An off-duty sheriff's deputy shot an ax-wielding man who allegedly broke through the door of her home the night of Feb. 25 in Orange County, Fla. She was home with her three children when she heard a commotion. Seeing the man chopping through her door and fearing for her and her children's lives, she drew her gun and told him to drop the ax. Refusing to comply, he entered the home. The deputy shot him multiple times in his lower extremities, then handcuffed him. The 40-year-old suspect was treated for his injuries, arrested and charged with offenses including aggravated assault and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling with a deadly weapon. Neighbors said the suspect had also broken into another home and a vehicle in the area before entering the deputy's home. (foxnews.com, New York, N.Y., 2/27/2020; and kplctv.com, Lake Charles, La., 2/26/2020)

A 28-year-old man returning home from a concert at 3 a.m. on Jan. 22 in Warren, Mich., parked his vehicle in his driveway and started walking to his door when another man ran up and pointed a gun at him. The armed citizen drew his gun and exchanged fire with the suspect. The suspect was struck once in the leg and once in the forearm, but managed to drive away. Police found him nearby soon after. The shooting incident was caught on a neighbor's security video. Police said the armed citizen acted in elf-defense, while the 22-year-old suspect, who has a criminal record, would likely be charged with armed robbery and attempted murder. (fox2detroit.com, Southfield, Mich., 1/22/2020)

S kicked in the door of a home in Danville, 111., on Jan. 19 and tried to rob the resident. The armed citizen inside fired multiple shots at the suspects, striking one 29-year-old man, who later died from his injuries. Police later arrested a 30-year-old suspected accomplice, charging him with first degree murder (for the death of the other intruder), home invasion and armed robbery. Police have not yet charged any other suspects and were continuing the investigation. (wandtv.com, Decatur, Ill., 2/14/ 2020)

A family in Tulare County, Calif., heard banging on their front door Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. and someone shouting " Sheriff's Office, Sheriff's Office." An unknown number of suspects then allegedly forced their way into the home, at which point the homeowner knew they were not lawenforcement officers, since they wore no uniforms. The suspects and the homeowner fired shots at each other. One male suspect died at the scene, while the others fled. The homeowner, along with his wife, child and a visiting friend, were unharmed. (abc30.com, Fresno, Calif., 2/5/2020)

A 36-year-old man allegedly kicked in the door to a home in Tulsa, Okla., at 11 a.m. on Feb. 1, then threatened to kill the three residents inside the home. As the man walked through the house, the homeowner grabbed a rifle and fired one shot at the suspect. The residents then fled the scene and called 911. Police later found the intruder dead at the scene. Detectives determined after questioning that the armed citizen did not know the intruder and had acted in self-defense. (ibtimes.com, New York, N.Y., 2/ 5/20)

A man in Lincoln County, N.C., was lying in bed the morning of Feb. 6 when his wife and daughter returned from an appointment. Shortly afterwards, he heard his daughter scream. Running to her, he saw an intruder. The homeowner tackled the intruder and held him at gunpoint until deputies arrived. The deputies were already in the area due to reports of a suspicious vehicle and break-ins. They said they believe the 43-year-old suspect entered the home through a basement window. The suspect faces several charges, including felony breaking and entering and possession of stolen property. (gastongazette.com, Gastonia, N.C., 2/8/202

A man in Elmore County, Ala., woke up at 5 a.m. on Feb. 24 after hearing a loud bang to find an intruder in his home. When confronted, the intruder allegedly reached toward his waist as if grabbing a gun. The homeowner shot the suspect multiple times, striking him in the head, shoulder, arm and leg. The 39-year-old suspect was flown to a hospital in critical condition. It was later found he was released from prison a few months before the incident. The armed citizen and his family were unharmed, and police do not expect to file charges against the homeowner. (alabamanews.net, Montgomery, Ala., 2/24/2020)

Studies indicate that firearms are used more than 2 million times a yead or 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.