The legality of defensive measures

[purr-rat beauty]

I do not own a firearm...besides a cutless model my dad built decades ago.

I no longer have my Bear compound bow
Nor a little .22 rifle my brother in law gave me.

Basically, I have nothing to defend my family from whatever shit is going to fly

I've looked at air rifles, Byrn, even some crossbows but honestly don't know if any of those require state and federal registration or licensing or how effective of a deterrent could they be? Up against an AR, I have my doubts.

I really hate having to think like this