Why Every Woman Should Carry a Gun

The restricted ones are only sawed (spell?) off shotgun and semi-automatics.

It'll be a few years before I get serious about buying, but I will keep you informed.

However, it won't be going into my avatar

Here's the whole thing.

Evolution of Canada's Gun Laws

1978 Legislation

(in effect until 1993):
1991 Legislation (took effect in 1993):
1995 Legislation (took effect December 1, 1998 but will not be implemented until 2003)

Unrestricted Rifles and Shotguns
FIREARMS ACQUISITION CERTIFICATE

- Certificate is to acquire, not possess an unlimited number of firearms ie. need not renew unless to buy more guns

- 16 years old

- complete form indicating no mental illness or criminal record

- no references

- no community checks

- no mandatory training

- NO REGISTRATION but serial number recorded at point of purchase and kept 5 years

- NO RENEWAL to keep guns only to acquire more
FIREARMS ACQUISITION CERTIFICATE

- Certificate is to acquire, not possess an unlimited number of firearms ie. need not renew unless to buy more guns

- 18 years or minors permits

- photograph

- screening includes questions re. Financial circumstances, marital status, mental illness

- references must sign form

- 28 day waiting period

- training program

- optional community checks

- NO RENEWAL to keep guns only to acquire more

- non-integrated databases (local data not easily accessible)
FIREARMS POSSESSION CERTIFICATE

- License is required to POSSESS rifles and shotguns by 2001

- 18 years or minors permit

- photograph

- screening includes questions re. financial circumstances, marital status, mental illness

- current and former spouses must be notified

- references must sign form indicating they know of no reason why the individual could be considered a threat to themselves or others

- community checks allowed

- 28 day waiting period

- RENEWAL REQUIRED every 5 years

- centralized data base flags gun owners if offense or complaint is recorded and Firearms Officer may initiate revocation of license and confiscation of firearms

Registration of unrestricted Guns
- record kept by seller for 5 years

- not centrally accessible

- police prohibited from asking applicants for an FAC what type or how many guns they possess
- record kept by seller for 5 years

- not centrally accessible

- police prohibited from asking applicants for an FAC what type or how many guns they possess

- no way to trace unrestricted firearms to their source
- REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE required for rifles and shotguns (by 2003)

- one-time nominal fee

- increased accountability - firearms can be traced to initial owners

Ammunition
NONE
- 16 years but some provincial statutes (e.g. in Ontario, 18 with drivers license or FAC)
- require relevant firearms license to purchase ammunition (i.e. 18 years or minor's permit)

Storage
- not defined
- defined by regulation for restricted and unrestricted weapons; inspections of collectors by appointment

- relaxed where ready access to firearms is needed (e.g. in rural communities)
- inspection powers restricted to owners of prohibited or restricted weapons or those with 10 firearms or more with notice and permission (otherwise a warrant is required)

Handguns
RESTRICTED WEAPONS PERMIT

- 18 years

- no criminal record for indictable offense

- membership in gun club, collector or self protection

- no fee

- no renewal

- conveyance and carry permits

- registration of each gun
SAME
- screening unchanged except proof must be provided of membership in good standing of gun club

- cost recovery fee

- renewed every five years

- ban on some handguns (see below)

- new training program

Prohibited

Weapons
- sawed off shotguns

- fully automatic weapons
- convertible semiautomatic military weapons

- ability to ban through ORDERS IN COUNCIL firearms not commonly used for hunting with grandfather clause for existing owners

- ban large capacity magazines with provincial sanctioned exemptions for competitive shooters (none granted)
- ability to ban through ORDERS IN COUNCIL firearms nor reasonably used for hunting with grandfather and trading clauses

- short barreled (less than 4 in.) and .25, .32 handguns banned with grandfather and trading clauses. Those manufactured prior to 1945 may be passed on to family members

- remove exemptions to large capacity ban

I was wrong about the semi and it's full automatic that are prohibited.

I really like that Ladysmith. I have small hands and it looks like it would fit well in my hand.


