Reddit mentions of Missouri Weapons and Self-Defense Law: Commom Law Experience and Missouri Practice

Where I live, it's basically standard homeowner equipment, as common as owning a socket wrench set.

When you live in a rural area within the United States, you're going to encounter wildlife. Nine times out of ten, wildlife is harmless and leaves you and your property alone. But not always. In those instances, you can deploy all kinds of deterrents, but there are always a few rare critters that are far more determined than their brethren - and at that point, you need an effective (and ethical) means of dispatching them.

Then there's always the possibility of aggressive critters of the two-legged variety.

In either case, the biggest factor is this: Help is NOT just around the corner. The old cliche "when seconds count, help is minutes away" is 100% reality out here. Oh, and help isn't just minutes away, it's many minutes away. Double digits, at the quickest. Maybe even an hour or more, depending on conditions. You are effectively on your own.

Basically, the best quote I've ever heard about firearms comes from a local Missouri lawyer and advocate, who literally wrote the book on Missouri self defense law, and actually helped write the laws we have.

To paraphrase: "You may never need a gun. But, when you need it, you really need it, and you need it right now."

Bonus Question: No. If people are carrying properly, in accordance with what is considered best and prudent practices, I should never know.