Hand Gun Requirements?

[TNRabbit]

Did you not see the post that said they just wanted to hurt the perp and get them to back away?

You DO NOT use a gun to "hurt someone". The liability is INSANE--ask anyone who's ever used one on a person.


If you are going to carry a gun, it needs to be to save your or someone else's life, period. There's no other reason to carry one. If you pull a gun you're not willing to use on a guy with a knife who IS willing to kill you, you're going to die.

 

[struggler44]

I promise you. This will hurt;




As for backing away. Call it a 'maybe'?

Exactly.....I'm not sure owning a handgun is what this person needs, may make an attacker mad

 

[aps45819]

And, when you get done 'considering' them, get nothing smaller than a 9mm.

Anything or anyone worth shooting is worth shooting good. This is no joke if it is for self defense/personal protection.

Learn to shoot and shot well. Get comfortable with the thing. Become deadly. I am not kidding. There is NO point having a firearm you can't put to proper use.

I disagree. We're talking first gun
Don't buy something that you'll shoot once and then put in a drawer.
Get something you're willing (and can afford) to shoot a LOT and become proficient with it.
9 or 10 .22s in a bad guy is much more discouraging than a couple of 9mms in his general direction

 

[struggler44]

You DO NOT use a gun to "hurt someone". The liability is INSANE--ask anyone who's ever used one on a person.


If you are going to carry a gun, it needs to be to save your or someone else's life, period. There's no other reason to carry one. If you pull a gun you're not willing to use on a guy with a knife who IS willing to kill you, you're going to die.

That's the point I made with my tack hammer statement....if you plan to own one for protection and pull it, you better make sure you have the last word...

 

[Larry Gude]

If you are going to carry a gun, it needs to be to save your or someone else's life, period. There's no other reason to carry one.

You've never been to Arizona, have you?

They have all sorts of reasons for guns.

 

[struggler44]

You've never been to Arizona, have you?

They have all sorts of reasons for guns.

Illegal Immigrants?

 

[Larry Gude]

I disagree. We're talking first gun
Don't buy something that you'll shoot once and then put in a drawer.
Get something you're willing (and can afford) to shoot a LOT and become proficient with it.
9 or 10 .22s in a bad guy is much more discouraging than a couple of 9mms in his general direction

Well, I disagree.

I have NEVER had ANY .22 I would trust to save my life. Not a rifle or pistol or 9 or 10 shot revolver.

I might try and beat someone over the head with my 10/22 but, that's if I throw all the shotguns, .45's, 9mm, .223's and 30/06's laying around here aside to get to it.

 

[Larry Gude]

Illegal Immigrants?

Entertainment. Only place I know of you can rent a H1 that has a .50 mounted in the bed.

It's almost like Tejas. or West Virginia. or Maine. They take this whole 2a 'right' thing seriously.

 

[TNRabbit]

You've never been to Arizona, have you?

They have all sorts of reasons for guns.

We're talking about Maryland here....the OP seemed to be indicating carrying one around (concealed carry?). I can't say I've ever been attacked by a cougar (four legged, that is) or pack of wolves here....even at that, you're still using it to SAVE YOUR LIFE or that of a person or livestock.

..and yes, I have been to Arizona~

 

[Larry Gude]

..and yes, I have been to Arizona~

 

[spr1975wshs]

I'd like to reinforce 3 messages in this thread.

1st) If you want to own a firearm for protection, you must decide that you are ready, willing and able to kill; there is NO 2nd choice in this. The only reason to shoot anything is to make it dead, that appertains both to putting food on the table and in protecting life with deadly force. Shooting to make the "bad guy" go away is a sure path to jail.

2nd) A .22 LR handgun or rifle is a wonderful, inexpensive to feed, training tool. You can put 100's of holes in paper at the range with one of them for the cost of a double stack magazine full of premium 9 mm or 45 ACP defensive ammunition.

3rd) Find a mentor and get proper training!!! I've handled firearms for 50 years and there are still many, many things I do not know. That's with experience as a casual plinker, competitive marksman, military veteran, NRA Range Safety officer, Hunter's Safety instructor, BSA Merit badge adviser, hunter, gunsmith, reloader...experience working at 4 different weapons related museums...retail years selling firearms and ammo in 6 different states, along with advising hundreds of new shooters over the years.

There is no substitute for face to face learning.

 

[mamatutu]

I'd like to reinforce 3 messages in this thread.

1st) If you want to own a firearm for protection, you must decide that you are ready, willing and able to kill; there is NO 2nd choice in this. The only reason to shoot anything is to make it dead, that appertains both to putting food on the table and in protecting life with deadly force. Shooting to make the "bad guy" go away is a sure path to jail.

2nd) A .22 LR handgun or rifle is a wonderful, inexpensive to feed, training tool. You can put 100's of holes in paper at the range with one of them for the cost of a double stack magazine full of premium 9 mm or 45 ACP defensive ammunition.

3rd) Find a mentor and get proper training!!! I've handled firearms for 50 years and there are still many, many things I do not know. That's with experience as a casual plinker, competitive marksman, military veteran, NRA Range Safety officer, Hunter's Safety instructor, BSA Merit badge adviser, hunter, gunsmith, reloader...experience working at 4 different weapons related museums...retail years selling firearms and ammo in 6 different states, along with advising hundreds of new shooters over the years.

There is no substitute for face to face learning.

You are very wise. I was robbed at gun point in Mobile AL; I was 23 and naive. I acquired a 38 special (which my hub tells me is a piece of junk) and learned to shoot not too long after that. Overtime, we also acquired a shotgun, a 9mm hand gun, a 357 magnum, a bushmaster, and a twenty two (which was my hubs first gun growing up). I have learned to shoot them all; hoping I will never have to use them except for practice. I still don't feel like we have enough arms; I tend to get freaked out! And, no, Obama, you can't have them.

