I once lived in a high crime area. I was working contract position making big bucks and only a few miles from where I worked there were 4-5 violent crimes in my first 2 weeks.
I was never involved in any incidents but I do not think being loaded would have been of use in many of the incidents. Examples
A. Several armed gangsters pull up beside the target car and start shooting. He drove off unharmed. A gun would be of no benefit because you would be A. outgunned and B. in no position to use it.
B. A man tries to rob another and starts shooting. The guy runs and escape unharmed. Gun maybe of benefit but you would be caught off guard.
If you are really concerned about safety, I recommend putting outside deadbolts on the bedroom doors, keep a cell phone in bedroom at all time, and ensuring the windows are secure. Keep bedroom doors locked at all times when sleeping. You may also want to consider a safe room or turning the bedroom into a mini safe room. Also, ensure the room is secure from the attic. If on ground floor, windows should be secured with bars.
Get a security system. Use doors that lock automatically. Put deadbolts on all doors and keep them deadbolt. Get motion lights too. I think if you do this you will dramatically reduce the risk of anything happening to you in your home. Never open the door to a suspicious stranger.
If you have a cell phone and deadbolted bedroom there is no way you will be surprised at night and with an alarm system, any intruder will only have about 15-30 seconds before security comes out. All you have to do is stay in the bedroom. If you are not asleep and some suspicious starts to mess around a window or bang on the door then you can always go to bedroom and call police. So, the only way you will get "got" is the case where you let someone inside or you are in/outside at the time. If you don't open door to suspicious people then that rules that out.
Before considering to get a gun, you may want to consider to get a taser (if there are any personal use models) and/or pepper spray. A great benefit is a reduced risk of improper use and also it can be used in dangerous situations where you wouldn't want to shoot someone.
Consider to get a dog but only if you are prepared to take care of it. A dog is a companion/family member that must be cared for up to 12-15 years. Large/protective dogs require training. A good dog will be better then a gun but also is a bigger investment both in money , time, and emotion.
I was never involved in any incidents but I do not think being loaded would have been of use in many of the incidents. Examples
A. Several armed gangsters pull up beside the target car and start shooting. He drove off unharmed. A gun would be of no benefit because you would be A. outgunned and B. in no position to use it.
B. A man tries to rob another and starts shooting. The guy runs and escape unharmed. Gun maybe of benefit but you would be caught off guard.
If you are really concerned about safety, I recommend putting outside deadbolts on the bedroom doors, keep a cell phone in bedroom at all time, and ensuring the windows are secure. Keep bedroom doors locked at all times when sleeping. You may also want to consider a safe room or turning the bedroom into a mini safe room. Also, ensure the room is secure from the attic. If on ground floor, windows should be secured with bars.
Get a security system. Use doors that lock automatically. Put deadbolts on all doors and keep them deadbolt. Get motion lights too. I think if you do this you will dramatically reduce the risk of anything happening to you in your home. Never open the door to a suspicious stranger.
If you have a cell phone and deadbolted bedroom there is no way you will be surprised at night and with an alarm system, any intruder will only have about 15-30 seconds before security comes out. All you have to do is stay in the bedroom. If you are not asleep and some suspicious starts to mess around a window or bang on the door then you can always go to bedroom and call police. So, the only way you will get "got" is the case where you let someone inside or you are in/outside at the time. If you don't open door to suspicious people then that rules that out.
Before considering to get a gun, you may want to consider to get a taser (if there are any personal use models) and/or pepper spray. A great benefit is a reduced risk of improper use and also it can be used in dangerous situations where you wouldn't want to shoot someone.
Consider to get a dog but only if you are prepared to take care of it. A dog is a companion/family member that must be cared for up to 12-15 years. Large/protective dogs require training. A good dog will be better then a gun but also is a bigger investment both in money , time, and emotion.
:eek: