I would guess if it is a planned armed robbery of a high dollar house it is going to be multiple well armed guys who scoped out the house and come in swift. I wouldn't like the odds of a single individual with a legal handgun helping his or his families getting out unscathed. I'd feel better with dogs and a home alarm being more of a disincentive for such a group, and sending them to neighbors houses instead. But if they are planned enough and think there are assets enough, I would guess they can get around alarms and dogs. That said an NRA sticker on your truck or RV could be a disincentive to get messed with--at least if you are in the vehicle. Then again guns are one of the favorite items to steal, so if you leave the vehicle to do something else, all bets are off.
if you purchase a gun, get a gun safe! also remember that if you fire your gun and the bullet exits your home (through wall, window...) and hits someone outside, you are liable for damages. just something to keep in mind. id recommend a shotgun for home protection bc 1. no need to be accurate 2. the pellets wont penetrate the walls (less likely to exit your home) the drawback is that its bigger and bulkier than a handgun. if you go w/ a handgun. id recommend a glock 9mm. 1. reliable 2. 9mm bullets are cheap so you can get a lot of practice. 3. 9mm are less likely to penetrate walls. they also sell bullets that are packed w/ pellets (act like a shotgun shell) havent shot any of those so i cant comment on how well they work. as far as whether you should get a gun or not. guns are safe as long as you handle them carefully and dont goof off with them. you gotta stay vigilant. you can also take training classes if youre still nervous. also, you never know when youll need a gun. (i.e. looters after a hurricane hits) i guess its all up to the individual. try going to a gun range and renting a gun. get a feel for it and then decide whether a gun is right for you. hope that helps.
