It's one thing to write a story about criminals doing bad things to people.

It's something completely different to write a story about criminals doing bad things to people you know.

It's not that the first situation doesn't affect you. It's more along the lines that it's easier to detach yourself from a story that's about strangers.

I've written countless stories about home invasions, but never have I written about a home invasion involving someone I know. That makes it so much realer.

Contrary to popular belief, we don't like covering stories like this. We would much rather talk about puppies, butterflies and babies.

But when I do have to include this type of story, it's satisfying to learn that the intended victims didn't roll over and let themselves be taken advantage of. They fought back and saved themselves. Yes, they have scars and will probably have nightmares for a long, long time, but they are alive and relatively uninjured.

It's stories like those that justify my owning a gun and knowing how to use it and use it well. You just can't trust people anymore.