When is it NOT a good idea to break into a house?

[DFW]

Apparently when the guy who lives there has a samurai sword and knows how to use it.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/18/samurai-wielding-homeowner-kills-armed-robber-in-california/

A typical case of the sword being mightier than the gored.

[In_The_Wind]

1. It's never smart to break into a home.

ABC 30 reported the resident of the home was first tied up by 34-year-old Aaron Baeza and 30-year-old Christopher Rupe. But the resident convinced the robbers to untie him so that he could show them where he kept his money.

[jakeXT]

2. Burglar shot twice after he locks Houston homeowner in gun cupboard

Three armed home invaders broke into the house and beat up the resident before pushing him into a closet, not realizing it was a weapons storage area.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/burglar-locks-victim-gun-cupboard-shot-article-1.1346815

[AsahinaKimi]

3. I have Nihon To (Japanese swords) myself...

I probably would rather use a Bokken (wooden training sword) as killing someone might back fire on you, and you would go to prison. But I suppose in a life threatening situation I would chose the Nihon to. I know how to use it, as I took Kendo and Kenjitsu as a kid. Still, a very scary situation..

[DFW]

4. If the intruder broke into your house and was armed

I doubt you'd go to prison. The self-defense argument would be a very strong one. Still, it would take either a lot of adrenaline, or a huge amount of self-confidence for someone armed with a sword of any kind to go up against someone armed with a pistol. A real break-in is not a Steven Segal movie. Not being adept with a sword myself, if that is all I had to defend myself with, I would not have the skill to know how to use it to only disable. Against an assailant intending to kill me, I doubt I would be any more reticent than my opponent.