I was robbed at gunpoint in my church parking lot a few years ago. Sometimes desperate people do desperate things.
I grew up in the 'woods'... so guns don't scare me. They aren't for everyone. I've shot em, tried a few out with family members who are NRA instructors. But up until now, I haven't bothered to get one of my own, take classes, get a CCP and join a range.
As i was told, it's not just the initial investment of purchasing a handgun or rifle. You need to learn correct use, how to be safe with it, get your license.. and... continue to practice with it at least every week or every other week for the rest of the time that you own a/the gun.
Practice makes perfect, safe. Learn how to strip it, clean and put it together..until you can do it with your eyes closed (as my national ranked, longrange, sweet niece has told me over and over. <grin>)
In a defensive situation, it will do absolutely no good, if through inexperience, you fumble or mess up when you need to actually use it. To be responsible and to act safely, you can't just take the course, get the gun and then put it on a shelf.
As someone else here said, (a NRA instructor on this thread), you do not 'show' it unless you mean to use it. Likewise, you cannot use it in a tactical situation... when your pulse is hammering, and you're sweating in fright ... unless you've drilled yourself in it's use until it becomes second nature.
Guns in half-trained hands or 'excited' hands scare me everytime.