By Maria Heil,
Contributing Editor

I've never really enjoyed "shopping" unless it involved going to lunch. I've very little patience when it comes to "shopping" in a mall. Mostly, I don't go shopping, I go buying.

I was surprised a couple of years ago when I was visiting family in the Chicago area. I was asked to go shopping with them at one of the hundreds (thousands?) of malls now surrounding the Chicago area. I was in a vacation mood, so I agreed and off we went.

When I asked what it was they were going to buy, their answer reminded me of the differences between suburban Chicago (where I was raised) and semi-rural Pennsylvania (where I now live). They were not looking for anything specific, they were just looking to see what the stores had that was new or on sale. The only thing that kept me from going nuts was the promise of going out to lunch.

I think the only real shopping I do is on-line. That's where you can get an idea of how much something might cost, find out what options there are, and where you can actually find the item. Once I've done my research, then I go to a store for "final" inspection. If the product is all that it seemed to be, then I buy it.

Now is the major shopping season of the year. It's a time that I'll most likely actually go out shopping. Yes, actual shopping! Mostly it happens because I've no idea what to get someone and I'm hoping to be inspired at the stores. I guess most people are in that same boat come mid-December.

Here in semi-rural Pennsylvania the malls are somewhat sparse compared to the suburbs of Chicago, but that's okay by me. There is one major mall near me that I like, and then there are smaller malls on the outskirts of the nearby city.

When it comes to carrying concealed, I think of that old credit card company advertisement, "Don't Leave Home without It." This is even more important during the Christmas shopping season, as it's also shopping season for criminals.

So, I naturally carry a gun when I go shopping.

To my surprise, one of the smaller malls around here has a "no weapons" policy. Of course, it's on an upright standard in the middle of a whole list of "no-nos" in the mall.

But it's there.

Naturally, I have a concealed carry license here in Pennsylvania. I didn't think businesses could prohibit law-abiding people from legally carrying concealed, so I called a friend at the state capital. Turns out the answer is "yes" and "no." Yes, they can prohibit the legal carrying of concealed firearms on their property. No, they cannot charge you with a gun violation, unless the gun was not concealed. The most they can charge you with is trespassing. Since you should have your gun concealed, they won't see it, and there won't be any problem. Regardless, I'm not going to any store in that mall. If I'm going shopping, I'm not going to be armed only with my credit card. Why don't they just put a big "Gun Free Zone" sticker on all the entrance doors? Then we'll wait and see how many of the businesses in that mall suddenly become targets for the criminal element in the area. As a funny side note, there is a Gander Mountain store on the outskirts of the mall, and they both stock and sell guns!

As I said, I rarely shop, whether it's clothing or shoes, or guns for that matter. My first handgun, my husband picked out for me. I held it, it felt OK, and so we bought it. It was an OK gun for my first handgun (a .38 Special).

My next gun purchase was made after I actually shot this particular 9mm semi-auto. I liked the gun I shot very much, but there had been some custom work done to it. When I bought that same model, I thought that I would get the customizing done. I really didn't like it very much the way it came from the factory.

Well, before I could find someone to customize the 9mm, I found another gun that I liked even better. It was a .45ACP that came from the factory with everything that I wanted. The 9mm will someday belong to my son, but it's the .45 that I love to shoot and prefer to use as my everyday carry gun.

The moral of the story here is that you really do have to shop for your guns like most people shop for clothing. You have to look at a lot of them, you have to try a lot of them on (in other words, actually fire the guns), and you have to find the best price from a reliable dealer.

It isn't always easy for women to go into gun shops. Some of them are in people's garages or basements, or in a shop in a converted old factory building, or in a seemingly old shack along the highway. Of course, usually there are only men in the store, both as customers and behind the counter. All of these factors can make for a somewhat daunting experience.

My advice? Remember that you are blazing a trail! Take a deep breath and open the door to that shop. What's the worst that can happen? They insult you and you leave, and they lose potential customers when word gets around. Best thing that can happen is that they bend over backwards to meet your needs and they become your "go-to" people for questions.

Still don't like the idea of going into those small places? Then find a chain store that sells the type of gun you are looking for. Wal-mart sells long guns. Dicks Sporting Good, a Northeastern sporting goods chain, sells guns and ammunition. And there are other regional sporting goods chains as well. Gander Mountain sells all types of guns. Then, of course there is Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops, if you're lucky enough to have one of these ever-expanding giants near you. All of these stores are large and well lit, with a pleasant family friendly atmosphere.

The point is, either blaze a trail or find a place you are comfortable with and then start asking questions. Find out where there are local shooting ranges, and if there are any Ladies Day shoots being held in the near future. There are many, but certainly not all, shooting ranges that welcome women and newbies to the shooting sports. In other wordsit's time to go shopping!