Gun Defense Questions and Answers. Why have a gun in the first place?

I have been called, e-mailed and stopped on the12 gauge and 20 gauge, there are many other sizes
street, questioned in my office, at a couple of placesbut for home defense we'll stick to the more
where I shop, and at the post office. I do radio adscommon 12 or 20. Ordinarily the shotgun is less
for Steele's Gun Shop and I'm known to be familiarexpensive, easier to use, and better for defense
with firearms to some degree. I have been askedthan a pistol by far.Many people think that shotguns
about what kind of gun or ammo to purchase forhave shot that spreads, to send out a wall of lead,
home defense and about concealed carry of gunsand that you can't miss with a shotgun. That is BULL..
and knives. Some of these questions were fromThe longest distance most of us will be able to shoot
people who have never owned guns before andin defense, inside our homes, is about 20 feet. At
some from those who "hate" guns and even hatethat distance the size of the circle of shot from a
gun owners as well to some degree.One of myshotgun is about two and a half inches in diameter or
friends has interest in a business near the Worldless. It's easy to miss with a shotgun, but not as
Trade Center site. One close friend was the one whoeasy as it is to miss with a pistol. Some people want
first reported the plane that hit the Pentagon, aboutto get all sorts of specialty ammo for a shotgun to
three windows from his office window. Anotheruse in home defense. That is not needed. The
friend of mine lives on Long Island and works in thecheapest "bird shot" is the best for home defense
building industry and at a huge lumber store there; soand the least likely to go through wall after wall after
she is in constant contact with workers andwall through your house and into the sleeping rooms
contractors connected to the New York City area.of the rest of your family and the neighbors up and
Several of my friends are military, National Guard, anddown the street.By the way, most pistol ammo will
police. I am no authority, in my mind, nor comparedgo through three or four walls, perhaps more, before
to some that I know, but I am very open in myit stops if you miss the person you are shooting at in
communications on anything. So, I am asked about aself defense. Where are the kids? Think about it
lot of things. I have been around guns, gun shops,before you get a gun. In fact thinking is far superior
police, military, and worked as a Federal Lawto shooting, regarding self defense. In modern
Enforcement Officer, as a Security Policeman in thehomes, made of foam insulation, wall board and vinyl
U. S. Coast Guard, and as a Security and Publicsiding; a pistol bullet can easily penetrate both sides
Relations person at FEMA for a while in disasterof five or six homes before stopping.Guns are
preparedness and as an on-site disaster centerexpensive and good guns are very expensive. There
worker.I do have some opinions and some are quiteare some ways to beat the system however. There
strong. They are based on knowledge andare lots of used guns on the market, especially police
experience and information from those who knowguns, because everyone, especially the police, want
better than I. So here is some data in the formto have the coolest and most awesome and most
of;Frequently Asked Questions and My Answers.Q:new gun that is being advertised. So they trade in
WHY HAVE A GUN IN THE FIRST PLACE?For thethe old guns and often the older guns are the better
same reasons we have smoke detectors, first aidguns although less cool. Silly aren't they? There are
kits, fire extinguishers; life, health, dental and homelots of good used pistols, revolvers and shotguns in
insurance. Because planning, preparation andthe gun shops of America and many of them are
investment in proper tools and devices -- give ussuperior to the new stuff in reliability and accuracy.
