If your neighbor deceides to invade your home and take your stored food, water and other essentials then you may change your mind.

 

If you do not stop him then you may have to watch your children starve to death like the children in Africa do.

 

If you have weapons you will have choices, including not to use or even present these weapons to any intruder.

 

If you do not have any weapons then you will have no choices.  Having weapons that you do not intend to use may make you more confident and thereby avoid the confrontation with an intruder.

 

My two main weapons are a K-bar knife from the Marine Corps and a survival rifle that comes apart and fits inside of the stock.  I have 700 rounds of regular 22 long rifle ammo and 50 rounds of hollow points for this rifle.  It has never been fired.

 

I intend on buying a 9 mm pistol or a 22 pistol in the near future.  I have fired both at a gun range and the 9 mm has better stopping power and I am not afraid of shooting it.

 

Most survivalists believe that the stopping power of any weapon is most important.

 

I disagree.  The most important aspect of a weapon is hitting the target.  A 357 magnum pistol has no stopping power if the woman is afraid of the recoil and misses her target.

 

A well aimed and placed shot in the neck or head with a 22 long rifle bullet will stop any attacker.  If you intend on wounding him then aim for the knee.  Never aim for the body as he may be wearing a bullet proof vest.

 

Try to keep a large object between you and an attacker.  This may provide some protection and it will definetly slow down any attacker.

 

Remember, a determined attacker can be upon you in a second, even with an object in his way.

 

Guns or bows, which is better?

 

If you buy a bow and arrow set buy a long bow not a compound bow.  If a part of the compound bow breaks or is damaged then you will find replacement very difficult.  Long bows are usually cheaper and require less care.

 

The cost of buying a decent arrow with hunting tips for your bow will equal or exceed the cost of buying 100 rounds of 22 long rifle ammo.

 

The ammo for a 22 rifle or pistol is realtively cheap compared to an arrow.  For the cost of a quiver with ten good hunting arrows in it would equal the cost of about 1000 22 bullets.

 

One advantage to arrows is that you can reuse them or make your own.  However, If you fire an arrow at a target and you miss you may never be able to find the arrow.  Bullets are single use.  With a rifle you do not have to worry about retreiving any arrows.

 

You should have several strings for your bow in case your string breaks.  If the string on you bow breaks and you do not have an extra string then you may be able to make your own.

 

If your rifle needs a part then making that part may be impossible considering the circumstances.

 

My own preference is to have a small bore survival rifle.