Monday, March 12: A law-abiding black man with a gun. I like…
———————————————————————–
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (commonly called the D.C. Circuit) today declared D.C.’s stunningly stupid, misguided, and ineffectual 30-year-old gun ban unconstitutional. (via How Appealing and Instapundit)
Download a PDF copy of the opinion here.
One of the arguments gun ban supporters make is that since D.C. isn’t a state, the Second Amendment doesn’t apply to it. But some of those same anti-gun rights folks are pushing for D.C. to be recognized as a state so liberal, non-voting House of Representatives delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, will get to vote.
D.C.’s crime rate shot up after the gun ban went into effect, and the city has remained atop the high crime rate list. As I explained years ago, gun bans don’t stop criminals from owning and carrying guns. Breaking the law is what they do. My seven-year-old nephew has better reasoning skills than the D.C Council!
If the ban is indeed lifted, I plan to exercise my constitutional right to own a gun in the District of Columbia. I can’t wait to buy my first piece! 
Recommendations?
Reactions: MM, Hot Air, Cato, Blinkered Thinker who writes: “Would-be crooks should stay clear of the District; you’ll never know if your intended victim is a gun-toting, conservative blogger…”
Do you think they enacted the ban because the thought of Marion Barry with a .38 special scared the daylights out of them?
Finally common sense prevails in DC. Take note, it may not happen again for the next 100 years.
PS I’m a big fan of the .45 formerly used by the military myself but I have big hands. Go hit a gun range and try a few out and see what you like.
Comment by Greg Laurich — 03.09.07 @ 11:39 am
Cool!
Do you know of a place in your area where you can practice? That is one of the biggest difficulties in the big cities… there is no place to shoot!
Comment by jim Stegman — 03.09.07 @ 11:43 am
H-m-m-m-m-m!
D.C. doesn’t come under the Constitution? So, there go their three electoral college votes! Maybe they could kick start slavery up again. (The blacks could harness the whites.) No sticky 14th amendment stuff to deal with. Cram the federal income tax where the sun don’t shine. What a land of opportunity.
Comment by Heliotrope — 03.09.07 @ 11:44 am
Woohoo!
I could actually consider living there now. Before I just didn’t want to live in a place that said I am legally obliged to be helpless.
*Furtive glance, lowers voice* What kind of “piece” do you think you’ll get? Pistol or revolver? I’m a little nervous about asking because I notice that kind of question usually sets off a “Mac vs. Windows” style of debate.
I don’t know what prompted the court to look at this, but congratulations to the people of D.C.!
Comment by Tyrian Purple — 03.09.07 @ 11:46 am
Jim - Plenty of places in Virginia!
Comment by La Shawn — 03.09.07 @ 11:47 am
A while ago a caller to Gun Talk told a story of a DC thug who got a free ride when robbing houses.
He looked for greener pasteurs across the bridge in VA - when breaking in, he forgot that in VA being armed isn’t illegal. It was his final robbery.
PS - Isn’t DC the home of Women’s Liberation? Where are the NOW Leftists when women are deprived of “the great equilizer”?
Comment by Frank Zavisca — 03.09.07 @ 12:01 pm
Find a gun that fits your hand. If you have a small hand this will be important. You cannot shoot if you can’t reach the trigger. When you practice wear ear plugs and safety glasses. Keep your gun clean. If you (unlike me) have a normal sized hand, the new ruger is really a work of art.
Good luck.
Comment by Stella! — 03.09.07 @ 12:09 pm
I looooove guns…..I’ve got 3 of ‘em…
Lashawn, you live in D.C. and dont have one yet?
Wow……………….forget the law, gotta protect yourself up there.
Comment by lukeNC — 03.09.07 @ 12:14 pm
I would suggest that you try out a few auto’s. My personal favorites are the Sig Sauer P232 .380, the Sig Sauer SP2022 in either 9mm or .40 S&W or any of the Glock’s especially the G26, G28 or G29. But it really is a matter of what you feel most comfortable with.
Comment by James — 03.09.07 @ 12:17 pm
La Shawn Barber: If the ban is indeed lifted, I plan to exercise my constitutional right to own a gun in the District of Columbia. I can’t wait to buy my first piece!
Pingback by Sister Toldjah — 03.09.07 @ 12:20 pm
Luke! You’re a Christian recommending I break the law?
Comment by La Shawn — 03.09.07 @ 12:25 pm
BE NICE TO LA SHAWN BARBER, VERRRY NICE!
La Shawn Barber is giddy over the recent DC Court of Appeals ruling on the unconstitutionality of the District’s gun ban. Her desire to ‘lock–n–load’ is evident: “If the ban is indeed lifted, I plan to exercise my …
Trackback by BLINKERED THINKER — 03.09.07 @ 12:28 pm
La Shawn Barber is thrilled. Let freedom ring.
Pingback by Bitsblog — 03.09.07 @ 12:40 pm
I love it, love it. Guns are good.
Comment by Jeff Turner — 03.09.07 @ 12:42 pm
La Shawn, I believe that Luke is a Christian that is recommending that you exercise your Constitutional rights which cannot be subjugated by any law of man within the United States of America.
Comment by RaLph — 03.09.07 @ 12:44 pm
By the way the Springfield XD in .40 caliber or .45 caliber is the way to go. Beautiful, acurate, tough as nails, and best of all they are better than a GLOCK!!
Comment by Jeff Turner — 03.09.07 @ 12:45 pm
This is most welcome news! In terms of gun recommendations, you might first want to look into one of the many (and excellent) handgun courses offered down at NRA headquarters. This will give you a good hands-on grounding and arm you with tons of information about the lifestyle of handgun ownership (i.e. committing to regularly practicing/growing your shooting skills and cleaning/maintaining your gun). My only advice is to test whichever gun you settle on at the range on at least two occasions before purchasing one. Shooter’s Paradise down in Woodbridge is a great place for this. Enjoy!
Comment by Keith — 03.09.07 @ 12:47 pm
LaShawn,
The NRA Range is a wonderful facility to shoot at — we live in Germantown, MD, and it’s about 40 minutes from us. They don’t rent guns there, though. I’d definitely recommend looking into the training they offer — that’s how we got started. Shooter’s Paradise in Woodbridge (I think) does have some great rentals, including a Smith & Wesson .357 that I plan to be my next purchase. Maryland Small Arms Range also has a bunch of rentals, but it’s not as nice as Shooter’s Paradise or the NRA Range.
I have a Walther P22 and a Bersa .380. The .22 is sorta like a smaller-sized BB-gun. The .380 is a fantastic gun for my fairly small hands, and it shoots like a dream. My husband has a Springfield XD9 and a Glock .40. We also have a Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun that has a pistol grip and folding stock. I like his XD9, but the .40 is a bit too much for me to handle. It’s a sub-compact, so the gun itself doesn’t absorb much recoil. It makes my teeth rattle a little bit. I’m also a bit tentative about the shotgun — we just got it in January and I haven’t tried it yet. We’ve only been involved with firearms for a little over a year, so we have a lot to learn, yet.
We’d be happy to meet up with you at one of the local ranges so you can try out our “arsenal”!
BTW, we also applied for concealed carry permits, which should be here soon — we went for Florida permits because they have great reciprocity — with Virginia and Pennsylvania, among many others. We won’t be able to carry in Maryland, though. We might be spending a bit more time in Virginia once they arrive!
