Dude, I grew up with guns.
They are so much fun. If you needed protection for what ever reason... A .22 semi-auto pistol would do just fine ripping some flesh up.
You wouldn't kill them with two or three shots in the limbs, but you would put them on the ground.
Unless I see them coming in the telescope I'll grab my 270.
You guys have no idea, there is nothing more fun than making a squirrel die before it hits the ground. Or dropping ducks like there's no tomorrow, there's always my signature shot.. dropping a rooster at 30 yards with a full choke. Hunting is so much fun, it's a great stress reliever to know that you just blew the brains out of a prairie dog 75 yards away.