Home Defense

[brainman1000]

My $0.02 on using guns as home defense:
The only way it is useful is if you keep a loaded gun handy. That means that you keep one on you at all times, keep loaded guns stashed and accessible around your house, or you take them out of your safe every time you come home.

The first is fine as long you have a concealed weapon permit.

The second is not a really good idea because you won't always be home all of the time and if someone does break in while you are not home, those loaded accessible weapons can be found by the perp and taken for use at other crimes.

The third means that every time you leave you properly store your weapons in a securely bolted safe and then take them back out when returning home.

All of these also assume that you have enough time to realize you're in danger, make a decision about what to do, get your gun, make sure it is ready to fire, and then get yourself ready to fire, all before the perp gets in and to you.

If it is a home invasion, they are anticipating that someone is home and already have their weapons ready. If it is a burglary, they are hoping that nobody is home and will most likely flee when they realize somebody is home. Either way, guns don't really make a good choice because in a home invasion, you probably won't be ready for it unless you are extremely paranoid, and in a burglary, if you shoot an unarmed man running out of your house after they discover you are home, you could possibly face legal action against you.

The best method is to prevent or deter.

Again, that is my OPINION, so I'm sure many of you will disagree, and that is perfectly fine.