Comment by Eva Swiger — 03.09.07 @ 12:49 pm
Lashawn,
you’re too much of a goodie two-shoes…
Comment by lukeNC — 03.09.07 @ 12:55 pm
LaShawn,
The best thing to do is try a few of course, but if you really want to get the gun grabbers goat you must buy an AK or AR. Although they aren’t full auto “assault rifles” they will certainly give you hours of fun watching the grabbers squirm.
Comment by ScottG — 03.09.07 @ 1:20 pm
Hmmm.
What an incredibly silly idea. That elements of the Constitution do not apply to Washington DC because it’s not a state?!
Would that apply to Miranda? Habeus Corpus? 5th Amendment concerning self incrimination?
Really now. It’s even worse that this crazy stupidity was actually promulgated by one of the three appellate judges in the dissenting opinion.
Idiot nonsense coming from anti-gun zealots I can understand because they’ll do anything to prevent guns from being in the hands of those that need them for self-defense.
But idiot nonsense from federal judges.
That’s disturbing.
Comment by ed — 03.09.07 @ 1:24 pm
barettta .22 caliber with doctored ammunition.
Comment by Morgan Farmer — 03.09.07 @ 1:51 pm
D.C. Gun Ban Overturned
Last month I wrote about Marion Barry’s idea of temporarily lifting Washington D.C.’s 30 year old ban on owning hand guns. Well, it seems Barry will not have to worry about a temporary Halt. Now citizens of our nation’s capital will have the same ri…
Trackback by Fire and Hammer — 03.09.07 @ 1:56 pm
No one knows what you will like. Even you will not know what you like until you have tried quite a few. What it comes down to is something that you actually enjoy. If you get something too big you will not enjoy using it.
Enjoying yourself, and enough practice that you can use it accurately are the way I’d go. The training police use to put you in situations where you have to make a shoot/no shoot decision is also useful and a gosh awful lot of fun. the knowledge that you could defend yourself is a confidence builder. The probability that you might need to would drive me to another locale.
If you go so far as to get a concealed carry license you would have a tremendous responsibility. Freedom, and responsibility, are two sides of the same coin. Your blog clearly shows that you already know that. One more thing which can eat up a chunk of your time. One more thing that can increase your personal freedom and confidence. Best wishes.
Comment by Ted Moore — 03.09.07 @ 2:09 pm
This decision gives me hope for the judiciary in general. If these judges can see truth when it stares them in the face, maybe the habit will catch on elsewhere.
Comment by redbeard — 03.09.07 @ 2:15 pm
1. Join NRA
2. Go to Gun Range learn to shoot, try several types.
3. Purchase Gun
4. Apply for concealed carry permit.
Comment by rico — 03.09.07 @ 2:18 pm
I’d agree with Rico, go try out different weapons in different calibres and determine what is a good fit for you.
Glock: http://www.glock.com/
Sig-Sauer: http://www.sigarms.com/Default.aspx
Comment by I R A Darth Aggie — 03.09.07 @ 2:50 pm
DC Gun Ban Ruled Unconstitutional and Liberal Hypocrisy is Exposed Again!
The US Court of Appeals for DC has ruled. La Shawn Barber has details. What I find most interesting, is that those who wish to keep the gun ban claim that DC is not a state and therefore not subject to the US Constitution. They are correct.
Howeve…
Trackback by Independent Conservative — 03.09.07 @ 3:10 pm
Come to the DFW area, attend one of the many gun shows during the year. You will find one that’s appropriate.
I’m a small woman and like a semi-auto matic. Currently own a Glock 9mm and I’m looking for something smaller to fit in the purse and car. We would love to see you here.
Madi
Comment by Marcia Howell — 03.09.07 @ 3:16 pm
For ranges near DC, check out Shootersparadise.com they rent a variety of handguns, a bit further drive but still close by is http://indoorrange.com/ where they rent full auto guns.
Comment by m — 03.09.07 @ 3:24 pm
I live in a concealed carry state. As a liberal I do not have any problem with this. I have to admit that assault weapons do concern me. I think we should have some way to keep them out of the wrong hands. For all of you that were concerned about Muslims a couple of days ago. How does not keeping tabs on assault weapons square? Just asking.
I do not want to imply that there is an easy answer to this question. I just thought I would throw in some red meat.
Comment by Andrew — 03.09.07 @ 3:41 pm
.40 Springfield and load it up with some good hollow point ammo…
9mm pistols are for pimps and wimps…
You never want to shoot someone to wound em, if you aren’t prepared to use a gun to take the life of another human being while in the process of defending your own, you don’t NEED a gun…
Gun ownership is certainly not something to be taken lightly, with it, for HONEST gun owners, comes massive responsibility for safety and proper use, and training is an absolute requirement…
I can’t fathom what it would be like to be without a handgun, my Dad was a gunsmith and I have been around weapons of all makes, calibers and styles, and I still practice regularly, and always maintain the highest levels of safety and professionalism…
It’s the only way to go…
Comment by TexasFred — 03.09.07 @ 3:57 pm
Hi Andrew,
The 9/11 terrorists used box cutters, so guns in their hands doesn’t bother me as such. What bothers me is if I am barred from returning fire. What bothers me is if I could go to prison for defending my life or someone else’s life.
As for assault weapons…out of curiosity, do you know what those are? I have seen people refer to any kind of long-gun as an assault weapon. I grew up with long guns and I don’t have a superstitious fear of them. I’ve rarely used them, but my grandmother lived in a rural area (her neighbor has horses if that’s a clue) and we visited her. Guns for me were just something you used against wild dogs (which tore apart my grandma’s terrier) or other worse things lurking in the woods.
As to keeping tabs on who can and can’t have a gun, I like the idea of people who are certifiable (officially diagnosed as crazy) not having them. I like the idea of people with violent felonies not having them as well, but the thing is, they’re criminals to start with so they’ll get them anyway.
Comment by Tyrian Purple — 03.09.07 @ 4:18 pm
Appeals court overturns D.C. gun ban
A federal appeals court overturned the District of Columbia’s long-standing handgun ban Friday, reje
Trackback by Unpartisan.com — 03.09.07 @ 4:23 pm
Of course everybody is talking about it. This looks to me like the DC Court of Appeals has essentially struck down the entire DC gun ban with this decision.
Pingback by High Desert Wanderer — 03.09.07 @ 4:24 pm
My personal preference is a 357 magnum revolver, which can also shoot 38 specials. This has plenty of power. But it can have a brutal kick, so you can shoot 38 special wad-cutters for most of your target practice.
Many people say that for in-home defense, a pump shotgun is good. When you pump it to put a round in the chamber, the sound of the action is unmistakable, and certain to convey to any intruder that you mean business.
You might want to join the Virginia Gun Collectors Association. I am a member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, and just love their shows. I see that the VGCA has a show this weekend. You might want to check it out.
Comment by jim Stegman — 03.09.07 @ 4:34 pm
A co-worker of mine who has extensive experience in law enforcement suggested a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver as a first weapon. He suggested the revolver over the semi-automatic because sometimes you forget to chamber the round in a semi-automatic if you are in a rush. If you pull the trigger, you want to hear a bang.
