"The home invasion robber is a lot like a street mugger. They come in with a lot of shouts and commands and threats to take over your house. They want you there and the alarm system off. They want access to your credit cards, your car keys and may want to steal you car. They get off on the rush. It's a power thing. Some are rapists," said McGoey.

Metro Nashville Police Department's resident cybercop Capt. Ken Pence says, while you may have a right to protect yourself and your family from harm, using deadly force in certain situations or on certain targets could land you in the slammer for a long, long time.

If you scare off an intruder who turns to flee, for example, you can't gun him or her down on their way out of or away from your home.

"States are pretty decent when they realize it isn't a dope deal gone bad. Shooting family members or SWAT members trying to serve a warrant is not okay. And don't shoot people outside," says Pence, an often quoted geek of a law enforcement official.

Pence, who lives in a geodesic dome home, posts Macintosh computer tips to Mac-how-to Web pages and created "Danger High", conflict intervention freeware, along with Web-based software for high-schoolers, also develops computerized crime-fighting tools for Nashville's police force.

Testing your burglary risk

Like most law enforcement officials, Pence says, rather than stocking your gun cabinet, it's a much better idea to take stock of your home's "hardness" and secure it as needed to prevent intrusions -- and the possibility you'll have to, well, take someone out.

Pence's "Rate Your Risk" Web page allows you to test your vulnerability to rape, robbery, a stabbing, shooting, beating or murder.

There's also "Your Risk Of Burglary", a home security test based on risk factors derived from executive security courses, police detectives' reports, crime statistics and security consultants' data, according to Pence.

The test asks questions about windows, doors and other entryway security, alarms, your personal security habits, visitors, valuables and your home's location -- all to determine your home's vulnerability.

Generally, the lower the score the more security precautions you've taken. The higher the score the more you need to secure your home.

The scores also indicate how to further protect your home and its inhabitants.

McGoey agrees that the key is not too arm yourself, but to make it more difficult for intruders to enter your home. and get at you.

"Ninety-five percent of home invasions come through the front door. If you don't let them in they will try to kick it down. If you have a solid core door, you can stand outside and kick on it all day and unless you are a world class karate expert or the door is defective you won't get in," McGoey said.