So here’s the “hypothetical:” If one were a grad student in a gun unfriendly place like Chicago (or DC, etc.), was on a limited budget and wanted a SHTF personal defense handgun, which direction would you point this “hypothetical” person? Why so “hypothetical?” Because I wouldn’t want to ask any of you how best to break the law here banning handguns.
Say the person already has a Remington 870 under the bed to hold down the fort, but in putting together his grab-and-go emergency bag, he realizes it would be good to have something he could carry concealed on his person. He would have experience in doing this, having moved from Ohio, but left his good handgun (the first Ruger MkII with which he has a heartfelt sentimental attachment) with a trusted friend back there and loses his CCW as soon as he establishes a new residence in Illinois. He also, at one point, owned a Taurus PT92 and a Bersa Thunder (which he shot damn well and misses terribly, but traded straight-up for the 870 Wingmaster, which is legal here after registration).
It’s got to be a small pistol, because if the SHTF, Johnny Beatcop here isn’t going to look to kindly about the guy carrying an ALICE pack on his back and a 12-gauge pump in his hands. Since grad school is expensive, money is a concern. He doesn’t really have any money, but he’s thinking another $200-250 on the credit card is a tolerable amount to an already huge balance. Besides, if the SHTF and he’s (God forbid) forced to use it in self-defense, the firearm _will_ be confiscated. While he may prefer a 9mm or larger, the funds just aren’t there for what would be, essentially, an illegal firearm. Hi-Point is out. Blech.
So I think this person would best be served with either the Bersa Thunder .380 or a small .22lr autoloader. Because it’s more likely than not to be cold in a town like Chicago, the .380 would have more penetration of things like coats, but he’s proficient enough to get multiple rounds of .22 on a small target quickly, and it’s much cheaper to stockpile a couple hundred rounds of .22. He’s equally comfortable (and, frankly, quite good at) shooting both. Realistically, it would be stashed away with the emergency cache of water, food and emergency supplies with the hopes of using it very rarely.
Oh, and he’s going back to Ohio in a couple weeks for a wedding, where he could purchase said handgun without raising the suspicions of the Illinois State Police. Once he gets his Illinois driver’s license (in order to get his Firearm Owner’s ID, required to purchase ammo and firearms here), he’d be forced to purchase a handgun in-state, and the police would know he did so. He doesn’t want the police knocking with a search warrant.
So, is he missing anything? What would you tell this “hypothetical” person to do?
Thanks so much for helping out a long-time lurker who’s finding the big city a lot different from Southern Ohio.
Say the person already has a Remington 870 under the bed to hold down the fort, but in putting together his grab-and-go emergency bag, he realizes it would be good to have something he could carry concealed on his person. He would have experience in doing this, having moved from Ohio, but left his good handgun (the first Ruger MkII with which he has a heartfelt sentimental attachment) with a trusted friend back there and loses his CCW as soon as he establishes a new residence in Illinois. He also, at one point, owned a Taurus PT92 and a Bersa Thunder (which he shot damn well and misses terribly, but traded straight-up for the 870 Wingmaster, which is legal here after registration).
It’s got to be a small pistol, because if the SHTF, Johnny Beatcop here isn’t going to look to kindly about the guy carrying an ALICE pack on his back and a 12-gauge pump in his hands. Since grad school is expensive, money is a concern. He doesn’t really have any money, but he’s thinking another $200-250 on the credit card is a tolerable amount to an already huge balance. Besides, if the SHTF and he’s (God forbid) forced to use it in self-defense, the firearm _will_ be confiscated. While he may prefer a 9mm or larger, the funds just aren’t there for what would be, essentially, an illegal firearm. Hi-Point is out. Blech.
So I think this person would best be served with either the Bersa Thunder .380 or a small .22lr autoloader. Because it’s more likely than not to be cold in a town like Chicago, the .380 would have more penetration of things like coats, but he’s proficient enough to get multiple rounds of .22 on a small target quickly, and it’s much cheaper to stockpile a couple hundred rounds of .22. He’s equally comfortable (and, frankly, quite good at) shooting both. Realistically, it would be stashed away with the emergency cache of water, food and emergency supplies with the hopes of using it very rarely.
Oh, and he’s going back to Ohio in a couple weeks for a wedding, where he could purchase said handgun without raising the suspicions of the Illinois State Police. Once he gets his Illinois driver’s license (in order to get his Firearm Owner’s ID, required to purchase ammo and firearms here), he’d be forced to purchase a handgun in-state, and the police would know he did so. He doesn’t want the police knocking with a search warrant.
So, is he missing anything? What would you tell this “hypothetical” person to do?
Thanks so much for helping out a long-time lurker who’s finding the big city a lot different from Southern Ohio.
Long story short...I would say don't carry in Cook county.
