Guns are complicated. People using them need practice. We recently took a pistol class, where over half were females over 60. There was no way most of them could confidently load a semiautomatic. The solution is not keeping a loaded revolver at bedside. We need a gun that older women can chamber a round more easily. Take it away, Sturm-Ruger.

But it isn´t really that complicated. If those women can´s chamber a round on a semi-auto, then they shouldn´t buy a semi-auto. Maybe a revolver is right for them.

And yes, gun owners do need to practice, but please don´t mandate that.

Finally, the Second Amendment Foundation is an excellent organization that actually IS racking up legal victories. Definitely worth joining.

#1, that´s easy... A double-action revolver!

I watched a TV show last night, called "Panic". It features actual 911 recordings for help, accompanied by visual re-inactment.
While watching, I thought it was the best selling tool for gun ownership. A lot of problems could have been thwarted had the victims had access to a firearm.

Can´t wait every year for another season of TOP SHOT ........... You can watch current weekly episodes and past seasons programs at their web site, if you miss one. ............ I choose a favorite marksman or two, early in the competition and then root for them.

NOTE
It is my favorite ´Reality´ show, then ´American Pickers´ and ´Duck Dynasty´. [I like the family prayer around the dinner table that ends each episode]

P.S.I grew up in a gun competitive shooting family.

Indeed #1. A few months ago I coached a 60+ woman on a gun purchase and revolver it was. Had a couple of semiauto options but she just couldn´t establish consistant operation.

Absolutely, a revolver, re #1. Load it and keep it loaded, and when/if you need it, aim, pull the trigger. Boom. Simple. No need to find the magazine, with shaking hands, load the magazine into the pistol, rack one into the chamber, then aim and shoot. Or if you keep your semi-auto loaded, with adrenaline pumping, try to remember where the safety is, is it on or off, and is it racked? A loaded revolver by the bed or 12ga. shotgun loaded, ready and standing in the bedroom corner is the best. The sound alone of a pump shotgun being racked is enough to make an intruder think twice and head back out the door. If not, you don´t have to have that good an aim.

The only time you need to chamber a semi-auto is at home after cleaning. I usually carry a 1911 and always carry ´cocked and locked´. I jeep it loaded and ready to go at home. An unloaded gun is at best a paperweight.

If you carry a pistol for self defense, there should never be a need to chamber a round in an emergency situation. These pistols were designed to be carried with one in the pipe.

Racking a semi-auto is a TWO HANDED operation: left hand grasps the slide and moves toward the operator at the same time the right hand is pushed forward on the grip. Taught correctly, this process can allow almost everyone to quickly and safely chamber a round. Training and practice are key.

That said, Mrs LLJ prefers her S&W snubbie, and when she is in bed, it is on her nightstand. When awake and about town, it´s concealed on her person.

The author makes excellent points. I would add one more ´finger on the scale´ for firearms rights, Shall Issue Concealed Carry.

Today there are a few million people that are legally carrying firearms, many on a daily basis. This gigantic, irrefutible database of real world experience totally debunks the "guns cause crime" sales pitch that the hoplophobes have been selling for many decades. We today have solid proof to refute any claims that "if we allow more guns in society, more people will be killed", and there is little or no support from police agencies for more gun restrictions in places that have had concealed carry for a while. They have seen that CCW laws do not cause problems, and are comfortable with it. Only in the few remaining fascist states where CCW is essentially denied do the old, false views that guns are a problem linger. Of course, the huge pool of helpless victims where CCW is denied keeps their crime rates high - in their little minds confirming their circular illogic.

Just a few months ago, I, too, coached a 60+ woman in shopping for a handgun and her first shooting session. The people at the gun shop urged her, as I had done, to avoid automatics and to try out a couple of their double action revolvers. And even though she is petite, the gun shop urged her to try revolvers with as much heft as she could comfortably handle. During the shoot, both her aim and her confidence steadily improved.

I apologize for the double post. My comments were directed toward the female shooter, or any shooter new to firearms. Under a high stress/anxiety situation such as hearing someone breaking into your home in the middle of the night, fear, shaking off sleep, adrenaline, all make the mind not as clear as at the gun range. For the novice shooter in such situations, a loaded revolver is the simplest. Mr. D and I shoot regularly and are very familiar with all of our revolvers, semi-autos, and long guns. Practice, practice, practice is the best motto for any shooting sport, plus you meet the nicest folks at the range. My 1911 is always locked and loaded as are my S&Ws; one of them are by my bed and also what I carry every day. But for the novice shooter, or those who don´t get to the range as often as they should, and women fall into this category because so many are intimidated by going to the range, a loaded revolver fits the bill. Aim, pull trigger, boom.

I don´t know that I would say reality TV "saved" the Second Amendment, as much as it has opened the eyes of those who haven´t any familiarity with firearms to the fact that firearms owners and firearms are much more common than they could have ever imagined, and upwards of 99.99999% (and I´m probably leaving out a few more "9"s on the decimal end) haev no relation to criminality - spare for detering it.

Also, look at the way semi-auto rifles such as the AR series were portrayed for years aas inherently evil "black rifles." Well, now, the AR-type rifle is among the most popular centerfire semi-auto rifles in the country. Used by target shooters, preppers, and "Fudds" alike.

The best advice I can give to someone looking to start shooting is start small and inexpensive. The Ruger 10/22 rifle is a staple of any collection and the perfect rifle to start with, and maintain proficiency with (especially in this age of ever more expensive ammunition). Get a pump action shotgun, such as the Remington 870. As you begin with pistols, get a revolver, plenty of fantastic .38 Special out there to be had.

And in terms of self defense, and the bump in the night, get to know the feel and employment of whichever firearm you choose to count on as well as you do the remote control for your television.

Given the lawless administration to which we have been subjected by half of our clue-free countrymen I think its more than a little premature to view the Second Amendment and 2A rights as "safe".

That said the greatest urban myth that there is is "the sound of chambering a round in a shotgun will send them running".
Baloney. If they even recognize the sound, the mere fact that they were bold enough (or drugged enough) to enter an occupied home says they would have no reaction to "ka-chunk".

There´s only one sound that will have any impact. It is not "click".

#14- Agreed. The WON has made it clear he is willing to cede our sovereignty to the U.N..

The author is right that our spineless representatives are unwilling to risk losing an election based on the 2nd Amendment. However, assuming that any of our Constitutional Rights are safe at this time is a dangerous and naive assumption. Look at the open attacks now spawning against the 1st Amendment?

If you get rid of free speech, protesting against incursion of the 2nd Amendment is impossible, and then easily removed.

The left never stops, it just changes tactics.

A Smith & Wesson revolver: the original point-and-click interface device

Re #5 I saw the show, also.

IIRC, in the first incident, with a single mom and an 8 year old son, the lady had a revolver. She told the dispatcher that she had the gun and the dispatcher told her to get rid of it because "there were police in the area."

She did that, and then the dirtbag found and attacked her. The dispatcher kept repeating that "there were police in the area" on the phone. There were police in the area, but they couldn´t find the correct apartment.

I another incident, the woman protected herself with a shotgun when the police were unable to get there. The dirtbag died.

Moral of the story: dial 911 and die.

The majority of people out there who want a handgun should get a Revolver, not a semi-auto!