Youngest daughter called today.

[speedsix]

...they can't take it too seriously...MANY serial killers began by cruelty to animals and escalated from there...good to see you guiding her well...

True, but most animal killers don't become serial killers. While I understand one being upset about an animal getting mutilated, how owning a gun would have changed that is way beyond me. The cat may have been mauled by a neighborhood dog. My neighbors Rotty got hold of my daughters Chihuahua and I beat that dog senseless with my fists and feet to get him to let go. The whole thing took maybe 2 minutes and in that short of a time, the Chihuahuas lungs where hanging out to see and part of his intestines had to be held in while we rushed him to the vet. He managed to live but the point is. If that could happen to him in 2 minutes or less, I could easily picture a dog tearing a cat to pieces given a few more minutes. Maybe the neighborhood is still safe, with the exception of some big dogs running around loose. I don't think I would assume satan worshipers had moved in just yet.

Regardless, It sure never hurts to have a home defense weapon. I would recommend a shot gun. For home defense, nothing beats a shotgun.

...that's right...just blame it on the dog....but she told her daddy "someone"...and he reacted appropriately...don't know where you got anything about satan worshippers...but you ARE playing the devil's advocate on my post...neat dog story...

...I would much prefer the Marlin .357 rifle to a shotgun if there were a home invasion and a family member was grabbed...hard to make a precision shot with a shotgun...and the recoil is rough on a woman not used to guns at all...(or is it et al?...)

[03Lightningrocks]

...they can't take it too seriously...MANY serial killers began by cruelty to animals and escalated from there...good to see you guiding her well...

True, but most animal killers don't become serial killers. While I understand one being upset about an animal getting mutilated, how owning a gun would have changed that is way beyond me. The cat may have been mauled by a neighborhood dog. My neighbors Rotty got hold of my daughters Chihuahua and I beat that dog senseless with my fists and feet to get him to let go. The whole thing took maybe 2 minutes and in that short of a time, the Chihuahuas lungs where hanging out to see and part of his intestines had to be held in while we rushed him to the vet. He managed to live but the point is. If that could happen to him in 2 minutes or less, I could easily picture a dog tearing a cat to pieces given a few more minutes. Maybe the neighborhood is still safe, with the exception of some big dogs running around loose. I don't think I would assume satan worshipers had moved in just yet.

Regardless, It sure never hurts to have a home defense weapon. I would recommend a shot gun. For home defense, nothing beats a shotgun.

...that's right...just blame it on the dog....but she told her daddy "someone"...and he reacted appropriately...don't know where you got anything about satan worshippers...but you ARE playing the devil's advocate on my post...neat dog story...

You are incorrect in your assumption. I was not playing anything on your post. I was simply stating a possible explanation besides serial killers. He didn't say she saw someone kill the cat. But your probably right. Serial killers have probably moved in. My mistake. My explanation probably sounds crazy.

[speedsix]

I was, like the OP, all for helping the daughter feel safer, knowing there was someone (or an evil Rotty) around who had killed and mutilated a pet...it's not a stretch at all and is supported by many case histories that one who would do such a twisted thing often becomes a real threat to people...and you quoted my post and found four points of argument...and told a neat dog story...I guess we just disagree a little bit....

[03Lightningrocks]

I was, like the OP, all for helping the daughter feel safer, knowing there was someone (or an evil Rotty) around who had killed and mutilated a pet...it's not a stretch at all and is supported by many case histories that one who would do such a twisted thing often becomes a real threat to people...and you quoted my post and found four points of argument...and told a neat dog story...I guess we just disagree a little bit....

I am not sure what you find neat about a Rotty attacking a Chihuahua, but it really isn't funny to say stuff like that. There is nothing twisted about a dog being a dog. If you read my post again, you will notice that I was offering up a very plausible explanation. Big dogs do attack little dogs, rabbits, cats... mice and anything else that might cause the dog instinct to be triggered. It is far more likely than a human mauling that cat. I suppose we will see if the OP tells us she saw the person kill the cat and which news paper the report of the arrest and crime will be in. You have a good evening now.


P.S. The Satan worshiper comment? It came from a real story also. Years ago I lived in a neighborhood where everyones cats kept disappearing. All the neighbors starting saying they thought Satan worshipers had moved in and were sacrificing everyones cats. Turned out it was Coyotes simply having supper.

[speedsix]

...I just took what the OP's daughter told him at face value...didn't see the need to question or doubt that she knew what she saw...and don't see the need for her to prove it...but it did give you one more thing to argue about...your plausible explanation seems to be more important than my post that's supported by documented facts...to you...we're done batting this back and forth...

