Should a young family, especially if there are children around, have a gun for protection? For someone like me where there is no one else involved the answer is quite simple: Why not? But even in a two person household things get much more serious. It is imperative that a system be set up so NEVER will one mistake the other for an intruder or burglar. Or in a fit of rage do the unthinkable.

Take a deep hard look at you and yours: Could friends, relatives, anger, alcohol, or drugs ever impair judgement? If there is any question about these, you would very likely live a much longer happier life without guns.

Incidentally, I have taken the gun training given to the San Jose Police. There you learn the gun use one sees on TV is very bad. I will list just a few points:

1. Lethal force can only be used when you can justify, in court, it was valid for you to believe the situation was life threatening. This means, you cannot shoot someone you see stealing your car, computer or any other physical possession of yours, even if he has broken into your house.
2. Never shoot to wound. It is folklore, to believe this is being nice. If a leg wound will save you, or yours, the situation was not life threatening.
3. You never show a gun to make someone follow your order or command. Waving a gun in someone's face is legally a death threat.
4. Never shot a moving vehicle. It turns that vehicle into a possible lethal projectile. I wish more police followed this.

TV sensationalism often violates all of the above.

Now, if you still want a gun for protection, Jeff Cooper had some important rules for gun fighting.

1. You should have a gun.
2. It should go bang when you pull the trigger.
3. It should be a large caliber, otherwise you have to hit the whites of the eyes.

   Personally, I prefer the old military 1911 Colt 45. It shoots a big bullet but not as fast as a 357, so it is much less likely to go through your wall and your neighbor's walls. Still, at short range it is very lethal.

   John Browning designed the Colt 45 at the request of the US military, because it was found someone shot with a 38 was probably going to die; but could do too much damage first. He designed Colt 1911 45 and its ammunition. It was the official US military side arm from 1911 until government politicans forced the military to use an Italian made 9mm handgun in the 1980's.

The gun has to be accessible or you have violated Jeff's rule 1. If you are scared and worried, that may mean under your pillow at night.

The gun has to be loaded or you violated Jeff's rule 2. For someone who knows what they are doing a loaded gun can be very safe. But, it is more than just putting the safety on. How you handle the gun. Where you keep the gun. What are the laws, a loaded gun in the wrong place can get you into lots of trouble. Also, how much thought have you and yours given to safety.

You are much better off if an assailant is unaware you have a gun until he hears it go bang, and hopefully feels the bullet--so he can't retaliate.

If you need to be armed when you open your door, one of the best places to have your gun (if you are a right handed man) is in your back left pocket. You can easily reach it with your right hand and the hammer won't catch on your pants. And: If all goes well, the person you greet never needs know you were armed.

There is much more that could be said, but this is enough. Lastly, anyone having a gun for protection must be proficient in using it before it is ever needed. If you are not going to practice with it, it should not be in your hands.

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