Should I Buy a Gun for Personal Protection? [SURVEY]

I've been a gun owner in the past, but rarely carried it, and was never very comfortable with it. It was a gun I had primarily purchased to protect my aging dog from coyotes when I was riding my horse. (I had an incident which prompted that purchase.) Sometime later after that dog passed away I gave the gun away to an officer friend of mine.

Since then, I haven't owned a gun or worried too much about it until recently. I once again am prompted possibly purchase a gun for personal protection.

After doing some research and looking at guns, I thought If I did buy one, I would get a .22 magnum. Strong enough to stop someone, but not large enough to make me intimidated and there fore afraid to really get used to it and shoot it much. But, then it occurs to me that I would really NEVER want to EVER SHOOT ANYONE! But, of course, no one WANTS to HAVE to EVER SHOOT ANYONE Right? But, Could I do it if I had to protect myself? Not sure!

Now, to protect my animals, my kids, my friends, anyone innocent that needed protecting...YES. I think I absolutely could! So, you see I have mixed feelings about it. Because the reason to purchase one is for Self Protection.

I would take a gun safety course for sure! But, I still have mixed feelings about it.

Care to share your (thoughts) Pro's and Con's with me?