[03Lightningrocks]

At face value, he never said she SAW someone kill her cat. If that were the case, it seems there would be more to the post, like calling police and what not. I admit I took it at face value that she thinks it was a person and in an effort to maybe restore some of her dads sense of security about where his daughter lives, I chose to offer up something that is not a threat to his grand kids or daughter. You chose to offer up a scenario that included serial killers.

[handog]

Obviously the cat was victim to some sort of satanic ritual. The sacrifice was clearly performed by some psycho killer walking his rottweiler late at night.

Poor kitty was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I suggest a Winchester 12 gauge pump shotgun with Hornady 00 buck.

[The Annoyed Man]

Mojo, are they certain that it was a human that did this to their cat, and not something like a coyote? Pistol still a good idea, but it helps to know for sure what happened.

[CWOOD]

my daughter likes my sr9 and sr9c.

Mine too!

Actually, so do I.

[Pacifist]

I got a call from my youngest daughter who lives in Round Rock, she said someone in her nice safe neighborhood had killed and mutilated one of their cats. She wanted advise on a gun purchase.

While I most definitely fall into the the-more-the-merrier camp when it comes to gun ownership, in this instance, it would seem to me that the best advice you could offer to your daughter would be to keep her cats inside, where they would be far less susceptible to disease, injury, and death from all causes. There is simply no valid reason for letting cats roam freely in urban or suburban neighborhoods and in most municipalities, doing so is against the law as leash laws apply to both dogs and cats.

[03Lightningrocks]

I would like to offer up a couple thoughts on weapon choice, but feel I must apologize in advance if I offend anyone. Disclaimer in place... here are a couple things to consider.

From the Original post we have a household with no weapons at the present time. We also have a household with people of limited knowledge and experience of firearms (intelligent people in that they ask the dad for help). The husbands military career doesn't help in this situation. A military background alone, means very little in terms of firearms knowledge or ability to use one. No offense meant by that last comment, but I have a brother who is still in the army after 25 years and he would be the first to tell us this. A sniper in desert storm... by the way... and he calls me all the time asking about guns. We have young children in the home and also a teen! Children are drawn to firearms like a fish to water.
We are talking about a weapon for home use . (Does not have to be concealed)

When I add all that info up, I see the following needs. Easy to shoot accurately. Easy to operate and forgiving of small handling errors. Reduced risk of collateral damage. (if they miss what they are shooting at, one of those children on the other side of the house could be hit). Easy to acquire in an emergency but secured from access by curious children and teens. Am I leaving anything out? Thoughts?

I am thinking a pistol grip pump shotgun with a trigger lock or maybe The Judge with some buck shot in it and a couple of the cylinders holding the 45 in case the buck shot doesn't stop the bad guy. The advantage of the Judge is that it could be put in one of those bedside locking handgun boxes. Easy to acquire in an emergency but not accessible to the kids. Both choices offer a lower chance of through the wall collateral damage than most other hand gun calibers, or a rifle(which could kill the neighbor five houses down the block).

[wheelgun1958]

Good reference website

http://www.corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[boba]

When I add all that info up, I see the following needs. Easy to shoot accurately. Easy to operate and forgiving of small handling errors. Reduced risk of collateral damage. (if they miss what they are shooting at, one of those children on the other side of the house could be hit). Easy to acquire in an emergency but secured from access by curious children and teens. Am I leaving anything out? Thoughts?

I am thinking a pistol grip pump shotgun with a trigger lock or maybe The Judge with some buck shot in it and a couple of the cylinders holding the 45 in case the buck shot doesn't stop the bad guy. The advantage of the Judge is that it could be put in one of those bedside locking handgun boxes. Easy to acquire in an emergency but not accessible to the kids. Both choices offer a lower chance of through the wall collateral damage than most other hand gun calibers, or a rifle(which could kill the neighbor five houses down the block).

A full stock .410 shotgun can be good but I say move up to 20ga if they can handle it. I don't know this couple, but I usually don't suggest 12ga as a first gun.

[MoJo]

I just talked to my daughter - - - she took the cat's remains to the vet to have them cremated. The Vet told her it was cleanly severed and no animal can do that without tools. As far as her experience with firearms is concerned she's been around guns all her life. She is competent and is going to seek more training. I asked her if she was looking for a long gun or a handgun and she wants a handgun. We will look into getting her into a pistol first then maybe a long gun later.

[03Lightningrocks]

I just talked to my daughter - - - she took the cat's remains to the vet to have them cremated. The Vet told her it was cleanly severed and no animal can do that without tools.

That is horrible. I was truly hoping it was an animal attack. That would still have been bad but somehow not as bad as thinking one of your neighbors is jacked up in the head. They should file a police report in case it has happened to others in the neighborhood. Seeing something like that has to be traumatic at best. Hope they get over it at some point. That kind of thing can really be a kick to a persons feeling of security.