Mr Porretto enjoins us to be prepared, and he’s dead on.
One thing he doesn’t discuss, at least not as thoroughly as he might,m is something he himself takes for granted, and something everyone should consider, before they even go to the range, let alone draw down.

That part of the discussion, taking a life, is a serious subject. it is a sobering thought and a difficult conclusion.
That internal battle should be well waged in your mind and in your heart before you pick up a weapon even for the very first time. You have to decide long before your finbger touches the trigger if you are willing to pull the trigger to protect yourself, your family, your property.

You have to know all the facts before then too. I was going to point to a specific post of Joe Huffman’s, which details the legal ramifications, but i couldn’t find the post- Maybe Joe can help, if he stops by.

Mostly, what I want to say is this:
Taking a human life is not something anyone should take lightly.
You should never even touch your gun in defense unless you intend to use lethal and permanet force.
If you have your finger on the trigger, and you hesitate for an instant, you are dead.
For myself, I have decided that when my life is in danger, or the life of my family or friends, I will take life without thought or hesitation, and do so knowing full well the liklihood is that I will be jailed by some nanny motherfucker for exercising my god-given right to protect myself. And that’s fine by me. Because it’s easier to keep fighting when you’re alive than when you’re dead.

be prepared. be prepared mentally, and the physical preparation follows.