MJS, while I do not support having to leave and support the right to defend oneself I was repeating a discussion. I can only imagine this guy asking what would you do in the above mentioned fire? You should have a rope or flexible ladder by a window(s) upstairs so they could be used to go down to the patio. Then on the patio, you also would have a flexible ladder to get down as well.
I just remember this guy saying you could go to jail and loose your house and car and pension and savings and then who would take care of your wife and kids then? (* See the whole in the arguement here? It is ok to take care of the bad guy, but not the nice guy wife and kid who is in jail for defending them. *)
I know that it seems like a reasonable person would say you were just protecting your family. Although good investigation might check for blogs or forums to see if you have expressed an opinion, and then use it against you to show you had predermined your actions with taking your chances with defending yourself.
Now personally, I think you and everyone should be able to defend themselves. I tink it is silly to assume that someone breaking into your house has the rights of posession while you the legal owner have to leave. If is just crazy to think about that in my mind.
I wish you luck.
Send a letter or e-mail to the sponsor of the firearms forum http://glsda.org/ . They helped lobby here in Michigan. They might be able to help you in your state.
I know Rich. Thanks for the link and the advice.

Mike