Comment by Some Other Steve — 03.09.07 @ 4:39 pm
TexasFred
Do you have a link for the .40 Springfield?
Tyrian Purple,
I don’t confuse long guns with assault weapons much. I realize that there is a bit of cross-over. I live in the Midwest and we hunt here a lot. I am not worried about deer rifles or shot guns. I am more worried about things like AKs, M14, M16, M249. You know, the stuff where you can throw a lot out there with a single pull.
I also have concerns with “certifiable†people. I have known some pretty crazy people on a lot of medication. I would not want them to have a weapon yet medical records are confidential. Unless someone is institutionalized how do we know who the “crazy†people are? Do we put a hold on people who are on certain types of drugs? I worry about that.
Comment by Andrew — 03.09.07 @ 4:44 pm
La Shawn when and if this happens I will personally instruct you in the safe and accurate use of firearms. Remember gun control is hitting what you aim at. My recommendation for you would be a Glock G27 or a Sig Sauer P232 or 239.
Comment by Warrior Nurse — 03.09.07 @ 4:49 pm
If it were me, I’d go with a revolver over a semi-auto. Revolvers ALWAYS go bang, and they’re much simpler for beginners to get conversant with, both in shooting them and in maintainence.
Try a Ruger SP101. It’s a snubby, and it comes in both single action and Double action(you don’t have to cock a DAO.) The trigger pull is a little heavy on the the DAO but it’s nothing that an hour or two on the range each week won’t take care of.
Good luck and happy shooting!!
Comment by Lonevoice — 03.09.07 @ 4:51 pm
Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty, DC is FREE AT LAST!!!
As for Andrew the Liberal, if Muslim terrorist were a real concern to liberals, then they would support fighting them OVER THERE, before they can attack OVER HERE.
Oh happy day
The DC Circuit deserves a 21 gun salute.
Comment by Eric — 03.09.07 @ 5:02 pm
As I said before I know this is complicated. I also know that the fears I have may not be justified. Unfortunately a lot of people have these fears. If they are unwarranted perhaps there is some way to educate the great “liberal” masses about the over hype on the fear thing.
Yelling at liberals and telling them they are just trying to take everyone’s guns away, is first, not true and second, not fair. I have no liberal friends that want to take away people’s guns. They just don’t want them unlocked at a friends house where some kid can kill their kid on a play date. They don’t want some nut spraying the neighborhood. Unfortunately it happens here all too often.
I just don’t think the fear exhibited by the “liberal crowd” is completely irrational or ignorant. I think the fear is based on real issues that both gun owners and liberals can work together to solve. Blame does not seem to be working well for either side.
Comment by Andrew — 03.09.07 @ 5:07 pm
La Shawn packin’ heat? You go girl! Like a few others I recommend the Glock G27. The “Baby GLOCK”. Feels good in the hands and practically indestructible. It’ll fit in your purse AND your laptop bag. My wife loves hers. Sign yourself up for some safety courses and get to the gun range and you’ll love it! Thugs of D.C. beware!
Comment by Chucky — 03.09.07 @ 5:15 pm
The good guys win one - for a change!
Comment by Mwalimu Daudi — 03.09.07 @ 5:37 pm
Andrew,
This is only as complicated because it requires liberals to use common sense. If you and the “liberal crowd†fear the possibility of being harmed by others, then call 911 and wait or take some responsibility for your own safety. That choice is yours. Just stop trying to limit the choices and the freedoms of the adults among us.
Now, that wasn’t too complicated for you. Was it?
“A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.â€- S. Freud
Comment by Eric — 03.09.07 @ 5:54 pm
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed
This morning a three-judge panel overturned D.C.’s gun control law. There are lots of links at Instapundit, but here are a few others: Marc Fisher at the Post doesn’t come out and say it, but the tone of his article…
Trackback by Mark the Pundit — 03.09.07 @ 6:11 pm
Andrew, re: ” I have to admit that assault weapons do concern me. I think we should have some way to keep them out of the wrong hands.”
The reason Tyrian asked you if you KNOW what an “assault weapon” is, I think, is because most people DON’T know.
An assault weapon is something you use to assault someone. If you hit someone with a gulf club, that gulf club stops being sporting equipment and becomes an “assault weapon”.
Thus the term can be applied to virtually anything, which makes it dangerously confusing.
However, what most people MEAN when they use the term “assault weapon” is the fully automatic machine gun of the type used in combat, which fires a stream of bullets with one pull. I think that’s what YOU are talking about.
Because a confusing term is being used (perhaps by design?), Congress made the stupid error of banning an entire class of guns from sales a few years back just because they LOOKED like military weapons. In truth, most of them were just ordinary deer rifles. This is the why the NRA went ballistic then… they had good reason. The ban did not accomplish what Congress thought they were accomplishing because what they THOUGHT they were doing was, in fact, accomplished in 1934.
Here is something that may put your mind at ease:
It has been unlawful since 1934 (The National Firearms Act) for civilians to own machine guns without special permission from the U.S.
Full Auto Weapons
The machine guns used by gangsters back in the ’20s and ’30s instigated the above law. The special license required to own a fully automatic weapon is NOT easy to get. Most of the owners today who have these difficult to get licenses also have military and/or police training that turned up in their background check.
Since the above law was enacted in 1934, the only murders with fully automatic firearms in the US have ALL involved drug trafficers who aren’t exactly paying attention to the law in the first place. This is hardly a problematic track record for “assault weapons”! The NRA backs this law, keeping the true military-style weapons out of the hands of the general public.
Comment by mamapajamas — 03.09.07 @ 6:13 pm
Wow! Just clicked on La Shawn Barber’s Corner and found this bit of wonderful news.
Pingback by Sunflower Desert — 03.09.07 @ 6:28 pm
My son took me to the police practice range and put a shotgun in my hands. He showed me the “safety” and how to pull the slide. Then I shot big holes in paper targets at various distances.
The police range instructor told me that if a menacing character comes into my home pointing a pistol, that I definitely have the edge on him.
I have some old tarnished medals from competition pistol matches, but I really favor the shotgun for protecting hearth and home.
Since I don’t frequent the streets of the big city, I am not inclined toward pistols. Carrying a shotgun is less than subtle, but it sure makes the roaches scurry.
Comment by Heliotrope — 03.09.07 @ 6:48 pm
La Shawn:
You’ve opened a can of worms with this one! You think politics can be rough…..
Beware of ‘gun experts’…there is no perfect gun, just the right one for you. That being said, here are my suggestions:
1. Give serious thought to the moral and legal aspects of owning a firearm. Are you morally/psychologically capable of killing another human being, even in defense of your life? Some people aren’t. Warning shots and shooting to wound are for the movies. You must shoot to kill. There are also legal consequences to owning and using a gun you need to understand. Know when you can and cannot shoot. Always remember you are responsible for every round you fire from your weapon.
2. Shoot a lot of different guns and calibers until you find one you like. The weapon should be reliable, fit you hand, and you should be able to fire it accurately, quickly, and comfortably.
Stay with one of the following brands: Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Springfield, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Beretta, or Taurus (I own all of these brands and attest to their reliability).
As far as caliber, stick with .38, 9mm, .357 magnum, .357 sig, .40, or .45. Stay away from .22, .25, .32, or .380 (I own all of these calibers - except a .380).
