Taking a hoplophobe to the range.

Be sure she has good ear protection at all times. The noise is the scary part.

Let her stay home.

Explain the safety rules, why they are there and that there are range rules. Start her on .22 only till she eases up. consider getting her used to the idea with an inert gun, or airsoft.

If she doesnt want to go, what is there to gain by convincing her to come along?

2nd the hearing protection.
This is how I have delt with new, somewhat timid shooters in the past.
Take her and maybe one or two of her trusted friends aside with a .22 rifle or good .22 pistol.
Keep other well meaning "helpers" at a distance if you can.
Don't overwelm them with caliber this and ballistics that tech speak. Make sure that the 4 basic safety rules are covered before the gun(s) come out.
Show them how to load the magazine/cylinder, explain sight alignment and picture, and let them have at it!
99.999% of the time, they're hooked after their first full mag/cylinder.
Once they're comfortable with their shots, as them is they want to try something else. If so, a full size 9mm or .38 Spl is always a good bet, unless they are absolutely insistant on something else. Let them have as much fun as possible, and keep safety in mind.

Hoplophobe

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Not sure if this label is meant to disparage, but it seems to imply a disrespect for her feelings. As in, she "should" feel differently.

Tell her she doesn't have to go. It's up to her, completely.

Then ask what you can do to make her comfortable going. This might not be the right time or setting for her first range session, and you might not be the right person to introduce her to shooting.

It's about her. So, you shouldn't be asking us.

1. Don't pressure her to go.

2. If she does go, hearing protections is a must when near the firing line.

3. If there is a place away from the firing line from which she can watch with you, let her do that. After observing a while, she may feel comfortable enough to move closer and even try shooting. Start with a .22.

4. If she doesn't want to shoot but is content to watch, it's a start.

I think all the safety rules apply here...hearing protection and the safety rules should be gone over and over and over.

But I think I would only take maybe a .22 rifle and maybe a .22 Single action like a Ruger maybe.

Make the day about her and her fears..One or Two firearms at most...small caliber for sure! Fun plinking with a lot of close friends!

Give her some time for the big bores and big bangs and recoil! If a .22 Ruger SA goes along it will be loud enough for someone who is overcoming a fear.

Thats my 2 cents anyway....baby steps.

I third (or fourth?) the hearing protection. Double up; foam plugs and a headset. Don't even try to talk her into shooting unless she steps forward. Just being at the range, hanging back and watching people enjoy themselves is a huge first step if she is really fearful.

I third (or fourth?) the hearing protection. Double up; foam plugs and a headset. Don't even try to talk her into shooting unless she steps forward. Just being at the range, hanging back and watching people enjoy themselves is a huge first step if she is really fearful.

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That's well said, Serenity.

Let me add, please, all of us have fears of one kind or a dozen others, and the fear of guns is by no means unusual. If all she can handle is watching, let her watch.

I always give newbies a long, detailed safety talk about the four rules before heading to the range. I give them examples. I give them more examples. I point out the four rules emphasize the word "always" rather than "never." I go back over the safety points. I want them to understand two things:

1. The safety points themselves
2. The whole point is to shoot safely

The emphasis on safety helps people take that first tentative step sideways from their fears; it's also, in my opinion, essential.

I hate to spin it a different direction but is there any possibility that you can take her somewhere besides a public range to get a little shooting time in? I've been working with a very good female friend of mine for a couple of years getting her acquainted to her LCR (which she still isn't comfortable carrying but is making progress, we mostly shoot .22s though.) We split range time between a public range and a private range on a farm. She and I have both noticed that she shoots much better and is much more competent on the private range. She is the only one making noise, she also feels like she is on the spot at the public range and feels intimidated.

Ask her again if she wants to go. If she says no, respect her decision.

Now I have talked to Jessica a little about the trip, and she has agreed to discuss her fears with me the next time we meet (2/5/12)

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Why would you "single her out" like this on something so trivial? She doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to, and certainly shouldn't have to sit down and express her feelings to the group because of her decision not to participate in one of your social outings.

Just my opinion.

In addition to the other sound advice in these replies (not forcing the issue if she is too scared, lots of hearing protection), I would offer that you may alleviate some of her fears by acclimating her to firearms before getting to the range if she is willing to face her fear.

First, without a firearm present, talk to her about firearm safety. Ask her if she has any questions and answer any that she has. Explain how both firearms and cartridges work. That may take some of the mystique out of them, turning them into a tool in her mind rather than some magical death/maiming machine.

Second, it sounds like she trusts you to some extent, have her handle an unloaded firearm to practice safe handling techniques in your presence; maybe a rifle first and then a handgun. Strip the gun(s) down so she can see that it is just a simple, mechanical tool. If you take a centerfire handgun, let her dry fire, show her how to hold it, how to aim, and show her some stances to use - find something she is comfortable with.

Might put her at ease a bit more before she gets to handle one for real.

If she is going to the range with a bunch of people (and I assume a bunch of friends from church as well), just let her watch.

Maybe couch it as fun! For many people it is indeed fun. She's potentially going on perhaps a rare outing with her peers.. fun! Maybe don't break her knuckles with a ruler forcing her to "know" the "truth".

Go read Kathy Jackson's The Cornered Cat and recommend the site to your friend. Pay particular attention to Taking a New Shooter to the Range.

I spent almost a DECADE with my wife sitting in the car, reading with ear protection on.

She HATED rifles, but I convinced her to try a Model 10 and turned her into flippin' Annie Oakley. She's gone from rare shooting, to owning her own Sigma 9ve... And now she's starting to moon over other Pistols in my absence.

To yesterday's range trip, going from "Wow, 100 rounds went fast, but my hand is a little sore, lets go get lunch", to just a few hours later "Damn... I really should have shot a lot more today, I wasn't THAT Sore."

I usually only find out that my "American Rifleman" has come when she's handed it to me after finishing it first.

Time and patience neighbor, if it's not a lost cause from the outset, eventually quiet, accepting, Peer pressure will move mountains. They can only sit in the car for so long until they want to participate in the "fun" themselves.

Do not attempt to push the 12g on her under any circumstance. Try to find another female shooter for her to associate with. The .22 is just right for acclimation, but let her just watch if she wants.

Offer to take her and a close friend shooting before the group trip to introduce her to them. Go to a private range if possible, or a public one during an off day to avoid the big guns going off around her.

Start off with a .22 rifle, bolt or pump action preferably. You want that first shooting experience to be surprisingly easy on her. She's expecting it to be loud and scary, and nothing is as sedate as a bolt/pump .22 rifle. No kick. Little noise. No accidental "hot brass dance" to worry about. Pure "that's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be".

Move progressively to more kick/noise as she feels comfortable trying.

That is how I've introduced new people to shooting several times.

If possible, make her first trip an outdoor range instead of indoor. Aside from the fact that the noise is less obnoxious, it also feels MUCH more natural and less threatening. There's something far more scary about indoor ranges for most people.

Given her deep seated fear of getting shot, a group outing may not be the best venue to introduce her to shooting. She must cope with a fear that transcends guns, so I would not pressure her to go.

Dr T said:

Given her deep seated fear of getting shot, a group outing may not be the best venue to introduce her to shooting..

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I agree. Bring her out alone at night.