At 19, when I first moved out alone, my mother gave me a baseball bat. I still sleep with it near my bed.

Excellent choices!

For indoor use I like the Mossberg. Easier to get around corners and through doors.

Disclaimer: Be legal, of course.

If you have a fireplace, then you need a poker.

If you have rain, then you need an umbrella.

If you have sun, then you need a parasol.

If you have power blackouts, then you need a good flashlight.

The last three sound unlike weapons?

Exactly!

I never understood how people in countries that forcibly disarm them somehow think they are free men.

What fun!

Firearms --as some have observed-- are tools. No use pounding away on that nail with a screwdriver....

So. Always a matter of choosing the tool to fit the job. Shortened (8" barrel, leftover from that job working security) breakover 12 gauge for flexible fun (birdshot? hollowpoint slug? Flare? HE round?? Even smoke and flachette. Those handy with tools can make anything they want with a cheap home reloading kit. 12 gauge is the workhorse of firearms), 9mm semi-auto pistol for general purpose personal defense (I can hide my little 9 anywhere except body cavities, and drop me anywhere in the world that people barter and I can secure ammo within the hour. Good luck trying to carry a CCW .45 or .357 if you are under 200 pounds, or getting ammo outside North America or places where people have money for status symbols), SKS or AK products for massively destroying matter that offends me...and every accessory imaginable is available for cheap, and it is always nice to have a 30-06 and/or .223 properly zeroed for keeping the bad guys at a respectful distance.

As for knives, a cheap crap-in-the-handle "Rambo knife" hidden in the car and the bike for hacking stuff in case of emergency, a nylon "CIA" knife that won't appear on metal detectors for the briefcase, a P-38 for the keychain and something that feels easy to hold for those times when you feel the need to carry an extra. And almost everyone can find a place to hide a razor blade that could save their life.

Best weapon of all? An appropriate attitude and some martial arts/military training. Such never jams, or is out of ammo, left at home, gets confiscated or can't be reached.

Check out the M19 .357 2 1/2 inch barrel S&W. It is such a beautiful revolver. I want one and I only weigh in at 165lbs.

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Good luck trying to carry a CCW .45 or .357 if you are under 200 pounds, or getting ammo outside North America or places where people have money for status symbols)

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1. Ammo acquisition is a moot point. Good luck trying to bring you gun outside the USA.
2. At least in the state and county I live in, the Sheriff who OK's the CCW won't issue for a .22. The guy I spoke to recommends a compact .45, .40 or 9mm and will even approve a .32 as your backup.

Oh, weight has NOTHING to do with the gun size one can/should use.

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Best weapon of all? An appropriate attitude and some martial arts/military training.

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I was wondering when this thread would degrade into hollow posturing.

I forgot about the switch-blade knives but I could have swore blade lengths were limited to 6". Thanks for the info... I'll be sure to look it up again.

It's illegal to own guns where I live. But I would love to own an RPD machinegun and a Type 69 grenade launcher.