I am glad to hear that they are getting input from other sources than just you.  Don't get me wrong - I like you.  I'm sure your parents like you.  If your parents are anything like mine and you told them the sky was blue today they would go outside and do a quick check just to make sure.   

You might want to look into training aids that don't require a range trip to get in some gun handling.  I think everybody has a few snap caps around but there is a whole world of stuff out there that can improve skills without burning gunpowder.  It would help you stay sharp and maybe help MR to gain some confidence and skill as well as a little muscle memory.  Who knows, if PR gets used to seeing his wife practicing he might have to concede defeat and get with the program.   

Quick update:

Was running errands with Mama Raptor earlier when an ad came on the radio for a nearby gun show this weekend.  As a joke, I asked Mama Raptor if she'd like to go.  She said sure, but she's not comfortable buying there.  But it might be a good opportunity to at least handle a few things, get an idea for what she likes or doesn't like.  It's schedule-permitting (we have a few things going on over the weekend already), but... we'll see. 

Also, I'm extending my stay for at least a few days (made it to the final round of the hiring process for a job application, and the last interview is scheduled for the same day I'd be flying home), and I found a pretty decent gun shop/range down here, so we may end up going there.  Again, nothing definite, but we'll see.  EDIT: Only staying down another two days, so odds are if we go to the range, it'll probably be up north.

They just announced a couple here in the Phoenix metro area.   I'm sure there will be some overpriced product for those who attend and probably a few safe queens drug out and shined up on the tables. 

I think the gun show idea for MR is probably a good one.  No pressure on her to buy anything there - just look around and handle a couple of things as you say.   Might even get a new idea or two.   

I'd be a little hesitant if I hadn't gone to the show first to see what they were like in that area.   You don't want her scared off by mall ninjas or douchebags selling Nazi memorabilia.   

I did tell her that running into those characters is a distinct possibility, and she was fully expecting it to be full of rednecks (this is Florida, after all) even before I mentioned them.  Still open to going, though she still hasn't decided if she's going to go or not go.  That's due to her being concerned with being in a large crowd (thank you COVID) more than anything else.

From what you've told us, PR may be realizing that A) MR is going to do what she's going to do, whether he likes it or not, and/or B) it really is getting sketchy out there and if he truly loves your mother he needs to try and protect her, whether that impinges on his comfort zone or not.

Glad to hear all of the above.

I think once Mama Raptor actually handles a gun (we just looked today, didn't touch anything), then her concerns with the size and weight will probably go away.  I remember having the same reaction at my first gun show - guns, especially long guns, were much larger than I'd thought they'd be.

coelacanth, your suggestions line up pretty closely with the ones I made to Mama Raptor, particularly regarding youth-size shotguns (though I suggested the Mossberg 500 over the Remington), and for the same reasons.  A .22LR rifle is pretty much at the bottom of the list, but like you said, it's better than harsh language, a pointy stick, or fresh fruit.  I confess that I've put more emphasis on long guns vs. handguns since Mama Raptor isn't interested in getting a Concealed Carry Permit, and IMO a long gun is better for home defense, and therefore haven't recommended any specific handguns other than "take a pistol class and then rent a few different handguns at the range and see what you like."

I'm not really keen on the PK380 since it's based a bit too closely on the P22 for my liking (and those had a whole host of issues IIRC), but I would recommend something like the CCP 380, or the SIG P238 or either of the S&W Shield EZ models.  Though if she wanted something for home defense vs concealled carry, I'd probably suggest something larger and with a correspondingly higher magazine capacity, like the Glock 19 or HK VP9 or SIG P320.

Found it :   https://www.opsolmini-clip.com

Yup.  Old habits are hard to break and we have become accustomed to having electric power and communications at our fingertips 24/7/365.  I think the powerful light(s) are still a really good idea and also some form of two way radio comms not dependent on the internet or cell service. 

A personal anecdote, if I may, to illustrate the point:  Last year we experienced significant roof damage during a storm and the repair was delayed for nine days because we weren't the only ones damaged and the roofing companies were overbooked even for covered insurance claims.  So, there's me up on the roof laying down plastic tarps and trying to weight them down to keep them in place during subsequent stormy weather.  Have you ever noticed how many storms happen during the hours of darkness? 

The evening after laying down the tarps we had a major line of thunderstorms move through which knocked out the power for a couple of hours in our area.  My main trouble light is 800 lumens and throws a beam you could read by about a hundred yards so its the go to light for stuff like that.  I was able to determine - from the ground - that my tarp weighting was holding fast and we didn't need to worry about additional damage.  Cell phones were out due to damage to a couple of cell towers in the area and my cheap a&& Radio Shack walkie talkies I got to play around with the grand kids were pressed into service.  Mrs. c and I were able to communicate quite well over about 300 yards of suburban neighborhood terrain except for a little cross-talk with a neighbor who was using a similar set-up.  The ability to cut through the darkness of a power outage during a storm and communicate without having to worry about cell service ( our ISP was spotty for a couple of days afterward also  ) was quite comforting and could be a game changer in some situations.   We just recently used the walkie talkies to coordinate plumbing repair activity where she was inside the house monitoring the spot of the leak and I was out front with the curb key turning the main water valve on - and needing to know if I should quickly turn it off again. 

I guess those things aren't absolutely necessary in most situations but they sure have come in handy for us and they would be the go-to tools in a another emergency. 

Can't say I disagree with your thinking on the mini-shells but they have been fairly available here and my thought was to give the best terminal performance with a manageable amount of recoil.  Reliability with the OpSol clip has been good in my Mossberg Maverick 88 using both the Champion shells and the Federal stuff.  If you begin to get the idea I am fond of the shotgun for home defense I must plead guilty as charged.   

Agreed.  I wouldn't want to face either of those from the business end. 

Generators are cool things to have but if its not already hooked up and ready to go it takes at least a few minutes before you are producing power.

Ask me how I know .  .  .      

Basically its a transfer switch added to the existing electrical service and usually has a four pin plug installed for the generator to hook into the panel.   More sophisticated systems are generally reserved for bigger stand-bye generator set-ups that come on automatically in case of a power failure.  There are some off the grid systems here in Arizona that use a combination of solar panels, battery banks and either diesel or propane powered whole house generators for times when the solar/battery array is not up to the task. 

Its good that the new house has the wiring already installed.   

Too much time is being spent making sure they get 'the right gun' for them.  I understand why, and it is well intentioned, but that is not the priority.

The most important steps they can take to be ready for a riot in their neighborhood are:

 - Be 100% ready to defend themselves with lethal force.  Mentally, emotionally, psychologically, etc.

 - Have the physical fitness and learned skills necessary to be able to do so with whatever tool they choose for that task.  Whether that is a broomstick, a camp axe, or a firearm.

 - Choose a tool and commit to it.

If they are considering a firearm, ANY firearm that they are willing to practice with will do.  A Ruger 10/22 is not what anyone here would pick, but why not?  If she is willing to take a few trips to the range and learn it, I would declare a win.  Buy her a few boxes of hot CCI rounds for Christmas.

Conversely, if you can talk her into something more effective, so much the better.  But don't lose the momentum by trying to get just a little bit more and stalling out. A 10/22 or a Saturday night special in her safe are both wins.

Kaso's points are on target.  Mindset, skillset, toolset - these are the three legs supporting your defense.  There seems to be a general consensus that these "peaceful protests" are going to continue for the foreseeable future.  That forces many of us to consider what was previously unthinkable.