Purchasing Gun for Wife

Lady Smith from S&W. .38 caliber 5 shot revolver. Light weight, point and squeeze the trigger to operate. 38+p's will give her plenty of knock down power too.

 

By 'no expert', do you mean that neither of you have any shooting experience? If so, I would implore you to get suitable training prior to gun ownership, and then pratice with the firearm to ensure proficiency.

As far as the actual firearm, my girlfriend prefers 9mm over anything else, and she is partial to Glock's. I would look at the G19.

 

How about a AR15 pistol?



Just kidding.

Something small and simple, maybe a 38 special. Regardless of what you buy, make sure both you and her are trained properly, both in safety and practice.

Check this page out:
http://www.thearmedcitizen.com/gunladys/

 

Gun statistics strongly argue against it. The gun is drastically more likely to kill someone in your family than ever be used in self defense. And with children in the house who will soon be toddlers... Think long and hard about this one.

 

...and then don't do it. Get a good alarm system and a few strategically placed baseball bats. Put in a panic room if you have to for peace of mind. Forget the gun.

If you do not have kids older than your 7 mo's - people underestimate the brainpower and perceptiveness of a three and four year old. They'll learn where you keep the gun, hide the keys, ammunition, etc. Is it really worth it?

 

It's interesting that two of the people who are pro-gun are from the South, and the others reside in non-Southern states. I don't know where 'Cow Hampster' is though

 

Just to chime in here... First, I am by no means "anti-gun" (nor am I card-carrying NRA, either). I'm actually in the process of getting a handgun myself (it's VERY difficult in NYC) and have owned them before. That said, think hard about this. Without proper training and -- I kid you not -- WILLINGNESS of your wife to fire a gun AT A HUMAN BEING if it came to that, the gun is not only worthless, it is actually dangerous. If training and willingness don't exist, chances are a robber or other home-invading criminal could take the gun away from your wife (or you, for that matter, this is NOT a sexist comment) and well, the rest is history.

When people buy guns for self-defense, you'd be surprised how many of them don't really, deeply, in their "hearts and minds", accept that they could end up killing someone. If god forbid they ever have to use that gun and they freeze up (after all, it's a human being standing there), it could be much trouble.

Anyway, this isn't intended to disuade you from getting one, just recognize what else is required for it to provide real added security, as opposed to a false sense of security.

Finally, of course, another wrinkle is that you MUST keep it LOCKED, with ammo not nearby, if you have kids in the house (even if you trust your kids, you can't always trust their pesky friends from going on a "treasure hunt" for the gun). Of course, if you do that, and it/the ammo aren't easily accessible, then you may defeat the purpose. It's a tough question, but I think one that isn't insurmountable, you just have to carefully consider it.

And if going with one after all, while I MUCH prefer a 9MM semi-auto (like a Glock), a revolver like the Lady Smith is easier to operate and has fewer moving parts that can jam.


Good luck, hope you never have to use it.

 

Go through a good gun safety course and then you and her both practice with the gun at a range. You will need a gun safe in the house to keep the gun in loaded. I have one that lets me open it with the touch of my fingers...that way I can get it fast if needed yet no one else can. As far as children are concerned, what happened to parenting? There were guns all over my house when I was a child and my father and grandfather taught me and my younger brother to shoot and hunt safely...I have already taught my 8,10 and 12 year old daughters to shoot at an indoor range...only one wanted to go back though...the other two thought it was too load.

 

yep, your wife is gonna shoot you or one of your kids with that "gun." Or one of your kids is gonna shoot your other kid. That's not my opinion, that's a statistical fact.

Get her a nice knife to wear around the house, if she really thinks she needs personal protection. Or a rolling pin, or a frying pan.

A "gun" is just asking for it.

You may wonder why I keep putting "gun" in parentheses. A pistol is not a "gun." A rifle is not a "gun." If you don't even know enough to know the difference between a rifle, a pistol, and a "gun," do you really think it is safe to have a "gun" in your house?

Tell your lovely wife (and I mean that sincerely) to carry the cast-iron frying pan around if she doesn't feel safe. but DON'T buy a 'gun.'

 

Now's not the time (new babies and all) to learn how to use a firearm.

Don't get one.

My opinion of course

 

While I have owned many firearms and used them competetively for many years, they stay in a four thousand dollar safe that doesnt lend itself to middle of the night fight or flight response. Kids in the house, both mine and teenage friends, means that they stay stored that way. I concur that if your wife is that tentative about being alone, a professionally designed and installed alarm is the best deterrent that cant be used against her or your family. If the two of you need more peace of mind that can also be transported, get a protective trained belgian. Not only will they be your family's best protection, they are always alert and will also be your childs best friend. Seriously.

DMAX

 

One of my favorite small guns is the Bersa Thunder 380. About the size of the ppk/s but with better reliability and much less money. It is only a .380 but that is good for someone who has not experienced shooting guns with higher recoil. A good first gun for ladies. While a revolver is great for just about absolute reliability you are limited to more powerful calibers than some are comfortable with. The bersa will eat just about any ammo you feed it with no problems. The walthers usually need a little tweaking and break in time from what I have seen.

Check out www.bersatalk.com, www.thehighroad.org, www.combatcarry.com

Here is a quick camera phone pic of mine, the wood grips were made for me and do not come with the gun. It comes with black plastic grips. This is the nickel version.
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Child in my town about 12 years old was killed a few weeks ago. His friend came over and found his gun and shot him.

 

Several thoughts. I totally agree with the thoughts about a revolver being a bit easier to "understand" and use than a semi-auto (Glock). Also that classes/training needs to happen, and the thing really needs to be locked up.

Have you considered bear spray (this is the industrial strength and size pepper spray--not the little can attached to a keychain). Several self-defense/home-defense experts suggest this first, and a combat style shotgun second, as the best choices.

 

While I do not feel that firearm ownership is necessarily unsafe, getting an alarm is always a good idea.

+1 on a dog

-1 on the "strategically placed baseball bats" - it seems that would only make it more likely that someone breaking into your home has access to a weapon.

 

I guess no one else likes my AR15 idea.. Oh well.

If the real issue is her sense of security, there are many other places to start before arming her:

- Secure the house (lights, locks, alarm)
- Pepper spray / stun gun / knife for her purse
- Basic self-defense training
- Panic button on the car alarm

What 'triggered' (pun intended) her desire for a weapon?

 

You need both IMHO...once I know someone is breaking in, I then need something to shoot them with...

 

For home defense, a shotgun is hard to beat.

 

So lets get rid of our bathtubs too as more children die in bathtubs each year than are killed by handguns...if you really want to protect children, never let them ride in, drive or otherwise get near an automobile...in fact, do not even keep one at your house as it is the greatest killer of children of all ages. What is needed is better parenting, not fewer guns...