Guns

Let me start this post by stating that I am NOT a gun person. I've never held or even touched a gun in my life. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've seen guns in real life (other than police officers or the gun case at Walmart :). Frankly, they scare the pee out of me. However, there has been a rash of burglaries recently in the area where I live. And this week, my friend's house was broken into. Not just one of my friends. One of my friends whose house I am at all the time. I go over to her house at least once a week. Now clearly, my feelings on the matter can't even come close to comparing to hers, but it is still very disconcerting to think about some unknown criminal having been inside a place that you frequent.

Also, adding to my feelings is the fact that I am a stay-at-home mommy with a baby. And it's just amazing how easily and quickly you slip into a mama bear protectiveness about your child. Like the kind of protectiveness where you would do absolutely anything to ensure your child's safety. Which I believe at this point might mean owning a gun. Now don't get me wrong...I do not have visions in my head of shooting and killing a burglar and rejoicing because the bad guys lost that round. My first instinct will always be to try to get out of the situation. But if that's not possible, I feel like I need something other than a baseball bat :)

So. I began researching yesterday. (I basically have a degree in research, and I kind of enjoy it...my master's is Library and Information Studies, which means I learned how to search effectively for information, analyze that information, and also hook kids up with books they like :).
My head is now spinning. I had no idea all of the different options. Shotgun or handgun? Revolver or semi-automatic? Single-action or double-action? Not to even mention all of the different calibers. Holy moly. Of course, everything I read about self-defense talks about how the best gun is one you're comfortable with and are capable of using. If you get one that you don't know how to use or aren't comfortable with, it doesn't do you any good. Well, thanks. What with my vast experience with guns, that definitely helps narrow it down.

The two recommendations I've received thus far include a .38 special and a 9 mm. My husband laughed at me last night when I told him what I thought about revolvers...they all look like they're from the Old West and I don't like them. (Well, good grief, I think looks are important, too! If it doesn't LOOK like it can seriously hurt you, how's it going to scare off a robber?!?)

And a big thanks to TV and movies. Due to all of the action movies I've watched, I believe very strongly that the bad guys all have horrible aim and rarely actually shoot the good guys. Due to all of the crime scene dramas I watch, I believe very strongly that if you get shot, you're going to die (although this is tempered slightly by watching medical dramas...they can usually save the GSW victims :).

It did occur to me this morning that this is something that Ryan and I definitely need to pray about. I think that it is a big step to bring a gun into your home, especially when you have children. I also want to make sure that I'm still putting my trust in God to protect me and my family. But if it's cool with Him for me to have the means to protect myself and my fam, then gun ownership, here we come!

Thoughts? Suggestions? A free gun to give me? (That's another thing...who knew how expensive guns are?!?)