Gun safety

[OceanDragon]

Well, don't assume everyone who is Asian is a black belt, or even a martial artist at all. Some people assume everyone in Asia is a martial artist. And I doubt a burglar would dress as a martial artist would (I don't even know what he/she would look like).

I'm pretty sure hands are not considered lethal weapons, but in certain cases your martial arts experience may work against you in the courts. You might want to try threatening with the gun first, and if he doesn't put his hands up, I'd say shoot him (preferably in a non-lethal spot like leg or arm)

This is all assuming you would be home when the criminal breaks in (I think they usually they wait until you leave), and you are able to get your gun without him knowing you are home. Might want to reach for the phone before the gun.

[Belasko]

You might want to try threatening with the gun first, and if he doesn't put his hands up, I'd say shoot him (preferably in a non-lethal spot like leg or arm)

The first part of this statement is good. after that though it falls apart. Specifically the part about shooting them in a non-lethal spot. First reason is that hitting a target, even at close range, during a hight stress situation is darn near impossible. Take for instance the police shootouts you see on those police video shows. Almost always no one even gets hit, and they usually start out about 5 feet apart! And suppose that you did just wound them. The intruder is now alive and able to sue you for damages. And yes there are true cases of just that happening. As a police officer once told me for this kind of situation, "dead men tell no tales, and they can't hire a lawyer."