"Also, since most areas will require permits and training (proof of passing a gun safety course), checking with your local law enforcement might be the best place to start (especially if your girl can speak with some of the police females, which most likely would provide better decision-making for a woman's choice weapon than most of us guys here)." Most areas of the US require no training or permits to buy a handgun. To carry one concealed is a different story.

My mutts are both German Shepherd-Chow Chow mixes. They're both on the smallish side for such a mix, one's around 50 lbs., the other is closer to 65lbs. They're extremely unfriendly to strangers, however, and on more than one occasion, we've observed them acting strangely, and later found out that a "suspicious individual" was picked up by the local cops.

This is probably the wrong forum for this suggestion, but my $0.02 is: Dont get a gun. Get something non-lethal. If you're really worried, add a good quality remotely monitored alarm system. Or take a local self-defense course (what works is "evade, get out, get help") The reason is that a five-seven or whatever cool gun you get will be fired at a break-in about 10% time - the other 90% you, your wife or your kids will shoot each other with. By getting her a gun, you're gonna get someone in your house shot 9 times times out of 10. It's a bum deal - but those actually *are* the facts. Check out the Scientific American article on the subject; it's a few years old but it tells it like it is. The approach is a fact-driven, statistical analysis, about as neutral as you can get in a topic as charged as this one. There are other survey (notably those done with the NRA's money), which are mostly partisan though pieces. Now dont get me wrong; I have several guns, love 'em, love to shoot them, love to hunt. What I *dont* like is the idea of people waving guns around in residences or places of business and I think the NRA is nuts to pursue this line. Hell there's so much to be positive about in shooting that I just dont see the need to come out an endorsement of scared, untrained non-mechanically inclined people waving guns around their homes in the middle of the night... Well trained hunters tracking Elk in the mountains is one thing. *That* is another one entirely. Scared people waving pistols dont repel armed roberies - they get dead, or get their family members dead. You are *not* doing her any favours by putting that gun in her hand. Most likely you're goign to get her dead, get you dead, get your son's college roomate dead, or get the plumber dead.

1- A large, attentive guard dog. There are lots of good breeds for this, and almost anything with teeth, a guard instinct and 60+ pounds is enough to alert, and deter or scatter an intrusion. 2- A *trained* guard dog. Probably the ultimate in effectiveness and reliability. It takes a lot of work to train, or money to buy already trained, but they're incredibly effective 3- A remotely monitored alarm system. Plenty of choices out there, just be sure you get one with good motion detectors, battery back-up, a "panic" button, and a remote monitoring station. 4- A self defense course. Far more effective than any gun-based shooting course in terms of getting out alive. What she wants to do is escape harm, and the way to achieve that is "evade, get out, get help", not "stand and fight". Doing that right is not intuitive, but there's good training out there. 5- A flash-bang granade. Way better than getting her a gun. "Astonishingly" effective - simple, foolproof, non-lethal, doesnt need aiming, will break up any attack and guarantees *inmediate* attention from any neighbours/cops. 6- A flash gun. Less dramatic, but also extremely effective particularly at night, which is when occupied-household break-ins typically happen. 7- Solid doors/windows and security-conscious behaviour. Also work very well, particularly in combination with the above. 8- Pepper sprays, tasers, etc. I dont put much faith in them, but I suppose they have their place. Seriously, I strongly recomend you look at the options on this list well before you think of a gun. Guns in untrained, posibly-panicked, and non-mechanically inclined hands are a recepie for disaster.

>>Seriously, I strongly recomend you look at the options on this list well before you think of a gun. Guns in untrained, posibly-panicked, and non-mechanically inclined hands are a recepie for disaster.<< Agreed. Up to a point. Guns are just part of the total package, not the be all end all of self defense. No rational person could evaluate the history and conditions of self defense shootings and conclude that guns are always the best answer. No rational person could evaluate the history and conditions of self defense shootings and conclude that guns are never the best answer.

>>8- Pepper sprays, tasers, etc. I dont put much faith in them, but I suppose they have their place. << I've always been of the opinion that, if these sorts of things fail to incapacitate an attacker, you then get into that situation that some stand up comic mentions concerning that advice to punch a shark in the nose -- to which the shark replies "you know, I was just going to bump into you, but now you punched me in front of my posse and I'm going to have to rip your leg off" . . .

I partly agree. I do not think getting a pistol is a good idea, as it is too easily taken off you, and too hard to aim and control. A nice light carbine like a Winchester lever rifle or M1 Carbine on the other hand, is perfect.

1) The gun is always loaded. 2) Never point the gun at anything that you do not intend to shoot. 3) Keep your finger away from the trigger until you're ready to shoot. 4) Always make sure that you know what's behind the target. How many of those are likely to go out the window in a 'home-defense' situation? Yimmy: If someone's close enough to take a pistol off you, they're certainly close enough to do the same with a rifle/carbine. In any case, at close range I'd say that the pistol is easier to point in the right direction. You'd be amazed how some people can't get the 'point' of a rifle right.

How about corrected instead of flamed since you are blatantly wrong? Try reading some Kleck (criminologist from FSU who has done the most extensive studies of the topic of self defense uses of firearms). This is a start: http://www.pulpless.com/gunclock/kleck2.html But to quickly discout your claims: FBI statistics (1991) say that there were 13K justifiable homicides with firearms. Accidental deaths from firearms (1996) 1134. So if we assume your wife/kids will be shooting someone accidentally the firearms is less than 10% likely to hurt someone it's not meant to. Of course a more meaningful cite might be comparing that rate of accident to ownership numbers. According to the census bureau, there are about 100 million households in the U.S. The Bureau of Justice statistics cites a number of Gallup polls measuring firearms ownership rates at around 40%. Thus we have at least 40 million guns (well more since many ownders such as myself own multiples, as well as people not willing to answer yes to such surveys). Those 40 million evil guns only generated only 1100 accidents. That's pretty safe if you look at it. buzzard

Now the question really is do you want something which can realistically be expected to stop someone, or something to shoot for fun with? The optimal stop someone tool is the shotgun. Of course you say this presents difficulties. So you wish to opt for a handgun. I'll join the crowd and lean you away from a .22 unless it is just for target practice. If recoil is a consideration, I'd go with a .357, and have her shoot 38 special rounds from it. The recoil is pretty small (but it is there), and you will have the option of growing into more robust rounds if you feel the need. I'd probably go with a Taurus with a 3 or 4 inch barrel. I don't know the model numbers offhand. Taurus give you good bang for your buck. As for used firearms, well if you are buying a stainless wheelgun, it is probably a safe bet. One would have a hard time causing trouble to one of those even with poor maintenance. Do check it over though, as others have said. buzzard