Chris wrote:

Hopefully your sister is not in MA. In order to get a permit for a handgun
in MA, you have to say it is for target practice. If you tell them it is
for protection of your home and family, your application will be denied.

Do you have to specify what targets you intend to "practice" on?
Sad, as it probably won't be long before even target practice isn't
reason enough.

But then, in a survival situation, there's unregulated alternatives for
enterprising individuals:

http://www.compfused.com/directlink/447/
(links to a .WMV file)

Jon