One for my daughter

[1911cat]

Sig, P238 or P938, both are easy to shoot.

[Subotai]

She should get a restraining order, with threats against her, she can then carry without a permit. Possibly get her a pocket 380. As long as she can rack the slide. Oh, and loan her a pistol, now.

[movie zombie]

would the OP please update his daughter's progress, choice of pistol, if the situation has improved, etc?

[XCC_RIDER]

Yet again, the men are answering a question about women and handguns in THE WOMEN's FORUM. You would think, since OP had the sense to post here, that the women would be the best source.

For this particular post, it will be important to deal with local CCW rules, no fudging here at all. If no CCW is possible, it's still worth it for the woman in question to learn to shoot and obtain her own choice of gun, because she's allowed to carry on her private property or in her workplace, if the boss agrees. And a shotgun is always a good thing in home defense.

Here are some thoughts that I've posted over, and over and over, and most people have agreed, over time.

BonnieB's Tried and True Dissertation on Buying a Gun for Your Wife / GF / Sister / Mother

For the 900th time ! Don't buy a gun for your woman! Let her be a adult and run the process herself.

WOMEN WHO ARE BUYING THEIR FIRST GUN SHOULD DO THESE STEPS INDEPENDENTLY.

She does a handgun safety training with practice firing. NRA's Women on Target is super, especially if there are women instructors.

She commits to practicing at least once a month. If you don't practice you might as well not bother.

She rents several guns in different calibers and tries them out. I know this can get expensive, but it's still cheaper than buying the wrong gun. She selects a caliber that feels comfortable to her. Bigger is not necessarily better, but she's a grown-up and can probably handle something bigger than .22

She schedules one or more full-out NRA handgun training session with a reputable instructor, preferably one on one, preferably a woman. Unless the hubby, BF, etc is a certified NRA Instructor, he should be home watching the ball game that day. Men, do NOT try to teach her to shoot yourself. Teaching a woman to shoot is like teaching a woman to drive and is a relationship-killer.

She goes to a local gun shop, on a Thursday at 2pm (always slow then) with her American Express card visible in her hand and handles as many guns as possible. This is where the hubby if any, BF, SO, sits in the car and listens to the ball game. ( Here's an edit, with a tip of the hat to CSACannoneer, as below: Depending on the woman and her knowledge of firearms at that time, she might (I say "might") be better off bringing a neutral 3rd party with her so that she doesn't get pressured to buy something that isn't for her. The neutral third party should be either a knowledgeable female shooter or a certified instructor who only has a professional relationship with her.). If she doesn't like how she is treated, she leaves and goes to another gun store. That is why she walks in with American Express Card held high, so the sales staff knows she's serious. I have favorite salesmen, and I always get immediate attention in my LGS, because they know I'm a serious buyer if I'm there at all.

She looks at several guns she likes, that feel good in her hand, that is the right caliber to do the job, whatever that job is (self defense, Saturday range dates, etc). She asks for intelligent discussion from the sales staff. No supportive attention or no intelligent help? Walk out of the store! If she finds one or two guns she likes, she summons hubby, BF, SO, whatever, from the car for final approval (if absolutely necessary), and congratulations. Then he goes back to the car and the game. She pays for the gun with her own money.

We've said this again and again. She can handle this. She can be an adult and arrange her own class, preview guns at a gun shop and she should especially pay for it with her own money. I completely support dads, hubbies, BF's and interested friends to go on rental-shooting trips. I do not support them deciding what caliber 'she can handle', dominating the buying process, teaching her how to shoot or poaching on her expensive professional training sessions. If your your wife, GF, sister, mother or best friend doesn't want to do this totally alone, that's OK. You can give gentle advice, support and encouragement. But the more she does alone using the above process, the more ownership she'll have of her guns and the more likely she will be to self-defend or go to the range with you.

What is the proof? Many of us who don't have husbands, BF's, etc., have handled this just fine, all alone, with some advice from instructors and non-related friends. Honest. Tried and True.

BonnieB,
Very, very good advice which I (mostly) adhered to when my daughter was shopping for her handgun.
The only thing I changed was I accompanied her on her search but only to fend off the "female negative" sales attitudes and personal opinions. I was actually surprised that there were minimal opinions expressed but I did have to intervene at one chain store on the negative sales attitude. We of course left and she found her preferred handgun at a very tolerant LGS.
Now if I can get her to the range once a month and then schedule her next training I would be happy.

Once again, thx for posting this.

[movie zombie]

and, XXC, thank you for acknowledging that Bonnie's was a good post.
too many of the men of calguns just don't get it: HER gun, HER decision.

[MaryWare]

Rather than going for a gun for safety, I would like to suggest you should ask for police protection for your daughter. Now a days, there are very serious and effective laws for women safety, etc.

[MaryWare]

Their could be some other possible options, also its your choice want exactly you or your daughter wants. Do the best good for her safety. Also, it is good to use technology for safety purpose. (regarding the security app).