>Would you ask people if they have a gun in the house as a prerequisite to letting your kids
>play in there?
>
>Half the housholds in the US have guns. http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp
>
>The bad apples are the ones who leave them laying around. It causes the kind of paranoia you're
>indicating.
>
>What if someone invaded your house in the middle of the night, and you didn't have a gun? I bet
>Sean Taylor's girlfriend was wishing he had a gun last week.

First off all

have good locks on you doors. We have norms arround here that every new build house should be able to resist invaders for at least 3 minutes in the most common attacks. Enough time to call the police and pick your baseball bat and show you've seen them.

If you carry a gun, they probably will too. If you intent to use them, they probably will too. If you shoot, they probably will do before you do. You probably are more likely to get hurt in stead of the bugler. But of course this won't happen to you, you practise.. you are sure you're a better shooter than the bugler huh ?? esppecially after a long night in the bar drinking your favourate drinks...

The best you can do is to scare them away, but else either you will be hurt (you lose) or he will be hurt or die and you will face court (you'll lose too).

In this respect the US is practising 3rd world rules.... you're many decaded behind of the norm in other western countries.

Walter,