Marie, welcome! To APS, and the Sierras. Whereabouts?
Actually, I'm not in the hills, but in Sacramento, but the Sierras are my goal. I would be happy to bring by my collection of 38-ish caliber guns for you to look at and try-I have two S&W revolvers, 38 Special and 357 Magnum, and a 9mm semiauto. I also have a lever-action carbine that shoots 38s and 357. I can give you some familiarity with and basic safety lessons. Just don't ask for a shooting lesson-you should learn from somebody
good (I can hit the broad side of a barn, but only from the inside).
I'll reiterate the "tool" argument. If you are moving into large predator country (which is more of California than most people want to admit), then the right tool is what you want.
Yes Lee, "Anti-gun Republican from Ohio" is not an oxymoron. Weirdly, it isn't all that unusual; I don't know why.
Anyway, Marie, as far as your boyfriend and his gun hatred goes, I'm about to reveal one of the greatest, darkest truths of Antis:
It isn't the gun that they fear, it's
themselves with a gun. Your BF is afraid of some "long-repressed impulse", that when taking hold of a loaded weapon he'll somehow unleash a murderous sociopath. I exaggerate, a bit, but essentially, he doesn't trust himself. Guns are a literal representation and presentation of power...
Err, uhmm-
I'll hold off on the psychosocial analysis. If you really want to hear it sometime, I'll be happy to tell you. In fact, feel free to PM me. I'll bring the Arsenal