The Roman legions favored the short sword because they often fought in tight formations where you couldn’t just swing it around. Of course, I’m still saying a revolver is the best weapon for home defense, not a gladius.
Agreed. I'm sure the guy in the article would have preferred a firearm, but a sword is what he had at hand.
One additional advantage of a sword that I forgot to mention in my prior post: you can use it against a guy without having to be too careful about what's behind him. In a hallway where your kid's bedroom is behind the perp, you have to be careful with your gun.