more control over ourselves and our destiny and wellGo figure! J Or you can purchase a new gun.No
being in any arena. And, having better control of ourmatter what you get, make certain that you learn
lives and future is a native concern and need forhow to use the gun correctly and get some training
most of us.I think, and most of us think, that any lifefrom someone who really knows guns and safe
worth living is worth defending. We have dedicatedhandling. Most men think they are genetically
40, 50, 60, or 100 hours a week to providing for ourendowed with gun smarts and they are not. In fact
families so that they may live life without majormost men who are first time or infrequent users of
interruptions or inconveniences and death or injury atguns are far more stupid and far more dangerous
the hand of a "Bad Person". Disaster is certainly notthan women and no more likely to hit what they aim
part of our plan for optimum survival for us and ourfor either. As a matter of fact, women are usually
family.Because people are neither natively brave norbetter shots than men atfirst, according to my
courageous and because people are natively moreexperience. I have taught several hundred people
comfortable, less fearful, having something to handhow to shoot for the first time and have helped a
for self and family defense; having a weapon to handfew dozen others shoot better. By the way I'm not
or a method of defense and protection is an internala professional firearms instructor, just a willing friend
instinct that is intrinsic and native. That can includeand neighbor who has shot a lot and owned a lot of
decisions to lock the doors, live in safer areas andguns over a lot of years.IF you do get a gun, and I'm
staying alert to news and current events. Even thosenot at all certain that you should; keep your
who hate guns and want all of them gone, alwaysdefensive firearm handy but secure and practice,
seem to have a kitchen knife, a baseball bat or apractice, practice. Practice often enough to be
sword (Ha) to defend themselves with. The Baddangerous to the Bad Persons and often enough to
Person, BP laughs as such implements in the hands ofNOT be dangerous to yourself and your family. At a
someone not used to fighting for their lives and it isminimum that will be weekly for a few months and
in fact laughable if you've ever seen a street thugthen monthly for several months and then at least
fight or attack someone.Those who decry guns areevery two or three months thereafter. Even those
the first to call 911 and beg someone, a policeman,who hunted all the time 30 or 40 years ago but not
with a gun to come and defend them - the policemuch in the last 10 years, are not to be trusted to
can not and WILL NOT ARRIVE IN TIME. In fact thebe safe and accurate with a firearm now.Q: WHAT
police are not even expected to arrive to defendIS THE BEST KIND OF AMMO FOR MY GUN AND
you. They are expected only, by law, to come andFOR SELF DEFENSE? IS IT BEST TO USE THE
mark chalk lines around your dead body and that ofBULLETS THAT COST 2 OR 3 OR 4 OR EVEN UP
your family - and to write up the reports, takeTO 12 DOLLARS PER SHOT?The silly news shows,
pictures of the blood splattered walls and floor, andthe major media evening news is fond of showing
file them away along with a report on what they findoff all sorts of buzz saw bullets and bullets that will
at the scene of your murder. Check it out; even thepenetrate bullet proof vests and all manner of other
Supreme Court of the United States had made anonsense. Almost anything on the evening news
written decision to that extent.Q: FOR A NONabout guns, ammo, self defense, etc. is a lie or at
SHOOTER, WHAT GUNS ARE RECOMMENDED FORbest BULL. Now, regarding ammunition; you don't
DEFENSE?None. A non shooter should not have anyneed a lot of ammo for self defense. In a defensive
gun. Having a gun without taking the time and effortsituation if you need more than ten or twenty shots,
to learn how to USE it correctly and safely hit whatyou are likely going to die anyway as there are either
is aimed at is not only silly but it's dangerous. Here, Itoo many people for you to defend against or you
agree with the anti-gun people. THEY shouldn't haveare too bad a shot to defend yourself. However,
a gun because they wouldn't use the gun and wouldunder the stress of self defense, it is not unusual for
likely shoot someone for nothing, or miss and hitpolice to miss every single shot from a 15 shotpistol
someone else. Non-Shooters should not own guns,when shooting at a Bad Person that is only 15 or 20
period. Anti-gunners are more likely to becomefeet away. In shoot outs where trained police are
murderers or accidental killers with a gun thanshooting at BPs who also have guns, it is not unusual
without. It is a cinch that if they don't trust othersfor several hundred shots to be fired for each
with a gun, they certainly are not worthy of trustperson that is killed. Think about it. They need to
with one themselves, and that's certain.Q: FOR ANpractice a LOT more don't they. Luckily BPs don't
INEXPERIENCED, NEW SHOOTER, WHAT DO Ipractice much, if any, either. What you need lots of
RECOMMEND?First of all, don't buy a gun if you areammo for is practice.How about all these wonderful
not going to become proficient with it and that takesand special self defense bullets? There are bullets
