A: Owning a firearm and occasional target shooting may be better than nothing, but each member of the family age 14 and up would benefit immensely from a defensive firearm training course. Visit your local shooting range about courses your family can take on defensive firearm handling. Knowing how to shoot a gun is just the tip of the iceberg.
It’s also a good idea to note that there are weapons other than firearms that are better suited to silent situations or skills. For example, even small children can defend themselves or the home by practicing some of the methods taught to children to prevent them from being kidnapped.