3. Safety first, last, and always. Learn your gun and practice, practice, practice.
Me? I own over 25 handguns, 2 shotguns, & several rifles. I carry a 9mm Glock G26 on a daily basis. Why? It’s exceptionally reliable, accurate, concealable, easy to maintain, and I shoot it well.
Good Luck & Have Fun!
Comment by Chip in Tennessee — 03.09.07 @ 6:51 pm
Warrior Nurse, You’re wrong. According to John Ensign (R) Nevada, gun control is using both hands…
I’d love to have a pistol but I have yet to convince my wife….
Comment by Greg Laurich — 03.09.07 @ 6:54 pm
NO Greg according to United States Marine Corps PMI (Primary Marksmanship Instructor) Gunnery Sergeant J.E. Wilson circa 1982 “Gun control is hitting what you aim at!” As a former Marine enlisted man and officer even I have enough sense not to argue with the Gunny especially when he is right!
Comment by Warrior Nurse — 03.09.07 @ 7:11 pm
I never argue with Gunnies either!
Comment by Greg Laurich — 03.09.07 @ 7:23 pm
I am flat out struck that a moron on the DC Court of Appeals believes that the citizens of the district the lawyer in robes rules on do not have Constitutional Rights.
My guess is the idiot doesn’t actually believe it, and twisted themself into a pretzel to justify their rabid anti-gun beliefs. But really, as John Roberts oversees the Circuits, he should probe how this crazy stupidity was actually put in writing by one of the three appellate judges in the 2nd-highest Court in the Federal system.
=============
As for DC, they can still make it hard to buy a pistol under permitting, still legislate against concealed carry, even ban something like a shotgun from being bought by DC residents. But, ahem, if you have friends in other states, you are not prohibited from them “giving” you a firearm and now having it in your house.
IMO, as this gun ban has gone on for over a generation, and only thugs and paid government employees have openly had guns….everyday DC residents will need some serious education efforts on gun safety, liability. And suitability of home defense weapons. For example, even if someone breaks into your home and you defend youself with 15 high velocity armor piercing rounds that all fly through the perp and your house walls to endanger others - you are still in serious legal trouble. Pistols and kids carry heavy liability to you.
Best (and safest for you) home defense weapon is a shotgun loaded with birdshot, not wall-penetrating buckshot. At close range, up to 30 feet, a 12 or 20 even .410 round of birdshot will drop anyone. And a shotgun is far more acceptable nationwide than some gun nut using a .458 Casul Mangnum moose-stopping pistol or an AR-15 for home defense - especially as you attempt to explain to a lawyer why you fired rounds that went through 3 walls and endangered or struck others besides the ‘ol perp.
Comment by Chris Ford — 03.09.07 @ 7:24 pm
La Shawn, I’ve been shooting since I was 11 years old, and that was 1965! Everyone here is correct about handguns; try them out for the proper feel. The best thing about an armed society is that the evil-doers will never know what the wheel-chair bound old lady has under her blanket!
Comment by Tom Bosee — 03.09.07 @ 7:25 pm
La Shawn Barber: If the ban is indeed lifted, I plan to exercise my constitutional right to own a gun in the District of Columbia. I cant wait to buy my first piece!
Pingback by Common Sense Political Thoughty — 03.09.07 @ 7:25 pm
Post #38: Andrew… Here ya go, best I can find on short notice…
Springfield XD 40 Cal Pistol
My Son is a Deputy Sheriff and this is what he carries, he wanted a Glock and I informed him that I thought a Glock was a POS because they DO have a tendency to ’stove pipe’ a shell casing, a situation where a spent casing is trapped in the slide, thus jamming the weapon…
Well, my Son was thinking I was full of it until he was on the range one day during training and the instructor, who is a master armorer and a certified master Glock armorer had one lock up on HIM… Oops…
For a small set of hands the .40 may be a bit much, an S&W Chiefs Special loaded with .38 Special + P might be even better but I have carried a sidearm for the last 35 years and you couldn’t chase me hard enough, far enough or fast enough to GIVE me a Glock..
My personal favorite is an S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum w/6″ bbl shooting 240gr SJHP, but I have the hands for it and having never met La Shawn, unless she’s Bertha Butz BIG sister, that’s just too much pistol…
Comment by TexasFred — 03.09.07 @ 8:06 pm
“Best (and safest for you) home defense weapon is a shotgun loaded with birdshot, not wall-penetrating buckshot.”
Are your potential targets birds? If not, birdshot will not stop anyone. The wound channels are not deep enough to stop an advance. The criminal may bleed to death, but perhaps not soon enough for you to avoid death or serious injury too.
“At close range, up to 30 feet, a 12 or 20 even .410 round of birdshot will drop anyone.”
Check out “The Box O’ Truth” for a study on shotgun effectiveness.
Comment by ScottG — 03.09.07 @ 9:09 pm
Hard to go out with a shotgun in your purse/pocket…
Comment by TexasFred — 03.09.07 @ 9:54 pm
“I have no liberal friends that want to take away peoples guns.”
Then you have an unusual set of liberal friends, Andrew. I’m not saying that every liberal wants that, but a great many do.
“They just dont want them unlocked at a friends house where some kid can kill their kid on a play date.”
So what DO you want, Andrew? You are worried about a gun being ‘unlocked at a friends house’?Are you suggesting you find it necessary to bring the power of the government to bear on your ‘friends’ so that they will keep up THEIR houses in a manner that you find acceptable?
I would suggest that you and your friends would do better to exercise a little personal responsibility as well as parental responsibility, and ensure your child’s safety at a play date on your own, without the assistance of the federal government.
Sheesh, don’t you people talk to each other before sending your kids on a ‘play date’? Are you equally worried about your ‘friends’ exposing your kids to junk food? R-rated movies? violent video games? pornography?
Do you feel that you need the government to help keep those things out of your friends’ homes as well? It’s all for the kids, right?
The propensity that liberals have for restricting people’s rights and then claiming ‘it’s for the children’ is tiresome to say the least.
Especially when you consider that these are the very same people who fight for the right to have porn websites available for public use at libraries, causing me to have act as a walking barrier between my child and the computers at the local library. What happened to ‘it’s for the children’?
I just find this to be a disingenuous argument.
Comment by Stacey — 03.09.07 @ 10:00 pm
Andrew, I don’t blindly accuse liberals of wanting to take away peoples guns. I do notice that a large percentage of liberals do advocate just that however. The Swiss have just about the least violent crime of any nation I know of. They are also so heavily armed as to make any gun nut smile. They do not consider how heavily that they are armed as the primary reason why they have so little violence, just as the second most important reason. Ask them.
As a gun nut myself I think that fully automatic weapons are self defeating. Good for jungle or a mob and not much else in between. Most kick ass weapon I have used was a quad fifty. 98.6 of all assault weapons mass media is so concerned about are not auto, just look menacing to a reporter. Freedom looks menacing to a reporter.
“Shoot to kill?” Just shoot middle of mass. Big heavy slug? Better bullet placement is more important than bullet size. heavy recoil? A 357 is only about six pounds, practice and more practice, and that is not much.
Heavy responsibility? I have never shot a person. Would just as soon keep it that way. But if it was ever necessary I would prefer to have a tight grouping than a dead daughter. Or someone else’s dead daughter/son/grandma. In the small town that I live in am fortunate enough to be able to consider the police as on my side.
