He instead carries a FN Five-Seven. It might be a gun to consider if recoil is an issue.
It’s a large frame gun, but it’s remarkably light-weight. Standard capacity is 20+1.

I have had to tackle a loose pit bull which came at my 13 year old terrier while I was walking him and I had to use a few well placed kicks with the metal tipped shoes that I was wearing on that day to do the job. Had I been wearing sneakers, my dog wqould probably have been badly injured and I bitten badly. I live in one of two states that don’t permit concealed carry. Someone who is fit and has a knife can easily take care of any bigger breed – knives are also quiet, by the way, and give little audible warning when used by someone who knows how to.

Invariably, advice about having dogs and not using guns or about cocking a revolver / drawing back on a slide if you have an autopistol to make a sound, comes from anti gun groups in the USA. This is complete nonsense. If an attacker knows that you are in a wheelchair, he has an advantage on you. If you indicate your position by making a noise, then you are being patently stupid in revealing your position. If you are attacked it is a bullet / several bullets that will stop your attacker – not a stray that you pick up from your neighborhood shelter or any noise that you make. To suggest otherwise to a lady who is wheelchair bound and has a genuine need to defend herself is morally indefensible as her life is being put in danger because of a ridiculous suggestion.

If I was in a wheelchair, I don’t want the chance of a automatic jamming on me so I would probably have a .32 magnum Taurus Ultra Lite revolver with a couple of loaded “speed loaders” on me. Then carry the NAA .22 magnum as a hidden backup. To finish, also have a 4″ dagger knife hidden somewhere on your chair or body. I’d make sure the word got around that you could handle yourself and maybe these problems would stop. Anyway, good luck!

Do you base what you say on fact or is this just your opinion?

There are reasons other than the wheelchair why recoil can be an issue. In my case I have neurological problems and have difficulty hanging on to the gun. The larger the recoil, the more likely I won’t be able to hold onto it. Another reason might be brittle bones, where the smallest possible recoil can still be a problem.

Posting warning signs is great, it really does deter a lot of idle trouble. The dogs generally kept all other trouble away. One of the best things a lady can cultivate is a reputation for being too much trouble to bother with. I think that is worth as much as, if not more than, the gun.

All that being said, I am all for getting the biggest gun you can reasonably handle – and yes, try them out for yourself if at all possible. But realistically, the odds of your actually having to shoot someone are low, no matter where you live. Best to be prepared of course, but take the steps necessary to make yourself an unattractive target, and they will almost certainly go bother someone else.

It’s worth noting that there are more and more homeless people showing up at people’s homes looking for food. This is not an isolated problem. It’s not just about (or happening in) bad neighbourhoods. I have a friend, also a rural-living disabled woman, who lately finds people in her house every week at least.

I know that this is a firearms blog and I’m not talking about firearms, but self-defense (as others have noted) is so much more than a gun, and having been in a similar situation, I felt a need to put my 2c in.

This was about 20 years ago so please forgive me if I am wrong but I remember him saying that it was the folding stock (that was not as common as today), the fact that it was an auto that could go pump to clear a malfunction, and that their recoil was not as bad as other 12 gauge shotguns.

For a pistol, I would think either a Glock 17/19 or an XD in 9mm. I think the combination of high capacity with the mild recoil would be the best bet over a larger round that would be harder for anyone to control.

My wife is small made and not very strong because of a childhood accident that broke both her hands below the shoulders. I think she may have very similar problems to Veronica because of this. We have a Colt 38 Diamondback revolver at home in case she needs it. The recoil is easily bearable for her (and I think it would be for Veronica too) and the power is more than adequate as far as the short ranges of the typical home are concerned. For someone who may not be very interested in guns beyond occasionally shooting them in order to get some practice, I personally think that revolvers are better than autopistols because of their simplicity of design, ease of maintenance and use, and the ability to carry them safely with all chambers loaded compared to keeping automatics safe with a round in the chamber. (Yes, some are going to laugh at me for saying this, but then, I have the ready excuse that when I was a boy, Moses wore shorts!)

