Fight like a girl….with a gun.
It would be a perfect world if all bad guys or girls with a gun could be stopped by nonlethal means, be rehabilitated, and then go on to lead a wonderful life. Unfortunately, it is not a perfect world and bad people with guns exist. That is why I decided I needed a gun.
My personal story about how I came to become a gun owner started when I got divorced back in 2017. We had been separated for a year and both my kids had gone away to college about 2 hours away. Oh, what a time! I was living in a big beautiful house in the middle of nowhere, Maine. I felt relatively safe however, the fact that I was alone made things a little scarier. I am not sure how I would have been more protected with my 18 and 19-year-olds or the ex-husband for that matter, but simply being around someone else can give you a false sense of security. Never having been around guns I was completely oblivious as to what to get. I contacted a friend who is a law enforcement officer (LEO) and he recommended a revolver. I immediately said Okay! I felt better knowing I had at least started the process. As soon as I got my brand new shiny .38 Special my LEO friend showed me the basics, helped me shoot at targets, and educated me on what type of ammunition I would need. Carrying it home that day made me feel safer, stronger, and more independent than ever.
Fast forward a couple of years when I met my (insert term for boyfriend at the ripe age of 44 here) and he showed me a plethora of guns. He has been wonderful in teaching me about different types and what they are used for. After trying many of his at the local range, I quickly realized that racking the slide was difficult. Hand strength reaches its peak between the age of 30-40 and despite me being in great shape my hand strength was not there. I think some of it had to do with it being a new movement for my hands, however, it was evident that it was a difficult task. Enter the Smith and Wesson M&P .380 Shield EZ. Let me just say that this gun is awesome. I found it fun to shoot and easy to rack the slide. Everyone who has shot it has purchased one.
Although I loved my .380 EZ I wanted something smaller to carry in my purse. I am not a girly girl and am not a fan of big purses. My daily purse is a small crossbody so I wanted something that might fit in that. Enter the Ruger LCP .380. This gun is small and fierce. It has more kickback when I shoot it due to its smaller size but I definitely feel more comfortable carrying it. My next purchase will be a concealed carry purse that has a holster sewn in. I have seen a few but the price tag has had me leaving the store empty-handed.
Other things to consider when looking to buy your firearm are the laws in the state in which you are in. I got my concealed carry license in Georgia. It is for five years and several other states observe it. Other states like Maine do not require a license. Just always be responsible and keep your firearm in a safe and secure place at all times. Always tell any law enforcement officer that you have a firearm in the car if you get pulled over.
Presently, you should consider what kind of ammunition is available before purchasing a gun. Many stores have a low inventory and limit how many boxes you can purchase if they even have some.
Talk to friends you can trust and ask lots of questions. Good luck!
Maine Prepper Girl