Andrew is right in that we cannot make progress until we talk to each other instead of past each other.
Comment by Creative dude — 03.09.07 @ 10:01 pm
Circuit Court Strikes Down D.C. Handgun Ban
This one is bound to cause some excitment.
Trackback by Wizbang — 03.09.07 @ 10:55 pm
Hi Andrew,
Mamapajamas pretty much explained why I asked if you know what an assault weapon is.
If you are worried about kids playing with guns…I can only go by my own experience here. In my childhood we saw what guns could do. We shot the BB gun for fun, but never at each other. We were expected to have more sense than that. I am alarmed actually by the way people infantilize children these days to the point where they aren’t expected to exercise any judgment at all.
My grandmother never locked up the shotgun, she kept it in her utility closet, sometimes it was leaning against a wall. We knew not to play with it because we understood its purpose. I think if you’re worried about kids, it would help if you get them to see guns for what they are, not keep them ignorant and at the same time making the gun an exotic taboo. I gather in some places they don’t even want kids to use plastic water pistols anymore, which I think is a mistake (because of the exotic taboo factor).
This could be where the parenting comes in. If you can’t trust the parents of your kids’ friends to teach their kids not to play with guns, then you probably shouldn’t let your kids go to their house at all. If they’re lax about things like that, they will be lax about other things as well, like leaving out medication that looks like candy, etc. Don’t take this as sarcasm, since I’m not meaning writing it this way. You can find out if someone is irresponsible long before their gun ownership becomes an issue.
But know that you still have to hold up your end and make sure your kids can react responsibly if they see a gun.
The point of all of the above is that personal responsibility is the solution to the concern you mention (about the kids and neighbors), and not restricting the rights of law abiding citizens.
Comment by Tyrian Purple — 03.09.07 @ 11:10 pm
Appeals Court Nixes Washington D.C.’s Big Gun Ban
A federal appeals court has turned thumbs down on a Washington D.C. anti-gun law that is the kind of law that even many advocates of gun control find extreme:
A federal appellate panel today struck down parts of the District’s gun law as unconsti…
Trackback by The Moderate Voice — 03.09.07 @ 11:13 pm
Caught this story earlier in the day, and of course by now it’s likely all over the gun blogs. I e-mailed a bunch of folks, noticing that I’ve lost a few addresses. Here’s the story at WND: Court dumps D.C. gun ban…
Pingback by FreedomSight — 03.10.07 @ 12:24 am
Come visit Pittsburgh and I’ll let you shoot a variety of pistols.
I passed the NRA pistol instruction class last year and have taught numerous friends.
Comment by John Davies — 03.10.07 @ 1:38 am
La Shawn,
Many People would argue, me included, that the first 10 Amendments were intended to apply to the Federal Government and serve to limit the powers the States and the People were delegating to it. These were not items that applied to the states at all – each state’s Constitutions covered what rights the People (citizens) of the States retained in their state. Of course the 14th Amendment screwed up that interpretation by redefining citizenship (the primary reason that Amendment ought to be done away with).
Personally I love the .45 but would recommend for you a .38 (revolver)
Comment by El Cid — 03.10.07 @ 7:07 am
Guns are great:
They kill baddies, they kill goodies, they make lots of money.
Where I part company is the notion that ‘fear or weapons’ signifies ’sexual immaturity.’
That’s just plain creepy. Old Freud was a master in the art of psychological projection
Comment by JohnD — 03.10.07 @ 7:43 am
Erratum:
‘Fear of Weapons’
Apologies. As you were.
Comment by JohnD — 03.10.07 @ 7:49 am
As I think LaShawn realizes, it’ll be awhile before she can legally own a firearm in DC, and very likely much longer after that before she could carry outside(the law struck down concerns only guns in the home). And neither of those options are guaranteed given the disconcerting roll of the dice that is the Supreme Court.
I have two .357s, one a beautiful 4-inch Rossi and the other a 2-inch 7-shot snubbie Taurus. I think revolvers are by far the best option for newbies, as I was. They are stunningly simple to operate and understand. They are not only universally acknowledged as more reliable per se but they also require less meticulous maintenance to keep them reliable. Yes, yes, revolvers like semi-autos should be cleaned and lubricated after every trip to the firing range, but it just isn’t as critical to their operation. I think a fair amount of newbies get training (Lord I hope so), get a gun, shoot once or twice and for the next ten years practice with it quite sparingly if at all. In that non-ideal situation, the revolver is going to be more reliable and easier to understand under stress than a semi-auto.
That being the case, I’d recommend a .357 because it can shoot both .357 and .38 rounds. This is standard advice that every gunner has heard. The more powerful .357 can be much harder to control than the .38, but that’s not a bug, it’s a feature–you can practice more enjoyably with even the stronger .38 load called the .38+P, and try the .357 round every once in a while to see if you ever can comfortably build up to it. (And few would recommend a revolver less powerful than a .38 for effective self-defense, though if you ever have a choice between a .22 and nothing, don’t choose nothing).
There are lots of good reliable revolvers and some have been mentioned. The Ruger SP-101 is a gem, but I wouldn’t use one these days because it only carries 5 rounds. But Ruger makes fine revolvers with higher capacity. I bought the Rossi and Taurus because they’re cheaper and still, in my experience and by reputation, completely reliable. Smith & Wesson is thought to be the gold standard by many, but there are still hard feelings over its past support–I believe under a different owner–of collusion with gun-controllers.
Last but not least, I am not at all anti-semi-auto. Next on my wish list is a Marlin 1894C, sort of a cowboy rifle but on my list because it’s chambered in .357 and I just love the idea of interoperability; and then after that, probably a Sprinfield XD in .40 (do they make on in .357 Sig? which by the way is NOT the same thing and interoperable as .357). Advantages of semi-autos include the potential for significantly higher capacity (12 to what, 15 or maybe even 17 rounds is not uncommon), and probably greater concealability. They also are less punishing to the user, certainly compared to 357 and .38+P, more accurate for the average gunner if they are well-tuned, therefore more fun, and therefore you may very well become more proficient with them. But again, they require more attention and maintenance and are more complicated to operate. (”More accurate” is important, obviously, but at close home-defense ranges a revolver is plenty accurate especially if you have practiced with it.)
A brief note about shotguns: Properly loaded they are indeed widely acknowledged as outstanding for home defense, and at the top of most lists. However, I’ve never liked the idea of swinging around a longish barrel in the tight quarters of an apartment–God forbid the assailant could grab the barrel and push it out of the way–and I’ve always wondered if it’s hard to find firing ranges that allow you to practice with them. Maybe not, I just have no idea.
I’m glad I live in the freedom-loving state of Virginia (at least so far–Arlington hasn’t taken over the Commonwealth just yet) but owning and carrying a firearm is a deadly serious proposition.
Comment by Christopher Fotos — 03.10.07 @ 10:27 am
BTW, the new DC AG Linda Singer will appeal the ruling. As was expected, DC Council and the Mayor are up in arms over this! Currently, our DC political elite are spending huge amounts of DC taxpayer money to join a class-action lawsuit against the firearm manufacturer over the violence in the major urban areas that Progressives have had unfetterred control for over 40 years.
So, the ban will remain inplace for some time to come!
