A few repeats, but I think worth re-mentioning:<br><br>First of all, most advice that you will hear will be from people who have never shot another human being. <br><br>Evaluate and minimize all of your risks. Is your house well-lit, doors locked, dog, alarm, neighbors... (note that claymors are still illegal). Here, you are trying to prevent the option of last resort: lethal force.<br><br>1) Ask your spouse if she had to, would she take a person's life. If the answer is no, consider martial arts, non-lethal delivery systems... It doesn't matter what you think. A firearm in the hands of the un-motivated is far more dangerous to your family than the 'possibiliy' of an intrusion. <br><br>2) Send her to a pistol course AND a shotgun course. Try a variety of each type. Note that some of the biggest turnoffs to shooting are the noise and the weight of the firearm. Then, try out some practical or combat shooting courses. One or two nights of this kind of fun is relatively inexpensive.<br><br>3) If she is still willing, purchase your weapon and then practice and practice. As we have all heard, 'a well placed .22 is better'. If I could impress one thing in people's minds, it would be that 8 hrs of firearms training is nothing. As those of you who have experience on practical shooting courses know, a little pressure sure can play with a person's mind. <br><br>Yes, it is better to judged by 12 than carried by 6, but the judging part can be a pretty nasty process if you didn't put some thought into your overall safety and protection plan.<br>