by StarmanSkye » Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:43 pm
Great thoughtful replies so far.
My quick answer to a question the larger sense of which will require a lot of thought for you to answer for yourself;
I don't have one presently, I sold my last .380 auto Import Arms that I had for about 10 years because I was broke and wanted another guitar --not that I NEEDED another. Sorta wish I'd kept it, as sometimes the peace-of-mind from knowing you are able to represent yourself in a dicey situation that threatens the life of a loved one, friend or self is priceless, perhaps more valuable than actually pulling the trigger if ever in one of those dire fixes.
Perhaps THE most important question for you to consider is whether your lady agrees with you. Tuff call, between respecting her wishes and feeling like you should be prepared to protect her in an extreme situation. You should, not probably, talk with her VERY seriously and deeply about the rights, duties, obligations, responsibilities and reality of gun ownership to come to an agreed decision you can both respect.
Personally, I'm not sure whether I want the responsibility of deciding whether I'd take a life if threatened -- I'm kinda a fatalist that way. I don't think that beyond an extreme, rare situation that having a gun if/when there is total social collapse when TSHTF will not be very helpful if you don't have a strong social support network, or at least if you're healthy and reasonably fit, still looking at reaching middle age with an expected 20-30 or more yrs ahead of you.
For a an old fart like me who's already seen 50, my sense of self-preservation isn't as threatened by ANYONE and if things got THAT extreme then I suppose the better part of valor will be to concede my place on this planet, make room for the younger generation who'll have to fix the serious mistakes caused by the shitheads and sociopaths of my generation (and of the preceeding one who REALLY set the stage for the frauds, treachery, abuses and crimes that has led our society and much of the world to the precipice of survival).
So, that's to say, it's a weighty issue. IF you decide, together, on gun ownership for the rightgood reasons, then since you aren't familiar with 'em I'd STRONGLY recommend both of you taking an approved, qualified gun safety class. Retain extra copies of your class-completion certification as a requirement for applying for a concealed-carry permit if you might ever decide to do so and if your state allows. They are renewed every year or two or so and a copy of your safety-class completion will be required -- so if you kept copies you won't have to retake the class. 'Course, I know you probably aren't thinking about a carry permit now but I mention it just in-case.
Good luck whatever you decide! Sometimes just having a gun on-hand in-case will give you the self-confidence and attitude of competancy and preparation to get by w/o having to actually use one. Funny how that works sometimes! Then too, as said, its better to have a gun and never need it than not have one and wish you did. And also as said, you can look at gun ownership in the face of this rabid police-state technocracy as just a good idea on principle, as if enuff of us are armed it MIGHT give the bastards cause not to push things to a civil war. Then too, a shotgun for home protection is an all-around good choice as with double ought buckshot it sends a very potent message and is a bit easier to aim and shoot and hit with than with a handgun.
BTW: Yes, there are rifle-shotgun combos but they're really for survival and specialized uses, as they are single-shot with a different barrel for each set-upper and lower. For home defense, you need multi-shot capability. Apparently, (I didn't know this) shotguns (including pump-guns with 3-shot tube) with pistol-grips and short barrels (under 18 inches) are legal, designated as something like 'firearm other type'. There are some guns available like a Cobray, Colt or Model Arms 2-barrel derringer-style that will shoot a 410 shotgun shell and/or a .45 cal ACP. As well as other set-ups like the M4 Alaskan Survival which is an over-under chambered for the huge rifle-slug 45-70 AND the 410-/.45.
