One other thing you may not have thought of - wedge your windows shut. I used to do it when I lived in the basement apartment over on Russell Road and could hear all the drug dealers walking by at 2am. It's simple enough to do: get a length of wood just slightly smaller than the distance from the edge of the moving window to the window frame . I.e. if you have sliding sash windows (sounds like you do), the wood should fit the length of the part that doesn't move, and block the moving part from moving. A 1" x 2" should do it, and align it along the edge of the frame so it's not easily seen from outside. This will prevent the window from being opened and slow down anyone trying to get in - or force them to break the window, which at least gives you a chance to hear them.
As for other forms of self-defense: I'd say a dog over a gun. It's easier for potential break-ins to see/hear that you have a dog, which makes them less likely to enter the house. You can google it; police forces often say having a dog is the number one deterrent to break and enters they've heard of. Fearless , growling, angry bundles of muscle with teeth tend to scare criminals...go figure...whilst the drawback to owning any weapon and keeping it in the home is that it can potentially be used against you. A dog can't.
This is why I still don't own a sword, despite studying the thing since 2004. too much potential for disaster. Anyway, I say all this, but I'm still not the one who had to talk down a nutjob in my living room. It's whatever makes you feel safe, in the end.
no subject
One other thing you may not have thought of - wedge your windows shut. I used to do it when I lived in the basement apartment over on Russell Road and could hear all the drug dealers walking by at 2am. It's simple enough to do: get a length of wood just slightly smaller than the distance from the edge of the moving window to the window frame . I.e. if you have sliding sash windows (sounds like you do), the wood should fit the length of the part that doesn't move, and block the moving part from moving. A 1" x 2" should do it, and align it along the edge of the frame so it's not easily seen from outside. This will prevent the window from being opened and slow down anyone trying to get in - or force them to break the window, which at least gives you a chance to hear them.
As for other forms of self-defense: I'd say a dog over a gun. It's easier for potential break-ins to see/hear that you have a dog, which makes them less likely to enter the house. You can google it; police forces often say having a dog is the number one deterrent to break and enters they've heard of. Fearless , growling, angry bundles of muscle with teeth tend to scare criminals...go figure...whilst the drawback to owning any weapon and keeping it in the home is that it can potentially be used against you. A dog can't.
This is why I still don't own a sword, despite studying the thing since 2004. too much potential for disaster. Anyway, I say all this, but I'm still not the one who had to talk down a nutjob in my living room. It's whatever makes you feel safe, in the end.
Take care!
Silvia