Why Are Handguns Popular In Self-Defense

[Rebecka Rilee]

Hi everybody, i'm new to this forums. I like this forum very much , i need some information, why handguns are popular and best for self defense compare other guns. Any special reasons and functions, If you know any news and information about this, you can post your suggestion and information here, it will be useful for me to add my site article, thank you

[ArkansasHunter]

There handy and a very good deterent for preventing bodily harm or traspass to your person or property...A.H

[Chris]

Easily controlled in situations where a rifle would be unable to be used or concealed.

[cubbieman]

yea, they're easy to maneuver and can be concealed for carry without wearing a trench coat

[Dookiebutt]

Rebecka, what site are you writing an article for?

[A-10]

If you're talking home defense, a shotgun might actually be your best choice.

[samuel]

They are a pleasure to shoot,self-satisfing,and just plain fun.Usually I shoot as high as four times the ammo in one target sesion as I would with a rifle and come away with a feeling of pleasure equal to or above what I get with any other type of firearm. sam.

[rfc357]

The best gun for defense is the one you have with you.

[nathangdad]

Going back to the earliest days of gun combat in Europe, the handgun was seen as the line of last defense. You want something of last resort to pull and basically instinct point or press up against an attacker when all other options no longer exist.
In one sense you have given the attacker every chance to stop his attack before resorting to the handgun.

[Dan22]

Rebecka,

I think the main reason would be convenience.

I live close to Orlando and there is problem with "Home Invasions" by young thugs.

If I answer the door with a shotgun my neighbors would assume I'm some kind of "Gun Nut" instead of someone wishing to protect his home.

A handgun can be easily concealed but ready for use if needed.

A relvolver that can shoot a small shotgun shell would be a very sensible weapon as it provides stopping power but will dissipate quickly and not cause damage to a neighbor's house.

We live in a world of cut-backs and the police protection is a good example. You can't depend on the police getting to your house quickly.

[Cyrille]

ease in handling and convenience of carrying on the hip.

[andrew cochran]

I'll take a 12 guage for most use. But for last resort a handgun is good choice.

[toolman]

Since you have no control over your environment outside of your home or car, a handgun is the most logical means of protection. Most bad guys won't wait for you to run home and grab your 12 ga. or AR-15 so a pistol under your shirt or in your purse is the only practical means of keeping you and yours safe. Some people claim that Tazers and pepper spray are viable options, but sometimes they don't work as planned, especially if the assailant is on drugs or has mental problems.

[lefty o]

handguns are popular because shotguns are cumbersome to carry all day.

[ArkansasHunter]

I was very pleased to hear Pat Roberson the Host of the 700 Club say that all people should have the right to protect them selves.
The discussion he was haveing was with the co-host about the female security guard that shot a guy that had came to a church during chruch service to kill members because he had been kicked out of this church.
And the Mall shooting was touched on.

Rebecka you wouldn't of thought 30 years ago by the time the year 2000 got here that we would be liveing in a more dangerous enviroment as we are today, compared to 30 years ago we'll say. Depending on where you live may be.

As many here have posted a handgun affords the best tool to have if your ever in a situation where you fear for your life and the odds today are great that you could have that happen. Read your News Paper.

Hand guns come in several styles and size's and some can be easily concealed.
So which would you reather have a knife, Club,Pepper spray or a Handgun when faced with a criminal thats probably going to have a hand gun ? Will submission save your life ?

Do you think if all guns were taken away the criminal wouldn't have them either ?
Were always going to have bad evil people in the world wether we have guns or not so the best deterent is for smart people to be armed to protect there selves, family and property.
A.H

[BattleRifleG3]

Self defense could be split into the categories of home defense and personal defense. Home defense being defense inside one's home, having access to all your resources and having a better legal mandate for the use of deadly force. Personal defense being carrying a firearm with you away from home in case you are attacked.

For home defense, the best choices would be a handgun, shotgun, or a pistol caliber carbine. Pistol rounds are designed for:
1.) Short length, allowing them to stack through a person's grip.
2.) Moderate energy with a medium to wide bullet, enabling self defense at the short ranges at which self defense takes place.

Carrying a longarm concealed is unfeasible, so that leaves handguns for personal defense. Carry guns must generally be concealed for a few reasons, two of which are:
1.) Some people are alarmed at the sight of guns and opposed to people carrying them, making it necessary to make lawful carry private to avoid false alarm and false accusation.
2.) When guns are typically carried concealed, it means that anyone might be armed and you don't know who they are. This is a deterrent to crime in general, because a violent criminal can never be sure he's safe to commit his crime.

Beyond the scope of self defense (which again includes both home defense and personal defense) there's homeland defense. Most homeland defense focuses on preparedness because the US hasn't seen an invasion or insurrection long time, but the principle here is that "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance". The idea is to be capable of fighting on a military level as a deterrent to invasion from outside or an intolerable level of corruption from our own government. Intolerable being the point at which the people resolve to put a stop to it. Again, the primary purpose of being armed to stop it is to prevent it from happening in the first place without a shot fired.

Reason I went into homeland defense is to show what is typically considered self defense and what is a different kind of defense.

[Mooseman684]

Simply put...How would the Shoppers at Wal-Mart feel, or Customers at the bank feel, if I walked in toting a shotgun ??? I can strap a Handgun on under my shirt and nobody knows I have one, but if a Robbery or Carjacking happens to me or someone where I am, I at least have an Even chance of survival or a means to help someone else survive a Criminal attack.
Reason...The Police Can NOT guarantee that they will be there when you NEED them, so it boils down to personal responsibility and Survival, and refusing to be a Victim.A handgun therefore is the best Tool of Choice. Thosands Of police officers carry them for the same reason.
Rich

[bigbuddy21]

Originally Posted by Dookiebutt

Rebecka, what site are you writing an article for?

yea thats what i want to know!

[Doctor Larry K]

Because of a car wreck on the freeway while I was an active LEO I am physically impaired to a considerable degree. During my days serving felony warrants and putting people in prison I have had many threats against my life. I ALWAYS carry a concealed weapon, especially when answering my front door. My choice of a CCW is a 10mm Glock.

Doc

[big boomer]

Would like to add my 2 cents in this talk. the shotgun is a good choice but I like the handgun better for the reason that with a shotgun, the bad guy may get the chance to grab the barrel and force it away from a hit on him, its much harder to do with a handgun the 4.10 \45 colt revolver may be the best of both worlds with buck shot and 45 loads in every other chamber. ps as an MP I carried a handgun for some situations and a 12 ga. for others if the bad guys were at a distance the shotgun(10-40 yds) was used If the bad guy was next to you the 45 auto.