Posted By:
CatI have two hand guns in the house and a small rifle. One is a 9mm with a clip (the loaded clip is in the dresser drawer and the gun high up in the master bedroom closet), and the other a loaded .22 revolver (which holds nine casings) stored high in the master bedroom closet as well.
The problem with allowing them to take your property is once they are in your house you have already lost control of the situation. Don't ever assume you can reason with a criminal. You will never be able to predict their moves. Who's to say their next step isn't to take you (or your wife), at gun point, down to the local ATM to empty your account. Again, you will never be able to predict what will happen during that little excursion. On only two occasions have I ever grabbed one of the pistols (I prefer the .22 revolver) when I heard those noises in the night. My theory is they get one warning: "I have a gun." and then the minute I see that they are a stranger and they are coming in rather than heading back out the door/window, they will be gut shot.
There is no way I would ever carry one on my body or in my car (at least I haven't yet). I can also understand why some people do not want guns around. I grew up in Oregon where rifles and shot guns were extremely common, and to a lesser extent hand guns.