A pistol is to be used to get you out of danger so you can get your rifle.
Good policy for the house
The main question on this thread is a great one, and should be thought through.
But your quoting this old, old saying leads me to a new decision: every vehicle I own will have a rifle stored in it from now on. Preferably a semi-auto.......but even a lever-action 30-30 would be better than not having one in a tough situation........