Someone tried to break into my house twice in a short span so I've decided to purchase a gun. What is my best option?

A firearm is the last thing you should buy.

I say that, not as some peace loving hippie, but as a pragmatist. A firearm alone does not secure a home. Often it is used as a security blanket, people feel more safe just by having.

For proper home defence, you need to have decent locks on your doors and windows, a fail-safe alarm system that will alert you to intruders, deterrents to thieves such as cameras, lighting, and security warnings.

Although, the measures I have outlined will not stop every intruder. If you believe that you need a lethal response in the defence of your home, and you are legally entitled to it, then by all means arm yourself with a firearm. First however, understand the ramifications of lethal response. You must know in what legal circumstances you are able to use lethal force, and also be prepared to explain yourself to the law once lethal force has been taken.

You, and your entire family, must be trained to safely handle and effectively use the firearm, and be prepared to shoot to kill. If the rest of your family are ignorant to firearms, you are increasing the risk of injury or death by having a loaded firearm in your home. If you are not in the home when the intruder comes, and your family is, they must be able to act in their own self defence. This is why every member of your home needs to be prepared to use lethal response.

Also, you need to both correctly identify your target and environment. A intoxicated family member sneaking in after a party can seem an awful lot a meth infused gang member at 2am, and even if no criminal charges are filed, rumours and guilt can follow you for the rest of your life.

So by all means buy a firearm, as a last line of defence, after you have secured your property, and both you and your family are adequately trained and prepared to use lethal force.

/r/homedefense Thread