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From: joel@peora.sdc.ccur.com (Joel Upchurch)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Dumb Beginner Questions
Message-ID: <35326@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 6 Jun 91 19:27:38 GMT
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Organization: Upchurch Computer Consulting, Orlando FL
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In article <35259@mimsy.umd.edu>, larock@software.org (Curt Larock) writes:
# My wife and I want to buy a gun -  but neither of us has any experience
# with firearms  (I fired a rifle about 10 years ago).  Our main uses
# would be personal protection and target shooting.
# 
# So far I've joined the NRA, read a pile of books (the Truth About Self
# Defense, Armed and Female, the Street-Smart Gun Book, and a couple of
# others), and subscribed to rec.guns.
# 
# What should I do now?  What dumb mistakes should I avoid?

If you read the books above, then you probably know most of
the important points. A few things you should concentrate on.

1. Make sure you are familar with your state laws concerning
the use of deadly force. What is considered legitmate self-defense
in one state will get you put in prison in another. Also try to
find how your local DA and police apply those laws in practice.
Keep in mind that if you get charged with homicide, you might
end up bankrupt even if you get "win" in court. Run through
the likely self-defense senarios through your head and figure
out the appropriate response ahead of time.

2. Take some basic firearm safety and handling courses. The NRA
should be able to tell you where to find them.

3. Make sure you find a gun you are comfortable with. If you and
your wife aren't comfortable with the same type of gun, consider
buying two guns. Many gun ranges will let you rent guns to try
them out.

4. If you aren't going to practice fairly often, say once a month
or so, stay away from semiauto pistols and buy a revolver. That
is not to say that you shouldn't buy a revolver anyway. Autos need
to be kept pretty clean and to have the magazines rotated periodically.
Buy some extra magazines so you can let your magazine springs "rest".
-- 
Joel Upchurch/Upchurch Computer Consulting/718 Galsworthy/Orlando, FL 32809
joel@peora.ccur.com {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd,ucf-cs}!peora!joel (407) 859-0982