People that think gun owners should be ostracized and shunned.

People that think that gun owners that use guns to defend themselves should always go through a murder trial.

What somebody "thinks" about gun owners, doesn't matter. That's an opinion. "Thinking" doesn't deny rights, including the means to defend oneself.

People who think but never act on their thoughts, don't deny any rights to anyone else. However, many of those who think negatively (have an opinion) about gun ownership, frequently ACT to outlaw guns and gun ownership. It may be through public protests against firearm ownership, support for complete bans on all types of firearms, writing letters to your respective political representatives supporting such bans, or simply voting (when possible) to ban guns. There are a myriad of ways in which to attempt to deny rights to others. You are correct - "thinking" in and of itself does not deny rights. But how many of us "think" but never take any action on our thoughts? Apathetic slugs, perhaps. Thus, those that "think" gun owners are just a bunch of redneck hicks, or ignorant, or vicious sadistic brutes, they do work to deny the rights and the means to defend oneself. So yes, what we do think - and act on - matter.

I'm glad the homeowner is safe and that the crook is going to be behind bars but I have a hard time saying this is "good". I think it is unfortunate that this entire event happened.

This is not to say that I don't support the right of the homeowner to do what he did. I believe strongly that you do have a right to defend your home with a firearm, I just wish no one had too.

... we'd all be eating steak"

-- Jayne Cobb (Hero of Canton)

himself?

Moving because of the break in, or because his neighbor has a gun? I would be more fearful of the latter since they share a wall.

BS. I would have been dead a long time ago if that were true. Stop trolling for the NRA.

no one is saying that guns are the only means of defense. But if you're goal is to have best possible chances of defending your home successfully from a home invader, a gun is your best bet (as long as you take the time to become proficient in it). If this isn't true than we should not arm any of our "regular" police officers.

secure your home so you won't need to defend yourself from home invaders. That same security will protect your guns from hitting the streets in the hands of criminals by protecting them when you are not at home.

Home invasions don't just happen to people who leave their doors unlocked. It isn't too hard to break into a house even through the front door- most houses aren't built with steel doors and a steel frame. I'm a firefighter and it takes me no more than 30 seconds to get through a front door with nothing more than hand tools.

Motion lights, alarm stickers and alarms.
Here is one for about a hundred bucks.
http://www.armorconcepts.com/Our-Solutions/Standard-Entry-Doors

Security films for windows and glass doors (google it). I helped install hurricane windows in a fireman's house. He said when they came across them during a fire they had to go thru the roofs to get in. Security films can be about as good.

How many hours a day are you not home and your gun is left unprotected from criminals that will steal those guns for more crime?

Just google "cheap home security" for lots of ideas.

"How many hours a day are you not home and your gun is left unprotected from criminals that will steal those guns for more crime?"

Exactly Zero. It is secured by something far stronger than a cheap door jam. I take great offense to your comment.

you can't make a house invincible, no matter how hard you try.

on Edit: I have come accross those security films on the outside of windows. they are tough stuff, though the problem is that it all has to connect to some piece of wood in the end (99% houses that are in my neighborhood are wood construction). All I had to do was pop the window frame.

theft either, no matter how hard you try. Some crooks can steal a bolted down gun safe in less than 15 minutes. I'm suggesting that you harden your home, and it can be done cheaply, and you and your possessions will be much safer. Most break ins are by youth and drug addicts that won't spend a lot of time trying to get in and will leave when they find it difficult. If you'd rather shoot some one, go ahead.

nothing can be completely safe. You are right, even a bolted down safe can be stolen in a short amount of time. The same also is true for all your suggestions.

The youth/drug addict burglars are not the ones I own a gun to protect myself from. I own a gun to protect myself from burglars like the ones that were involved in the CT house rape/murder/arson. The violent ones are the ones that bother me.

When I leave for the day, I lock my doors and set my alarm.

Think of it as a fire extinguisher. everytime there is any sort of fire in your house, either while you are cooking something, or a candle falls on the floor, etc....do you always use your fire extinguisher? No, you don't. Most of the time you will put out the fire either my covering it or running it under water. You use the fire extinguisher for those rare events where you open up the oven and large flames start rolling out of it, or when you leave something on the stove unattended and you come back to find flames rolling up the wall.

Someone who believes that all the locks and window bars in the world makes it so "you won't need to defend yourself from home invaders" is the same person who has never framed a door and probably believes home invaders can be stopped with a stern tongue lashing... Intelligent home security means layers of defense.

Everyone knows there are many ways to secure & defend yourself.

How would you like it if someone accused you of "trolling for the Hug-a-Thug Association?"

Too little information to arrive at an educated opinion as to was it good or bad. I don't know if they were posing a physical threat or not.....I'll just see how it plays out.