Which would be the smarter choice from a legal standpoint?

[Tracer_Bullet]

686 is a good gun, but make sure your wife can comfortably reach the trigger if you expect her to use it. My wife has small hands and has trouble reaching some triggers, and her friend could just barely get the tip of her finger on the trigger of my Model 10. Talk about petite mitts!

 

[photoman]

Let's just say that as long as it is a good shooting and I didn't use an illegal firearm everything will be ok, and leave it at that....

This is my home we're talking about...and if an armed assailant breaks in it won't make any difference whether I dispatch him with a thirty-eight or with the toaster oven.

The legal issue is more civil than criminal. Chances are, you would not have any problems in the criminal phase of your experience but the civil phase, if there is one, could be very different.

 

[watchmanjimg]

The legal issue is more civil than criminal. Chances are, you would not have any problems in the criminal phase of your experience but the civil phase, if there is one, could be very different.

Not in our state.

 

[photoman]

Not in our state.

And thus the clause, "if there is one."

 

[watchmanjimg]

And thus the clause, "if there is one."

Understood. I wasn't correcting you, but merely expressing my joy that it's not an issue here. That's what the smiley was for. Hopefully it's the same in your jurisdiction.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

38-44HD45 makes a very convincing case, and I agree with it in practically every detail. However, I feel obligated to point out that there may actually be an advantage to handicapping yourself with what you may consider second-rate equipment: if you actually lose, you won't have to worry about the legal aspects at all, either civil or criminal.

 

[Skeeziks]

If your wife needs to defend herself inside the home, the best thing for her would be a DB shotgun.
I don't think it would be wise to rely on a handgun that her finger has a hard time reaching the trigger. If you're going to purchase a revolver for her to use I would suggest a J-frame. She'll be able to reach the trigger better than with the L-frame.

If there is ever a home invasion at my home, you can bet that the first thing the bad guys will see in my hands is a 12-gauge.

 

[38-44HD45]

38-44HD45 makes a very convincing case, and I agree with it in practically every detail. However, I feel obligated to point out that there may actually be an advantage to handicapping yourself with what you may consider second-rate equipment: if you actually lose, you won't have to worry about the legal aspects at all, either civil or criminal.

520, I thought I made that point, but I like the way you said it!