entry into their residence. The homeowner armed himself and awaited the deputy's arrival. Before deputies could arrive, the offender kicked in the homeowner's door and entered the residence unlawfully, where he was met with gunfire from the homeowner. The offender retreated outside, where he succumbed to his injuries. Investigators responded and identified the deceased offender as Christopher Jason Hovis, 44, of Hartselle, AL. This investigation is ongoing; however, preliminary results indicate this is a justified shooting, and there are no charges at this time.

In this case, the homeowner appears to have taken the correct steps. He called the authorities, but they were not able to arrive quickly enough to stop the intruder from gaining entry to the home, which meant that the armed citizen had to take his protection into his own hands.

The fact that the homeowner was armed shows that he understood a popular maxim in the gun community: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. If he did not own a firearm, this situation could have turned out much differently.

Limestone County’s overall crime rates are low. In some areas, crime rates vary, and it is not clear what it looks like in the neighborhood where this incident took place.

The A+ grade means the rate of crime is much lower than the average US county. Limestone County is in the 98th percentile for safety, meaning 2 percent of counties are safer and 98 percent of counties are more dangerous. This analysis applies to Limestone County's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby counties.

The rate of crime in Limestone County is 31.89 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in Limestone County generally consider the east part of the county to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of crime in Limestone County may be as high as 1 in 21 in the west neighborhoods or as low as 1 in 49 in the east part of the county.

Nevertheless, the incident is a powerful testament to the reality that even in low-crime areas, gun ownership remains essential. Even the most well-meaning of law enforcement officials are often unable to arrive on a scene quickly enough to stop the bad guy, which means it is up to us to ensure that we are armed and trained.