I have a dear close friend, who has past military experience with firing a handgun, but none other, as far as I know, for at least, the last 50 years. His desire is supported by the perceived need for a defensive weapon. He does not live in a currently recognized common threat environment. My initial advice was for him to recognize that the presence of a gun does not assure any element of anticipated safety. He needs to develop sufficient comfort, muscle memory, and enough confidence to ensure the proper decision is made in concert with the use of the gun in any actual or potential suspected violent encounter. That said, he will need to devote extended time through practice to establish those suggested parameters.
Then, I suggested that he should consider starting with a .22 caliber pistol to establish a baseline of comfort and confidence. Then, the most popular next and/or simultaneous move would be a pistol firing a 9mm Luger cartridge.
I can lend him the .22. My inventory otherwise is based on my historic financial comfort level. He would be comfortable with a cost between $400-600 for a 9mm pistol.
I don't expect any of you to examine those parameters and present a range of choices that I could have examined, thereby saving my own personal time, but rather, I suspect there might already be such a list existing just from the experience of the group of dedicated TFL participants among these threads.
We both will appreciate and honor your opinions.
Then, I suggested that he should consider starting with a .22 caliber pistol to establish a baseline of comfort and confidence. Then, the most popular next and/or simultaneous move would be a pistol firing a 9mm Luger cartridge.
I can lend him the .22. My inventory otherwise is based on my historic financial comfort level. He would be comfortable with a cost between $400-600 for a 9mm pistol.
I don't expect any of you to examine those parameters and present a range of choices that I could have examined, thereby saving my own personal time, but rather, I suspect there might already be such a list existing just from the experience of the group of dedicated TFL participants among these threads.
We both will appreciate and honor your opinions.