Nope apart from in the kitchen. And tbh I'm not sure I'd come off very well if I did try to physically dissuade them. My NDN caught a burglar once and he was a fit guy and very angry. His wrist got hurt quite badly.
Because they're much less likely to shoot someone unarmed, yes. As soon as both people have guns the situation escalates dramatically.
It's easier for a child to load a gun, take the safety off, aim and fire than it is to stab themselves or someone else?
If someone goes into a home with the intent to rob there is no incentive to actually use a gun other than as intimidation if necessary. As soon as you introduce a gun on the other side then there is an incentive to use it for self-preservation. Also a gun kept in the house is more likely to be used in an unintentional shooting, criminal shooting or suicide attempt than an act of self-defence.
How often do you hear of accidental stabbings compared to accidental shootings? Plus an accidental stabbing is a lot less likely to be fatal.
489 accidental gun deaths in 2015 in the USA. The majority being males aged between 15-24 so I presume it's a mixture of showing off and fooling around.
Yes they could but unlikely to fatally injure someone or themselves. Kids killing other kids with guns is thankfully very rare in this country unlike in America.
It takes skill and training to use a gun. We have laws surrounding the use of fireworks for a reason in this country. Some folk can't be trusted to use them appropriately, so why trust folk with something that takes lives? Be that on purpose or by mistake?
Do you honestly think that someone is as likely to end up dead in a confrontation between an armed intruder and unarmed homeowner as in the same situation but with both parties armed?