"Everyone here is assuming this guy was some sort of murderer rapist. For all we know it was a group of kids planning on putting toilet paper in the neighbors yard."
From this comment, is it safe to presume you would have assumed this was the case? To presume the best case scenario first, is to leave oneself open, without being prepared, to the worst case. It's easier to scale down your response or preparedness when justified, rather than try to scale up as needed. To try to "catch up" with a greater threat than you first anticipated puts you behind the curve, and there may not be an opportunity to catch up, particularly given the information we have already about this situation.
Regarding my comment on not being prepared in event things were more serious than first realized, many people don't keep a gun on them, within reach, or even loaded, when at home. Many of these people feel that OWNING a gun is enough, and it can be loaded when needed. If the bad guy had made entry into the house, from forgetting to lock the door after getting the paper, a kick-in, or whatever reason, once they are in, and you are not ready at that exact moment, the game is over, and you have lost.
Some good comments have been made regarding not going out to investigate, and calling the police right away, and at each event of the evening.
From this comment, is it safe to presume you would have assumed this was the case? To presume the best case scenario first, is to leave oneself open, without being prepared, to the worst case. It's easier to scale down your response or preparedness when justified, rather than try to scale up as needed. To try to "catch up" with a greater threat than you first anticipated puts you behind the curve, and there may not be an opportunity to catch up, particularly given the information we have already about this situation.
Regarding my comment on not being prepared in event things were more serious than first realized, many people don't keep a gun on them, within reach, or even loaded, when at home. Many of these people feel that OWNING a gun is enough, and it can be loaded when needed. If the bad guy had made entry into the house, from forgetting to lock the door after getting the paper, a kick-in, or whatever reason, once they are in, and you are not ready at that exact moment, the game is over, and you have lost.
Some good comments have been made regarding not going out to investigate, and calling the police right away, and at each event of the evening.