A handgun with a caliber that starts with a 4. Too many stories of 9mm or lesser rounds not being enough gun for a quick resolution. In your house both distance to your target and time to react will be very short. The police will be by in 10 or 15 minutes, if your lucky, to clean up the mess. A sturdy gun safe to keep all the truly valuable things secure.
Jerry not that I disagree with you, but the ability to dispatch a intruder is dependent on the skill/accuracy of the shooter when SHTF and the adrenalin is surging. I carry a 9mm most of the time using heavy(147gr +p) jacket hollowpoints, with a back up frame as well. This is only because my kimber hasnt gotten done in the custom shop. Yes i know there is a lot of irony in that I am a paramedic and conceal carry. To put it nicely i won't leave any work for a fellow medic only the medical examiner if it comes down to it. The biggest problem I see is that people that carry but dont seem to train or take classes in defensive/tactical shooting. So when it really hits the fan they either cant hit the broad side of a barn or get it taken away from them and used on them.
Now my security is a little different there is no alarm system, but I have cameras(HD UV/IR w/audio - was a sams club special a while back) that cover any possible entry into the house, then a couple more inside. They all feed to a server in the house and will store upto 14 days of footage. All of the doors are double barrell/key locks so no smashing glass and getting in. Like others have done I have rotating lights as since I work nights and sleep during the day want the house to look like its lived in. Also on the front and back door have NRA member insurance stickers -- policy#191145ACP as a joke. Currently all the weapons are stored in the closet in sleeves, or underneath my bed, with ammo and magazines near by. This a temporary arrangement as I have a new fire rated gun safe (90 mins @ 2400 degrees) coming (thank you uncle Sam) that will be used to store all of the weapons plus valuables & documents. Additional sets/backups of documents, originals and valuables will still be stored in safe deposit boxes at multiple branches as to cya a cya. If they break material goods can be replaced; friends, family, and loved ones can't and will be defended accordingly.
Edited by Scubatooth, 02 March 2012 - 02:14 AM.