Eugene, is there a particular context or scenario you have in mind? I have been in several combat situations from the military to service in the L.A. Sheriff's Dept., and have investigated homicides and their forensic and ballistic aftermath. I am also a small arms expert. I would need to no more about the context of the question. I am unaware of conversations taking place where actual veterans of gunfights or homicide investigators and pathologists are discussing these issues. Gun magazine writers claim to have these subjects covered, but as far as I know, none have yet to fire or see a shot fired in anger nor are interviews with survivors common as most survivors do not like to discuss or relive these events.
Basically, though, the shotgun with slugs (#1 pref.) or Buckshot (#2 pref) at under 25 Yds is superior to any handgun and has a higher chance of enough lethal force to immediately eliminate the threat if shot placement is good. The handgun is truly a last resort defensive tool. The shotgun if used well does immediate and incapacitating damage, wherein a handgun requires more precision to stop a threat. Shot placement is more critical than anything with a handgun and this is true with a shotgun or rifle as well. A criminal will continue to fight and shoot even when gravely wounded and will fight till he bleeds out. I've seen it with my own eyes. Raw power is insufficient in itself to effect a termination to the threat. Then, as to where this takes place, there will be limiting factors, street, residential, home, shopping mall, church or synagogue. The handgun is truly a last resort defensive tool. Joe Horn, M.A. Autumn Rose Press Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept, Ret. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Volokh, Eugene Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:25 AM To: firearmsregprof@lists.ucla.edu Subject: Good discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of shotguns vs.handguns for self-defense Can anyone please point me to a good discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of shotguns vs. handguns for self-defense? The more specific the cite, the better. Many thanks, Eugene _______________________________________________ To post, send message to Firearmsregprof@lists.ucla.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/firearmsregprof Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) forward the messages to others. _______________________________________________ To post, send message to Firearmsregprof@lists.ucla.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/firearmsregprof Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) forward the messages to others.