Of course I'm going to research everything out there before I dive in and I'll visit some gun shops to see them in person. See how they feel in my hand.

Because of the fact that my right arm isn't as strong as it use to be, I need something without a big kick.

Ladsmith doesn't look like she bucks too much

****, that short barreled provision pretty much screws one over as far as concealed carry goes. A 4" barrel makes for a pretty big handgun.

Unless I'm reading that wrong. The Ladysmith (aka Chief's Special) only has a barrel about 2" long. My Mom has one. It takes a great deal of practice to shoot it well, and it's only accurate up to about 15 yards.

I'm not interested in carrying, except to the gun club, so I'm not worried about that.

Does your mom like it, though cj?

She did when she first got it. She could still shoot it if needed, but she's old and suffering from arthritis - can't hold it to shoot. My Dad carries it around with him everywhere he goes, he has a permit.

I've shot it several times. The recoil is a little harsh because it is after a revolver. A semi-auto slide takes up much of the felt recoil, which I why I like them better. But they are more prone to failure than a revolver. Something to think about.

Ok, so if it's got a good kick, I may want to try something else, but nothing that has a high failure rate. I wouldn't feel secure with that.

I still have quite a bit of strength in that arm and I'm gonna get back to the weights and work on it.

I can't see that Ladysmith having that much of a kick and I think I could handle it. I really like it a lot!

44 mag is out of the question

The best round going right now is the .40 S&W. Plenty of knock down power without getting too big. Many guns in this caliber also come with .22 kits so you can practice without breaking the bank on ammo.

While I'm sorry to hear you feel the need for protection, I applaud you for taking the right steps to protect yourself and your family.

Since my son moved out, it leaves just me and mom alone in the country and I would just rather be safe than sorry.

There's a lot of psychos out there who prey on women who live alone and I'm not too keen on us being a statistic.

It's not just that either. I always loved target practice and I truly would love to have somewhere I can go to do that and socialize at the same time.

Got any good sites I can visit with pictures of handguns?

http://www.glock.com
http://www.smith-wesson.com
http://www.taurususa.com
http://www.springfield-armory.com
http://www.sigsauer.com

Another caliber you should consider is 9mm.

With all respect,
I must dissent from the 9mm,
in that too many bad guys have remained vertical
after plenty of hits from 9mm.
To make it worse,
if u survive, the D.A. might prosecute YOU for shooting him too many times.
That has happened.

The controlling criterion shud be STOPPING POWER.
Your life can depend on that.
If the bad guy perishes from his wounds the day after your emergency,
that does not help u out of your emergency.
If u have a motivated predator charging at u,
then u need to BREAK that charge, regardless of his emotions, before he gets to u.
My study of the available data has led me to the conclusion
that slow bulky rounds
( preferably hollowpointed, to promote deformation and a full energy dump within the target )
are the best way to go, at this point in the evolution of projectile technology.

David

Another point:
if u go for a heavier load, to keep him off of u,
u 'd be well advised to avoid the purchase of a lite weight gun,
in that ( Newton 's Third Law of Motion being what it is ),
the heavier your gun is, the more recoil that it will absorb.
Conversely, the lighter it is, the more punitive u will find its recoil
and the longer it will take u to line up your next shot.

U might consider getting a PORTED, revolver,
to counteract the rise of the muzzle and promote stability of aim.

And the next rule of thumb is...to remember "Dead Men tell no tales!"

Hollow points for stopping power? Do you live in a cave? (What you are looking for is the Glaser Safety Slug)

I wish I cud agree with u, Bill,
but those slugs have underpenetration problems.

Heavy clothing has been sufficient body armor to defeat them.
Maybe thay 'd be good in the summer time, or at the Equator.

Agreed.
Dirty Harry only wanted one to chase down bad guys,
because that was his JOB; u need not be concerned with that.
In my vu, that extra power is counterproductive.

However, u might consider a .44 special.

In any case, I have worked out with the .38 LadySmith
at a gunnery range, and did not find the kick to be offensive;
not hard to get used to.
David