Comment by marsouin — 03.10.07 @ 12:00 pm
Even a knowledgable layperson understands the the US constitution applies throughout the US and all its territories. For a practicing attorney to make the argument that it does not is dispicably dishonest. For a sitting judge to pretend to agree with the argument because it furthers her political agenda is even worse.
Imagine for a moment if this argument actually had merit, what would it mean for our “friends” on the left?
First off, all of the political demonstrations that the left has staged on the Mall for 40+ years would have been illegal. If you don’t have the bill of rights in DC, then you don’t have the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.
Without the Bill of rights, DC could enact laws to constrain its citizens from speaking out against the dominant power structure. Criticizing the DC government would get you locked up for sedition.
The police would need neither a warrant nor probable cause to come into your house and begin searching for evidence of a crime. Get ready for your 3 am wake up call and be ready to assume the position. The cops have decided that your bathroom is an opium den and that you’re running a prostitution ring out of your (non-existent) garage.
Without the legal protection against double jeopardy, the DA can shop around for a Jury who will convict you for that prostitution ring that you were supposedly running out of that non-existent garage.
In short, without the constitution and Bill of Rights, the District of Columbia would look an awful lot like east Berlin, but then maybe that’s the idea.
Comment by Lee — 03.10.07 @ 12:19 pm
Tyrian Purple, #63
Thanks for the thoughtful response and wonderful suggestions. I want to reinforce your point about “the exotic taboo factor.†To do so I need to tell you about what has evolved in out house over the past six years. When we had our first child, a boy, in 2000, my wife was adamant that we had no guns in the house and that he not play with toy guns. It was easy for me to comply with the first, as I am not a gun owner currently. The second, I was willing to go along with.
As my boy grew past age three, he would pick up almost anything and shoot with it. My wife was distressed. “Where does he get this stuff†she would say. “He does not see it on TV, we don’t let him watch violent videos, and Sesamie Street certainly does not have gun play.†She finally asked a couple of other women in the neighborhood with boys approaching ten. They told her to give up on the “no gun thing.†They suggested that guns become “an exotic taboo†if they are not allowed. They told her they had both started with the same strategy of no guns and had changed their approach in the face of experience.
I guess what I am saying is that your suggestion seems very helpful, and rational. It seems a reasonable way to make the inevitable mixture of guns and kids safer. They will come across them no matter what my wife wants. They may as well learn to treat them with the respect they deserve.
As to your second point, “This could be where the parenting comes in.†We have tried to spend time with the parents of the kids our children are playing with. I can imagine this might get tougher as they get older. We shall see how it goes.
Again, thanks.
Andy
Comment by Andrew — 03.10.07 @ 3:38 pm
Creative Dude #61
Thanks for your response. I do not mean to imply that all gun owners think liberals want to take away their guns. I know many. I do think some of the rhetoric of the NRA can be pretty accusatory. Perhaps this is the best way to raise money, through fear of liberals.
I agree there is a lot about guns that the “liberal side of the isle†has no knowledge of. This lack of knowledge also breeds fear. I think it is the same “fear of the unknown†that I have seen in poor race relations. Once a “liberal†and a “gun nut†get in the same room they inevitably come to an understanding.
I saw some movie, a while ago, that explored the reasons why we have such a high incidence, per capita, of gun death in this country. I think it may have even been done by Michael Moore, but I can’t remember. The movie compared Canada to the US. It pointed out that gun ownership is roughly the same in both. Yet gun deaths are much higher here. I think this movie was very enlightening for a lot of liberals. It explained just how complicated the issue is and how gun ownership actually may not be and probably is not the problem. Thus, the draconian solution of reducing or regulating gun ownership may not be the only way to reduce gun violence. I don’t even remember if the movie was able to provide an easy way to solve our gun violence problem. In fact it may have said the opposite. There is not easy solution.
I guess I am trying to agree with you. Gun violence is a complex, yet seemingly solvable problem. After all Switzerland seems to have figured it out. So has Canada. Perhaps we should explore these two “gun cultures†for possible suggestions.
On a slightly related topic, I was talking to my business partner. He just got back from his second tour, in Iraq, at Camp Anaconda. He is very concerned about the safety of “civilian guns.†He owns a lot of them and says that the safety switch is often not at all safe. His contention is that military guns are noticeably more difficult to take off safety accidentally. The civilian gun is often very easy to take off safety. He has seen it happen when a gun is put into a belt, pocket or case. He notes that there is very little incidence of guns shooting their owners in the military, while in civilian life people shoot themselves, accidentally, all the time.
Comment by Andrew — 03.10.07 @ 4:06 pm
Lee #72
I do not mean to be sarcastic here. I will try not to be.
I assume, from your post, that you must be very concerned about the trashing of the bill of rights that we have seen lately. Getting rid, or even weakening, the right to habeus corpus is a rather large flaw in the legislation of the 109th Congress.
We should all be a bit freaked out by what has been going on. If it had been a Democratic Congress, would so many have stood by silently saying things like “hay man, I have nothing to fear as a law abiding citizen so who cares if I give up some rights in a time of war?â€
It is interesting the flip flop I have seen in these last six years. The liberals are lamenting the seemingly continuous weakening of the Constitution, Amendments to the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, while the conservatives use the war to justify the changes. I often ask myself, who is really a conservative or liberal anymore?
Comment by Andrew — 03.10.07 @ 4:24 pm
Go to a gun store that has a shooting range.
Tell them what you want it for, what you think you would feel comfortable holding and let them guide you. I suggest getting a revolver. For a woman, a .22 or a .38 is probably good.
I have a S&W .38. If I use it, I want to make sure it fires and doesn’t jam. The Glocks I’ve used have jammed at one time or another.
Comment by DarkStar — 03.10.07 @ 5:23 pm
#74 “Gun violence is a complex, yet seemingly solvable problem. After all Switzerland seems to have figured it out.”
I don’t think Switzerland is comparable to the US.
And I don’t think they ever had a ‘gun problem’ to solve?
http://www.theblessingsofliberty.com/articles/article11.html
Regards,
JohnD
Comment by JohnD — 03.10.07 @ 5:28 pm
Obviously everyone here is recommending a revolver, but I wouldn’t write off the power, or convience of semi-automatic pistol.
With proper training, the semi-automatics can work quite well for a novice.
LaShawn do you have a shooting range near you? I can’t imagine it’s illegal to start practicing right now.
By the way, as a Public figure, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be eligible for a permit. You’ve certainly had your share of threats right here on this blog!
What it comes down to is training and practice, which is much more important than choice of gun.
Comment by Glamchild — 03.10.07 @ 5:29 pm
John D,
I don’t disagree. I just want to know why they don’t, and if anything they do would help here? For all I know, it is because absolutely everyone is trained in how to use a gun.
Comment by Andrew — 03.10.07 @ 6:34 pm
Andrew,
Re#73. I have a daughter that was born in 2001. For Christmas 2006, she got a pink Cricket .22 rifle. She can load and fire it accurately without assistance, but is only permitted to handle it under my direct supervision. I own a number of firearms, but I have no fears about her misuse of any of them. She knows that if she wants to touch any of my firearms, all she has to do is ask mommy or daddy. Firearms aren’t a taboo in our home. Her natural curiosity has been satisfied by knowledge and training. As my daughter goes older, she will have the opportunity increase her knowledge and as she demonstrates he competency, she will granted greater freedom when making firearms related decisions.
