Honest question here, I keep reading about one using an AR-15 for home defense purposes. I'm sure this has been covered before so my apologies if so. Why is the AR being used for HD uses over a handgun? I'm not a ballistics expert so the comparison of handguns of higher caliber vs 5.56 or .223....of course I get the power factor differentiating the two. Obviously for outside the home "civil defense" - "end of times" situations is obvious to me. Having fired mine with no ear protection on (on purpose and expecting it), it is very painful to the ears and rendered me practically deaf for a minute or two after, and this was outside. Let alone in a confined space as your home. The temporary deafness would be a hindrance during a time when all senses including hearing should be operating at best levels possible. I know a handgun fired indoors would be loud too but not as loud, and who wants to add muffs to the bed side table at night? Of course a suppressor comes to mind, and the growing popularity of them is there, but would guess they are still far from common on someone's bed side AR set up. Not a argument here just wondering the thought process of a HD AR.