Regional Differences
In 1998 & 1999 we had a property where the purchase agreement had been breached and (by contract) it reverted to "rental" property.
They don't tell you as you're signing the contract that "reverting to rental" actually favors the delinquent resident/tenant, and that it will take you at least 90 days -- if all the formalities are observed -- to evict the deadbeats.
There we stood, with a sheriff's deputy, who kept us at least 100 feet away (to avoid triggering a "harassment" complaint) watching them walk out with the appliances and other stuff not bolted down.
The deadbeats were not new to this. They knew the drill. They were completely nonchalant.
However, they told us over the phone, when we demanded payment, that if we pursued this we could get hurt.
When the deputy heard this, he said, "Look, I can't let you get close to them or follow them; that would be harassment. But it sounds like they threatened you. Do you have a gun? No? You need to get one. If they come to you, and if they enter your home to do you harm, if you fear for your life, then you'll have to protect yourself. Most people are so scared they empty the gun. You understand what I'm saying? You don't go to them, but you defend yourself. I can't do anything for you personally, 'cuz my hands are tied, but you can defend yourself."
In the end, we elected to let it go, and just absorb the financial hit.
I had no training or experience with a gun (at least not for 20 years since .mil), nor did my wife, but in that moment she was entirely in favor of getting a pistol for HD. Actually, she was entirely in favor of . . . uhm . . . proactive, preemptive HD.
The deputy, however, knew the score and gave us the advice we needed. It was up to us to act on that advice.
The police/troopers/sheriff's dept. where you live will have their own bias regarding self defense. In that place and time, ours was all for having us take care of ourselves.
I didn't appreciate how important that was at the time. Things change. Now I do.