To address the questions:
1 I have posted this before, on TFL, and on the old packing.org site.
2 I waited outside for them, because I felt that by staying outside of the house, I was not going to let them decide the battle by barricading myself inside with my wife and kids. I thought that by engaging them outside, I was choosing the time, place, and method of contact.
3 To JohnKSa: Actually, looking back on it, I still believe deadly force was required, and I hesitated. They SHOT AT US. I guess you are saying that deadly force was not needed because no one was hurt, but I disagree. The only thing preventing anyone from getting hurt was poor marksmanship on the gang's part. It could have easily gone the other way.
As a result of this incident, my new policy means that if I see a weapon in a situation like this again, I am shooting. Period. Think about this: I had anywhere from 5 to 8 goblins in front of me, weapons evident. At least one of them was willing to take a shot. From a tactical standpoint, had they decided to pursue the fight, it would have been possibly an 8 on 3 fight (with one of the three drinking).
Had I waited inside the home, it would have been ugly. In my home, I would not have even had the 2 neighbors to help, and I would have been the only thing between 8 gang members and my wife and kids. Remember that the police are at least 10 minutes away. How much can 8 people do in 10 minutes? Molatov through the bedroom window?
In 1991, Virginia had a May issue CCW system. I carried anyway, as it was only a misdemeanor at the time to carry concealed without a permit, and open carry (while legal) ensured you would be hassled by the cops, and the crime was totally out of control. Remember that this was the during the period of the crack wars of the 80s, and the Rodney King riots. Gang violence was horrid, and I remember several shootouts between rival gangs at the mall down the street. It isn't like I was in a good neighborhood, at 23 years old and in the military. Not a bad neighborhood, but on the border. I live in a better area, and I am much better armed and equipped now.