HD for my mother?

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Dear All,
Since I have been away from home, my neighborhood has seemed to have gone down the tubes. There was a break-in today, in broad daylight, across the street from our house. My mother is now ready for self defense training. I have suggested she familiarize herself with our Mossberg Bantam 20 gauge, but she also is ready to learn about self-defense with a handgun. I have suggested a nice 357 revolver- maybe a K-frame. She does have good-sized hands, but I would like her to test-fire some of my guns as well. I have a 2.5" Model 66 down in Texas with me that I could get shipped up, but I am unsure if she would like to use it. any suggestions are appreciated. By the way, we are in Cook Cty, IL, so keep in mind we have an AWB in effect.

Thanks,
Cato
 
Doors locked 24/7
Alarm system if you can afford it. If not, you can get her the cheap door and window chimes.
Peepholes so she can see who's there.
Motion sensing flood lights for any dead spots outside the house.
Cellphone in the bedroom to call 911.
.357 or .38 revolver. The ultimate point and click interface :neener:
Maybe a single shot shotgun. Easy to teach someone to use, lots of firepower. Remember, a shotgun has to be aimed at SD ranges!
 
Harden all doors and windows against forced entry, cut back/remove shrubs that provide hiding places against the external walls of the house. Install motion sensor lighting where possible outside. Find out if she'd like to have a dog. Install peep-holes in all external doors, or install video cameras/recorders if you can afford more expensive technology.

Remember, take a layered approach to security. Outside stuff first, then perimeter, then inside.

An alarm system can help. A $100 home security system from a manufacturer like http://www.x10.com/homepage.htm can work, is relatively inexpensive to buy, easy to install, can sound audible alarms, flash lights and autodial up to four neighbors if activated, and requires no monitoring costs.

But no security stuff works if it isn't used reliably. Mindset is foremost, attention to locking doors and windows even when at home and using the alarm system, not opening the door unless you know who is there, that sort of thing. All the hardware in the world is useless if it isn't used as designed.


Best deal is to expose your mom to a variety of long guns and handguns and let her pick out her own. Don't be afraid to think outside the box in offering her options. My own mom (now 80 years old) has a Beretta Storm CX4 carbine that she decided on after her cut-down 20-gauge double barrel got to be too much for her to manage comfortably.

Good luck with the whole process, it isn't easy...

lpl/nc
 
I suggest that you and her check out www.corneredcat.com a website by a woman, for women about guns and the Lady knows whereof she speaks and has advice on your very issues. Her site is great for men too, she is one savvy lady.
 
Yes,

a big plus on corneredcat. Great site. Don't fall in the trap of selecting a handgun for her. Let her try some and select for herself. Take her to a range that rents several types and let her try some before you buy. The other suggestions for the physical layout of the home are great. Do some if not all. Work within your means but keep in mind, It is your MOTHER we are talking about here.
 
slightly off topic, but I'm trying to get my mother(and everyone I know) excited about firearms. My wife and I just got her a bantam 20 guage 870 for her birthday, it has a pink wood stock, engraved with, "shoot like a girl...if you can! remington 870".
it's comfortable for her, and she loves how it looks. that seemed to be what was needed to bridge the gap between "a gun" and "her gun", was that she liked how it looks.
 
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