EXCELLENT HOME DEFENSE OPTIONS FOR NEW GUN OWNERS

It need not be big. It need not be fancy. But it must be practical

- PATRICK SWEENEY

We aren't all airborne qualified. A lot of us can't bench press our own weight. The bad guys know this, and preferentially target-select from those who aren't likely to put up much of a fight. So, insisting that “the only proper self-defense cartridge starts with a four” is doing those among us who are less capable to handle that horsepower a disservice.

If you need an example, consider your grandmother. Even if you can convince her to choose a firearm, do you really think she's going to appreciate the 9mm+P load you just handed her to try? And if you had her fire it out of the sub-compact pistol that's easy to carry" which you prefer, how many rounds with it?

Those of us younger, more fit, better trained, or some combination of those can count on using something bigger. And if a will she put up something bigger isn't available, then the vigorous application of boot soles, fists and nearby objects can see you, me, the young and fit to something better. Again, that perhaps isn't going to include your elderly relatives, who may likely be selected as an “involuntary donor” to the bad guy's lifestyle support fund.

There's also the matter of there not being an easy entry point Your student or relative, elderly or not, might not have an experience with firearms at all. You may well find yourself at a range that offers rental guns and spend time just handling at the counter, before going in to try one. Don't be surprised if a few rounds, or one magazine, later is all it takes to move on to the next choice. You'll have to cultivate patience.

You also have to consider who is going to be using what you suggest, as far as how much enthusiasm they might put into what you might chose for yourself.

So, let's consider some less-thanSEALs options.

LOSE THE EGO