If I could just throw in a quick comment.

If you have made a personal decision, thought is through, then don't let other people tell you differently if you feel strongly about it. Firearm ownership is not for everybody.

But, burgler alarm ownership can be for everybody (renters might have to think twice, though), and dog ownership might also be a good idea, depending on house/apartment, schedule, and allergies.

An alarm will let an intruder know that police are likely on the way, and a properly trained dog will let an intruder know that he should pick up the various parts of his anantomy and report to the hospital to have them re-attached.

I like firearms, but they are not the be-all and end-all of any situation. In order to use them, you have to be awake and in the proper frame of mind. Everybody reading this who has a gun by the bed had also better have a decent alarm system installed or have a sufficiently loud dog with sensetive ears to wake you up in case something happens.