I think most of us have had stuff stolen, even last winter I caught the images of two culprits breaking into our shed and helping themselves to two Gerry cans, one with diesel, hope that's the one they used to fill their gas powered vehicle. I still have the game cameras up but also now have 24hr motion sensor video hooked up to 3TB DVR. And no, the RCMP made a courtesy phone call but it pretty much ended there.
As for defense you kind of have to weigh the risk; if I see someone is prowling our property I will be armed, but that will be the last line of defense. Usually prowlers are cowards looking for easy spoils, they almost always run. If they advance on you, (me), just get verbally assertive but back up toward cover, preferably your home entrance. If by some chance they wish to engage you, (me), a quick decision has to be made, best is to give them three options, get the hell away, submit to arrest, or receive three warning shots, two to the chest one to the head.
The stakes escalate exponentially if someone forcibly and unannounced enters your home knowing full well it is occupied, you know they're not coming over for tea. I say unannounced because there have been cases where folks have done that because they notice your house on fire, but they would likely be yelling. As well a home in Quebec was raided by the SDQ, they did not announce themselves during a night time dynamic entry, (a very scary experience for the homeowner and his family for sure) and one officer was fatally shot by the homeowner, who was cleared of all charges other than having a licensed restricted firearm, but not where it was supposed to be, I think he was eventually cleared of that charge too.
Remember, firearms must be
stored lawfully; as long as you are in the home they are not necessarily
stored. A firearm that is in use is not subject to the storage rule. I used to do a lot of shooting and on any give Sunday afternoon might have had seven or more firearms on my front porch in various stages of being cleaned. Practicing dry firing, shouldering or any other such activity is equally legitimate. Predator protection or control in rural areas are as well.
The reasons criminals seem to have more rights is that they have experience with the law, most of us do not. As such,we are a soft target for law enforcement and prosecutors. The first rule I abide by, and as a former advocate advise others to do is, when questioned, even if you haven't been advised you are a suspect but there is any reasonable chance you are,
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, USE IT. You would be amazed at how many folks do incriminate themselves. The second is hire a lawyer who is proficient in firearms law, there are many, but hiring one who deals primarily in other crimes could be a costly mistake.
The Firearms Act is poorly written and confuses most police, judges, and prosecutors. That was done on purpose at the direction of, a lawyer, Alan Rock, who "came to Ottawa with the firm belief that only the military and law enforcement should be allowed to own firearms".
It is best to follow the laws
"The law is for the blind obedience of fools and the mere guidance of wise men"~ author unknown.
