An older or newer handgun?
Susie’s all excited. She turns to Joe.
“I got such a deal on my vacation in Georgia!” she says happily.
“Really? What did you find? And why is it such a deal?” he asks her skeptically.
“Well, to start, it isn’t brand new. That’s why it’s a great bargain. But it’s hardly used. I found it at Crazy Ed’s Gun and Pawn shop in FabulousFinds, Georgia!”
“Really. What is it?”
“It’s just the cutest pink little gun. It’s called an “Airweight 38.” She smiles confidently. “I spoke to Crazy Ed myself. I liked it because it’s pink and it has the prettiest pearlescent white handles. Ed pointed out that when I carry it in my purse, it’ll be really light. I’ll hardly know it’s in there.
“My hubby, Henry, is happy because he wants me to have a .38.”
“Why does he think you ought to have a .38?” asks Joe.
“Well, Henry says a revolver’s the easiest gun to learn. It’s not like those narrow guns where you have to fill up a magazine and push it into the handle. They’re complicated. With this one, all you do is point and shoot.
“He also says it will never jam. And he says it has plenty of ‘take down’ power. If Mr. Bad breaks down my door, I’ve got five chances to stop him and the Airweight should do just that!
“And then, there’s the cost. I saw a new one go for $35 more than this one and mine is practically new,” she adds smugly.
Susie proudly hands her Airweight Smith & Wesson to Joe.
“You don’t have your concealed carry license, do you?” Joe wonders.
“Not yet. I plan to take the class soon.”
“Then in order to pick up your gun, you had to have it shipped to another dealer, right?” Joe knows the answer to this, but wants Susie to put two and two together.
“Yes. I had it shipped to a local gun dealer who has his FFL license.”
“Wasn’t there a charge to do that?”
“Well, yes,” she admits, looking embarrassed. “They charged me $35. Oh. Guess I didn’t save $35 after all.”
“So, Susie. How do you know you’d saved $35? Why didn’t you buy your handgun locally?”
“Oh, we were on vacation. I guess I got excited. I had seen a similar gun locally, but it was $35 more and didn’t have the pearly white handles. This gun was so cute and I was saving some money. I just got caught up in the excitement! Is that so wrong?”
“Did you talk to the local gun store owner? Did he/she discuss your gun choice?”
“Oh, they seemed to want me to buy something else that Henry said didn’t have as much take down power as the .38.”
Joe offers to take Susie to the range with her new gun and ammunition. She didn’t know it, but he also brings along some wadcutters and a Smith & Wesson 380 EZ. He makes sure Susie knows the rules of the range, and brings eye and hearing protection. He reviews the terms: hot and cold.
Susie hands her .38 for Joe to fill with ammunition.
“Remember, Susie, squeeze the trigger. Don’t jerk it,” he advises.
She squeezes. Bang! Susie’s hands fly in the air.
“What just happened?” she asks Joe, eyes wide.
“The 38 has a lot of recoil,” he says. “Shall we try again?”
“No!” she was definite. “I don’t like this one at all.”
“Let’s try something else,” advises Joe. “I have some wadcutters. They have reduced powder and when you shoot, there will be less recoil.”
“I’ll try. But if it’s anything like I just shot, I won’t like it,” she warns.
“It will help, but a .38 does have a strong kick.”
Susie aims and shoots one round. Still standing at the shooting bench, she puts the gun down, muzzle pointing downrange.
“I don’t like it even with your wadcutters,” she mutters and sits, shoulders drooping. “What do I do now?”
“That is disappointing,” soothes Joe, “but I have a different gun for you to try.”
“I think maybe shooting isn’t something I can do.” Susie is thoroughly dejected.
Joe fills the magazine of the Smith & Wesson 380 EZ. He motions her back to the shooting bench.
“But Harry says I have to have a revolver,” protests Susie.
Joe hands her the gun. “Remember, take a deep breath, let it out and then squeeze.”
Susie furrows her brow, but does as he says. Bang!
Susie puts the gun down and looks at Joe, astonished.
“I hit the target! I hit the target!” Susie marvels. “What gun is this? Can I do it some more? I like this!”
It doesn’t take long for Susie to empty the magazine.
“That was fun! What did you say this is?”
“It’s a 380: just like our local gun shop owner advised. All the major companies make 380s.
“This is why you purchase locally,” Joe says. “They have a strong interest in selling to your particular needs. They know you’ll be returning because you live right here. You’ll want more ammunition. You may want a holster or different sights. You’re a potential customer for future purchases.
“We’re super lucky. You can buy locally because the gun shop owners around here are honest. They’re knowledgeable. They’ll give you good advice. I’m not saying that other shops around the country don’t have honest people. They do. But local owners want your repeat business.”
“So, what can I do?”
“Well, you can sell your .38. Yes, you’ll probably lose some money. But you didn’t like shooting it anyway. You can rent a gun at some ranges to see what you like. Borrow a gun from a girlfriend. Try out 380s and 9mm handguns. Then, armed with some knowledge, return to a local dealer and find the gun that’s right for you.”
A couple weeks later, we meet Susie at the range.
“Hi, guys!” she calls happily. “Come and see my new gun! It’s the Sig Sauer 365 380! I like it! The recoil is much less than the .38, and it’s fun to shoot. I even got a bullseye!
It’s really pretty and it fits in my purse. I also bought an inside-the-waistband holster. That shop owner was really nice. I told him I like the Smith & Wesson 380, but it’s a bit large. I was hoping for something just a little slimmer. So, he showed me this gun. He was right! I really like it!”
Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.
