Posted on 05/09/2015 4:15:10 PM PDT by keat
Never thought I'd be "that guy" seeking firearm advice on FR but here goes.
Young ms. keat attends college in Colorado while the keat family lives in California. She will be doing some remote wildlife work in CO this summer and decided months ago that she wanted to protection of a handgun, both at school and on this internship.
She did her homework, safety/shooting classes, range time with friends, etc... and had picked out a handgun (Springfield XD-S 3.3" 9mm but I'm not here to argue that, she's got small hands and definitely needs a single-stack).
Any-hoo, she goes in to plunk down her hard-earned cash today at a local shop, gets all through everything until she has to present ID and, no sale, because she's not a CO resident.
She leaves in 9 days. If anyone has any insight into what our options might be in this situation it would be appreciated. Freepmail is OK.
I've gone as far as looking into buying it here but found that gun is not for sale in CA. Guess we can be flexible on that though if transfer is an option.
Thanks in advance.
Get her a CO drivers license.
The important thing is not the make but how good she is with what she gets and that she gets a gun soon. Hit Craig’s list. Have her take a friend for safety.
How long does that take? She’s been there close to 3 yrs.
Otherwise she's limited to something on the approved list. She'll have to shop around gun shops in kali to find something she might like.
Also, many states forbid anyone other than law enforcement personnel having firearms on school property. Just saying. You mention protection at school. Can she have a firearm on school property?
Good luck.
thanks Lou, she doesn’t live on campus anyway.
Ok here’s is my honest advice as a certified CCW instructor,
There is little reason to carry a semi automatic unless one of well versed in the use of firearms or for tactical reasons.
If you dont keep it cocked and locked...it’s useless in an emergency...if you do keep it cocked and locked...it’s an accident waiting to happen.
The average number of shots expended in a self defense situation is 2....and the average range is 6 feet.
IMHO 9mm simply doesnt have one or two shot stopping power as well.
I always suggest that women carry a .38 revolver.
No safety to fumble with and if you pull the trigger it will go off everytime without worry of jamming or stove piping.
For axample S&W sells a hammerless .38 that is perfect for smaller hands and doesnt kick like a mule.....
To put it this way...if my daughter needed a gun...I’d get her the .38 hammerless revolver.
They also make a really nice carry purse with a velcro center pouch that is accesible in seconds.
CL doesn't sell guns. Do you mean Armslist? If you're suggesting she buy a handgun from a private party in a state not on her license, you're advocating the commission of a crime. It's a felony for her to buy a handgun in any state other than the state on her license. She'll do time, be fined, forever lose her right to own a firearm, etc.
Colorado Requirements for Residency:
Own or operate a business in Colorado
Are gainfully employed in Colorado
Reside in Colorado for 90 consecutive days
It looks as if she becomes a resident as soon as she takes the job, although 90 days' physical presence will also serve. I'd be grateful for correction by any Colorado FReeper who knows different.
So, probably best for her to purchase it there once she picks up her driver's license.
Buy a gun she CAN get where she’s at and get the one she wants whenever. Another option would be for dad to open his safe and loan her something. There are about a half dozen more but she needs protection, not the gun of her dreams. The final option is to get the hell out of California.
Handguns can only legally be purchased in your state of residence. That goes for private “unregistered” sales also.
Like the first replier said, she should get a CO drivers license or ID card.
I’m surprised that XD is not on California’s approved list.
That particular XD has a hard trigger. XD’s in general tend to have trigger over-travel and out of the box have a wide range of trigger-pull weights. There are after-market fixes though.
Other semi-autos for small hands that she might like are the new Glock 9mm single stack and Ruger’s LC-9S. Both are stricker fired with triggers that don’t require the hand strength of an arm wrestler.
I’ve fired both and have been very impressed. As much as I’m a big Glock fan, the Ruger’s trigger was quite impressive.
Thanks for that.
In most states it does not take long if you have the proper ID with proof of being a resident of the state. An hour or two if you get an intelligent clerk.
I agree with get a Colorado Drivers License.
If she has been there that long I am sure she qualifies. I have no idea how long it takes but it can’t be too long.
Loan something to her until she gets CO DL.
To get her CO driver’s license, she will need her Birth Certificate and proof of residence (a bill sent to a CO residence). When you get a CO driver’s license, you will get a temporary license and your real license is mailed about 10 days later.
Maybe another option is to buy in CA and ship to a FFL dealer in CO?
There is nothing wrong with her choice. I would have picked something different but so what?
BTW, the 9mm is hotter than the .38 special, especially out of a snubby.
Didn’t know that. When my friend moved to Israel he sold most of his guns online. I thought it was Craigslist. I certainly didn’t see him check licenses when I was helping him pack.
can she claim to be an illegal from Mexico? Laws don’t seem to matter for illegals.
That being said revolvers are quite good for the innexperienced and small handed. Get a laser grip too. Nice to have. As far as I know most revelovers are allowed in the People’s Utopia of California. Practice.
Sadly. I have no guns. There is something about gun ownership that makes one a clumsy canoe operator.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.