An unloaded defense gun makes a darn good rock to throw at them. Speaking as 1 whom has unfortunately actually had to use deadly force, The ONLY way to carry a defensive firearm is fully loaded, and on safe. My 1911 .45acp clone I carry is carried cocked & locked, exactly the way John Moses Browning designed them to be carried. When that time comes when you HAVE to use deadly force, your adrenalin is going to negate all thought processes and you'll only have a split second to draw and utilize your weapon. You'll be doing good to remember to take the weapon off safe-much remember to rack the slide. If you are far enough away that you have to try to decide whether or not to pull it, you WON'T be cleared later in court. Also by the time comes, the time to attempt to intimidate them into leaving you alone is well past and will only get you killed. I could keep going all day but you get the idea. I DON'T consider myself to be ANY kind of defense expert, but AM a survivor of firefights. When/if that time comes, it WILL permanently change you, even if it's totally justified.