I am seriously surprised by the cavalier attitude of the answers given...it will never happen, quit playing video games etc.
Off the top of my head, in our lifetime we have lived through Rwanda genocide (wiki it...you'll be very surprised about how ethnic genocide can turn neighbor against neighbor), Serbian genocide, Katrina with New Orleans/Louisiana government totally breaking down, armed assailants kidnapping people in Arizona, a Florida couple murdered by ninja like wannabees attempting to rob them while their kids sleep, and a narco border war with Mexico.
Right now I'm in one of the more civilized countries of the Middle East where demonstrations and protests threaten the government, not to mention the recent changes that are going on in Africa.
People are people - with aspirations and dreams. Relying on the philosophy 'it could never happen here' why? Because we are more enlightened or have some higher moral code? Or (insert agency name here) will help us? Or evil doesn't really exist in our society?
Please don't take my diatribe as some teotawki geek philosophy. And please don't flock to the mall buying tacticool stuff on my account.
But, knowing how to use a rifle is what gave the the Minutemen their 'minute'. They were not called WaituntilIreadtheownersmanualorgooglehowtousethisthingmen, they were ready for service quickly.
So...despite my ramblings a 30-30 would be a nice defense rifle and hunting rifle. You could put down a rabid mastiff in your backyard or go deer hunting. You could defend your homestead and ammo is cheap. And, no one would look at you funny while you were hunting. Oh, and buy an AR
they are like the sword of democracy and a the equivalent of a grown-up lego.
LW