Most interesting practical thread in a long time...for most with property, homes, exposure to crime.
Marc and others brought up training for emergency actions. A firearm is no help IF you're not practiced and trained to react immediately in the correct way. Sometimes NOT reacting at all IF you're not in danger is best. Trained and prepared to react unemotionally and fast is operative here. For most of you not having gone through mil combat training or defense programs for armed and unarmed civilians, just thinking about what to do is dangerous. For most in the military, most training is only for a specific non combat specialty MOS such as mechanics, clerical, or medical, not combat. Support in the military is the about 11 out of 12 NOT in actual combat or trained.
A choice is made how you'll react to a situation: fight, flight, or submit; there are NO other choices armed or unarmed. While we choose not to carry, the mental prep for what to do in a situation of confrontation will always be there.
It is all I have by choice. In any serious confrontation you only have seconds to do something; in all mil and civilian training it is those initial moments for action that you have prepared for long ago. Home, street, parking lot, on the road, in a store .
The only real analogy for me is climbing: what do you do when sh__ happens ? Protection fails, your belayer faints, lines break. Have you practiced that emergency with what you carry on the rock or ice ? Are you mentally prepped for taking charge of your life. No exaggeration. Things happen fast, your brain needs to do the same.
No macho in these situations.
JMNSHO