> There isn't any right answer to this question, because the point at which self-protection outweighs accident risk depends entirely on the level and type of crime where you live.

Another big factor is the type of area where you live. Urban and suburban dwellers might reasonably expect the police to arrive quickly if an alarm goes off. Rural homes, in my experience, have a higher rate of gun ownership simply because, if there is a problem, the police *cannot* get there in time for any preventative measure--homes are often hours away from the nearest department, and very difficult to find.

The home I grew up in is very out-of-the-way despite being in city limits and probably less than a mile from the police station. The few times we had need to call for the police, they took more than a half-hour to come.

Gabe