Pactice makes perfect, particularly when it comes to firearms.
Wife felt that she did not need a firearm before we moved to our curent location, when she was single, she lived in "suburbia", due to the fact she was single (before N.C, she lived VERY rural Vermont with her family)
Out in the country now. Local sheriff dept. covers the area we live in, response time "up in the air" if you need help.
My wife asked me about the firearms, what I thought would be best for her.
Shotgun, easy to use, easy to point, hard not hit something.
Practice.
A firearm does you NO GOOD if it is unavialable.
I explained to my wife we got the shotgun for her, hers to practice, and hers to become comfortable with. Reason for the shotgun is home defense particularly for her, when I'm out of town. All the practice in the world does her no good if she needs the firearm and it is not available. We have a large house, and with just the two of us it gets even bigger.
She gotten used to making sure she knows where that gun is at all times and has access to it while I'm not home.
I also told her that if she couldn't make sure the shotgun was "nearby" at all times, I would buy one for every "area" of the house /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You showed your wife how to shoot the .357?
Does she practice? Does she know how to reload? What stance does she take? One eye or two eyes open when aquiring the target? is she use to a muzzle flash at night?
Yes, over **** retentive, but a firearm is a dangerous weapon, not a toy.
Practice, particularly with somthing (firearms) that can kill either you or a loved one.
I am confident that my wife can handle herself if I'm not home. If she doesn't practice with "whats got her at that point", she could be a danger to both her and I.
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. You get this way by practice.
Am I over paranoid? Perhaps.
I've known law enforcement officers who for the most part, going on 20 years, have never had to draw thier weapon. I've also had two civilian friends who were killed by an intuder WHO HAD the shotgun.
I consider myself a responsible firearms owner, thus my "stance" on the safe, but I also realize that if a firearm is used for self defense, again, does you no good if it is unavailable.
One thing I have learned in life. If you depend on someone else to take care of you, you get what you get.
My wifes life is more important to me than just to rely on local law enforcement to "protect" her.
Apologies for getting of topic.
Just imagine however if someone broke into your home and your wife was home and you were not.
And yes, my wife knows to lock the bedroom door, call the police and wait. However, if someone tries to break into the bedroom, that's another story /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif