From the transcript it sounds like they had a gun of their own, but couldn't get to it. Sad situation.

The best news.....they got this sub-human

This is why women should be armed. Restraining orders do not stop the violence. Women learning to handle and fire a gun, and keeping one in the home is what would protect them, not the courts.

I don't get it ... why the "blame the victim" attitude? She had a gun. She had a (worthless) order of protection. She did everything possible to protect herself and her children.

How many times have we heard of women going to prison for assault or murder of their abusers??

Damned if we do ... damned if we don't ...

Note to all women: Don't ever marry anyone who looks like Arnold Elliot!

Sooner or later, a man who looks like that is going to kill you.

Kyle

I could go out and buy a fiddle today, it wouldn't make me Charlie Daniels (or Yo Yo Ma for the highbrowed). Just buying a gun doesn't make one able to defend oneself. If your plan for defense includes a gun, learn to use it. Then make a plan and practice the plan. In an emergency you will react the way you've practiced. If you haven't practiced, you are probably going to panic.
Sit down with your family, make a plan, practice it until it's second nature.
Are you going to have a gun? Where is it? Is it loaded? Where's the (spare) ammo? Does everyone old enough to use it know how? Who is going to dial 911? Who is going to grab up the baby, if there is one? The little kid? Where is everyone going to go?
Sample plan...
A phone, a gun and a good flashlight in the master bedroom. Every family member retreats there. Count heads, close and lock the door. One adult grabs the gun and flashlight, the other adult or oldest kid grabs the phone and dials 911. Turn out the lights. Everyone gets behind the bed, if possible. A mattress can stop a bullet if the angle is right. Everybody stays put until it's over. Repeat, everybody stays put 'til it's over.
Anounce loudly and clearly "I have a gun, I've called the police." Repeat this every twenty or thirty seconds. Train the flashlight and gun on the door. If the door opens, the flashlight in an otherwise dark room may buy you time to drop the hammer. Even in daytime the curtains in a bedroom are usually thick enough to give you an edge so have that flashlight, test the batteries once in awhile.
MAKE SURE the 911 dispatcher knows you've barricaded yourself and your family in the room and you've got a gun. You neither want to blow away a bluesuit nor get blown away by one.
If the door opens, don't try to scrimp on ammo, shoot 'til he's down. Ammo is cheap, your family's lives are precious. Reload. Stay put until the cavelry arrives.
If your local LEOs know you're in there with a gun, they ain't likely to just waltz in there, they'll identify themselves. Still, with the flashlight you'll be able to ID the uniform.
LissaKay, unless you live in some wierd Yankee state, you won't go to jail if you follow the plan. The 911 dispatcher will have the whole thing on tape for the DA and Grand Jury. The tape will show that you did everything possible to avoid shooting.
Make a plan. Practice the plan, just like you practice your family fire drills. Please, don't tell me you don't practice family fire drills.
With a plan, you live. Without a plan?
Sorry for the length, Bill, and please don't think I'm trying to blame the victims. I'm trying to prevent more.

Peter,

I'm right here in good old Tennessee. "Blame the victim" is a popular game around here. And people go to prison for defending themselves on a all too regular basis ... even with 911 tapes.

Ever see "The Burning Bed"? That just scratches the surface ...

In other words...take responsibility for your own defense. :)

Make a plan and put it in action. Don't wait until it's too late and expect to rely on 911 alone.

Peter's advice is excellent. I have passed this along to my daughter who, of necessity, spends quite a few evenings in the company of her two small children and a 357. She would do what is necessary if it should be necessary.

One suggestion, if I might add to Peter's instructions: hold the flashlight at arm's length away from your body. It is reasonable to think that an attacker would fire at the flashlight. In such a situation, every fraction of a second counts.