Can I own a gun for safety reasons if my brother just got his first felony?

My brother just received his first felony but we have been having a lot of break-ins at my house. I would like to own a gun for my safety and others that live with me but someone recently told me that I wasn't able to have a firearm in my house at all and in was really unsure of how to go about this in a manner that he or myself wouldn't get in any trouble if it's a possibility.