In contrast, what you and your wife have done is foster an environment of ignorance. Ignorance along with normal youthful curiosity can possibly have some negative outcomes. IMO, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, drowning, and firearms accidents can all be the result of ignorance. Furthermore, information and knowledge will trump peer pressure almost every time. FWIW, you are free to parent as you choose, but ignorance has no place in our home.
Re#74. Not one of my revolvers has a safety. Why? The safety on a firearm is not a mechanical switch; it is between the ears of the user. Firearms are designed to fire when the trigger is pulled. Lower rate of “guns shooting their owners in the military†may be the result of familiarity with firearms, and the following of the basic rules of handling firearms.
1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
2. Keep you finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. Keep the gun unloaded until ready to use (ready to use is defined by the user).
Military training has provided education to replace the ignorance that may have been encouraged by parents. If more parents choose education as opposed to ignorance, we would all be better off.
Comment by Eric — 03.10.07 @ 6:36 pm
“I often ask myself, who is really a conservative or liberal anymore?”
LOL. That’s easy. IMO, the conservatives have become liberals, and the liberals have become Socialist/Communist/Marxist. (But, that is a another topic for another day.)
Comment by Eric — 03.10.07 @ 6:45 pm
“As I explained years ago, gun bans don’t stop criminals from owning and carrying guns.” (LaShawn)
That’s 100% right. John Lott (”More Guns, Less Crime”), initially a skeptic, proved that to be true with his own research.
Gun bans, even gun control directed at law-abiding (non-criminal) citizens is actually a ban on violent self-defense, which is really a violation of one of the most basic natural rights we’re all endowed with.
NYC & Wash, D.C. - strictest gun cotrol laws and some of the worst violent crimes.
They could shut down every gun manufacturer and thugs would still find a way to make cheap, affordable zip guns and such - banning a specific weapon (guns) does not ban random, predatory violence.
You’d have to find a way to ban thugs to do that.
Comment by JMK — 03.10.07 @ 9:31 pm
Interesting comments Eric. It is interesting that we as liberals are all for sex education and personal responsibility as a way of protecting our daughters against unwanted pregnancy yet preach ignorance with regard to guns. It is also interesting that conservatives do the opposite. We may all have something to learn. Thanks for your sage advice.
Andy
Comment by Andrew — 03.10.07 @ 11:25 pm
Andrew,
I don’t think many conservatives preach ignorance of sex for our children.
As a conservative, I want two things:
1)age-appropriate sex education
2)parental led and/or approved sex education
Once again, I would argue that it is neither the governments’ job nor its’ right to supplant me as a parent (or anyone else).
Comment by Stacey — 03.11.07 @ 12:27 am
Stacey
Good point.
Comment by Andrew — 03.11.07 @ 1:40 am
Andrew,
Have you been paying attention to the news. The liberal method of teaching my daughter Sex ED is by having sex with her. All education (gun and sex) will begin at my home. On these subjects, my daughter’s parents are more than willing to teach her what she needs to know, when she needs to know it. As I said previously, ignorance has no place in our home. What is better, we would never take advantage of her in the process.
Liberals who can’t teach the 3 R’s in failing government schools are always willing to volunteer to teach someone else’s kids Sex ED, and then drive them to planned parenthood without parental consent. No thanks. I don’t want a sexual predator teacher educating my kids on how to use a condom without the aid of a banana.
Additional proof that…
“A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.â€- S. Freud
Comment by Eric — 03.11.07 @ 3:36 am
It’s revealing to note that it’s liberals and leftists who do not trust the people, their judgement, their intelligence, or their morals.
Comment by redbeard — 03.11.07 @ 12:36 pm
In an ideal world I would agree with you. Unfortunately I live in a city where my wife teaches kids that do not have anything resembling a stable home life. Often the way her kids learn about sex is first hand, from Mom’s boyfriend or the neighbor kid. These are the tragic victims of generational poverty, drugs, and ignorance. It would be nice if everyone had a well adjusted parent or two. They don’t and someone needs to teach them not to have a kid at 13.
Comment by Andrew — 03.11.07 @ 12:38 pm
What gun?
What are you going to use it for?
If you plan to leave it at home for protection, a 410 shotgun is best. Nice pattern and easy to buy.
If you need one to carry, then you have two problems. First size and second what to do with it if you use it. You will NOT be able to get a carry license in DC, they will enact a NYC bill making it impossible to get a carry permit. Some states have good carry permits others like NC have HORRIBLE carry bills. In NC a carry permit is worthless and actually increases your liability if you have one.
This is illegal, but if your choice is rape, murder or self protection, most choose self protection.
Buy an unregistered gun from a third party that is NOT traceable to you. If you have to use your weapon, simply leave it and leave. Never shoot a weapon at anything you don’t plan to KILL. So think before you pull your gun, do I want to KILL this sucker or give him my wallet? Prepare yourself for that choice, or don’t carry a weapon and be a victim.
Your choice of weapons are limited to what you can find from an untraceable source.
In a perfect world you would get a Seacamp .380. It is a pocket gun with 8 shots. No bigger than a small digital camera or a pack of cigarettes.
It is only good for close in shots, AKA self defense.
It is VERY upsetting when honest citizens have to break the law to protect themselves, but unless you live in a pro gun state like VA or FL you have no choice.
Just think less than a 100 years ago Sears sold guns by mail to anyone anywhere.
Kemp
Comment by kempermanx — 03.11.07 @ 1:21 pm
I’m lucky enough to have a Luger that my great uncle brought back from the battle of the bulge. Discovered it a couple of years ago after he died–cleaned it up and it shoots like brand new.
Comment by Lucinius Antonninus — 03.11.07 @ 6:06 pm
Check out what bloggers The Moderate Voice, La Shawn Barber, Michelle Malkin, The Gun Toting Liberal are saying about guns on the streets of D.C.
Pingback by African American Political Pundit — 03.11.07 @ 6:22 pm
Andrew, We’re drifting a bit off the thread, but I’ll add this anyway. (Sorry La Shawn) If the swiss do not have a gun problem, use their experience as a part of the solution. If the children your wife is teaching have problems with a stable family life, check out a spreadsheet with ease of collecting government funds vs stable families. The actual thing in common with many liberals and conservatives are what we hope for friends and neighbors to achieve. The big difference are the methods. I highly recommend reading six months worth of Tomas Sowell’s short articles to gain a comprehensive idea of “trade offs”.
Comment by Creative dude — 03.11.07 @ 7:55 pm
Remember that all handguns except double action revolvers have some kind of safety feature. You will have to cock a hammer or push a slide or button. Learn to do this in your shooting motion. You are most likely to use a gun for protection at close range, not target range distance. You will probably point and shoot rather than aiming. Knock down power should also be a consideration. The .357 mag. and anything from .40 up has the potential to knock down an attacker with almost any hit. It’s why the Army went to .45 when they were facing an enemy high on drugs in the Philippines. You might face the same situation.
Andrew
In my state I would have to get a permit from the sheriffs department to purchase a handgun. I think that’s good. But I have this suspicion in the back of my mind that those who advocate gun control want a lot more than that. D.C. was a good trial. Handguns were banned. Did it drop the incidence of gun crime?
