Be Prepared
My take is simple and I like to break it down to the simple and to common sense, and to correct basic fundamentals.
I know about escaped folks, coming onto property, riots, kidnapping , rape, and all sorts of evil.
Rural, Semi-Rural, Bigger City, and out of the USA
I was was young with sibs under my care, and the 3 adults with evil intent, with weapons busted down the front door.
I was prepared, and I stopped that immediate threat.
I used a .22 nine shot revolver and I did not miss.
I had another .22 revolver and single shot shotgun.
I was not over the top, I was prepared, and I used the gun , MY gun, I learned on at age 3
Times were different back then, one was raised to be prepared, and parent kids, mentor, and pass forward.
There was no 911, no Cell phone and folks were prepared.
WE - run what we brung.
Now there is nothing wrong with nice guns and equipment.
One cannot buy skill and targets
One could not do it the mid 50's when I born, folks could not do so before I was born and they cannot still buy skill an targets and I don't care how gussied up and how many gussies you got, if one is not prepared, you will get injured, maimed, or dead.
My contention with these posers and wannbe's is simple.
They are ijits.
They are breathing MY air, doing harm to THR Mission statement, doing more harm to RKBA and Responsible Firearms owners.
Here is the real deal posers with your AR stocked Ultimate Shotgun with 3.5" shells of 00 buck, mag extension, and two side saddles:
Can you honest to goodness shoot a Firebomb out of the sky heading at your roof, or front porch!
I can, I have done it, and I learned that from Mentors, and actually saw then do so with bone stock single shot, SxS, hardware store shotguns with long barrels...and many did not even have a front bead sight!
Prepared meant, having garden hoses ready to go, to deal with fire, sand/dirt buckets, first aid, flashlights, candles, lanterns - as we had no power, no phones working...prepared for evil, natural disasters and...
So w-a-y before 3 gun, IDPA, IPSC and all - we had lessons and folks run what they brung. .
.32 cal break top revolver was brought, lessons on carry, how to shoot, while at home, doing chores.
That SxS kept handy, was brought out...
Lever Action in 30-30 was brought out...
etc...
Rural, Semi-Rural, Bigger City folks run what they brung.
It was not over the top for a lady to carry a .32 cal break top revolver back then, and it ain't now.
That lady was prepared, had common sense, when time to walk out and get the mail out from a mail box on the blacktop too.
Sheriff/ Corrections folks inform folks chain gangs would be working in the area...wait until someone else, even a Deputy, or Corrections fella was near and you know, a Deputy will ride down to her mail box, get her mail and bring it back.
Not over the top, common sense, common courtesy, and not putting everything down to "gun" when it comes to being prepared, and staying safe.