Goody on Nostr: Seems like you have plenty of good info here, but I recommend a 12 gauge shotgun for ...

Seems like you have plenty of good info here, but I recommend a 12 gauge shotgun for a little scatter since you will be frightened and inexperienced. Maybe a 20 gauge if you don't think you can handle the kick, but keep in mind you probably won't need it more than once or twice IF you ever do need it, and I pray you don't in this capacity. A 20 will be less kick but less takedown power also. A pump is good and reliable, but maybe for quicker action, like a semi-auto (Beretta 1301) might make more sense. A full-sized 9 mm is a good option if you prefer a pistol, but I'd ward against anything smaller (380 or so ) as I've read where someone pumped up on dope and other stuff won't even feel it if you don't hit them in JUST the right spot. I'd want them to drop no matter where I hit them. At home, I've got a Mossburg12 ga Just-In-Case short barrel on my side of the bed, and I actually got my wife a nice about 6-foot long SPEAR I bought at Academy for about $80 several years ago for her side of the bed. She is a pretty tough woman in general, and I wouldn't want to be on the business end of it if you were in our house and she feared for our children's lives. Everything has pros and cons. The main thing is to know where they are located and how to use them. How to take safety off etc.. and what kind of action or whatever is what you need to have in your head ahead of time. You can't operate any tool unless you know how to use it ahead of time. Good luck in your selection! Most pump, semi-automatic guns are no problem as far as maintenance. Just dust them off every few years. If kept out in the open for years and years, get a rod and cloth and run a little cleaner down the barrel followed by a little oil, no big deal. There are lots of videos on YouTube for this. The main thing is to make sure nothing gets lodged in your barrel.