Comment by Mike O — 03.11.07 @ 9:45 pm
Obviously everyone here is recommending a revolver, but I wouldn’t write off the power, or convience of semi-automatic pistol.
My concern for the home was jamming. I’ve shot enough of them and jamming has been an issue.
The .357 mag. and anything from .40 up has the potential to knock down an attacker with almost any hit. It’s why the Army went to .45 when they were facing an enemy high on drugs in the Philippines. You might face the same situation.
Stopping power is important but if you can’t handle something that size, then stopping power doesn’t matter if can’t hit the target.
Comment by DarkStar — 03.11.07 @ 10:29 pm
Even if it does jam…
Shooting isn’t everything.
Never underestimate the power of a good pistol-whipping.
(Just kidding!)
Comment by Glamchild — 03.11.07 @ 10:34 pm
DS, a shotgun remains the best option for the home. A 12 ga. Remington 870, with that unmistakably threatening sound of the action being racked, is my favorite by far.
As for handguns, the .45 ACP is one of the finest sidearm cartridges ever designed. My old military 1911A1 pistol has been tuned and polished so that it will digest any ammunition without jamming. The combination of the 1911A1 design and the .45 ACP cartridge is simply (in my humble and unbiased opinion) the best thing going in a sidearm. For concealed carry it’s a bit bulky, but that can be solved with the new compact frame designs out there. Springfield and Kimber have some nice ones.
One reason oft stated for the military leaving the .45 and going to the lesser 9mm, that the 9mm is “easier” to handle, has never made any sense. Sounds like lowering the training standards to me.
I don’t own any of the “compromise” calibers like .38, .357, 9mm; only .44 and .45 stuff, plus a couple of .22s for plinking. My favorite handgun (just for fun) is my Navy Arms .44 Walker Colt, a nearly 5 pound black powder hand cannon with a 9″ barrel. It’s bigger than Dirty Harry’s S&W .44 magnum. When it goes off, with a big cloud of greasy smoke and the sound of a field artillery piece, there’s no mistaking it for anything else.
Comment by RedBeard — 03.12.07 @ 7:25 am
Just like when a judge struck down a gun ban in CINNINATTI a few years ago all the predictions made by the liberals of a high crime rate and a increase in murders but as one persons said AND NOT A SHOT WAS FIRED or the ridiculous predictions made by the liberal left-wing news media when BILL CLINTONS big gun ban expired in 2004 the predictions in the increase in murders and nothing happened which means the liberals predictions and as empty as their heads squawk squawk
Comment by BIRDZILLA — 03.12.07 @ 10:42 am
Creative Dude
I will check out Tomas Sowell’s short articles. Thanks.
I did talk to some Swiss friends yesterday. They are here doing cancer research at a nearby university. They explained gun ownership in Switzerland. There are lots of rifels in people’s homes because the army keeps them there with the reserves. These weapons have a seal that if you break you go to jail.
They also were amazed at how easy weapons were to buy in the US. They mentiond the ease of buying a hand gun in particular. In Switzerland you need a license, and to take a test, even to keep it in your home. Almost no one is issued a carry permit. If you want to hunt you must also have a license, and it is contingent on your belonging to a club where you can use the gun to hunt.
Expense is also an issue in Switzerland. Guns there are very expensive, they say.
After talking to my friends it is clear to me that the Swiss example, of a safe place where guns are prevalent, is not comperable to the US. Perhaps Canada is a closer parallel.
Comment by Andrew — 03.12.07 @ 10:56 am
Get a hand gun, say a 1911 style in .45, they are cool. Get a short barreled double action revolver for combat in 357 wiht hollow point ammo, the short barrel means its hard for a bad guy to wrench out of your hand. But for real protection get a Remington 870 pump shotgun with a short 20 inch or so barrel- get it in 20 gage 3 inch mag.- these are light, pointable and good for upland game hunting too.
Comment by Robster — 03.12.07 @ 12:08 pm
I frankly care not one whit about how they do things in other countries. But still, it’s important to get the facts straight.
That “seal” is to switch the weapon from semi-automatic to fully automatic fire, a procedure that must be authorized by a militia officer. But semi-auto and bolt action rifles are without such restrictions, and widely owned by private citizens. Handgun permits are issued to anyone without a criminal record. There is a firearm in Switzerland for every two people, yet the crime rate with firearms is so low as to be almost non-existent.
Comment by RedBeard — 03.12.07 @ 12:35 pm
“there is a firearm in Switzerland for every two people, yet the crime rate with firearms is so low as to be almost non-existent.”
Maybe there might be a slight reason to care about ‘how they do things’ in other countries after all?
Even I’m not too proud to learn by either my mistakes, or others…
Comment by JohnD — 03.12.07 @ 6:11 pm
If you are having a problem with a semi-auto jamming, you may want to clean your chamber and not shoot with a limp wrist.
That being said, I would recommend a revolver for anyone who is not a regular (twice a month) shooter. I bought my wife a Taurus 605 and she loves it. I liked is so much, I bought one for myself. A semi-auto is like a SLR in that it takes a little more effort to master. A revolver is like a point and shoot camera, you just load it, point, and click.
Comment by Eric — 03.12.07 @ 7:59 pm
JohnD, my only point in making the statement you quoted is that the anti-gun activists who state that gun availability is directly proportional to gun violence are wrong. The correlation doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Eric, I’m completely biased as to the “proper” handgun. I refuse to own a handgun unless it’s a semi-auto, a revolver, a derringer, or a single-shot.
Comment by redbeard — 03.12.07 @ 8:24 pm
Let’s face it:
Women with guns don’t get raped!
I know, I know ….where are my statistics ???
Comment by Glamchild — 03.12.07 @ 10:34 pm
La Shawn packing heat… You go girl!!!
I wanted to buy a handgun when an old boyfriend broke a restraining order, but my male friends convinced me to buy a 20-gauge shotgun instead. I shot it once… Scared the bejesus out of me! But because they cared for me, and knew I lacked firearm skills, they reasoned that all I’d have to do is grab that sucker and fire in the general direction of the intruder. They also said - like so many others here on LBC - if someone hears you cocking a shotgun, they’ll likely hightail it outta there before you get a chance to shoot. I couldn’t argue with that philosophy. I keep it beside my bed at night in case I ever need it. So far I haven’t had to use it… Could be because I no longer live in Durham!
Comment by Tate — 03.13.07 @ 11:19 am
Andrew, I’m kinda glad that La Shawn is allowing us to drift off thread a bit here.
I thought I mentioned that the swiss do not attribute their low violent crime rate primarily to their degree of weaponry. The paper I read quoted swiss authorities as saying the primary thing they thought kept their crime rate down was the fact that most swiss live in the same general area most of their lives. They do not have a mobile population.
The second thing mentioned was the ready availability of firearms. Tertiary was that the swiss population is relatively homogeneous despite diverse ancestry.
I’m sure the individuals you talked to mentioned that the seals were on the auto switch only? If we want to compare apples to apples, we can look for data in areas where guns laws have been changed. It may not be the data we want to make our own point, but it would have a degree of consistently that would be helpful in determining reality.
Thank you La Shawn, for allowing this discussion.
Comment by Creative Dude — 03.14.07 @ 12:00 am
It’s hard to beat a classic S&W Model 10 in .38special.
Comment by DirtCrashr — 03.14.07 @ 12:53 pm