Starise
 We just had a home broken into here not a mile from my house. I know the guy involved. He is an older guy and he was there with his wife. The two intruders kept asking for someone who he didn't know and had never heard of. They wore masks. They put him on the floor and told him to shut up, did the same to his wife. They came right up to the front door and knocked and he opened the door. We think it was a drug deal gone wrong and they must have gotten the wrong address. They went through his house and left after they discovered they had the wrong guy. He is still shook up from the whole episode. In this case if he would have used a gun there is a really good chance that the second person who would have not been shot would have killed him and probably his wife. In this case there were two of them. What do you do if you kill one and the other one is there with a gun outside of your vision? Sometimes there is a second man outside. I think in some cases cooperation might save your life. As this turned out he is safe, his wife is safe and he has all of his possessions.
 
 The intruder has probably thought about how they can pull it off and be safe and that might include more than one person. Usually intrusions around here are drug related. Some people have been robbed while in their house asleep. Playing possum in this case might save you your life. Usually the robber has nothing on their mind but getting drug money. Stay out of the way or fight, the choice is up to you. You have to ponder the consequences of that choice. If they really wanted inside your house I guarantee they would have gotten in. I don't think the intruder was interested in anything but an easy take, someone who leaves their doors unlocked.

Guitarhacker
Don't use a stun gun unless you are halfway proficient in open hand self defense.... Karate or some other martial art and have practiced sufficiently to halfway know how to defend and attack close in, and are proficient in the use of a handheld weapon such as a kubaton or a knife..... because the stun gun taser has to make bodily contact to work.  Although some punks will run at the sight of the big blue spark.
 
Don't use fake cameras. Just Don't.   They invite lawsuits and you won't win.  Trust me on this.... I'm in the business and the lawsuits are legendary. So no fake cams.
 
The warrior mind set is crucial as has been pointed out. In any confrontation it is important to understand that this incident could quickly and easily escalate to life and death in seconds. That decision and willingness to use deadly force  must be made before it begins. Hesitate for half a second and you could be on the floor with a sheet over you.
 
This is from farce book.... this is 10 seconds total but the actual event is 1 second while under stress : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=670841776267356&set=vb.100000246204208&type=2&theater 
 
It happens fast....hesitate and you could be dead.
 
There are training courses as I mentioned earlier, that will do their best to simulate the experience, but in reality, nothing prepares you for such an encounter. Those who are prepared, and who have trained, and are familiar with their weapon of choice, and know it's balance, weight, safety devices, operation, and how it functions are better prepared to have a chance at surviving the encounter than those who have not prepared. You must know that weapon and not have to think about any aspect of it. As stress levels rise, fine motor skill diminish and the conscious mind is focused on survival not operating a safety.... so it must be an auto pilot sort of zen thing at that point....and that comes only from practice.
 
Why do you think the military is always practicing, and martial artists, and musicians? It has to be second nature.

tom1
Latest reports from yesterday's shooting in Nevada says the kid got the gun from his home and the parents may be held responsible.
 
 
So, if I'm a responsible gun owner, I keep it where the children do not have access; maybe storing the ammunition separately; padlocked etc.
 
 
Then how do I get to it if I need it in a hurry?
 
 
 
I'm sorry but most gun owners scare the hell out of me; and the ones that are expert marksmen (weekly trips to the firing range) scare me the most.
 

UbiquitousBubba
I'm staying in my box.  I was going to write, "Do Not Open!" on the lid, but I was afraid that someone might misread it as "Donut, Open!"  I thought that might encourage the sort of thing Bit warned us about.
 
I'm just glad that Pandora let me use her box.  I have the strangest feeling that I may not be alone in here, though.

Starise
  Sorry Herb, are security companies selling actual security or prying on fears? There is the feeling of security with cameras, guns, window sensors etc etc. It certainly can be a deterrent. From a criminal perspective they might think, " Why do they have their house under so much security? There must be something really valuable in there". In that case they might be even more prone to consider breaking in. Visible security can draw attention to yourself. The fake camera seems middle ground. " This guy was too cheap to buy a real security system." Maybe hidden security is the best. Maybe the scarf will fall off his face and the hidden camera might catch it.