Awwwww...now where should my loyalties lie..with the protective mama..(like I would be..) or the fierce, protective daddio who is only lookin out fer his little doll...Hmm..I'll git back to ya on this one!..(Is "Mom" readin this?..LOL) 
I've just read or heard of too many cases where a young girl's life could have easily been saved if she only had a handgun and the ability to use it. I'm a mom and this sounds like an excellent gift to me.
If your daughter has the eggs to use it, more power to her! I don't think I could, so even though I am pro-gun, and I hope to heck that the neighbor might have a gun, I can't have one in my home, because I think I couldn't pull the trigger. But if my daughters had one in their glove compartments and were trained to use them, I would be happy with that. Sorry, Mom!
But I have to say that couples compromise all the time, and you both seem to have reached one. of sorts. and that's your beeswax.
le
I was gonna say, Stick to your guns!" But I guess that's not an option. Tell daughter to be careful and shoot first!
Dang. I'm really tempted to put in an update with a pic of the NYT front page saying 'Crazy Girl Shoots Dozens - Blames Weapon for Being Too Loud' with a photo showing a sniper girl in a bell tower. It would probably ruin my point though, huh? Plus, I'm in enough trouble at the moment, no need to add to it.
Still, the idea has me grinning...
le, in all not-funnyness, I'm not happy that you aren't packing. I'm not saying that guns solve all problems, because we all know they don't. I'm just saying that women are often smaller and not as strong as aggressive men, and a well placed bullet will quickly level the playing field.
If your eyes are any clue, you are a pretty woman and in need of self defense. At least carry a .22 pistol, since a couple of pops from one of those has been known to terrify bad guys, even when just shot randomly in the air. It sounds like a firecracker or even weaker, so you won't be bothered by the noise.
You can learn how to shoot the bad guy by practicing on bugs! Find a bug that is annoying you (outside the house of course) and pick it off. I know it sounds like a horribleway to learn defense, but if a guy wants to rape or rob you, is he really worth that much more than a bug? Nope. Kill the bugs while learning, kill the human bugs if necessary.
Please le, get protection. And learn how and when to use it. We'll all feel better knowing you are safe. I cannot stress this point enough. When rapists become concerned that women will shoot them, rape will stop. Or dead bodies will pile up. Either way, I'm ok with it.
Calmly explain to your wife that the police can't protect your daughter all the time and the world can be a dangerous place.
I now it's difficult to talk about such horrific things as rape and murder when it pertains to a family member, but it's a discussion that must be had.
Best of luck, and by the way; Jebus, that's a big gun! Does it even fit in the glove compartment?!
No way existingthing. You do it!
(*fleeing*)I got your back.
It's important to appear manly, but I'm not going to be an idiot about it.
ps. a 357 magnum is the weapoon of choice for a woman, no matter her age. It conveys a dual message: "This woman is serious about her own security" and "OMG that chick's got a .357 Magnum! Run!"
Either way, I'm for it. There's plenty of ladies that I don't like, but none I'd wish such a horror upon.
Well, I'm quite taken aback and I don't know how to respond. I was actually robbed once by two guys with guns in a parking lot, so I certainly have been the victim of crime. In my case, there would never have been time for me to pull a weapon, so I have to think that in many situations, having a gun would be of no advantage, and might likely just be taken by the criminal. I know that's what your wife thinks too, and I can reasonably see how she would think that, because that is probably what would have happened had I been carrying a concealed weapon (legal in AZ). Plus, all they wanted was my purse, but what if I would have shot one of them and all they were doing was robbery? However, I can also see how having a gun when you hear a noise in the kitchen and you're home alone might be reassuring. But then, "Oops. Sorry, honey, you got home early from your trip. Let me bind up that wound."
I don't know. I understand that guns do sometimes prevent crime, but I don't know if I want to be responsible for killing someone, even if they attempted to rape me, or even if they did rape me. Now I can understand wanting to shoot someone after they did it. But that's when you probably can't legally. lol.
Now, if my daughter were being raped, I would probably shoot them without a thought. But that's different.
I'm rambling, but I think it's a little more complicated than just get a gun and be safer.
le
No doubt you know what's best for you. I don't carry a weapon around with me either, but it's comforting to know that the women I care about (with the exception of one) do.
Not as comforting as it was last night though! Dang, I RRRRREALLY really want a cigarette. How embarrassing it is to be so addicted! so embarrassing in fact, that I probably won't mention it more than two dozen more times in the coming days.
le, most of those questions go away once you get comfortable with firearms.
Hit a local range, rent some guns, take a class, do something! Anything!
Well, I have so many thoughts here, and as per usual I can't keep my big mouth shut!
Kevin, good for you for caring enough and being intelligent enough to act. A REAL parent! How totally COOL!
I strongly recommend against any firearm display in the interest of self defense for display value alone. The aggressor should only see it very briefly before it is used.
The .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum (especially with CCI Stinger ammo or equivalent) is surprisingly effective, much more so in fact than many more traditional calibers for lady defense like a .25 or .32 ACP. There are also wonderfully concealable, reliable arms built to use it such as the North American Black Widow. the .357 is adequate (I carry one always) but not infallible. They all have very real limits.
Next, Existing Thing is far too modest, despite his highly informed nature, to tout his exceptionally well written article on this subject...
I rambled too long and ran out of space...
Existing Thing's exceptional article on owning firearms is here. Should be required reading for all!
And my rant on the myth of "safety" (Le, you triggered this... no pun... with your reference to one of my hated buzz words... ) can be found here. I have no shortage of self righteousness.
Great comments from all, as per normal.
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