@HumbleGirl: The sound of racking a shotgun should have been enough warning for those two punks to leave...Why identify yourself? Well... why do you want to tell them your position, and that you are armed? If they are motivated and armed, they will easily find you and kill you... why give the advantage to the bad guys?The NRA has a course called "Refuse to be a Victim"... you should take that... it's a non-firing/non-gun course that teaches you how how to avoid dangerous situations, and how to handle yourself, if you can't avoid it...

@HumbleGirl: Then you are okay with being at the mercy of a thug.

@sandman: That's what they taught us in the military - double tap to the chest. Then the next lesson was 'aim to maim, not to kill'.Typical govt double speak...

@BusyMommy: A "machete with a red handle" (TWD reference) may work just fine for those with hoplophobia...

@BusyMommy: That's just silly.

@sandman:
I could go for a machete. Or actually I'll take Michonne's sword.

@BusyMommy:
I think more than likely if you let them know you are home they will leave . It would take an insane person ( & some are there) to break into your home knowing someone is home & might shoot them .I really think they are watching for empty homes .If I hear the door bell I ALWAYS GO TO THE DOOR & SAY NOT INTERESTED THROUGH THE DOOR . I think they go around & check houses ahead of time so it is important to let them know I am home .

I think that would deter 95% of criminals, but yeah that 5% looking to actually hurt someone and not just take their stuff...well I guess we gotta shoot em all to protect against those.

None of the reports mentioned the kid that was driving down the street and almost hit the girl running from the home. He was in shock. It really upsets me when decisions are made like these women made and no thought to the outcome and its effects. This poor homeowner is never going to be the same and never should have been put in that position. The kid that almost hit them will never be the same after seeing someone bleeding like that and he almost (and I mean by a hair almost) hit her. My son ran over to the school because his sister goes there and witnessed them loading one of the girls into the helicopter. He called me shaken because she was badly injured. He said there was blood all over. Before we knew the details he thought she had been stabbed multiple times. He didn't need to see that. I work so hard to shield my kids from those sights and someone's irresponsible behavior just washes away all my hard work. I feel for the families of the women as well . Such stupidity. I have no words to describe the anger I feel at the innocent's misfortune today. Lord protect them and give them strength to make it through the day.

So sorry for the homeowner that was forced into this terrible position today. No pity for the lowlife criminals that got at least part of what they deserve today. What a sad day for the poor man who had the sanctity of his home destroyed by these thugs.

@lana7018: That is where my heart and thoughts lay.
When the news came on they acted like the girls were shot, 17 and 20 by a vet. That's not what it was.
2 home invaders were shot. Not the first girls to steal and break into people's homes.They said one may loose her arm, one may be paralyzed. Sad, yes. Unexpected, not if your doing things you knew not to do when you were two.I wish the news would focus on the victim instead of saying oh theses teens. F that. Crime has consequences. I really hope they do not charge this man. It only reinforces the creeps.Now I am really going to say goodnight. 6am comes soon than I like.

@sandman: Enter my home via a break-in and threaten my and/or my family's well being? I won't stand around and guess if/how you're armed or what your intentions are, nor do I give a crap what your "background" is. I'm not shooting to "wound" in that scenario. That's how I was trained.

@bbk: I never thought of it that way. A lot of time, I don't answer the door if I'm not expecting someone. I'm usually busy and don't want to take time out of my day to tell someone I'm not interested. I guess I should keep this in mind.This is a tricky situation and I'm not sure what I would have done if faced with it. I thought wounding the person is the better thing to do, but I've been told if you're going to shoot, shoot to kill.Prayers for those involved. There is a long journey ahead!

I am glad the homeowner is safe and these two criminals are caught. When I think of what I would do in this situation I will say that I look to other past home invasion outcomes especially what happened to the Petit family in Somers, Connecticut in determine what use of force I would utilize. I refuse to be at the mercy of someone who "Just Snapped"www.huffingtonpost.c om/2013/09/09/steven -hayes-connecticut-h ome-invasion_n_

@Squeaks:
I do not ever not answer my door because I do not want a surprise of them breaking in with ME HERE IN THE HOUSE . I do not open the door to strangers unless I have my 20 ft wasp & harnet spray in my hand where I can hit them in the face with it if I have to . My father always taught me ,well all of us ,do not ever pull a gun on someone unless you plan on killing them because they will take it away from you & kill you .. Once you have threatened them they figure they have nothing to loose because you will kill them anyway ..The thought of killing a person over THINGS, MONEY, JEWELRY , just doesn't set well with me no matter how much it would **** me off . If this was someone that harmed a child in ( ANY ) way I could kill them I think & never look back ,or a wife beater someone brutal are sadistic , but to kill over things hmmmm don't know .