I made the plunge and bought a pistol. Actually I ended up buying three. You see Rosie had been after me for a long while to get a gun for the house. Here in Lebanon Maine we don’t have a dedicated police force and rely on Sheriffs and State Troopers to cover us and the surrounding towns. even if we did have a police force, pretend someone just broke into your house you called 911 and count out 10-15 minutes. In my case it likely would be much longer. As I researched I became more concerned.

Over the last few months I have also noticed a big up tick in home invasions and robberies. The economy being poor as it is, makes people more desperate every day. So I decided I should take responsibility to protect myself and my family, why rely on somebody else? Not only did I come to this realization, after I made the initial purchase for home defense gun, I decided it didn’t make much sense to have a gun and not have it with you. Therefore, I got training and got my concealed carry permit(s). Rosie is doing the same and getting hers as well.

The Smith Family .380 - 9mm - .45

Don’t get me wrong.. I am not a paranoid, or a cynic, I just have come to the realization that I am older and the world in general is getting more violent. First rule of a gun fight is to have a gun. I hope every day that I will never ever have to use it, but with the training I am certain I can, and I have piece of mind. I read just yesterday of a person breaking down on the road and two gentlemen stopped with intent to rob them not help them. The person with the disabled car was carrying and shot one of them and held them both until authorities arrived. This happens more than you think and in many cases the weapon allows for a safe retreat from a bad situation without shots fired.

Obviously purchasing and carrying a gun is a personal choice and great responsibility. It isn’t something to be taken lightly. You need to secure the guns when they are not with you and you have a responsibility to behave in an upstanding way while carrying. Since the penalties for being stupid with a gun are far higher than stupid without one. If carrying guns isn’t for you, that’s ok, it isn’t for everyone.

I have really developed into an advocate for people to carry and have fire arms. In the past I have always supported the Second Amendment and the NRA to let people have the choice. However now I am very much advocate that people Do Carry and Do Protect themselves. My feeling is if more people were carrying some of the awful crimes we hear about such as the shootings at the IHOP etc. could be avoided because people could be shooting back. If more people were carrying robberies and crimes would diminish. Statistics show states that have relaxed the laws on people carrying weapons have experienced a dramatic drop in crime.

I ended up getting three semi-auto Smith & Wesson Pistols an M&P45, M&P9c and a BG380. I really like the American Made weapons and the way they are built and fire. The BG380 is concealable anytime anywhere, very small “pocket gun” has a built in laser sight. The two M&Ps are comfortable, accurate shooters. The M&Ps both use the same holsters since their profiles are the same. The 9mm Compact is great conceal carry and when Rosie gets her permit will likely be her primary weapon. Because of the sizes and similarities we have many options depending on atire and both the M&Ps offer interchangeable grips so it is easy to change them out for different size hands.

I was unaware that most states allow “Open Carry” which allows you to walk around and enter business etc. with a loaded side-arm as long as it is displayed, no permit is required. There are some who feel open carry is preferable and more of a deterrent than concealed carry. Obviously an individual scoping people to do harm will likely pass on somebody displaying a firearm. Some people take offense and get freaked out by people displaying a gun because of the culture and media. So be prepared to help educate people when questioned, understand you are kind of an ambassador for all gun carriers and be polite. There are many resouces online like Opencarry.org Concealed Carry.net The choice is yours open carry, concealed carry, but I think taking responsibility for you and your families security is paramount. Be sure to check laws in your area because for example, you can’t carry in a Courthouse, School or business where a sign says you can’t.

If you are somebody who is thinking about carrying a gun, I recommend you do it, do your own research. The process is simple and straightforward. If your a Maine resident I recommend Maine CWP Training for your training needs. This is a link to their website They do an excellent job going over the (Maine) laws so you will understand the nuances of how and where you may employ deadly force as well as review of you’re rights, responsibilities and obligations.

Second Amendment Videos worth watching
Suzanna Gratia Hupp explains meaning of 2nd Amendment! (read the article under the video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1u0Byq5Qis
Charlton Heston – A Torch with no Flame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrnOFMk8NPM

9/30/11 – UPDATE
I ended up returning the used Bodyguard .380 after taking it to the range. The pistol had difficulty getting a full magazine through the action. It was like the slide would simply catch. A flip of the thumb on the release, the slide closes, chambering the round properly. I liked the lightness and conceal-ability of the weapon as well as the way it shot but needed reliability. So I returned it and purchased a Ruger LCR. The LCR is a Lightweight Compact Revolver in a 38 +P caliber. It weighs only 13oz and shoots excellent with a 5 shot capacity. I got it with the crimson trace laser grips which make it great when you need to reach-out since a snub 1 7/8 barrel doesn’t provide a perfect sight picture. The LCR is easy to put in a pocket being only 1 1/4 thick and so light, being a wheel gun it is dependable as they come. I like the fact the caliber is a bit more stout than the 380 as well. I wouldn’t recommend the LCR for a full day at the range target shooting, the recoil is manageable but you will feel it. It is for self defense, in that role it excels and to practice is not an issue.

Ruger LCR