..in all seriousness though, whatever you or your wife can handle
Doogle
Posted on 10/12/2006 12:05:09 PM PDT by domenad
I am positively ripping over here right now. About an hour ago, my wife calls me to tell me that someone behind her in traffic got out of the car, slammed his fist on her window and threatened her for not blowing through a "Yield" sign fast enough. This is the third time something of this nature has happened. Florida is growing at a meteoric rate, especially the Tampa area where I live. As with all growth, some is good and some is bad, and a surge in the number of physically aggressive, downright threatening people on the roads is one of them.
I've always supported the rights of any non-felon to own a weapon, even though for some reason I never chose to own one for myself. This is probably because I'm a large individual who is experienced in martial arts. My wife, on the other hand, is petite and has a bad back, making a physical confrontation unwise as well as unadvisable. In the back of my head, I always secretly figured on some level that my family and I were safe enough that we did not need firearms. Today has proven me wrong, and so I am turning to my fellow Freepers for advice - what weapon would be ideal for a woman in a car to own? What safety precautions, such as trigger locks would you recommend, in light of the fact that the weapon will be largely carried in a car? What laws are applicable? It would be simple enough for me to pick up a book (and believe me I intend to), but some things need to be filtered through human experience to get the most out of them.
Small to medium .38 Special revolver, or a .357 Magnum, which will also shoot the .38 Special round. Of course, this somewhat depends on your Wife's hand size and strength.
Whatever you chose, go take classes so you know how to use it properly, and safely.
Ping to part of the bang list that I kow off the top of my head.
Generally, how big is your hand vs the grip size.
I have a friend who carries a derringer in her purse. I can't advise abou twhich weapon, but can advise you go to a gun store or a shooting range and discuss with people who already own weapons and are experienced with them. And then take lessons and practice practice practice.
Ah-HA! The usual suspects!
..in all seriousness though, whatever you or your wife can handle
Doogle
IMO, I would not keep it in the car. If your car gets broken into or you get jacked, they have the gun and you are the owner.
As for handgun, little, light. .32 auto perhaps from S&W or a .25 auto. I can get to the links from work but, search S&W's site an look around.
As always.
;-)
(Minus my coffee)
Go to http://www.thehighroad.org or http:///www.packing.org
Go to a local gun store that has an indoor range. Rent some guns to find one she is comfortable with. Get one that is as powerfull as she can reasonsbly handle. Many women prefer the small .38 caliber revolvers. I prefer a semi-aut that has more capacity.
Whatever she gets, she needs training. Also, forget trigger locks and alsway keep the gun ready whenever it might be needed. Tigger locks are OK for storage, but you never want to confront a perp with an unchambered gun, or worse, one with a trigger lock on it.
That is in agreement with some of the advice I've solicited among friends. I think that may be the way to go.
Do not leave a gun in a car..., it will be stolen eventually. Also, a gun with a trigger lock is merely a very miserable club! Seriously, have your wife try out various handguns at a gunshop with a range (the largest caliber she is comfortable with should be selected). Then practice regularly and attend a concealed carry course, get the Florida license and pray she never has occasion to actually draw the gun!
Don't bother with any of the above if your wife is not fully prepared to shoot an assailant (she'll be disarmed if she is not)!!!
Good advice on these replies. Also, consider that your wife (with training) won't actually wave a handgun around unless she is ready to shoot someone. And, if she is going to shoot someone she won't want to advertise it in advance. That said, the confidence she will have knowing she can defend herself is a huge factor in keeping her safe. Consider an NRA bumper sticker, too. Think of it as an "early warning" system!
"Walther PPK would be a good choice for a lady."
That's what my wife uses. She is quite fond of it but it is a tad small for me.
"That's what my wife uses. She is quite fond of it but it is a tad small for me."
Hence the .45 ACP I lug along in the glove compartment.
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