 

[Inkd]

Regulated firearms will require the 7 day waiting period. Regulated firearms are hand guns and some long guns.

Most pump action shotguns, bolt ation rifles, single shot rifles and shotguns should be nothing more than filling out the 4473, phone check by the dealer and you are out the door.

I can't remember but I think regardless of what firearm you are buying, you have to do the online safety video or provide some proof of training, I could be wrong about that though.

Odds are you will not qualify for a concealed weapons permit so I will guess you want something for home protection?

That can be a tough question to answer. Larry had a great suggestion of befriending a shooter and trying out various types of firearms. If you want an handgun, it should fit you comfortably, it shouldn't be so large in your hand that you can't reach the trigger easily.

For new shooters and for someone who may not train alot, I like revolvers. If you press the trigger on a revolver and get a click, you just press the trigger again and it should go bang. No tap/rack/bang or wondering if the safety is engaged. Revolvers are simple. You can get a 357 and shoot 38spl for practice and then load it with 357's or 38+p for the house. Only drawback is that 38 ammo is not as plentiful as 9mm/40 or 45acp and is usally a bit more money.

One of my favorites for the house is a good double barrel shotgun like a Stoeger Cach gun. I would go 20gauge or maybe 410, depending on the shooter. Double barrels are very easy to use. Some people may say a double barrels 2 shots is a drawback but I disagree personally. In a home defense situation, I think 2 shots of 20gauge is good. You don't have to be a great shot or very mechanically proficient. Just switch off the safety and you are ready to go.

What I cannot stress enough though is the training. If you are not committed to being proficient in whatever firearm you use. Don't get one. Buy extra deadbolts and motion detector lights.

A .22 is a great training tool, low recoil and noise, inexpensive to train with. While for some people it may not be the ultimate self defense round, my thought is the best gun to use, is the one you have with you and know how to use.

 

[aps45819]

Well, I disagree.

I have NEVER had ANY .22 I would trust to save my life. Not a rifle or pistol or 9 or 10 shot revolver.

I might try and beat someone over the head with my 10/22 but, that's if I throw all the shotguns, .45's, 9mm, .223's and 30/06's laying around here aside to get to it.

I used to have a Ruger MK I.
Shot it often and I could empty the 9 shot mag into a playing card at 25 feet in a couple of seconds.

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

You are very wise. I was robbed at gun point in Mobile AL; I was 23 and naive. I acquired a 38 special (which my hub tells me is a piece of junk) and learned to shoot not too long after that. Overtime, we also acquired a shotgun, a 9mm hand gun, a 357 magnum, a bushmaster, and a twenty two (which was my hubs first gun growing up). I have learned to shoot them all; hoping I will never have to use them except for practice. I still don't feel like we have enough arms; I tend to get freaked out! And, no, Obama, you can't have them.

I'm not picking on you Mama, but you got a gun BEFORE you knew how to shoot? Hmmm.....

Second. If you live in MD; from what I remember reading; MSP will grant you a CCW if you can prove incidents of assault/battery and the like; and if you are female, it's NO problem. After reading what I read, I thought quietly to myself, 'that's who I want packin' a piece; somebody; female or male; who has been assaulted/robbed etc..
IMO, being retro-active that way is more dangerous than making Maryland Shall Issue and allowing everybody who can pass a background check; meaning no convictions; to get a CCW.
"A well armed society is a polite society."

 

[Makavide]

training

any recommendations on where to go to get training on how to handle a gun? I would like my daughters to learn how to handle a gun, care for a gun and then learn to shoot, and I basically have no experience. (boot camp oh so many years ago...)

 

[Chris0nllyn]

any recommendations on where to go to get training on how to handle a gun? I would like my daughters to learn how to handle a gun, care for a gun and then learn to shoot, and I basically have no experience. (boot camp oh so many years ago...)

I recommend joining Mdshooters.com

Maryland Shooters - NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course

You can also search the NRA page for local courses.

NRAInstructors.org - Portal for NRA certified Instructors, NRA Education and Training

 

[NextJen]

any recommendations on where to go to get training on how to handle a gun? I would like my daughters to learn how to handle a gun, care for a gun and then learn to shoot, and I basically have no experience. (boot camp oh so many years ago...)

Here is a website with some range locations:
Shooting Ranges in Maryland - Wildlife and Heritage Service - Maryland Department of Natural Resources

I also have a question. I currently have a Glock 19 and my SO has a Glock 30. We have thought about getting a conversion kit (for mine) to be able to shoot .22 with my 9mm. (I believe Sig also makes or has conversion kits for some of their firearms also). Has anyone had any experience with doing this? I figured it would be great to practice fire the .22 rounds through the gun that I am already familiar with and it would only keep improving my accuracy (at a reduced cost). Thoughts? TIA!

 

[EmptyTimCup]

I might try and beat someone over the head with my 10/22 but, that's if I throw all the shotguns, .45's, 9mm, .223's and 30/06's laying around here aside to get to it.

Robert Kennedy assassination

Sirhan Sirhan shot and killed Presidential candidate United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy in Los Angeles, California on 5 June 1968 with an eight-shot Iver Johnson .22 caliber Cadet 55-A revolver (serial number H-53725, Trial-People's Exhibit #6, misidentified in trial testimony as S/N H-18602).

 

[aps45819]

Robert Kennedy assassination

Sirhan Sirhan shot and killed Presidential candidate United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy in Los Angeles, California on 5 June 1968 with an eight-shot Iv Johnson .22 caliber Cadet 55-A revolver (serial number H-53725, Trial-People's Exhibit #6, misidentified in trial testimony as S/N H-18602).

.22 The choice of professional assassins everywhere