some time, repetition and training. My first suggestionthat cost $6 each or more that are supposed to
is the .38 caliber/.357 caliber revolvers. These arework better and faster for self defense. The real
inexpensive and easy to find new or used. The .357truth is that it doesn't matter a HOOT how
revolver and can be used with low power .38 caliberexpensive the bullet is, if you miss a vital spot in the
ammunition for practice and for defense the sameattacker. What you need is practice, practice,
gun will allow the use of extremely powerful .357practice, so that you can certainly hit what you are
ammunition. They are made to hold 5 or 6 cartridgesaiming at and STOP an attacker. REAL experts say:
and that should be fine for home defense. They areIt is better to shoot the attacker 6 times quickly and
quite accurate and fairly easy to learn. They have noaccurately when you need to stop the attack than it
"safety" lever so under tension and in the terror ofis to hit them with one
having to use one for self defense, there is nosuper-duper-Cowabunga-pooper bullet. So practice. It
safety to remember about changing to the fireis bullet placement that will save the life of you and
position from the safe position. Many, many peopleyour family; bullet placement that STOPS the Bad
have died as a result of trying to defend themselvesPerson fast enough to stop that BP from hurting you
with a gun that was still on safe when they neededor a loved one.Q: GUNS ARE NO HELP AGAINST AN
to fire it to stop someone from killing them. The BadAIRPLANE AIMED AT YOU, OR SOME ANTHRAX
Person won't wait for you to remember the safety.SPORES. WHY ARE YOU SO SET ON HAVING
I'm not in favor of safeties at all. Every person in theGUNS?Some folks are concerned about potential
home that has access to the gun MUST be trained insocial turmoil, rogue bands of harmful burglars,
safe handling. No safety switch, lock or chain willperhaps dangerous riots, and there is a certainty
make a gun safe in the hands of an idiot or anthat, for the first time, this war is happening here
unsafe gun handler - same thing.A revolver is the gunand there are no safe zones, at least no certain safe
that cowboys used. The cylinder holds six shots, andzones. As members of a community, we seek to
revolves as it's shot, hence it's called a six shooter orsupport our community with personal and community
revolver, and after each shot the cylinder revolves tocommitment -- a price others are and have been
put another cartridge in back of the barrel ready towilling to pay. Now it MAY be our turn. I'm not saying
fire when the trigger is pulled to slam the hammerthis is correct or right or even necessary; I'm just
down and fire the bullet out the barrel to what issaying that is what some people feel and
aimed or pointed at.Once a person has fired severalthink.Owning a weapon is a personal decision. Some
revolvers or several handguns, many of them choosepeople have swords, canes, baseball bats, pepper
a pistol. A pistol is a semi-automatic handgun thatspray, potato mashers and even hornet spray or a
does not have a cylinder but has a magazine to holdwater pistol full of vinegar for self defense. Years
several cartridges instead. It is called a semi-automaticago almost all women carried a few long hat pins for
because it moves a new cartridge in place to befireddefense and almost all men carried a stout umbrella
each time the trigger is pulled, just like a revolver.or a walking stick. In many countries, even today, it
Some pistols hold 15 or 20 shots or rounds as we callis considered sensible to carry a dagger, a dirk, or
it. Modern pistols are only allowed to have 10 roundseven a pistol (such as in Israel) or a rifle all the time
in America as a result of some idiotic laws passed byfor self defense. I don't take a position either way
people who should not be allowed to have gunsfor whether or not YOU have a weapon or decide
themselves. I prefer pistols to revolvers myself butto defend yourself against those who would rob or
advise revolvers for first timers to learn on.By theharm you and those near you.I do take one position
way, an "automatic" is a gun that fires all of thehowever. I think that those who say guns are bad
shots, in machine gun rapid fire fashion with ONE pulland no one should have a gun and no one should
of the trigger. Few people own and even fewer canprotect themselves with a gun should have signs on
effectively use an automatic weapon. They aretheir clothing, their cars and around their homes and
better for noise than for hitting something. The realbusinesses. That sign should say "I do not believe in
best choice for home defense is a shotgun. But mostguns or other weapons, and I do not have any
people want a pistol as it's easier to have next toweapons, and I will not defend myself, and I do not
the bed and to get ready. The shotgun however isbelieve in anyone protecting themselves against an
easier to aim under stress and is more likely to stopassailant." If you are really against self defense and
an attacker faster. Shotguns come in manyagainst guns - prove it and post the signs!Otherwise,
configurations and sizes. They come in severalfor those of intelligence; Take care, prepare, practice
cartridge sizes too. The two most common sizes areand be safe.