Lots of misinformation here, along with a fair amount of hystrionics and emotional hot-air blowing. I certainly did not mean to start up such a fuss.

Self-defense is a natural right. How you choose to defend yourself is no one's business but your own. Legally, you must check your state's laws and ensure that you are conforming with them no matter what you decide. Not only must you understand what defense options you have, you must understand when you are legally able to use them - and the likely consequences of your doing so. (Case in point: here in Texas, if you are in a self-defense slaying that was declared a justifiable homicide, you CANNOT be sued in civil court for damages. So to those bringing up the lawsuit issue, it varies from state to state. Know your laws.)

If it is not already painfully obvious, I support individuals carrying firearms for their own protection should they desire to do so. Please obtain as much training as you possibly can, for your sake. Defensive pistol, as has been said already, is a whole different ballgame from plinking at paper targets.

For a group that I have found tends to lean heavily towards supporting individual rights, there are an awful lot of people here who seem to think that they should be the ones who decide what is "OK" and "reasonable" without obtaining even passing knowledge of the subject.