Here's something I came across on the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum. I, myself follow the Louisville Slugger phhilosophy, and would get a dog *way* before I'd even think about a home defence gun, but for those who prefer the boomstick:
I'm a lawyer in general practice in a small town. I'm also a shotgun addict. You say you have'nt owned a shotgun before, but you want one for protection. Here's my advice:
1. Regardless of the law, regardless of the new "castle doctrine" laws they may pass in your state, regardless of how much the low life needs killing that breaks in your home,,,,,it really DOES matter what kind of gun you use if you ever even point it at somebody, much less use it. Remember that having a gun in your hand in an argument with somebody, or pointing up in the air, gets you exposed to FELONY charges if some overzealous prosecutor wants to charge you. I have universally told all of my clients who have EVER asked me to use a double barreled side by side (or over and under) shotgun, just like Elmer Fudds, with cheap 7 1/2 field loads you buy at Wal Mart, for home protection. Why? Because it's the absolutely LEAST offensive gun a prosecutor could ever waive around in front of a jury, later, if you have to justify using the thing. For the love of God don't chose a black, pistol gripped "people shooter" with a folding stock. You are just asking for it if you do. And don't say you bought your shotgun for protection. You are about to become a target shooter, my friend. Welome to the world of shooting clay birds. And the day the bad guys come in at 3 am, Thank Goodness you happened to have your double barrel shotgun handy.
Any 12 or even 20 gauge shotgun will blow an intruder to the infernal regions at the distance you'll shoot, with any load. You don't need buckshot or slugs, and not only will some prosecutor argue you bought those evil shells designed to kill people, you don't want the extra penetration in your house if you ever need to use it. Use 7 1/2, or 8's, or even 9's, but never the big shot sizes.
2. Now I'm putting on my shotgun lover hat, and taking off my lawyer hat. Since you haven't owned a shotgun before, I advise you to go to Cabela's or your local gun shop or Bass pro or Wal Mart and buy a Mossberg Select over and under shotgun for just under 500 bucks, with a 26, or 28 inch barrel in 20 gauge. Now you have a real, usable clay target gun, that will be really easy for you to shoot. Nothing can even compare to a break open gun for a beginner, and the 20 will break all the clay birds (and kill all the bad guys) you'll ever want. Then, absolutely, go to a sporting clays range and the owners should GLADLY teach you how to shoot your gun. If they don't, then the next range owner will. A shotgun is the best home defense gun there is, in my opinion, even if it wasn't the best legal option to use. But to use it for home defense, you can't be fumbling with it. You've got to know how to use it. Three different days at a sporting clays range, (try the skeet range first), and you'll not only be proficient with your shotgun, you'll likely have a new hobby. You like to bowl? It's fun. Shotguns are even funner.
By the way, I'm for the homeowner. I'm for you having the right to blow anybody away who breaks in your home. But even in your home, even after he's broke in, the law says and has always said you have the right to use deadly force ONLY IF IT IS REASONABLE. It's that weasel word "reasonable" that lets prosecutors charge the good guy. You've never had the right to execute a house breaker who's surrendered. You never will. That's the problem with "holding them for the police to come". If you can, barricade yourself in a room, yell out that the police are coming and you have a gun, and if they break in through the door, it's either you or them. And, by the way, never say you shot to kill. You shoot to STOP. You shoot to STOP THEM FROM KILLING YOU. You shoot them dead center mass, because you absolutely have to stop them. You shoot once and if they keep coming (doubtful) you shoot again. You never ever reload and shoot them when they are down. One or two 20 gauge loads in the belly at six feet is absolutely going to stop the biggest, meanest, meth crazed junkie on earth. He'll get really peaceful, really fast. You never fire warning shots, never brandish the shotgun and threaten them with it, never try to capture them. You only USE it if you absolutely HAVE to because they are coming after you. Hope they have a weapon. But if they don't, and they are coming after yours, you don't have to let them take it away from you. Always always always call the police, and then a lawyer. And hope you don't ever get in this situation. It's a wonderful idea to take a concealed weapons class, if they offer one in your area, or a firearms class of some kind, before you go through with this.
Personally, I have no opinion on this. I just thought it'd be interesting to some here.
