Wanna Buy a Handgun?
Posted: Friday, February 08, 2008
by Bruce Horst
WryteStuff
If you are considering the purchase of a handgun for your protection, there are a few things to consider. Would you feel safe with a gun which misfires once for every 10 times you pull the trigger? Would you maintain a gun which left your family less safe than it would be without it? After being robbed at gun point and consequently completing a concealed handgun course, I have a few observations that might prove valuable to anyone considering a handgun purchase.
I grew up around farming so I've always been familiar with guns. Like me, many people who have a gun in their house feel safer because they know if they ever needed a gun it's there for them. My thinking changed a bit the morning a masked gunman came through my back door without warning. I would never have been able to get to or use an unloaded gun in my bedroom closet, and it probably would have only ended up in the hands of the robber.
What I realized was that if I was going to have a gun, I would either have to carry it, or it would have to be in a place where I could grab it and use it instantly. It would also have to be hidden so that an intruder could not find it if I didn't get to it first.
Because I have a 7 year old, the hiding places must be completely inaccessible to him. I have also selected handguns which he absolutely can not cock himself. If you have children in your home, you must be positive that your guns can not be fired by them without your help. Trigger locks are cumbersome, and the only alternative is a hidden gun safe. There are small safes which require a fingerprint scan to unlock, and then they essentially hand you your gun. Very cool.
A Semi-Automatic or a Revolver?
Who can resist the stopping power of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun which can hold 15 rounds (or more!) in a clip? Hold one in your hand and you instantly feel empowered! Not to mention that if you take your teenage son with you to the shooting range to practice with such a gun, he will be the envy of all his friends. So the decision is an easy one, or is it?
When I participated in the concealed handgun course with 40 others, every single one of us brought a semi-automatic along for the shooting competency part of the final test at the end of the day. During this test an eye-opening thing happened. We were separated into groups of about 13, and for each part of the test we had to fire between 1 and 5 rounds, for a total of 50 rounds. Each and every set of firing ended in at least 1 gun miss-firing or jamming, several times as many as 5 guns jammed at once.
By my calculations more often than once out of every 10 times when a student went to fire their handgun, the gun did not fire! This is anecdotal for sure, but the vast majority of these guns were new with only a few dozen bullets fired through them, recently cleaned, and the people firing them had spent a day learning proper gun handling techniques. If they were ever ready to fire their weapon it was there at the final test, and less than 90% of the time they were successful in firing their guns! Nearly every one of us had a jam. How much worse would it have been if they hadn't fired their guns in months, and it was in a heated moment of self-protection? Sounds almost like Russian roulette to me.
Bottom line is that a revolver might not be as sexy and probably won't hold as many bullets, but the confidence of knowing that when I pull the trigger the gun will fire every time goes a long way.
My personal solution is to own a Glock 9mm semi and a Bersa 380 semi, hidden in the two areas in my house where I spend the most time, and a cute little Smith & Wesson 38 Special J-frame Airweight that fits comfortably in my pocket.
When I'm asked why I carry a gun, I respond that it is because the U.S. Constitution and the State of Texas allow me to. I expect that I will never really need a gun again, but if I do, I need it to work flawlessly.
Good luck in the purchase of your next handgun!
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More commentsHi Bruce. Your article is very informative and well written.I agree with how you feel on the subject,but....... my experience in life has been different.
Just over a year ago someone here was stabbed to death. On that day I managed to deal with the violent incident without a gun, and two men were locked up. If I had been armed I would probably have used the gun, as they were fearless.
A gun when fired can do horrific damage, so be very aware of that before taking aim.
Thank you for your article,
Outstanding article Bruce. Also your article was very informative.Unfortunately my wife is against having guns in the house, and we have three kids. What is your suggestion, and how can I convenience her it is a good thing to have. I look forward to reading your response.Sincerely,L. Jones
Great job... I understand control, as we have had a child neighbor kill her own brother due to negligence of a farm arm. I too live in the country still and know that gun safety is extremely important. thanks
It's a great article, but regarding me i 'm totally against guns. Is not that i'm afraid of them but because i believe we can create a perfect world without being scared that at the corner we can be attacked or that in one night a thieve will get in our house. I want peace no war.
Excellent Article. Have a gun is a citizen's right. Knowing how to use it and be safe is our responsibility. Keep educating our public!
Be honest... you dont need a gun. You just enjoy having one. the thought of random people out on the street who think they would be just in using a firearm against another person that they percieve as a threat makes me sick. Robberies rarely result in violence. Do you often walk around with an amount of money that is worth more than someones life? And to shoot a random person... because there desperate enough to try to rob you is disgusting. These people are drug addicts and likely will someday lead a productive life, often they have people who love and care about them. And you think its up to you whether they should live or die??Wow, I hope that you are never put in a position that you wished you had carried a gun. When someone is intent on doing you harm, whether from robbery or other types of violence, having the choice to carry a firearm can make the difference between life and death, YOURS!!! Even if they are desperate and feel that it is okay to rob someone, even if they are drug addicts and could someday lead a productive life, at the time they are robbing, they are not being productive, they are harming someone else. And if they hurt me I also have people who love and care about me and I don't want them to have the choice of whether I live or die. I will carry a gun to protect myself as is my right as an American.
Most jams such as the ones you talk about--new guns that I assume are quality makes with good bullets jam because of a poor grip--proper training on a firm grip and the reason for the correct grip is paramount. I shot many many thousands of rounds with my work Glock 40 cal and never had a jam--when I was training someone on a brand new Glock--he jammed often on his weapon, until he learned how to properly grip and fire it--it never jammed again--Revolvers are great for new folks and are "almost fool proof" but they are not cool nowadays--guns shouldn't be cool though--they are a serious tool and must be respected and handled with skill and clear mindedness.
If you had seen the group of people that got their concealed handgun license with me, Steve, it might have made you re-think gun control a bit. One guy at the shooting range used the barrel of his gun to scratch the back of his head, and of course it was loaded. He got his license at the end of the day, just like I did.I kinda thought you were against gun control so I was surprised by this article, but the jam issue I just had to address--your story about the guy scratching his head with a loaded gun shocked the poop out of me!!!--that is singly the stupidest thing I've ever heard about guns and training.
Steve
This was the very first article I read from Bruce! Ah, memory lane. It's the sound of freedom (for all legal purposes)!I'm embarrassed by this article, G. I think after the day is over I'll remove it forever. I had a reaction to having a gun put to my head, and now that I've regained an equilibrium I'm embarrassed that I've ever written anything that can be construed as pro-gun. I guess it was all those calls from the NRA trying to get me call my elected representatives for reasons I consider outright lies and fear-mongering.I remember cheering in my apartment when Bush declared war on Iraq. I was caught up in the moment (of lies).
Yes I do, the biggest and baddest gun the world has ever seen, lol. And I would use it, believe me, I would.
Great article, I think the way the world is changing, having a gun is a requirement for your own safety and freedom.
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