I'm gonna say it and I don't care what gun nuts think...

[TeamsterDem]

227. You're making the point for the other side

You're right: The homeowner has no way to know whether or not an INVADER (your word) is armed or if he's alone. That's exactly the point. When it comes to my family I can't assume an INVADER is there to do anything peaceful, and if indeed he's inside my house I must instead assume the opposite, for breaking into an occupied home isn't a peaceful act.

With respect to gun laws giving a homeowner peace of mind, I suggest you peddle that line to someone who's lived in a third world country (me, for example) with strict gun control laws and who's been robbed inside of their own home - by armed individuals. I made it out ok just by the lucky graces of "merely" being robbed by guys who simply wanted tangible things, but many times the story doesn't wind up that neat - there or here. I perhaps don't "need" my guns as badly here as I would have in South America (I lived in several countries there and, under their laws, I could not own one without paying hefty bribes), but because the "need" isn't statistically as high doesn't mean I don't want to be protected.

The law doesn't create a homeowner's suspicion that a burglar is carrying a gun. Rather that impression is created simply by way of this person breaking in to an occupied structure where the homeowner's family resides. You might call it an overreaction that he assumes ill intent, but until you've been robbed inside your own home by people carrying guns I'm not sure you've got the credibility to say what the natural assumption should be. Provided the burglar has made it inside my house and does not seem to instantly flee at the sound of my voice/shotgun cocking, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. If he's outside or fleeing I'll simply call the police and let them handle it.