Here is when I bought my first gun

[libdem4life]

129. For home use against break-ins and robbery .... perhaps a Photo and a Sign and a night Light

at all points of entry...

"Dog on premises and is kept hungry ... one foot inside here and YOU are his dinner." or something similar.

Spend money on a great dog, dog food, licenses, dog toys and training to teach the dog and the family responsibility and protection and to make sure it barks vociferously. Also, a dog doesn't need to be locked away as it's something the kids can share and enjoy at will and perhaps have some fun helping to make the sign. Daily walks could be effective prevention for the locals. The down side is the cost of food and the vet's bill... and the poop.

Not perfect, of course, but a lot safer for for the family home on a daily basis, and perchance a break-in attempt. My guess is that a burglar noting the photograph and the sign and the light, expecting to hear, or actually hearing loud barking from inside, will change course quickly. Most are cowards anyway...that's why they have to steal or burgle.

For the folk who feel the need to protect themselves against non-home kinds of crime at all other times and places, I'd have to go with:

1) Required training and testing and retesting and required liability insurance ... heavy penalties, loss of privilege and legal actions for intoxication during a crime...similar to obtaining a driver's license and car registration and a DUI ... one permit and open carry. Heavy penalties for any act of violence or injury...intended or unintended.

2) One protection-type permit per licensed individual...single-digit shot capacity which is enough to kill one or two god forbid it's necessary

3) One hunting gun permit per liecnsed invidual for a hunting rifle...single digit shot capacity

I have also noticed that using the word "weapon" to describe a .22 or hunting rifle/gun didn't seem to fit. For the protection handgun, "weapon" seemed appropriate.

JMHO.