Good Things - Mom and Children are safe and morons were arrested.
Sad Things - Morons will be supported by tax payers while they have three hots and a cot.
Morons are still breathing.
I am glad that the homeowner and her family are ok.
The pistol caliber carbine is a decent choice for home defense but certainly not the best.
The best home defense (for the typical suburban home) in order are:
1. Shotgun
2. full size pistol or revolver
3. pistol caliber carbine (higher velocity more likely to over penetrate than the first two options)
4. rifle (most likely to over-penetrate and cause bystander injuries)
If no firearms are available, a good Louisville slugger baseball bat is better than nothing at all. I have one of these in my truck (just in case I decide to play baseball or something...LOL)
Having said all that, any weapon that deters or stops a crime without hurting innocent people is an effective weapon in that particular situation.