It certainly does sound like you and yours have had an unfortunate number of run-ins with criminals. Moving to a "safer" area sounds like a plan, but we know that is not always possible. I don't know your background, but for the sake of this important need being part of your decisions please consider getting some tactical training. Feeling safer with a gun does not actually translate to being that much safer unless there is training to go with it. You will be putting down a foundation of doing things the right way and that is far better than trying to correct a bad habit later. Every time you draw, shoot, etc, you are practicing. I know plenty of people who own guns and yet do not even remember the last time they went to the range. I read somewhere that it takes 3000 repetitions for you to be able react and manipulate your gun accurately in an emergency(muscle memory) and then it takes regular practice to retain the ability. In an adrenaline rush, your senses and dexterity change dramatically and the training or lack of it can make a huge difference in the outcome. Even reading the posts on this forum is a form of training your mind to consider a lot of different things. A gun is simply a tool. I like the saying that buying a violin does not make you a musician. Learning to play, though, is a lot more fun with the gun
