Yes, but the police aren't about to encourage residents to go out and buy shotguns. You're in your home half the day at best, and for somewhere between 6-10 hours of that you're asleep. Burglars more often than not can make good guesses as to where to find valuable stuff like guns. If that is your only home defense plan, not only have you failed if your house is broken into while you're away, but you have probably given the BG one or more guns he can use to up the stakes.DoubleJ wrote:http://www.charlotte.com/112/story/691229.html
They forgot ONE thing off of that list....Lincoln County Sheriff Tim Daugherty suggested keeping doors and windows locked; not letting strangers who want to use the telephone into the house; surrounding homes with adequate lighting.
Other options: Install alarm systems and deadbolts, and stock pepper spray and Taser devices. And if you see any funny business going on around your house, call 911.
you know........
the shotgun.
Consider the alternate; burglar alarm with glass-break and door sensors on all first-floor POEs. Home invader breaks a window. That sets off a 110dB burglar alarm with a siren in your attic, whether you're home or away. If you're asleep that is certain to wake you up in a REAL hurry. 95% of BGs will scram at that point; the last thing they need are the witnesses and police attention that an alarm garners. For the 5% of BGs that are intent on harming you no matter what, though, there is nothing that will dissuade that BG but a handful of lead shot. So yes, a firearm is a necessary last line of defense. However, there are many other lines in the sand that can be drawn that a BG is highly unlikely to cross or continue to cross. Locked doors, inaccessible windows, burglar alarm, big angry dog, locked interior doors, etc. all make it VERY difficult for a BG to do his dirty work.