Suggest a smaller weapon to wound but not kill

[RPW]

First things first. Look at the situation. If someone is breaking into your house then they are not really concerned for your safety and comfort. You got a couple of options, run and or hide or defend yourself. If you chose to defend then DEFEND. If you are going to chose a lethel weopon then go get training on how to use it properly and safely. I for one and this is my opinion will not heasitate to protect my family and property. Will I like it? H*LL no and I'll probably be sick afterwood.

 

[Jimbrown]

The first rule of defending yourself with any weapon is do not pick it up unless you are fully prepared to use it. Threatening some one with a gun and not being mentally prepared to use is asking for them to take it away from you and beat you to death with your own gun. If she is not mentally and morally prepared to shoot to kill do not give her a gun.

Wounding some 280 lb guy who just smoked two pipes of meth is the worst posible thing that you could do. He is simply going to get madder meaner and then stomp you to jelley.

 

[Gods Country]

I guess you could consider less than letahal ammo, but most is for shot guns IIRC.

There is more out there, but just to get an idea:
Less-Than-Lethal Ammo : Ammunition To Go

Personally if this were the only option I would go with good lighting, motion detectors, alarm system, and the like plus some pepper spray.

Honestly the best option IMO is training.
Once a person gets some training under their belt handling a firearm becomes a non issue. A little confidence and knowledge goes a long way.

Is your mother not interested in firearms, or concerned about injuring an assailant?
Or do you doubt your moms ability to defend herself and keep control of the firearm?

 

[Gods Country]

Us civilians are not allowed to purchase mace. The only thing we are allowed is pepper spray. Can't speak from experience but from what I have read it is not nearly as effective as mace as a deterent.
I'm not up for a test though.

Not true.

Depends what state you live in.
I can own mace/cs tear gas in pa.(not sure about cn)

However from what I have read pepper spray is more effective than tear gas.
TG is an irritant and pepper spray an inflammatory which will cause swelling. From a hand held canister good quality pepper spray is the way to go IMO.

 

[zzvyb6]

How about a Taser with some really good batteries? I read that Tasers for civilian use are on the horizon.

I would not recommend a cap gun either. A .32 semi-auto is the lowest I would ever go in her case. Head shot.

 

[SixHoeBob]

The most ridiculous thing I read this year yet.

Don't despair, there is still plenty of time this year for something sillier.

Somebody suggested a couple of Dobermans running loose around the neighborhood. Apparently they did not read the thread about the guy with
the neighbor's Dobs on his property. The two Dobs would have more holes than a 100yd target at the range.:laughing::laughing:

I knew this would become a funny thread

 

[mjw357]

If you are going to shoot an intruder, shoot to kill them. Dead. An injured trespasser will hire up some hot-shot attorney and sue your pants off. No thanks.

 

[rmully]

I would get a 380 auto and learn how to use it, really use it... nothing worse than some who "just" buys a gun. When you have an intruder this is not the time to read the instructions. Know what you are doing or don't do it.

 

[texasjohn]

If your mom is willing to carry a pistol, then she will clearly be willing to carry some small electronic devices. Seems that there are neighbors. How about a combination of things aimed at deterrent activities....something that would get the person to leave the area ...things like..

A cell phone, maybe the prepaid kind, that has every button set to dial 911. All she has to do is hit one button then proceed to explain the problem if she's able. If not, then responders are required to come to the house, even if the phone is hung up.

A remote that will activate LOUD alarms within the house and OUTSIDE the house... once set off, a particular sequence or process must be completed before they go quiet.

An automatic phone dialer...I have one for my dad...he presses one button on a locket around his neck and it transmits an alert code to a receiver which dials, in order until a human answers, 4 different numbers.... these should NOT be 911, but rather neighbors, yourself, relative who is familar with the situation and, hopefully, can respond from the immediate area. This can be good for many purposes, including "help, I've fallen and can't get up." Radio Shack and X10 sell a bunch of units that, with some study and ingenuity, can make phone calls, turn lights on or off, be activated by motion detectors or push button locket, etc.... very versatile but needs to be designed with the user, your mom, in mind.

Net....if she's not good with guns already, some few lessons won't really fix the problem...and you are facing advancing age with frailties over time.... best address the long term problem using technology to alert others to the fact that your mom has a concern, regardless of what its form may be.

 

[2manyrocks]

This idea is a disaster waiting to happen. A .22 in the right spot will kill, but her ability to control the shot appears doubtful. If she wants to deter somebody without killing them, they are more likely to turn and run away from a shotgun. If they don't run, then at least she has a weapon capable of putting them down.