Why Handguns?

People are interested in the use of handguns for any number of the following reasons, in the listed order of popularity:

• Personal protection
• Recreational shooting
• Competition shooting
• Hunting
• Collecting
  

Women tend to be overwhelmingly motivated by the first reason --- personal protection.

There is the recognition of the need to be self-reliant in taking responsibility for the protection of self, family and home. And there is a recognition that they can do more to protect themselves from the criminal element that can potentially accost them when they are away from home in their daily activities.

Pepper spray is a worthy self-defense tool but it has its limitations. Stun guns are often ineffective. Knives and batons require an inordinate amount of training and expertise to use effectively.

Long guns can do the job but are impractical as carry weapons. You can’t put these things in your purse or your pocket. Shotguns are good for home defense and certainly should be considered. However, handguns can be effective as home weapons and have the added benefit of possible double duty as a carry tool and the comparative ease of storage at home, which is important especially if there are children living in the house.

Certainly, women do participate in recreational shooting and hunting, especially those who were raised in rural areas where gun ownership is a normal part of daily life. However, among newbies, women comprise a very small minority of the participants in these endeavors. Such is also the case with competition shooting and arms collecting.