Gee, I leave town for a week and DW decides to kick the hornet's nest. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I'll be the first to admit that I'm bummed she won't take a more active role in firearm defense. She can outshoot me with a little .380 semiauto versus me with my 9mm Taurus 92. Unfortunately, the Taurus is physically too large for her. There's a nice 20-guage pump shotgun in the gun safe with her name on it. I just haven't found the right magic words to get her to shoot it. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

That being said, I respect her choices (even while actively working to undermine them) when it comes to armed defense. Currently, the chance of a home invasion at our house is slim to non-existant for several reasons. First we live in a relatively well-to-do neighborhood. There is crime here but 90% of it is bike theft. Second, our house is hardened against easy entry. The doors, door locks and windows have been upgraded to withstand being kicked in. Third, we have a monitered house alarm. Fourth, multiple baby gates with tricky locks seperate the bedrooms from the rest of the house (may seem weak, but are attached to wall studs with 4" screws). Fifth, this is Texas. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As for out and about, she doesn't go to "bad" neighborhoods. Sure, crime can happen anywhere, but statistically if you aren't a young black dope-dealer it's unlikely you end up face down in a pool of blood.

When it looked like Hurricane Rita was going to hit Houston she took a refresher course from me on the guns. Scenes of Katrina were still being played on TV and she realized there was a potential for trouble. She wanted to be ready.

Finally, having ONCE decided to keep tickling her after she said stop I am completely confident in her ability to defend herself. I'm 14" taller and 80 lbs heavier than her, but suddenly I had a pissed-off cougar in my hands. It was three days before I could use my hand and a week before walking didn't hurt. I'm still not sure about the hearing in my right ear.

-Blast