Unfortunately, the Diamondback and other Colt revolvers are no longer made but Smith and Wesson has some nice 38 Specials and there are several companies like Glaser who make good defensive ammunition for the scenario that she speaks about. I hope that she finds something that she likes soon and is safe. Please do post what she decides on as it would be helpful to many people coming from an actual user as compared to a theoretical execise by well meaning people who can only speculate but not relate beyiond a point to someone like Veronica or my wife.

I suspect that a steel medium-frame 6-shot revolver in .38 Special with a 3″ heavy or 4″ standard barrel is probably her best option. They are more reliable than semi-autos, the manual of arms is easier to master, and many find it easier to shoot accurately. A steel frame has more weight and has less recoil than an aluminum frame, and a longer-than-snubby barrel has better intrinsic accuracy.

I’d also think that she can probably find a gently-used revolver for substantially less than a new semi-auto, which could translate into more $$$ for range time… or hiring a relator.

Remember that this aspect of my advice may be un-needed.My old girlfriend can hand-cock her P-97 and you may be able to as well.
The P97 will drop down beside you in your chair and stay there pretty well.Just make sure that it is in a holster;for your safety and to avoid wear.

I do not advise against the P-97 for anyone;it is an excellent gun in a general sense.It would serve your purposes very well.You can feel very confident that it will save you if it is ever needed.

I’d second the idea to go to the range and try out different guns before buying. Many police depts. have adopted guns in .40 S&W because of the increasing number of female officers. It has less blast & recoil than 45 ACP but just about the same power. Would much rather have it than 9mm. Most women have smaller hands than men and this may be a factor as well. Try first, buy later.

One other suggestion if you’re a wheelchair user is to keep the gun on you if possible. I use an ankle holster. If you attach it to the chair and you get knocked out of it, you’re disarmed.

This will be your first firearm I assumed.

While I like Glock I don’t think it will be in your best interest right now. Maybe in the future but not now. I think the best choice is a a double action revolver in .357.

I also highly recommend that it has a lanyard loop hole. So if you dropped the firearms it can be easily retrieve.

http://guncrafterindustries.com/graphics/images/lanyard_1_600.jpg
http://www.gem-tech.com/trl.html

I also suggest that you mount the weapon as close to you as possible. Within hand reach at all time in any situtration. You don’t want a child thinking it is a toy and suddenly garbing the firearm. Unable to prevent it because the gun was out of reach.

Go to the gun range. They have a lot of different type of firearms for you to rent and test out.

You could pull that thing out of a bag and lay waste to any number of opponents in short order. Isn’t that what you really want?

Also, if you are within what you consider to be a reasonable distance of southwestern Idaho, you are welcome to stay in the empty apartment in the basement of my house. It has a direct exit onto the driveway and from there directly to streets & sidewalks. We can work something out in terms of costs and rent while you’re getting your defensive gear, learning to use it, getting your hope upgraded as much as possible and all of the other little things that are involved in living under siege.

Take care.

It takes a special kind of idiot to come after someone in a wheelchair. The kind of idiot that deserves what’s coming to them.

Some good suggestions are here already, along with a few of my own. In no particular order:

1. Another dog, one which is spry enough to defend you in the case of a home invasion

2. Exterior, motion-activated lighting. Sometimes people won’t engage in a crime if they think someone might see them.

3. Exterior cameras to capture images of the people who are doing this.

4. Exterior signs warning of the security system, dog, cameras, etc.

5. Related to #3, consider who these people are and why they are victimizing you. Is it the same group of friends who knows that you’re alone and in a wheelchair? Or is it random people? Your defense against them is different depending on the answer to that question.

6. If you live down a long driveway or access road, consider getting a gate with an alarm on it which will let you know when someone’s coming. And if you just have a regular driveway, consider getting a “driveway doorbell” which alerts you in the house that someone is driving up.

7. Install an intercom system so that nobody – mailman, UPS, repairman, etc. – has any reason to be in your house before you’ve confirmed who they are and why they’re there. The easiest way to keep people from victimizing you is to make sure they don’t get into your house in the first place.

8. Have you considered bars on the windows? It would suck to have to do that, but when it comes down to it, feeling safe might be worth the hassle and expense of installing some hardware.

