Okay, you can have a shotgun to protect your home.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

What more do you need to do that?

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Unless you live in a state that legally bans all guns outside of a well regulated militia.

Like the rest of the world.

[DBoon]

2. I'd rather have a rottweiler to protect my home

[NickB79]

3. It's not a bad choice, but it has downfalls.

The recoil can be fierce, and the guns bulky and heavy, so that's bad for smaller individuals. It also makes regular practice less frequent, because no one enjoys a bruised shoulder after a few dozen rounds at the range. This can be rectified by choosing a smaller gauge or using reduced recoil shells.

Muzzle blast is LOUD, especially indoors.

You need two hands to hold it, so no holding a phone at the same time.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. 20 guage. I've fired a 12 in the back of a station wagon once and still have my hearing at 69

A 38 will still throw your hand back a bit.

[NickB79]

5. Back of a station wagon? That's nuts!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. It sure as shit was.

[Chainfire]

6. No one needs more than that for home defense.

No one needs more firearms than hands either. However, they will tell you quickly that it is not about "need" it is about freedom, and the Constituuuuuuution.

[LiberatedUSA]

7. You'll wanna be more specific.

There are shotguns in the semi-automatic style of AR-15s and AK-47s. They can hold 5 to 20 shell magazines, as well as shotgun shell drums. You can really destroy a home intruder with that sort of rapid shotgun shell firing.

Just didn’t want you to get the bill in your head passed and then find out all the shotguns people are using look just as threatening, if not more so.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. If you can't stop someone in your bedroom with 3 shots from a 12 guage

you are already dead.