[Pointblank]

I carry a Bersa Thunder .380 APC. It is cheap ($215.00), reliable and .380 ammo is cheap and easy to find. Anything smaller will not measure up in personal protection.

[dljordan]

Go to your local gun store, ask their advice, take a training class from an NRA certified instructor and you're on your way. You'll get a lot of advice from Freepers, some good, some sarcastic, some bad, so get professional help and then you can start making up your own mind.

[unbalanced but fair]

You can check out the Massachusetts Club and Range listings, I believe they have a web site. Be forewarned, this is not an inexpensive hobby. If you shoot even once a month, the ammo cost can really add up. I'm not trying to discourage you, just want you to be realistic. Go to web sites and talk to shooters. Check out dealers in your area, they are good sources of info. Also, many have ranges.
As to the pistol, the Sig Hammerli 22 Long Rifle is good but it starts at $380.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

The best gun for self-defense is the one you have when you need one. That said, why not just start with the best and not stop buying. You can never have enough firearms and ammunition.
John Browing's 1911 in .45 ACP is still the best choice for a handgun. It requires training to use well but you should get training anyway.
If money is an issue the Makarov is a real deal. You can find them for less than $200.00 and Russian ammo is cheap. The 9x18 round is probably close to the minimum for a defense weapon but the gun goes bang every time and is accurate and easy to fire. The main drawback is the tiny sights but that just leads back to the need for training and practice.
I carry a Series 70 Colt or a Makarov. The Mak is great for hot days .
Whatever weapon you choose get training from someone who knows how to teach.
I would love to see firearms skills taught in school, balanced with constant lessons in social responsibility and common sense.

Michael Frazier

[rem22-250]

First: I would suggest you to go to a firearms safety class if you are unfamiliar with firearms.
Second; Then go to an organized range and observe and ask questions. You will find that most firearm people are more than willing to answer questions about their firearms and allow you to try theirs. this will give you a feel of what is comfortable for you.
Third: Owning a certain firearm for protection is your personal choice and hinges on what you feel most comfortable with, be it shotgun, rifle or handgun.
Forth: You have to consider if the firearm is to be used for protection in a dwelling, that the projectiles do not carry through walls to other rooms or dwellings possibly injuring innocents. Shotguns with bird shot are fine so are handguns with the proper ammunition.
Fifth: Know your firearm and it's capabilities.
Happy shooting!

[logic]

I also vote for the Ruger MKII (that's what I learned on) but be wary of aftermarket magazines. Many don't have enough sping tension to raise the bolt stop completely when the mag's empty which caused damage to the bolt stop which eventually got so mangled it caused the gun to jam. Also It is a bit tricky to take down and re-assemble. After 24 years I finally figured out what I was doing wrong....

[taxcontrol]

1st, move to a more 2nd amendment friendly state.

2nd, take a class from an reputable instructor.

3rd, get an expensive .22 revolver / pistol (you can pick them up inexpensively at a lot of pawn shops).

4th, go to a range and practice practice practice. You should burn through at least 1,000 rounds. Work on gaining accuracy, calmness while shooting, range etiquette and MOST IMPORTANTLY - SAFETY!

5th, save up your $$$s for your next - ahemm "Toy" :-)

[edchambers]

For quality and price it's tough to beat Ruger.Don't let anybody tell that a 22 doesn't have enough power to stop someone.In my life I've met 3 people that were accidentally shot with 22s in every case if they had not immeadiately sought medical attention they would have died.These guys were all shot one time, one in the foot, one in the leg, and one in the chest.They survived but imagine if they were shot multiple times in the chest or head they would be just as dead as if they were shot with with the lastest and greatest hand cannon.I prefer autos but Ruger also makes an excellent single action revolver that's damn near indestructable,simple,very safe and has an alternate cylinder for 22 magnum.

[Redcloak]

I'm not sure, but by posting this, you may have committed thoughtcrime in your state.

...just kidding.

A .22 is a great way to start. You may want to give some thought to starting with a rifle rather than a pistol. Pistols are, by nature, less accurate than rifles. Frustration at not being able to hit the target at first with a pistol could sour you to the sport. You may find that you'll have more fun, and thus shoot more often, with a rifle.

And yes, you should join the NRA. In fact, do that right now. Many gun dealers and shooting ranges offer discounts to NRA members. You can help to preserve your rights and save a few bucks in the process.

[TERMINATTOR]

Heritage Arms - Rough Rider 22/22MAG. Comes with two cylinders a .22, and .22MAG. Single action. This NIB one recently sold for $101.99 on GunBroker.

You'll be a lot more likely to take careful aim and learn good shooting habits with a single action revolver, that requires you to eject each spent catrage individually. It ain't the number of rounds fired that counts, it's the number of hits.

Don't blow a lot of dough on your first pistol, save it for your second one.

[vannrox]

...Mordue held that Bach could not allege a constitutional right to bear arms because the "Second Amendment is not a source of individual rights."...

IGNORANT OR INTENTIONALLY REVISIONIST JUDGES!

The Preamble to the Bill of Rights

---

[This is a note to me from Dr. Linda Thompson of the American Justice Federation that I am passing along to everyone...email me with your comments ken]

[to ken]
You left off the MOST IMPORTANT PART of the Bill of Rights -- the PREAMBLE which tells SPECIFICALLY that the Bill of Rights was to make sure the government knew it was limited to the powers stated in the Constitution and if it didn't, the amendments were rights of the people the government couldn't screw with.
Our revisionist historians ALWAYS leave this off the Constitution!!!
Here's a copy!!!

---

Effective December 15, 1791
Articles in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

PREAMBLE
The conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution.

---

The first ten amendments are "declaratory and restrictive clauses". This means they supersede all other parts of our Constitution and restrict the powers of our Constitution.

There are people in this country that do not want you to know that these two sentences ever existed. For many years these words were "omitted" from copies of our Constitution. Public and private colleges alike have based their whole interpretation of our Constitution on the fraudulent version of this text. Those corrupt individuals have claimed that the amendments can be changed by the will of the people. By this line of reasoning the amendments are open to interpretation. This is a clever deception. The Bill of Rights is separate from the other amendments. The Bill of Rights is a declaration of restrictions to the powers of our Constitution. The Bill of Rights restricts the Constitution. The Constitution restricts the powers of government. The deception is that the government can interpret the all of the amendments and the Constitution itself. Without the presence of the Preamble to the Bill of Rights this may be a valid argument.

End the deception.