We have not looked at any. I was a Walmart and just stoped by the guns to see what they had and look at their size.

My dad has a 410 cut down (its legal) without a stock. I have shot it several times. Its not bad.

She is still in the no gun mode. I will post what she posted on another forum about this.

 

This is a copy of what my wife posted on a different forum.

Okay, I can't stand it anymore. Mike is probably surprised I haven't posted earlier.

I am opposed to guns, personally, but support right to bear arms. I'm a self-proclaimed hypocrite-I don't like hunting but I'm not a vegetarian. I'm a modern hippie-I shave my legs! :-D (Thank God, says Mike "Severe tire damage" ~ Jeff Foxworthy)

Think Ghandi, MLK, Jr., Jesus, Buddha, Hawkeye, MacGyver...

Just discussing this is a compromise in some ways-and I brought it up.

On the other hand, I don't trust my government, and I don't trust certain segments of the population (don't assume) and I believe in entropy. I'm also a good Girl Scout and believe in being prepared.

I can aim, and not just for the toilet. I'm not afraid to defend myself or others (I work in a school, for Pete's sake). I don't have to have a petite weapon that's Barbie pink, or a recoil small enough to avoid breaking a nail. I am not afraid to learn what I need to survive (but I'm not eating any mushrooms that don't come out of a can). I have a healthy respect for guns and the wrong end of a horse.

Original question was non-gun method of defense. But feel free to carry on discussing merits of firearms - Mike's enjoying it.

Sorry if I'm sarcastic - after a day of preteens and grading papers until midnight, I lose the ability to impersonate Martha Stewart (pre-incarceration perkiness).

 

I've wanted a gun for a long time; but never actually went through with it.

When Texas legalized the carrying of concealed weapons (As long as you were licensed to do so) my wife and I were goign to both buy a gun; then get the permit- then go to the indoor range and enhance our skills with said weapon. We were both in teh Army; so we can both part your hir within 30 meters with an M-16; but neither of us has real experience with a handgun... I fired the Beretta 9MM one time- when I took the CO to the firing range...

I wanted a Desert Eagle .357, Desert Eagle .44 or any brandname .45 caliber. That's when I found out the Desert Eagles had jumped in price from $550.00 for the 357 in 1991- to about $900 for a .357 and $1,900 for the .50 cal version. So- I "downgraded" to a Ruger 9mm, and the first two the man handed me were both broken (brand new). The revolver looks intimidating; but it has no buffer assembly- and I've heard after you fire a 357 or 44 Magnum revolver- you don't want to mess with a revolver anymore- if you're used to firing a magazine fed pistol.

Now that we have a baby- every time we turn on teh TV, and hear about another baby or teenager that's "accidentially" killed themself or a friend- is another nail in the coffin for us buying any guns...

So; we have double-paned windows, security systems, motion detectors and two dogs... When that fails, I have what's left of what used to be a 440 lb bench-press, and a 4-battery steel Mag-light flashlight.

I guess we'll have to rely on that.

The only thing I worry about is the "Home-Invasion" style robbery that takes place every so often in the Dallas/Fort Worth areas...

Man; what would you do if 4-5 robbers break in your house dressed like Police and yelling Police- then they rob you after you fall for it? Would you blast away, and hope they aren't Cops or would you fall victim to the scam?

If I had a gun and lived in an area where this BS happens (like I do) I'd probably blast away- since I know I haven't done anything for the cops to kick my door in at 3:00 AM.... Tough call...

 

Irresponsible gun owners are no reason for you to take yourself out of the running for owning a firearm. I like shooting; not just for the defensive aspect of it, but 'cause it's fun. We can't help that there are Darwinists amongst us who have firearms in easy access points to people who ain't got no business with them. That'd be akin to saying, "I read in the paper about someone getting killed in a car wreck, that was another nail in the coffin against me driving."

 

Consider sending the wifey (and yourself for that matter) to a firearms class. They will teach her how to comfortabley handle a firearm, how to ttake care of firearm, and how to decide if lethal force is necessary.

Even if you don't do this, make sure she know the basic rules for handling a firearm - i.e. Their's no such thing as a unloaded gun, only point a firearm at what you're willing to shoot, don't put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to pull it.

 

Not everyone can afford the latest and greatest gun locks and storages.

Kids find keys, figure out codes (though exceptionally rare) and find hidden things.

Also what good is a firearm for home protection if is not quickly and easily accessible? Which the trade off is less secure.

Granted none of those above statements replace properly teaching children firearm safety and respect. But we all know there are those exceptions that don't learn.

Anyways my point is not every firearm/child death can be pinned on the parents, but the majority can. Still no reason to throw that idea out the window because you have children.



Personally I have a sword by my bed and would rather take my chances walking through a dark house with that then fumbling around to get my shotgun which is not even in my room.





Don't forget be sure of your target and beyond.

