Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

In my soon-to-be-post-divorce singledom, I will be moving to a different part of my metro area to be closer to work. And will be living alone again, which I haven't done in years. I love living alone but always lived in apartments in secure downtown-type buildings....and now that I have 2 big dogs, I have to rent a house with a yard. Long therapy session short, I am a little nervous about living alone in a new part of town in a house (this may be slightly irrational as the house I will be renting is in a great part of the city for which I work, so my own cops will be in the area).

And, so. I decided it is high time I learned how to shoot and purchase a handgun. I always wanted to;I have no idea how I've been in law enforcement so long and haven't done it sooner. But....I have no clue where to start! Should I hit up one of the range instructors at my department? Take private lessons? Or should the gun come before the lessons? And speaking of the gun...do I want a 9mm? .22? How does one decide these things?? And how much should I prepare to spend on this endeavor?

Obviously I understand the severity of becoming a gun owner...the need for ongoing practice, safety precautions, and the underlying responsibility that comes with having the choice to use the gun or not. I've given it a lot of thought and have decided to go for it. I just need some expert advice on how to get started!

Thanks, guys.

IMHO, if you can get free lessons from your range staff - go for it! Also IMHO, if you are going to own/carry for defense, I'd say don't go any smaller than 9mm... Spend as much time as you can training and being fluent with whatever you decide to buy! :)

Ditto what Sam said, but I'll add that you may want to consider what caliber your guys carry... it may be possible for you to get some free practice ammo, among other possible benefits.

The range staff would be an outstanding idea. Do NOT take the advice you find in gunshops (On ANYTHING)

They would also be able to direct you to gun deals you would not be able to find on your own. Every dept has those officers that buy/sell guns on a weekly basis. Me for example.

Caliber is really a matter of personal preference. Sort of a Ford/Chevy thing. Any one of the popular police calibers would do the job your require. Personally I think finding a gun you like and ammo cost should be a bigger consideration.
As far as cost, police trade-in guns are common. You could find a pretty decent setup somewhere in the $275-375 range. (Smith 4" .357 revolver for example)

Ask one of the range guys for his CDNN catalog or order one yourself. (1-800-588-9500)

Ask one of the range guys for his CDNN catalog or order one yourself. (1-800-588-9500)

Or, download one here: http://www.cdnninvestments.com/dowournewcat.html

In my soon-to-be-post-divorce singledom, I will be moving to a different part of my metro area to be closer to work. And will be living alone again, which I haven't done in years. I love living alone but always lived in apartments in secure downtown-type buildings....and now that I have 2 big dogs, I have to rent a house with a yard. Long therapy session short, I am a little nervous about living alone in a new part of town in a house (this may be slightly irrational as the house I will be renting is in a great part of the city for which I work, so my own cops will be in the area).

And, so. I decided it is high time I learned how to shoot and purchase a handgun. I always wanted to;I have no idea how I've been in law enforcement so long and haven't done it sooner. But....I have no clue where to start! Should I hit up one of the range instructors at my department? Take private lessons? Or should the gun come before the lessons? And speaking of the gun...do I want a 9mm? .22? How does one decide these things?? And how much should I prepare to spend on this endeavor?

Obviously I understand the severity of becoming a gun owner...the need for ongoing practice, safety precautions, and the underlying responsibility that comes with having the choice to use the gun or not. I've given it a lot of thought and have decided to go for it. I just need some expert advice on how to get started!

Thanks, guys.

Careful about claiming to be in " law enforcement " since dispatchers are not.

For a home gun, I would buy, and learn to shoot a shotgun, not a handgun if you live in an area where your concerned. If your going to apply for a CHL that's great too however make sure you look at the hundreds of gun and holster options first and go look at your options at a local gun show, which will take hours. I have no idea if you are a purse carrier, but I would never let my wife or suggest to any woman to use a purse to hold a gun for concealment.

If money was not a problem, buying a .22 revolver to learn how to shoot is your best way to start. After you are good with that, move onto a larger caliber for protection. There should be a plethora of places to shoot and learn how to do so in your area.

If you haven't learned how to shoot a firearm and would like a simple pistol, then I would recommend a revolver. They're pretty much like a mouse for a computer - point and click. The key is learning how to get a good sight picture and being comfortable with whatever firearm that you purchase.

The caliber that you choose it ultimately a mixture of what you are comfortable with and how much stopping power you want. If you are really concerned, I wouldn't recommend going smaller than 9mm.

Try to find a range that will allow you to rent different guns from them to see what you are more comfortable with. Ultimately, buying a gun that you are comfortable carrying and firing is key. Stopping power is a top consideration, but if you aren't going to carry it because it's not comfortable, how powerful it is won't matter.
People have different likes. I love my Glock 23 and wouldn't sell it for the world, but I know people that don't like it and you couldn't give them one. It's all about comfort and confidence.
On that note, it's always good to try before you buy, you'll learn what you are comfortable with and what works for you.

Good Luck and happy shooting! :)