Thank you @derekfreeman for your prayers. It sounds like your are in an area even worse than mine. I hope you can get a better place for you and your family.
I agree with you 100% about shooting someone. I have never shot anyone and will always try my best not to. But this area has been going downhill for quite some time now and I am afraid if I don't start carrying, I will end up being hurt, raped or killed. It is not bad in our little subdivision because everyone knows almost everyone here has weapons.
It is a different story when you get into the little town or closest city. People tend to prey on women and physically disabled people and I fit both those categories.
I grew up around guns. Daddy use to take me to so called "Turkey Shoots" starting when I was 8 years old. It didn't take long before I was winning the turkey almost every time I tried. Even now with my vision problems, I'm still a good shot. I go to the range or down to my brother's homestead at least once or twice a year. I don't have to know what color a persons eyes are or whether they have a beard or not to be able to hit center of body.
At home, I have plenty of weapons but never really felt the need to have one on me, just to get groceries or go shopping. It's been changing, getting worse and worse for years now and I think it is time to have one on me most anytime I leave the house.
The last house we owned was broken into twice with me there, in the middle of the night and by myself. (that is why I always have at least one dog in the house) Both times meeting them with gun draw was enough to make them run back out the door.
At home, there is at least a 9mm within 10 to 15 feet of me at all times. I won't say what, but there are other weapons with more power close at hand too. At this house, we get a lot of wild critters coming in and with the rabies problems I am very protective of my animals. I have shot two cotton mouth snakes that came up from the creek and one opossum that was possibly rabid because it came into the fence while the dogs were out and even though they had not cornered it, it was advancing on them and that is NOT normal opossum behavior.
For carrying in my purse I am thinking of getting a 22 pistol. It's much lighter weight than the 9mm and the chance of me needing something with more range just for shopping and doctor's visits is slim. It is more than capable of taking out someone intent on getting up close and person with their rage.
Well, I live out in the woods, but the one problem here is a fairly big one if they decide to go rouge. If not then all is fine, I just tend to think that its going to be a bloodbath out here if SHTF. I have a bunch of friends and we get together often to practice, so if they want a fight I guess it will be a good one.
As far as choice, for a CCHL weapon you might want something a little bigger. The .22 will not stop someone, it will kill them if you hit the right places, but they will keep comming at you, especially if they are on drugs. I recently bought aa .38 Special, it is a terrible weapon for ranged shooting, but a great weapon for up close kill shots. It is small and lightweight, conceals easy and a .38 is far better at stopping a predator than a .22. I picked mine up for $80. It has a 5 bullet magazine and easy to take-down and clean.
Personally, I use a Glock. It is my gun of choice. I bought it from a friend and have a .357 SIG barrel change-out along with the .40 it came with. It is a big gun, but it will about destroy anyone I shoot with it. I do not look to have problems, but I surely look to defend my family at all costs.
Great plan to have a CCHL. It is the only way we can rest assured that our safety will come first.
Thanks for the info!
The 9mm that I consider to be MY GUN, is a Glock 19 gen 4. It is a very light weapon when empty, but gets heavy with a fully loaded magazine. I chose it because of the smaller grip size. (I have small hands)
I also have to think about kick. I lost of lot of strength in my arms and legs both from the accident. The last time I tried to shoot the AR15, it put me on the ground, lol. That is another reason I like my baby glock, the recoil is very light compared to standard sizes.
I am sure Daddy or my brother have a 38 or know someone I can borrow one from for target practice. I will try one out before I buy one to carry and make sure I can handle it.
Try out the Sig Sauer P238 for a great lightweight, small, purse sized weapon...it fires a .380 round so at least it will pack more punch than a .22 but the kick isn't bad at all! I carry mine in a little Vera Bradley hipster sometimes, and you'd have no idea it was there.
Thanks for the info. I will check into it before buying a gun. I don't have to make a quick decision. My little Mini Glock is small enough to fit in my purse and will work until I can get something even lighter.