 

While it is a scary noise to some, it also means that you (probably) have an empty chamber that should have a shell in it. It also requires time and some motor skill.

I have no children, and your mileage may vary, but I keep a full magazine and one in the pipe for all of my firearms.

 

cia,

A .357 isn't really that bad, it's mostly hype. My wife's .357 (yes it's hers) is a Smith and Wesson 19-2 with a 6" barrel. Thing is t!ts. You can tell when you touch off a full house .357 but for practice I run mostly .38 specials through it. It's like a pop gun. Revolvers are dead simple and reliable (Taurus possibly accepted, I have no direct experience with them though). As for .45's I love the 1911 platform, especialy the compacts. Kimber is an awesome rig, but so are the new Springfield Armory's. Don't be intimidated by it's relatively huge size when compared to the puny 9mm, the powers used in the 45's are pretty slow burning. The recoil is a slow steady push. The .40 S&W is a pretty snappy little round IMO, but I still like it. HTH a little.

As always bullet selection is key to good performance. I.e. full metal jackets are great for plinking, they suck for defense IMO because they punch straight through.

 

It is 100% education...

I started teaching my girls as soon as they were able to walk out in the yard on their own, then they were shooting. They could barely hold a .22 rifle but I had them shooting 12ga shotguns. I would rest the butt of the Shot Gun or Rifle against my thigh help them hold the forstock and let them pull the trigger. I enfoced how much damage they can do by constantly giving demonstarions with jugs of water + constant verbal re-enforcment. To this day they won't even point a toy gun at anyone! They handle toy guns just like a real gun. If someone points a toy one at them, they throw a fit then come tell us. Then they start preaching the same lessons to the kid that I have told them 1000's of times. They make me so proud every time. They are not scared of them, I let them shoot under my or my dads supervision any time that they want to and thety love it. But.... they DO respect them!

 

If you want a handgun for the wife. Revolver 357, 44. They are simple point and shoot guns. No ****ing or pulling the slide back or nothing. Double action...point, pull trigger till the gun is empty and watch the perp fall.

Two downsides.....wife can miss cause she's scared and jerks the trigger. Powerful fired "missed" round "will" go through the wall and may hurt someone else.

Now a 12 gauge double barrel, side by side [coach gun] will get the job done very nicely. Get one without explosed hammers. Legal length, 18" barrels with 26-27" over all length. [not sure on overall length] Two shots, just normal #7 shot. You CAN'T miss. and the round, for the most part, won't penetrate a wall. PLUS !!!! the perp will be staring down the front of a double barrel shot gun, and HE knows that she won't miss with it. Wife will have control of gun, both hands needed to hold it and brace it against her hip. Stay away from the pistol grip shot guns. Too hard to hold on too. Put a couple of extra rounds on a scarab attached to the stock. Just in case.

I have a pump "riot" shotgun hidden in my master bathroom...just in case.

 

for those of u who were talking pump shotguns earlier in my experience the remingtons are the best for the money. I have an 870 that is flawless if operated correctly and i have a mossberg 835 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge that has some jamming problems do to poor quality fit and finish. it has a smooth action and i like it- but just not reliable. I do have some friends with 500 mossbergs that are reliable- but have heard many horror stories about mossbergs- hear nothing but good about remington 870's.

I now shoot a browning gold auto 12gauge for goose hunting and it is awsome 0 malfunctions thus far and great patterning.

but for defense i would recommend the remington 870

Dan.

 

a medium frame .38 special revolver doesnt kick much more than a 22 handgun- most women should be able to handle it

Dan.

 

Without reading every response up till this one, let me say this...

If you're looking for home defense, then start with the security of your house. Window bars, behind the door floor stops, alarm system, etc...

If you are worried above and beyond that, then you had better sit your wife and kids down, explain that guns DO protect, and then go out, by a 22 pistol, go to the range, show them or get a professional to teach you ALL gun safety, and when they have mastered the 22, move up to a 9mm or better with some regular Federal Hydrashocks or some +P+ Glaser rounds.

Since New Orleans, my wife has changed her mind. She's always been pro gun, but she had previously never wanted to handle one herself. I bought her a Glock 19 (9mm), took her and my daughter to the range, taught them how to check/unload a gun properly, shooting mechanics, and then handed them a my 22 Smith&Wesson and made them shoot about 250 rounds each. After that, we moved up to the Glock 19.

While my wife still doesn't like to use the gun, she now KNOWS HOW TO SAFELY use the gun, and will if needed. I now have the peace of mind knowing that she will not accidently shoot herself, and my daughter has fallen in love with shooting, and is now asking me to go shooting with me whenever I go. My family now is ready to defend themselves if need be, and I have peace of mind knowing that they can do so safely.

If you won't get a gun in your house, you're kidding yourself about being safe.

 

^^^^

Amen.

 

I think this is the best advice you have received so far. Go together to a class and THEN see what your wife thinks. If she is not going to use a gun after that then move on to Plan B.