Sidearm For A Family Member

[32winspl]

Though the members of my family all live in small towns in Northern Wisconsin now, we didn't always. I lived in Memphis for 27 years, and was held up once, at Raven .25 gunpoint. Fortunately, my .45 was much more impressive to the guy... and he ran. My sister was beaten up and robbed by 2 blacks, in a "Great part of town" just outside Memphis for what amounted to $3. But what this posting is about is my Mom and Dad. After the previous events, I was very concerned for my parents, especially my Mom's safety. At the time, they lived in Greenville, Mississippi, and were pretty big fish in a relatively small pond. My Mom is 72 years old, stands 5'4" tall weighing perhaps 115 lbs. If you know her, you know that she's a very down-to-earth lady, but she looks like a seriously soft-target driving a $50,000+ car. I talked to my Dad about getting her a small automatic or revolver. He poo-poos my concern for Mom despite my sister's and my holdups. Even Mom wants a firearm and training. Dad wouldn't hear of it. Now we all live up here, and though the chances of our being a victim are lower than they were when we were in the south, it could still happen. Granted, we live in the Peoples Republic of Wisconsin, and our State is one of two states without a May or Shall Issue CCW Permit system, I, and Mom, still believe that she should have a sidearm for defence. They live in the woods with the nearest full-time neighbor well in excess of a quarter mile away. I can't seem to make any headway with my Dad. He is a hunter, has several rifles and shotguns, but he can't see the potential need for a handgun. I know that if I take Mom to "try on" a few handguns, buy one for her, and train her how to shoot and care for it regularly, it will create a rift with him. He may accept it after the fact, he may "freak". Anyone here had this problem? How did you handle it? How did it work out?

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Maybe if he spends some time here: http://www.claytoncramer.com/gundefenseblog/blogger.html
He'll at least be more willing to consider it.

 

[mekender]

i say use the biggest caliber possible... them family members can get downright dangerous...

oh! wait... you mean for them to carry....

for your mom, look for a small .38... something light weight and easy to use... no need to get her an auto, there is a chance that she might not be able to rack the slide...

at her age, you wanna focus on accuracy over caliber... a bigger caliber might be damaging to her wrists if shes not in the best health... so i would shy away from anything bigger than a .38...

 

[CK]

Compact 380.ACP or 32 maybe?

Beretta tomcat,
Walther ppk
Sig P230
Bersa Thunder

or maybe Makarov?

www.corneredcat.com

 

[32winspl]

mekender, Thank you for your reply, however, I wasn't asking what might be appropriate for her to carry, or her ability to master the techniques of any manual of arms, the onus of my posting was more geared toward solving the problems created by one family member seeing the importance of, and the desire to defend one's self in the face of a serious challenge of the need to do so, by another in the same family. In your favor, I suppose I should have said that I am quite adept at shooting, and have taught many. Thank you for your post.
Robb

 

[mekender]

oh, sorry...well in those regards, that is a sticky situation... i would say that she needs to be the one that makes the decision... encourage her, but dont push... shes a grown woman and has lived with your dad a long time... im sure she can handle dealing with him... if you try, you risk alienating yourself... if she does, well im sure she knows how to deal with it... remember, its easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission

 

[Mac45]

Never had this particular problem. My Mother doesn't like guns, but never really objected to my father getting me into shooting. All I can suggest is try backing off the self defense side of it, and show your dad how much fun it is. If you get him out there having fun, he may just come around

 

[CK]

opps....I guess I got carried away there and post gun choices without properly reading till the end. Sorry, 32winspl.

In regards to your father, does he objected to the ownership of a handgun in general, or does he solely just not in favour to your mother owning a handgun?

I am trying to find out what his fear is towards.
Safety concern towards inability of handling a pistol?
Disagreement towards public ownership of handguns?
Or is there something else.
Maybe if we try to analyze it, we could know why, and act accordingly to convince him.