« Pepper Spray Part 2 | Home | Guns for self defense – should you carry one? Part 2 »
Guns for self defense – should you carry one? Part 1
By Liza Cooper | November 11, 2009
Guns will be inevitably be mentioned at some point when the subject of self defense weapons comes up. If you are considering carrying one, there are many factors you need to consider closely.
Personally, I don’t like guns. But with proper training and handling, guns are one of the more effective ways of defending yourself and intimidating your attacker.
The key to having and being able to use a firearm lies in your training. There are several different kinds of firearms training. There is basic safety and marksmanship training that everyone who has a gun needs, and there is more specialized defensive firearms training that is specifically for those who have guns for self-protection as opposed to hunting, or sports.
For basic safety and marksmanship, you can usually find good training quite locally. Regardless of what you might think of the NRA, they have created excellent introductory courses. You don’t have to join the NRA to take these courses.
Two courses that are quite good in theory are Home Firearm Safety, and Basic Pistol. Whether the courses are actually good in practice depends on who teaches them. You can ask the NRA for a list of certified instructors in your area, and try to pick out a woman if that would make you more comfortable, or you can go to a couple of local gun shops and ask what instructors they recommend, or you can call local firearms stores and gun clubs to ask whether they offer instruction.
For defensive firearms training, it is wise to be very, very selective. There are a number of excellent, private gun schools around the country. Additionally, there is a list of gun schools that appears from time to time on the Internet. I cannot recommend one over another. What I can do is recommend that you do your research and choose a school that fits your needs and comfort level.
Topics: weapons | No Comments »