What should I know if I buy a gun?

Question

I am thinking about purchasing a gun for family protection. However, i know very little about them. I live in Rhode Island and need to know how I can find out state laws/requirements, as well as federal regulations. Also, where would I buy one? What kind should I buy? Where can I learn about gun safety and where to bet trained to use it correctly? Oh, and please, I do not want to hear your rants about how guns are bad etc... I do not want this to turn into a gun debate. I just want to know the answers to my questions. Save your comments about how guns kill, this stat or that stat. I am not interested and you can ask your own question if you want to debate that.

Answer 1

I would begin at a local gun shop. They will have information on local safety classes, shooting ranges and the local and state laws.

Oh - and if you travel next door to Massachusetts, leave the weapon at home. They have really strict gun laws there!

Answer 2

Lots of good answers here. Educate yourself on the state and local gun laws. Enroll in a firearms safety course. Learn about the different types of weapons, different actions and thier primary roles.

Learning to safey handle a gun and hit a paper target is one thing, learning to successfuly defend yourself against an armed intruder is something else again. There are numerous consderations to include that legal and tactical aspect of doing such a thing. Get all the proper training and education you can. There are many quality firearms training facilities and some such as LFI, (Lethal Force Institute) will have training courses that are done at various locations around the country. Try to find a reputable trainer. Avoid a guy that says he invented the only real way to use a firearm to defend youself.

Shotguns make excellent home defense weapons but like anything else they have drawbacks. A longer gun is easier to wrestle away from you. If you open a door you now have only on hand on a long gun making it much more difficult to shoot effectivly. Also if you call 911 you are again reduced to one hand on the gun. But a shotgun offer the most intimidation and properly loaded will be a definitve stopper without the worry of overpenetration.

A handgun also has its merits and drawback. While it is much easier to handle a handgun and manuver in your home, or use it and a flashlight at the same time, a handgun will take more training to lean to shoot well and handgun bullets can easily over penetrate or if you miss go through a wall into an unintended target.

There is much to consider. Do your homework. Remember that what works for me may not work for you at all. If you are an apartment dweller, your will have different needs that I do as I live out in the country with only a single neighbor for miles.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I would start with a visit to the NRA website, actually to be more specific: www.nraila.org, there are some links across the top of the page, click on "gun laws." You will find virtually all of the state and federal legislation information that you need. It is by far the most comprehensive I have come across.

What type of gun you buy is a very personal decison, I would echo others who say that you should visit local gun shops and pick their brains on the topic, but make sure you visit several different places.

Almost all of the folks that work in these shops are well meaning, but they tend to be passionate about one type of firearm or another, and will often steer you towards what they personally like, not necessarily what is best for you, so it is important to get more than one opinion. But if by chance you encounter a person that is not helpful, is condescending, or if for any reason gives you a bad vibe, just move on. This type of person does exist, but they are the minority. There are plenty of other people who are warm, friendly and helpful that would love to be of service to you.

You might also try to find a gunshop that has an on premises range with different types of guns that can be tried out. You can also look for gun ranges that advertise having a "pro shop" or something similar. Being able to shoot several types before you purchase will give you the best feel for what really suits you.

Please also ask these establishments about gun safety and local resources you can tap into, such as classes, seminars, etc. Some juristictions require you to complete some sort of training, but even if it is not mandatory, I strongly encourage you to seek it out anyway. Some places are also very happy to offer a complimentary one on one gun safety class with every purchase, make sure you ask about this possibility.

While gun shops are a great resource, consider also asking amongst family and friends. You might be surprised who owns a few guns and would be happy to take you out to the range and show you the ropes. You may also find that they are willing to part with one of their guns for very little or no money. But I caution you, this is only a good deal if the gun is in good condition and appropriate for what you want to use it for. A rusty WWII era battle rifle is a bad choice for a home defense weapon. Even if the gun is appropriate, any firearm acquired second hand should be checked out by a registered gunsmith.

