WCEarp
Regular Member
So, I finally decided to get a handgun for self defense. The idea of having one isn't new to me or my wife. My part time career takes me from home from time to time (some times longer than others). Also, I haven't be able to come up with a better defense measure against a home invasion or being assaulted outside the home. I use to think, in my younger days, that a shotgun would suffice, but with kids in the home, having a loaded gun unattended is out of the question. Besides it would be a royal pain to carry it around all day, let alone trying to conceal it during the summertime. Then when considering that my Bushmaster AR-15 has a 24" barrel, I would get the same problems as a shotgun plus the added down side of a rifle that is to long for close quarters combat. That seems to leave me with a handgun.
The family seems all for it. Not that the kids' opinions matter much when comes to self defense of my family, but it is nice to know that they are okay with it. My oldest boy is fine with long guns. Hunting, target shooting, and for the first time as of a couple of weeks ago, skeet shooting. He just doesn't have much interest in handguns. My other son never tires of learning about different handguns, how they work, or asking me to see the 22lr pistol that we're borrowing from my father-in-law. My little girl acts as if having any of my rifles out for cleaning or dry fire practice is something as normal as breathing. Also, all this talk about handguns in the house has given me extra time with the kids to talk about all the do's and dont's of gun safety. Now, my wife has been wanting a gun to go to the range with for years. I know, I know, what took me so long. Money, time, desire, everything that usually gets in the way. She use to go with her dad to the range all the time while she was in high school and loves our "range dates" with the borrowed 22.
I know this is a bit long for a forum post and introduction, but I wanted to lay it all out there so to speak. So, here is the issue I would like to bring up.
I am starting from scratch in the hand gun department. I will be getting a conceal carry permit for the times (which sadly are too many) when open carry won't be prudent for me, a night stand safe, OWB retention holster, IWB holster, belt, practice ammo, until I get enough new brass for the reloader, self defense ammo, and then a pistol. The wife doesn't like revolvers or the feel of compact pistols and wants one with a safety. This has brought us down to the Ruger SR9/40/c series and 1911 variations. I would like the SR9c for the time I will be needing to conceal but need to find a good way of solving the loose feel of the mag extension. After trying my father-in-laws IWB for his PT1911, I have agreed that it is quite manageable and comfortable. I would like to know if there is more attention given by Joe Public depending on the type of gun carried. Does the iconic 1911 bring about more curiosity or interaction from people or not. I ask because there are days I could care less about interacting with strangers and I don't think it would help normalize gun ownership if people approach me on my off days. I wish I could buy two guns, one for her and a Sig for me, but our budget isn't big enough since we'll be getting the boys a single shot 22lr for Christmas.
Thank you for your time and consideration
The family seems all for it. Not that the kids' opinions matter much when comes to self defense of my family, but it is nice to know that they are okay with it. My oldest boy is fine with long guns. Hunting, target shooting, and for the first time as of a couple of weeks ago, skeet shooting. He just doesn't have much interest in handguns. My other son never tires of learning about different handguns, how they work, or asking me to see the 22lr pistol that we're borrowing from my father-in-law. My little girl acts as if having any of my rifles out for cleaning or dry fire practice is something as normal as breathing. Also, all this talk about handguns in the house has given me extra time with the kids to talk about all the do's and dont's of gun safety. Now, my wife has been wanting a gun to go to the range with for years. I know, I know, what took me so long. Money, time, desire, everything that usually gets in the way. She use to go with her dad to the range all the time while she was in high school and loves our "range dates" with the borrowed 22.
I know this is a bit long for a forum post and introduction, but I wanted to lay it all out there so to speak. So, here is the issue I would like to bring up.
I am starting from scratch in the hand gun department. I will be getting a conceal carry permit for the times (which sadly are too many) when open carry won't be prudent for me, a night stand safe, OWB retention holster, IWB holster, belt, practice ammo, until I get enough new brass for the reloader, self defense ammo, and then a pistol. The wife doesn't like revolvers or the feel of compact pistols and wants one with a safety. This has brought us down to the Ruger SR9/40/c series and 1911 variations. I would like the SR9c for the time I will be needing to conceal but need to find a good way of solving the loose feel of the mag extension. After trying my father-in-laws IWB for his PT1911, I have agreed that it is quite manageable and comfortable. I would like to know if there is more attention given by Joe Public depending on the type of gun carried. Does the iconic 1911 bring about more curiosity or interaction from people or not. I ask because there are days I could care less about interacting with strangers and I don't think it would help normalize gun ownership if people approach me on my off days. I wish I could buy two guns, one for her and a Sig for me, but our budget isn't big enough since we'll be getting the boys a single shot 22lr for Christmas.
Thank you for your time and consideration