This is a much better conversation. I'm sorry, Vicki... but it was a point that was driving me crazy, as you had repeated it more than once and we're not really talking about that, are we?
So lets just drop the crap between us, over definitions and what people can/can't own.
Ugly reality is around us, all the time. It doesn't seem any place is free from the scum that plague our society.
My advice to you... don't buy a gun at this point in time. Like you said, your dogs are a deterrent... and they are. A very good one. A house w/o dogs, is a lot easier mark, than one with. But, there's enough criminals out there, that don't care about dogs.
My brother-in-law was over at a friends house, several years back. The guy had 2 full-grown male Pit-bulls. As they're sitting there, playing PS2... the score cracks open and the dogs go nuts. Suddenly a hand comes in the door and shoots both dogs dead. Luckily, me brother-in-law had the sense... soon as he saw gun, he just ran. Jumped out the bedroom window and kept running. Luckily for his friend... he did the same.
That wouldn't have happened in my house. In fact, you can ask a few of our youngest son's friends. They're not always the brightest, when coming over late at night. Sometimes creeping to his window to find out if he's up. Scared the shit out of me, one night in particular. The door was opened by a snarling Pit-bull and my shotgun. Needless to say, that was the last time... they did that. There's some pretty bad kids that grew up around here. None of them @#$% with us, because they know... out of the whole neighborhood, I'm the one house they're chances of leaving alive... aren't good. Plus, the ones that matter.... actually respect me for it. They know, I'm just protecting my own. I don't flash my guns (unless you show up sneaking around my house). I don't brag about them. Trust me, that night with the dog and the shotgun... message sent.
Besides, being around guns, my entire life. I was trained by the military, not only their basic firearms training (which really isn't much... its just qualifying), but because of my rate... I was part of ship's security and also once Desert Storm started... I became a permanent member of VBSS, which basically is boarding suspected hostile, smuggling, drugs, etc type boats/ships, confronting and inspecting them.
So I've had my share of firearms training. I know there isn't any such thing as shooting to wound. When you are taught to shoot... you are taught to shoot at the easiest thing to hit. That would be the torso, as the largest body mass. Unfortunately, it contains the heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen, etc. At ANY distance, your chances of hitting an attacker are greatest, when aiming for body mass.
The moral question you have to ask yourself is... what is more important for you. Your life, a family member's life? Or the life of someone trying to harm you or those loved ones? If you believe in a kind, loving God... he can't forgive you for an instinct that he hard-wired into us? The Survival Instinct?
Go to your local gun store. Explain to them, your situation and your concerns. If they aren't immediately in-tune with that and speak to you on that level. Leave. Try someone else. If they try to talk to you about things that are illegal. Leave... immediately. You will find a place, where they cater to people just like you. People that are scared, fearful... or just concerned. People that don't have the ability to defend themselves as they used to. People that are aware, the rules have changed.
Then ask them about their classes, or where classes are held. They might even let you sit in one of the training classes (minus firearms of course). They probably have classes tailored for people, in your situation. Thinking about... but not sure. There are more people out there, just like you... than you can imagine.
You need to get over your fear of guns, especially if you're considering buying one. You can't be scared of it and ever expect it to help you, when you need it. You'll possibly view it, as a last option, or not at all. Going to the shooting range is great, but you need to do a bit more than that. You also need to realize, that yes.... you do need to shoot thousands of rounds to hit someone you're shooting at. Adrenaline, stress, anxiety, fear... all, will effect your accuracy. t-dub's laser option, is an excellent idea. In fact, lasers typically serve as a pretty good deterrent. A criminal may not know you have a gun pointed at them, in a dark house. A laser beam pops up on their chest... they'll know what it is. You'll probably have a compliant criminal at that point, rather than a possible shootout.
mod note: Your behavior in this thread breaks our "Be nice" rule: No flaming. Please do not post any messages that harass, insult, belittle, threaten or flame another member.
An apology does not excuse you.
"Thou shall not kill." 
Big difference 