One more piece of advice, select something that you shoot well. This may sound obvious, but you would be surprised at how many people buy something they shoot poorly. Maybe it looked cool, or makes them feel like "Dirty Harry," etc.
This is an easy trap to fall into, but I assure you that a tiny .22 that you shoot well is far better than a .44 Magnum that you are kind of afraid of and can't control, even if it looks totally awesome and is a great "manstopper."

This is probably a good time to also mention that it is a good idea to take a long, hard look at shotguns. A lot of people in your situation start looking at handguns and never give anything else a chance. Handguns are by far the most difficult of all firearms to shoot well, while shotguns are the easiest. Not only that, but shotguns have several characteristics that are more favorable to most home defense scenarios than handguns.

I better leave it there, I don't want my own bias to unduly influence you, I warned you about gun shop sales people, I am no different.

Good luck, and most important: BE SAFE!

Answer 4

I feel that a good place to start is with an inexpensive firearm safety class through your DNR. A good choice for a handgun is a Glock, Glocks are used by more Government Agencies World wide then any other firearm manufacture. I don't know what state you live in but you'll want to find out the laws upon childern within your home, as to having a loaded firearm. Here where I live you can not have a loaded gun in your home with someone under the age of 18.

I own 3 Glocks and they all shoot the 40 Cal. S&W, Glock G35 (2) and a Glock G23, my next one will be the Sub-compact model...G27. Weather it is for work or personal defense I chose a Glock out of everything else I own.

Answer 5

I live in Pa and the gun laws are not to bad here it's knida easy to buy a weapon here.In your state you will have to look into it.I think you should buy a shotgun for home defense you can get a mossberg 12 or 410 for around 250$.The 12guage is much bigger than the 410 but the 410 would be good if you lived in a populated neighborhood.So if you did have to use it in defense a round wont go through a wall and hit your neighbor.You can get books and videos on gun home protection.Also look into joining a gun club they will offer classes on homedefense.When I lived in Baltimore they had classes like this.You mite even have a club close by where you can rent weapons and an instructor so you can try multiple weapon systems before you buy one.The shotgun I recomended that is just one of my personal favorites for home protection.Im sure people will tell you what they think as well.All of your state law questions ask somone at a gun shop or at a gun club.Good Luck to you

Answer 6

The first thing you must do is learn about the laws in Rhode Island. Just contact the Rhode island State Police information number and they will be glad to help...
Next go to not just 1 but several gun shops to get a hands on idea of whats available, and let the dealers make suggestions on what to purchase that is good and what is the best gun that you can get in your price range. Buying a gun for home defense is like buying a car.There is Chevrolet, Ford. Toyota etc,etc.etc and on top of that there are literally hundreds of options to be considered. What caliber is best for me to handle? Blue finish vs. Stainless steel.Bad recoil?, Reliable ?Can my wife shoot it too? You must answer and learn all this for yourself. Rhode Island NRA and the local police offer classes on handgun safety issues. You can learn a lot with a minimal amount of time spent. Education is the key here. Comfort/Confidence/ and the ability to hit what you are shooting comes with practice and time. Forget what type of guns people suggest here..Get educated and choose what's best for you based on first hand knowledge and experience. After all your own life and that of your family may one day depend on your choices now. Be SAFE.... Be WELL.... Be EDUCATED!

Answer 7

no matter where you live, you must be 18 to buy a shotgun or a rifle and 21 to buy a handgun.
as for longarms...
if you want longer range, get a 12 gauge shotgun and take the stopper out of it and load it completely with some #4 shot. get a pump. the sound of a slide being slid is known to scare away robbers and murderers.
as for handguns...
Tauras makes some good .40 cal pistols and revolvers. my grandma has a revolver chambered in .38, and my uncle has a semi-auto pistol chambered in .40 S&W. i reccomend the .40 cal, because it is bigger.
dont let anyone talk you into getting a 9mm. the bullet is too small and while the ammo and gun are cheap and easy to find, they are severely overrated. the only reason the "gangstas" use the 9mm is because it is very affordable and easy to find.
hope this helps

live in western PA, and damn proud of it <((((><

Answer 8

Here's a few things you need to know:

1. You must be 18 to buy a shotgun or rifle, and you must be 21 to buy a handgun.

2. If you want to buy a handgun, there is a "waiting period" under the Brady bill (I think it's three weeks) before you can get your handgun.

