Okay, well America has had liberal gun laws for basically its whole existance, but I don't see any spectacular low crime rates. And really, self-defense from assualt is one thing, but preventing crime in general just by having an abundance of guns seems like an irony.

It may seem like an irony (to the anti gun)... But the research was done and is evidenced THOROUGHLY in the book...

If the defense has guns, shouldn't the offense have guns, too?

But it certainly reduces their chances of exiting my home.

I'm in good shape and I'm a big fellow. But I'll be darned if I'm going to be awakened from a sound sleep and dance around the living room with someone who has crawled through my window. Though not in my home, I've been in a couple of close situations, and at the point you might have to take someone's life, it's not like it is in the movies. But as you take firearms training, you quickly see that there are really only two types of people in the room: those who will hesitate or not fire on an intruder who is threatening, and those who will aim for the chest, warn and then fire one or more rounds.

I'd hate to do it, but I'm a confirmed member of that latter group. If you're walking around in here late at night you better be 8 inches tall and have pointy ears, or you better be wearing a lace evening gown. Anyone else... tell Saint Peter I said hello.

__________________
"Tweeter was a Boyscout before she went to Vietnam and found out the hard way... nobody gives a d@mn."

Amen, brother!

Shoot and ask questions later is a way of life in the USA.

__________________
"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives." — John Stuart Mill

Well, maybe if the guy wanted to both enter and exit my home or losconosciuto's home alive, perhaps the first question that should have been asked was: "May I enter your home, sir?" I mean, what the heck is the guy doing burglarizing homes if he doesn't want to get shot by irate homeowners? Use your noggin, wildbore!

Its called criminals are expected to be stupid, usually burgulars will run away when they see someone, so why shoot, oh yea, its called homeowner doesen't give a @#!% about the lives of others. Homeowners should be smart and maybe escort the person out of their home peacefully and shoot them if they resist or pull out a knife.

__________________
"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives." — John Stuart Mill

No it's called setting an example for burgulars. In case you didn't know burgulars have been known to kill. Even still without them doing that they are a problem and need to face serious consequences. Escorting them out so they can continue is not enough.

__________________
Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness ~Thomas Paine

The fallacy of your position is that all lives have equal value. Who's life has more value? The guys that are burglarizing your home? Or you and your wife and your daughters and your sons and your kitty cats and your puppy dogs? That's just a no brainer! If only you would have the guts to be honest in your answer!