FYI, in many jurisdictions that would not qualify as self defense and get you charged. Especially if the perp turns out to be unarmed.
I don’t know of a jurisdiction in the country that would charge a home owner simply for hiding from an intruder, which essentially is all my friend recommended. He DID NOT say to open fire and kill everything in sight at the first opportunity. No, he gave me more credit than that. Likewise, I’m giving Freepers more credit than that.
Obviously, whether or not you are criminally charged for anything depends on what you do and what you intended to do once the intruder comes within view. There are many variables that come into play. First, are you even allowed to have the gun? Did you fire through a closed door and kill the eight-year-old neighbor boy (and your son’s best friend) who was walking in his sleep? Maybe you killed an unarmed burglar, or a uniformed officer who entered your master bedroom with his gun drawn? If you do any of those things, you could wind up as gruel for the justice system. Hiding from unknown intruders is never going to get you charged with anything. Using poor judgement might. You better have your head screwed on straight before you pick up a gun.