An intruder breaches the sanctuary of your home. You reach for your trusted pump-action 12-gauge shotgun. It holds eight rounds, but the chamber is empty,so seven shells is all you have. As the intruder advances, you make your move. You rack the slide, chambering a round with a metallic clatter that cuts through the silence like a blade. It’s loud. It’s unmistakable. What happens next? Two possibilities—and neither is in your favor. First: the intruder is inexperienced, ignorant of the ominous sound’s meaning. You’ve just wasted precious time banking on intimidation that might not even register. Second: the intruder is skilled, perhaps more so than you. He hears the sound, and now he knows your position, your intentions, and your hesitation. Worse, he knows the fight has started—and you’ve given him the opening move. He will act swiftly and decisively to neutralize you. In both cases, you’ve sacrificed your element of surprise. And in the high-stakes chaos of defending your li...