21st March 2010, 1:33 AM
Quote:you can protect your home just as well with a riffle
Sure you can. Assuming that you spot him from 200 yards away.
That aside, handguns are optimal for home security. Unless you're packing some kind of hand cannon, a normal handgun gives an experienced user the option of shooting to wound or disable. Using a rifle or shotgun typically gives you the options of "kill" or "mutilate", and neither are useful in close quarters--rifles especially are a liability here because of their size. Having to wield a weapon which might be as much as five feet long is not what you want to be doing if you're indoors.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR