Originally Posted by
lillamy 
Ladyscribbler, my firearms instructor actually told me to buy a handgun, by all means, but carry pepper spray -- for exactly that reason. He knows me pretty well, and he said "I don't think you have it in you to pull the trigger on a gun if your ex is standing in front of you. And if you aren't able to do it, you're in more danger than he is."
I was trained not to fire a warning shot and I'm grateful. That's not a lesson you want to learn the hard way.
Non lethal force is best if that's all you're prepared to use. The most important thing is YOUR safety.
For the record, my home security consists of a bright flashlight and a very sharp, spring-loaded, folding blade knife. I can't do guns anymore.