[Lancey Howard]

At 12:30am, if you are protecting yourself or your family you don't take any chances, sorry. That split second of warning instead of acting is all a potential attacker needs to take you (him) out and run inside and rape your (his) wife and children.

I agree with you. I live in a more rural area, but I don't answer my door after dark without a handgun in my waistband. And at 12:30am the gun would be in my hand.

[Spottys Spurs]

There's some common sense that should be applied in these situations. First, I can't fault anyone for going to their front door armed in the middle of the night. Second, don't open the dam door. If you don't or can't see who it is, leave them outside. Third, most states do NOT permit defending property, per se, with deadly force. If someone breaks into your home, then all bets are definitely off.

This was an all around tragedy.