Something some might consider for personal self defense is a Taser. You can buy them from the company. I recommended this to a friend who had no firearm experience and three young children in the house.

Be careful about that first gun purchase. They are fun and you will soon realize any respectable man can not get by with just one gun. You need a shotgun, pistol, revolver, bolt action rifle, assault rifle, 22 rifle and pistol, etc (no assault rifle in Ca). It is especially easy to buy them when you realize they go up in value and it’s actually an investment.

1. Analyze the crime rate in your surrounding area. If high/dangerous/increasing daily, consider relocating somewhere safer. Yes, I know, your job is here.

2. Perform careful security checks on your home or living space. Locks, windows, doors, lighting, etc. Improve it if possible.

3, Do not live a highly predictable schedule on a daily basis. Change things a bit on travel to and from work. Times departed and arrived back home. Routes you take. Be watchful of those watchful of your activities.

4. Occasionally walk your own property to look for signs of things not quite right. Fences, gates, grown up areas need cleaning out, trees trimmed, and again lighting. Make repairs or improvements. Also be watchful in the hours of darkness. But do not become paranoid as this decreases the results of your efforts.

Get that gun if you think you need it, but ONLY if you learn to use it with confidence. That means hours of target practice, loading, unloading, cleaning it, gun safety lessons, locking it properly from children, and knowing your plan to HAVE it when you NEED it. Remembering always that “unloaded” guns make the gun no more than a rock or club. But the old saying is that UNLOADED guns are the ones that kill by accident. Guns yes—and other physical security plans, very much yes.

Finally, totally familiarize yourself with several legal court cases involving a citizen who defended his home and property and in the process killed someone. Get a feel for what will happen to you when you have to do that. See if you can do all the right things if defending your home with a gun, and know the law as it pertains to self defense in several situations.

Here’s hoping you never have to face anything like it!!!!

I have taken a class to get my concealed weapons permit already so I can get that ball rolling.

Part of it is also to get a gun, the permit, etc. while I still can since there are real chances that politicians will continue to assault gun rights, most likely through high fees and stuff rather than a direct assault at the 2nd amendment.

Well if we were forced to pay for the true cost of manufacturing items, I think it would make many stop and think and make better choices.

Also I think money does help in all those endeavors to some extent. As Chris mentioned though, allows is more the correct word. After all, money is really just an intermediary for the value of time. Money can allow you the time to do things, and allow you to trade for someone else’s time to assist you with your goals. If I can work and earn enough in one year to live for 10, then haven’t I ‘bought’ that 9 years of time?

[For those that care: Don't tell DW, but I am secretly in love with the Glock 17 and I'd probably get a 9mm with a 22LR conversion kit for training.]