My dad was a Mountie for 20 years. At the time he joined (1948) the standard issue was a Colt .45 (I believe it's now a .38)

He was in Air Division, so was away a lot. When my sister and I quite young - maybe 6 or so? - he showed us the top drawer of his dresser where the gun was kept. He was adamently clear that we were NEVER to touch it UNLESS someone broke in while he was away. The bullets were loose - I don't think the gun was loaded - and he showed me how to hold it properly and what to do (gun WAS unloaded for this!). That thing weighed a TON - but I was able to hold it on my own.

I guess it made sense - if Mom was grabbed, one of us had to help out.

We never had to use it, thank God.

A certain law came in, late 90's, and all handguns were to be handed in to the gov't. Dad had died in 1996 - and this gun was a part of what he had done and who he was - it meant something to our family, and not as a weapon.

The law was changed to read that these guns could be kept if they were deactivated, and that this process was documented and sent to the gov't.

Good thing we never had to grab an inactive gun to fight someone who had stolen theirs.

Thanks, Dad. {{{hugs}}}