Pike County, Ohio, prosecutor Rob Junk made it easy for a journalist investigating a burglary. In fact, the entire story was essentially one long quote from the prosecutor. "[The armed citizen] was in his home, minding his own business, when these two individuals busted in, at least one of them armed," Junk said. "They trained a gun on him and threatened to kill him. The citizen later had marks on his body where they beat him:'The homeowner retrieved a rifle and shot at the men, killing one of them. "The bottom line is that [the criminal] would be alive if he had chosen to obey the law and not burglarize people's houses," said Junk. "Most of our Pike County residents have guns. I have several. If som_ebody broke into my house, threatened me, my wife and my 5-year-old daughter, I would shoot them dead. Most people around here feel the same way." (Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, OH, 02/15/11)

Though Rocco Bombara's legs were amputated due to a medical condition, he is far from helpless. "He's not someone to mess with;' said his daughter, Nicco. "He's pretty tough. He does everything on his own:' Rocco also understands that sometimes evil men perceive the physically challenged as easy prey. One such individual attempted to break into Bombara's apartment while his son, daughter and several of their friends were watching television. The intruder crawled halfway inside the window and randomly fired two shots from a rifle. Bombara drew a handgun from his wheelchair and returned a more precise shot, killing the intruder. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh, PA, 01 / 03/ 11 )

A couple in their sixties were awakened by loud, repeated banging on their apartment door. They went downstairs and the husband opened the door-and an intoxicated 28-year-old man pushed them aside and entered the home. The suspect shoved the husband and repeatedly claimed to live in the apartment, ignoring the couple's insistence to the contrary. The couple tried to push the man back out the door, but he punched the man in the groin and shoved the woman. That's when the husband informed the intruder he had a gun and would shoot him if he didn't leave; however, the intruder remained relentless in his assault. The husband fired a shot, killing him. (Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Ml, 02/05/ 11)

Upon having his slumber disturbed by the sound of breaking glass, a homeowner quickly retrieved his pistol. He walked down the hall and discovered two men forcing the front door open. He shouted at them, demanding they identify themselves. The men did not reply, but continued breaking in-that is, until the homeowner shot one of them with his .45-cal. pistol. Police found the wounded burglar lying on the ground outside the home and arrested him; his accomplice had already fled. (The Times, Ottawa, IL, 01/21/11)

It was less than a year ago that Chicago's government was forced to repeal many of its rights-infringing laws, and a southside resident recently joined the growing list of armed citizens owing their lives to the Supreme Court's ruling. Hearing glass breaking in her basement, a 45-year-old got her handgun and confronted two intruders already inside the home. "I was scared for my life;' she explained, "I've never been so scared before in my entire life:' One of the men wielded a tire iron, and the woman opened fire upon him. He fell and died. His accomplice fled. "I thank God that I'm still here;' the woman said. (The Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, 02/21/11)

When 70-year-old Watson Green discovered a man attempting to break into his home late one evening, he immediately called 9-1-1 and got his handgun. Green advised the 9-1-1 operator that he was armed. The operator told him to put the gun away and wait for police but Green chose to do otherwise. In fear of his life, Green fired a single shot, killing the suspect. Two weeks prior to his death, the suspect was arrested for burglary in a separate incident. "We've had a lot of break-ins in Hobbs lately;' said Hobbs, N.M., Police Officer Mike Stone. "The residents of the home were probably scared:' (KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM, 02/23/ 11)

Studies indicate that firearms are used more than 2 million times a year for personal protection, and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances. Shooting usually can be justified only where crime constitutes an immediate imminent, threat to life, limb, or, in some cases, property. Anyone is free to quote or reproduce these accounts.