An Oklahoma woman is facing three counts of first degree murder and three counts of first-degree burglary after three masked home invaders were shot and killed by a 19-year old man as they broke into his father’s home.

Three teens dressed in black and wearing masks and gloves were killed by a resident when they broke into a home, Oklahoma authorities said Monday.

The 23-year-old son of the homeowner fired shots from a rifle; officials said. One suspect had a knife, another carried brass knuckles.

“Preliminary investigation looks like it’s self-defense,” said Wagoner County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Mahoney, cautioning the investigation was continuing into the midday home invasion.

The shooter voluntarily spoke with investigators. Neither he nor his father were hurt.

A 21-year-old woman, identified as Elizabeth Rodriguez, turned herself into Broken Arrow police and may have been a getaway driver, Mahoney said.

AR-15s are much derided by fact-challenged gun control supporters as “weapons of war,” but the light-recoiling carbines are considered among the best defensive firearms imaginable in a home invasion scenario by many professionals, including legendary Special Forces operator Kyle Lamb, as revealed in an interview last year with American Rifleman.

AR: So, what is it about the AR that makes it so suitable, in your opinion, for a home-defense scenario?

KL: The AR is very easy to shoot. Head out to the range and test my theory. Ask anyone who wants to join in on the fun to try shooting a scored event, under pressure, with a pistol at home-defense ranges. After you see their performance, try the same with an AR, I will bet money you see much better control of the system. Men and women alike just shoot better with a carbine than with a pistol. As long as the carbine is light enough for the shooter to handle properly, the learning curve will be straight-up.

The AR is unbelievably versatile, from contact shooting distances out to 300 yds., the carbine will outperform the pistol. Most of us don’t think of 300-yd. shooting as a likely home-defense scenario, and, in many areas, it wouldn’t be. But if given an option of defensive tools, and considering our country’s independent heritage and past experiences, why wouldn’t you want extended-range capabilities?

AR: What about other choices, such as the shotgun, for home defense?

KL: For self-defense, a reliable semi-automatic is king. That is why I would not pick the shotgun. Rarely can you find a semi-automatic shotgun that is 100-percent reliable with assorted ammunition. Add the fact that you may need to shoot without your shoulder to the buttstock and reliability with the scattergun drops even more. Recoil-operated semi-automatic shotguns are light and handy but unreliable when not held tightly, and gas-operated guns are heavier than I prefer for a home-defense scenario. Once again, if you want to carry a shotgun for home defense, knock yourself out. I choose not to do so. I am sure those who carry pump shotguns will chime in with the absolute final word on the proper pick for the home-defense shotgun—all I ask is that you head to the range and try to operate your pump gun with only one hand. Simulating a disabled arm will make you a believer in the semi-automatic carbine. The shotgun is also extremely deficient in magazine capacity. Once again, the AR shines in this category. Even in 10-round-maximum states, in which long-gun rights have been destroyed, you have more firepower than with most shotguns.

AR: Considering its portability and maneuverability, wouldn’t the pistol be the best choice for home defense?

KL: If you are among those who say, “If I can’t fix the problem with my eight rounds of .45 ACP, it can’t be fixed,” I say please grab a big old mug of black coffee and wake up from your dream. No one knows who, what, when, where or why the fight will start—blowhard statements only degrade an intelligent conversation.

Once again, focusing on reality, 5.56×45 mm NATO ammunition just plain works. There are literally thousands upon thousands of terrorists who have met their ends because of it. Apparently, they did not have a chance to read the latest gun blog decrying the lack of stopping power from the 5.56.

I have no interest in giving home invaders or violent criminals a “fair fight.” My goal is to ensure my survival and the survival of those I choose to defend, and the best way to ensure their lives is to completely dominate the fight and end the threat as soon as possible.

I’m decent with a defensive shotgun, and have won a speed shooting event with a Beretta 1301 Tactical, one of the fastest-firing semi-auto shotguns on the market.

I also shot my Mossberg 590 well, and know that the Federal Premium Flite Control LE132 1B buckshot that I have in mine is regarded as some of the best defensive shotgun ammunition on the market.

Still, my “go-to” gun is going to be an AR-15 if I have access to it, which I would in a home invasion. I can fire it faster with a better likelihood of getting good hits than I will with a handgun, and work with a shot time conclusively proves that going to be able to absorb recoil and transition from target to target faster with the light-recoiling rifle than I am going to be able to absorb the recoil from a load of buckshot, rack the slide of my 12-gauge, and transition to the next bad guy.

Eventually, I’m going to save my pennies and acquire a AR-15 set-up very similarly to the one shown above, a Daniel Defense Mk18 SBR with a silencer, in addition to the Trijicon MRO and Surefire Scout light I’m currently running on a M4A1.

I’m not interested in giving bad guys a chance to harm my family. I’m interested in ending threats to them as rapidly as possible. Despite what untrained gun control supporters claim, AR-15s are excellent self-defense weapons, and I’d strongly suggest that every law-abiding citizen consider acquiring one for that reason.