3. A handgun would be better for home defense, but be warned: Many people who are shot and injured or killed in break-ins are the gun owners -- for some reason the intruders have a bad habit of getting guns away from law-abiding citizens and shooting them with their own guns.

4. If you intend to keep a gun in your house, for crying out loud make darn sure you keep it in a place where children can't get at it, and if there is even the slightest chance a child could find it you'll want to either (a) keep the gun and bullets separate, (b) put a trigger lock on the gun, or (c) both.

5. Your local gun stores will be able to tell you what paperwork you need to fill out to get a gun, how long it will take before you can get it, and they usually have lists of gun ranges (or even city/township police departments) that offer firearm safety courses.

6. TAKE A FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE!!!

7. Check your state law and see what it has to say about using a gun for home defense. Here in Michigan, you are permitted under the law to shoot anyone who unlawfully enters your house, but he/she has to be all the way in the house (so make sure your intruder falls inside the house after you shoot him/her).

8. If you're leaning toward a handgun, a semi-automatic is easier to shoot than a revolver -- less recoil. For home defense, a .25 or a 9mm is all you'd need. Ruger makes several good 9mm pistols. Glock makes VERY good 9mm pistols, but they're pricey.

9. Best bet for your first gun is to buy it from a gun shop. They'll really be able to point you in the right direction as far as steering you toward a gun that will work for you and will serve your intended purpose.

Good luck, and remember -- 52 million innocent people were killed in the 20th century thanks to gun control laws.

Answer 9

Find a neighbor or friend who is old and gray and seek some wisdom. Guns are just tools like the power tools we collect. For home defense I strongly urge you to look at a remington or similar 12 gauge pump shotgun with a 20 inch rifles barrel. You can use it for hunting or use 6 shot in it for home defense. The reason for using shot is that you don't have any danger of a bullet going through three walls and taking out your neighbors big screen TV or something. But, it will definitely take care of the problem at hand for you. As americans we are guaranteed by the constitution the right to own and bear arms and our home is our castle. Screw the liberal left wing wimps; if they want to lay down and hold the vaseline for Bubba then that is their call.

Answer 10

I like 9mm. Ammo is pretty cheap compared to other calibers. Go to the biggest gun store you can find and talk to the salesmen until they're blue in the face. They can help you make a good choice. Figure out what you need or want then go find it elsewhere at a lower price!
Whatever you end up buying put a light on it, lasers are nice as well. The light is nice to have, trust me, you'll be glad you got one when you grab it in the middle of the night after you heard a strange noise.
The round I keep in the camber on mine is a blank. Followed by 2 "non-lethal" rounds. Warning shot, a couple to shut down the target... if those dont' do the trick it's time to grab a mop for what follows. I'm not out to kill either that's why I chose to put in a couple non-lethal rounds.


Guns don't kill people. People kill people.

Answer 11

Go the easy route. Buy a cheap 20 gauge semi automatic shotgun. You can learn enough to be able to safely use it in a matter of a couple hours- if you get a knowledgeable person to show you how. E mail me if you'd like, cuz my Buddy's son is in the Navy, and is near you. He worked in a gun shop before the military, and I know I could get him to give you a hand. The nice thing about a shotgun is that they are easy to use, and they don't require licenses or permits usually. Firing a warning shot in a dark room WILL discourage even the craziest thief or invader. It sounds like the wrath of God, and the gout of fire coming out the barrel is quite impressive. I KNOW I'd get the heck out. Another plus for a shogun, is that IF you ever HAVE to shoot somebody, it's not very likely they would ever sue, or even shoot back. You get hit in the torso with a shotgun- you usually don't sue, or even complain- you die. And, for home protection- that's the idea.