# Best handgun for home defense? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402 "2003-09-03T21:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/141 "2003-09-08T22:21:52Z")
Atrael, I belive you missed something on that pepperball page. > [@](#): > > Who can purchase PepperBall launchers and/or projectiles? > > At the current time, PepperBall Launchers and PepperBall Projectiles are sold only to corrections, law enforcement, government agencies, military, and private security. > > In order to purchase and use PepperBall products, agencies must have at least one officer certified as a PepperBall Instructor. If your agency has not yet met that requirement, please visit our Training section for more information. It does seem odd that the govt. trusts us with lethal weapons but this company doesn’t trust us with less lethal ones, but such is life. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/142 "2003-09-08T23:17:03Z")
> [@](#): > > It does seem odd that the govt. trusts us with lethal weapons but this company doesn’t trust us with less lethal ones, but such is life. Thanks to Jackass, and the great tradition of idiots who for generations did it without making a cent, I don’t think a pepper ball gun would be used for peaceful purposes. I’d hope that kids would be less likely to ride around and “prank” people by shoothing them with say, a **Kalashnikov**. I’d “hope.” The facts on the ground may not bear me out… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/143 "2003-09-09T03:35:34Z")
For the last damn time-this is _not_ a “Pro-Gun/Anti-Gun” debate! If you wish to argue with other posters about the appropriateness of gun use, do it in the BBQ Pit or Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Dragline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@Dragline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragline)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/144 "2003-09-09T13:19:27Z")
The arguement that stun-guns are useless because no country has abandoned firearms in favor of tasers doesn’t hold water. Of course not, but the cops **do** have and use them when appropriate. It is just one more tool in the tool kit. The military is also looking at microwave pain (heat) guns, glue shooters, low freq sound that disrupts internal organs, and my favorite - the really, really smelly stink bomb, with essence of decaying corpse, vomit and other noxious odors. (not real sure about home use of that one) My position is gun\>taser\>nothing, but the likelihood of someone in my family doing something stupid \> me plugging a bad guy. Also, I’d like to see an example of somebody with an air taser dart in them still being able to function. If you do get a dart in somebody, you can apply voltage as needed. I think they tazed Rodney King, but I didn’t see much fight there. Also, they use stunners in prison situations to get the perps out of their cells, if need be. ---
**Author:** ![Dragline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@Dragline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragline)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/145 "2003-09-09T13:41:12Z")
Oh, and you don’t need a permit for a stunner, you can carry it concealed, less legal trouble if you shoot an unarmed intruder, and maybe the biggest of all, no hesitation or regret about shooting somebody. With all of the new “prison time for gun use” laws, I don’t want to cast my fate before slick lawyers, dipwad judges and who knows what kind of jury. On a side note, I knew a guy who had a permit for a concealed weapon because he transported large amounts of jewelry. Eventually, he got robbed and could have perforated the the guy, but at the moment of truth, he decided it wasn’t worth it. I bet he wouldn’t have hesitated to electrify the crook, tho. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/146 "2003-09-09T14:32:53Z")
**Dragline** I’m not so sure about that. Many cities and states it is illegal to even own one. This site [http://www.personal-selfdefense-online.com/stungunlaws.htm](http://www.personal-selfdefense-online.com/stungunlaws.htm) sells them and says they are restricted at least in some places YMMV 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dragline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@Dragline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragline)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/147 "2003-09-09T14:46:38Z")
I think I’m clear in Florida: [http://www.airtaserandstungunstore.com/states-stunguns.shtml](http://www.airtaserandstungunstore.com/states-stunguns.shtml) STATES THAT STUNNING DEVICES ARE RESTRICTED: ## HAWAII MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN NEW JERSEY NEW YORK RHODE ISLAND WISCONSIN CITIES WHERE STUNNING DEVICES ARE RESTRICTED: ## ANNAPOLIS, MD BALTIMORE, MD BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD CHICAGO, IL DENSION / CRAWFORD COUNTY, IA (_According to Sheriff Tom Hogan_) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PHILADELPHIA ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/148 "2003-09-09T14:56:41Z")
Thanks for posting that D/L I would have but my PC is running real slow. I know it’s probably not the best cite I could’ve found. AND I’m not disputing your position regarding stunners. I’ve inquired about them myself. But, it was more trouble for me to get a stun gun than a real one. I’d still like to get one though. I have found myself in confrontations where it was “get into a fight” or “shoot the sombich”… I’m getting too damned old too fight and don’t go around shootin folks for picking fights. I don’t start fights, I try to avoid one if at all possible. But every now and then my wife and I like to go out and listen to music, dance, have a drink, whatever…and goddamnit there always some asshole who is pissed off, half drunk, whatever… AND it seems like he’s always got a friend or two w/ him. Now around these parts if you wind up out in the parking lot, odds are someone/maybe everyone’s got a weapon in the truck. anyway…I’ve gotten off subject…sorry **mods** just wanted to let folks know that **whatever weapon you may be considering (even non-lethal ones) be sure to check out the federal regs. AND local laws for your own protection, there are a few loopholes I’ve discovered recently. If in doubt call a local gun dealer/smith/pawn/police…etc.** BTW stunners can kill…think heart condition/pace maker/asthma/ many other possibilities gotta go work PEACE ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/149 "2003-09-09T15:50:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Czarcasm \* > \*\*For the last damn time-this is _not_ a “Pro-Gun/Anti-Gun” debate! > If you wish to argue with other posters about the appropriateness of gun use, do it in the BBQ Pit or Great Debates. \*\* Sure, put this under my post but don’t make it clear who you’re talking too. I’m not paranoid enough. :dubious: I was joking, albeit poorly, about kids joyriding around and shooting people with various things. I’m pro-gun, but anti-teenagers-joyriding-with-Kalashikovs-or-pepper-balls, or something. Sorry. Anyway… The best gun caliber is one you can shoot straight and consistently. The better one-shot man stoppers are, surprise, the larger calibers. But, there are seriously diminishing returns once you get past the .357, not to mention overpenetration. The most important thing you’ll ever learn about shooting is when _not_ to – pull the trigger, carry a loaded gun, point a gun down range, etc. Take lessons, practice, and stay safe. Or, as my friend the US Marshall once noted, “Two in the chest, one in the head, we like them alive, but we’ll take them dead.” Wait. How about, “Treat every gun as if it is loaded until you are 100% certain through visual and physical inspection that it is not.” ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402/150 "2003-09-09T17:33:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalashnikov \* > \*\*Atrael, I belive you missed something on that pepperball page. > > It does seem odd that the govt. trusts us with lethal weapons but this company doesn’t trust us with less lethal ones, but such is life. \*\* Actually, if you read it again, the original parent company “Pepperball” was only sold to law enforcement agencies. I’m guessing that because they sold the rapid fire type semi-automatic rifles. The handheld pistol type that I linked to is available for purchase by individuals as of 1 September of this year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handgun-for-home-defense/199402.md?page=7)