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So you did your homework and shot several 9mm handguns at a range which rented guns. Fighting yourself for wanting both the S&W 9mm Shield EZ and the S&W 9mm Shield +, you finally decided on the EZ. This is your big Christmas gift from your husband, Tom. He wants you to be safe because you drive a lot for work. Since you tried many handguns, this is not a surprise gift, but these are the guns you liked the best. You liked the .380 EZ as well, but your husband was stuck on that “not enough take-down power” thinking. The 9mm EZ was about as easy to manage as the .380 EZ, so this is why you chose the 9mm EZ. You also liked the 9 +. However, it’s the EZ that is sitting under the tree. It’s not even wrapped. You circle the tree, looking at it from all directions. Picking it up from the box, you test the way it feels in your right hand. Sighting on the knob of a high kitchen cabinet, you practice bringing up your hand with your index finger on the frame (just so you don’t kill the knob with your empty gun). Tom comes in the kitchen. He sees you aiming at the cabinet. You feel silly. “Just out of curiosity, why did you choose the EZ over the +?” he asks. “The + holds more rounds: 10 or 13 instead of 8.” “They’re both striker-fired guns, and I think striker-fired guns have lighter triggers and are easier to shoot,” you reply. “I think the EZ was easier to handle.” “You did seem to prefer striker-fired guns, but the EZ is a hammer-fired gun. So much for that theory!” he laughs. “But I don’t see any hammer!” You turn the gun from side to side. “It’s an internal hammer,” he replies, still grinning. “Well, OK, but the + has a heavier trigger pull,” you reason. “Trigger pull on that EZ is about 5 pounds, while the + is 10 pounds. That’s a lot of difference!” Tom nods. “Yes, you did find the trigger pull harder on the +. And, speaking of the trigger, did you like that trigger with the built-in safety?” “No. It was a flat trigger, and I’m not used to that. I like the safety in the grip like on the EZ.” “What did you think of the slide?” Tom asks. “The EZ was much easier to rack. And I like those little “ears” in the back. They help to jack the slide, but they really aren’t needed. I thought the slide on the + was a lot harder.” “Yes,” agrees Tom. “The recoil spring on the + is a much sturdier spring. The heavier slide needs a stronger recoil spring.” “Well, I like the EZ stuff. The slide is easier to rack and trigger pull is lighter. I prefer a safety on the grip and not on the trigger. And did you see that you load the magazine just like you do the .22? Could they make loading any easier?” “What do you think about the size?” Tom asks. “Do you regret not getting the + because it is about a half inch smaller in length and height? A smaller size is easier to conceal.” “Yes, I did like the smaller size. It’s strange because the + holds more rounds, and it’s not even much wider.” “You know,” continues Tom, “the barrel is about a half inch longer on the EZ.” “Maybe that’s why I shot it better. And I have good control with that longer grip.”

“Do you regret not having 10 rounds versus 8?” “No. I plan on practicing at the range. I probably won’t ever be in a position to need to use it, but the difference between 8 on the EZ and 10 on the plus isn’t a lot of difference.” “So you’re happy with the EZ?” he asks, wanting to know his gift to you is something you really want. “Sure am!” you reply. “I was reading on The Truth About Guns about the 9mm EZ. Virgil Caldwell says: ‘This isn’t a gun just for women and old guys, either. The 9mm version of this gun would make a worthy carry or home defense gun for virtually anyone.’” “So, what’s the first thing you’re going to do with the EZ?” he asks. This is so cool. “We’re going to the range!” you say. “Nope.” “Why not?” “There’s a little thing called the Owner’s Manual in the box. You’re going to read it. Then we’ll clean the gun.” “What? Clean it? Why? It’s a new gun. It can’t be dirty.” “Cleaning your gun will help you learn more about it. You’ll learn how to break it down. Reading about something isn’t as useful as actually doing something.” “OK. After that, we go to the range, right? We’re good to go!” “Not exactly. We’ll need to get eye and ear protection. You need these at any range.” “You mean I have to wear those heavy earmuff things? They will flatten my ‘do.’” “They make little squishy things that stick in your ears. We might even find you some that go in your ears like earphones. They control loud sounds.” “So I don’t have to wear earmuffs? Good. What about those ugly goggle things. I’ll look like a dork.” “That’s range wear. If you look like a dork, you’ll look like everyone else.” “OK. Then we go to the range?” “No.” “What’s left?” you ask, feeling like you’ll never get to there. “You need to learn the rules of the range. They’re pretty similar on all ranges. These rules keep you and the people around you safe.” “Then can we go to the range?” “Yes, then we go to the range. After that, we’ll talk about how to keep your gun safe at home.” Finally. Choosing the right gun for you took a lot of time and reading. Learning rules of gun safety will take even more time. There’s an awful lot to owning a gun.

Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County  Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.

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