9. As many others said, neighbors are a key component of safety. Does anyone know of some way to rig up an “alarm button” which would trigger an alert in a neighbor’s house that Veronica needs help? If nothing else, you could each buy a prepaid cell phone that is ONLY for emergencies, ask the neighbor to leave it permanently plugged in and set to the loudest ring, and program all the speed dials on your end to that one number. You can do a one-button speed dial with the emergency phone while you’re talking to 9-1-1 on your main phone. The neighbor will know that the ring means trouble, and s/he won’t even have to talk to you on the phone – s/he’ll jump in the car and head over, preferably armed.

Without knowing any more about the layout of your house, and your general area, it’s difficult to give more specific suggestions than this. You’ve taken the first step, though, which is to refuse to be victimized any longer. Get a gun and practice using it, but be sure that its only one part of your larger strategy of avoiding harm.

Good luck.

might have been overlooked in the crush but these guys build an attachment system that seems ideal…especially for around the house.

http://hellinahandbasket.net/?p=548

Geez guys, just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean we should all default to the lowest power level.

You will be surprised at how well many women can handle 45’s with a little encouragement. Ms. Veronicad1, if you want a 45 get a 45. (Note: glocks have thick handles which many women find difficult to grip properly.)

The front sight, rear sight and wrist bones all should line up in a proper grasp while allowing your finger to reach the trigger face. If you can do that with a gun, then you can shoot it well

Oh, and about the exotics, the sub machine gun and the Super shorty, those are big money and and a couple of MONTHS worth of FEDERAL PAPERWORK. I think a more practical solution that can be bought in the next week or two is in order.

I know very little about the .327 except from what I’ve read in gun magazines and I always take a massive dollop of salt whenever I read those. So my advice would be to get a .38 Special.

Smith and Wesson make some fine snub noses, are readily available and are decently priced. There is also a plethora of ammunition available to suit all types and situations.

Let’s hope she never has the need to use it in anger.

This is a harrasment/security issue. The questioner should get an appropriate pistol and holster, but there should also be a bit more of a comprehensive plan:
– display of wealth – don’t make it look like there are things worth stealing in and around the home
– neighbors – if the police are 45 minutes away, its time to make friends with the neighbors. Take your pick for a reason, closer help, meet new people, whatever. If there’s trouble in the area it will affect them too.
– alarm system – done
– training – getting a pistol is easy, learning to shoot well may not be. Find a good instructor, you don’t have time to self-teach.
– practice – just like a non-wheelchair user, it takes practice to draw, take aim, and fire

(James R. Rummel runs the blog Hell in a Handbasket)

UPDATE: I just noticed that James has written about it here:

http://hellinahandbasket.net/?p=542

I see now that Joe Hooker left a comment on 14 Sep 2009 at 2:10.

We should all just listen to Joe.

So far as any advice is concerned, Steve has already stolen my thunder. She really should go to the range and try out a selection of firearms until she finds the one that suits her the best.

Lots of good advice in the comments, guys! Although I would caution against getting too specific so far as make/model/manufacturer of guns are concerned as it can be very confusing to someone just being introduced to the shooting sports.

In fact, I’m sort of surprised that the author of the text quoted above seems to know so much about firearms if they don’t have any hands on experience with them. (“A 22 would just piss them off.”–”…just the continuation of the P97DC?”) Sounds lik they have had some time at the range in the past.

What about a 410 pump shotgun? The sound of a pump action shotgun is intimidating and a 410 can be lethal if loaded with the proper ammo. Federal makes a load with four pellets of 000 buckshot at 1200 fps. That would ruin anyone’s day.

I’d get a m11 submachine gun. It’s the size of a pistol, it holds 32 rounds of .380 and will fire them all into someone within about a second. The .380’s recoil should be manageable in controlled bursts, and with a little practice you’ll feel much more confident shooting “sweeps” at someone instead of single shots.

You won’t get one from a gun shop unless you’re lucky, you can buy one online though for around $3500. It’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot too.

Other than that, don’t bother with a pea shooter. Get the most powerful handgun you can. A glock model 20 fires 15 rounds of the most powerful (and still practical) autoloader round you can get. The recoil is not that bad, it will start to wear your hand down after 40 or 50 shots but that’s not the point, the point is to kill someone, nevermind a tingly sensation in your palm.

-Jeff

http://www.scotworksllc.com/holster.html

hope it helps