A little over a year ago, in my column on the MS New Today website, I asked if it was safe for someone with MS to handle a gun. I wondered whether there would be safety issues due to problems with grip strength, balance, eyesight, and all the other various difficulties people with MS have to one extent or another.
A Facebook post from a woman with MS who’d been carrying a gun in the pouch of her walker triggered that column piece. I wondered about the wisdom of this and quickly found that more than a few MS patients were posting on Facebook about their guns:
“Feeling proud of myself! Yesterday I went to a gun carry permit class.”
And:
“I say that I cannot run from danger anymore, so I carry everywhere I go.”
A Google search turned up a blog by a gun enthusiast named Eric, who identified himself as a doctor. He wrote about this topic on a website called The Truth About Guns: “No one is more vulnerable than the elderly, the disabled, and those among us who are both.” But Eric continued, “Unfortunately, most pistols are made for the healthy.”
So, for someone with a disability, he suggested “.22 WMR or .32 DA revolvers” or “a .38 if he can stand it. For a recoil-sensitive person, I can’t imagine a better (or noisier) round than .22 WMR.”
A few days ago, an MS patient named Bruce commented after reading last year’s column. Bruce’s comments are so detailed, and his background with weapons is so good, that I’d like to share some of what he wrote:
“I see no issue with MS victims carrying firearms.
I’m a 30’s male with rrms, raised with guns, and I’m a veteran combat medic. I also have a concealed carry permit and carry every day.“Because of my occasional – as I call it – ms hands, I’ve changed the type of firearm I primarily use to gain more control on a dumb-hands day, but I still have control of my weapons. (I used to carry 40 cal, but that has more recoil, so now those old guns are “backups”).
“No matter what you shoot, or how bad your MS, grip matters. I recommend a two-hand combat shooting grip – for reference, this is the grip primarily used by the US military and in shooting sports these days – there are good videos on YouTube from shooters like Jerry Miculek explaining how to implement it, so I won’t describe it here, but it gives you great control of the weapon, mitigates recoil, ensures your weapon cycles, and will greatly improve aim. Win win whether you have MS or not.
“I carry a 9mm Glock 43 with a pinky extension, and switched my home defense weapon to a 9mm Glock 34. The 34 is great – the mass of the slide helps manage recoil, longer barrel improves accuracy, and when paired with a good grip (I mean hand positioning, not grip strength), and the fact it’s only a 9mm, means this pistol shoots with a lot of control, and is easy to attain followup site pictures.
“For shooters with worse ms hands than me (or that aren’t 6’4” and/or haven’t shot tens of thousands of practice rounds in their lifetimes) I’d recommend a .380 (not a 38 like listed in the article) – it’s basicslly a 9mm bullet with a shorter casing, meaning less powder, meaning more manageable recoil. The trade off is decreased velocity.
“In the end, shoot what feels best for you, and train like your life depends on it, for one day it might.”
Is a handgun more likely to be a lifesaver or a danger when carried for protection by someone with MS?
What do you think?
(This post first appeared in my column on www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com)
My gf has rrms and owns a .380 and carried for many years, but she doesn’t carry now as her license has expired. That said, we went to a range several months ago and she was having real problems managing the weapon. Unable to work the slide, trouble with the mag and even hitting the target. While it was cause for concern, that wasn’t what was troubling
She was also an avid motorcycle rider for many years. I’ve been looking into getting a new bike and, after witnessing 2 episodes where she appeared to be falling-down drunk–along with the usual complete loss of rational and emotional control one would expect in someone so inebriated–and had no recollection of either event, have discussed with her the risks of her riding, even pillion. We have agreed that it’s probably not a Good Idea.
As an interested observer, my own position is that being armed and at risk of such “episodes” seems too similar to handing a loaded weapon to a drunk: probably a Very Bad Idea. I would argue that one cannot be considered a responsible gun owner if that gun owner may find themselves without control of their faculties.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. All good points.
Ed
After growing up with guns and learning to use them, I’ve since moved from the US to Denmark, so even having a gun is next to impossible. Having a black sense of humor really has helped me, so the zombie apocalypse joke is funny to me, but not as much to my husband. Yep, my difficulty to even go outside on my own may well be a saving grace, in that I don’t have to subject others to my jokes! 😀
I’m not familiar with the ins and outs of this topic, but I think the same question could be posed for anyone carrying a gun? Lowen @ livingpositivelywithdisability.com
I always joke with people, what am I going to do. If I’m in danger I am a fish out of water. I am a flounder with no possible way to defend myself. Truth is, it isn’t a joke. I always said I wanted to learn to shoot a gun, then I progressed more with MS. I have hand issues like Bruce. My problem is unless a gun was right next to me, chances are I’d never get to it in time. Mobility is an issue.
I hear what you’re saying. When I’m out on my scooter I feel the same way. I’m afraid that even if I had a handgun in a holster, or the basket of the scooter, any mugger could easily surprise and overpower me, and probably get the weapon before I could.
Ed
We joke I would not be one of the survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Lol