Don't Rely On The Police
This is the hardest thing to write on this entire web site. It sounds like heresy. After all, in most towns, the cars are marked "Serve and protect". I like cops. My grandfather was a cop. It's a dirty, thankless, dangerous job. Many people become police out of a desire to see justice done.So, why am I saying that you shouldn't rely on the police to protect you against crime and civil unrest? Because it isn't their job!
It is a well-established principle of law that the police have no affirmative duty to protect you even if they know that you are in immediate danger or currently being victimized.
On 27 June 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court said this clearly and distinctly in ruling on a case called "Castle Rock v. Gonzales". It's all laid out for you in the charming story of Three Dead Children In A Pickup Truck.
Self Defense Is Personal
The worst thing I could do for you is to give you specific advice. Honest! Anyone who says, "Oh, you need a guard dog!" or "You should get a gun!" is full of crap.The truth is that self defense is a personal choice that requires you to make personal decisions. I'm not talking about choosing if you should protect yourself. I'm talking how you should protect yourself.
Consider the guard dog. If you are afraid of dogs or just don't like dogs, what's the sense of getting one?
Think about guns. A gun is not a magical talisman. You can't make a bad guy vanish by just waving it around. You have to search your soul and ask whether or not you really could point a gun at somebody and kill them. If the answer is no, don't get a gun for protection!
I suggest that you learn about all of your options, and choose those that suit you.
You can learn a lot by reading
The Truth About Self Protection,
by Massad Ayoob.
It sells for $7.99 at amazon.com [3/2006].
(Buy from Amazon.com
So, You Want A Gun
I'm not trying to talk you into firearms, but if you decide to include them in your personal preference for self defense, you need to be educated on the subject.
If you should decide to get a gun, I suggest that you read
Gun-Proof Your Children / Massad Ayoob's Handgun Primer,
by Massad Ayoob.
It sells for $4.95 at amazon.com [3/2006].
(Buy from Amazon.com
You should also know about the legal ramifications about firearm ownership.
I suggest
In the Gravest Extreme, The Role of the Firearm In Personal Protection,
by Massad Ayoob.
It sells for $12.95 at amazon.com [3/2006].
(Buy from Amazon.com
I like Ayoob. He knows what he's talking about, and says it well.