22 year old Sister Issues

[deacon8]

Oh, for goodness sakes! What's with everyone and courses?? I got my first .22 rifle when I was 6 years old. I learned to shoot with my dad. Everyone needs to relax...I'll tell you what you do.

Go out somewhere (range or otherwise), and give her a "run-down." Show her how the gun works, what it is, and how to shoot it. Let her shoot. She will get the hang of it. Are you guys worried she is going to play with it while he is gone and shoot herself? "Oh I got it, DON'T tell her how to use and let something bad happen that she can't prevent." That's silly.

If the worst case scenario happens and there is a situation, at least she'll have a chance at defending herself. Ok, she might not hit the guy 8 out of 10 times. So what? At least she'll have a chance!:banghead:

 

[TexasRedneck]

Huh? By and large what I read were folks sayin' she needed to know how to use it - whether being taught by him or an instructor.
Beats her having it taken away from her because she didn't know how to use it.

 

[colemanw]

yeah, it sounds fishy- i would absolutely not let her have access to it- don't push her on it though... in time she might grow up and understand the value of knowing how to operate it... let her come to you when she is ready... be a resource

 

[bad_aim_billy]

Maybe a handgun isn't the best option here to begin with? Just sayin...

 

[rmmoore]

As another CCW and NRA Instructor, here is something a lot of people don't think about. If you allow her access to the gun, without ensuring she knows how to use it, you MAY be liable in the event she "had" to shoot someone. It's YOUR gun, and YOU are leaglly tasked with securing it from non-authorized persons (to a certain degree). But if you knowingly grant her access, and know she doesn't have the proper training to use it, you are opening yourself up to some potentially, very bad issues. Make it CRYSTAL clear, either she learns how to use it, or get a can of mace and hope "the guy" isn't an ex-con who uses it for breath spray. I know she's your sister and you are concerned for her safety, but there really isn't a choice here.

 

[209]

I don't leave any of my guns available to anyone who hasn't attended (and passed) the NRA safety course. You live in my house- you have to play by my rules. I made my wife take the course when we got married. It turned out she enjoyed shooting and even got her Pistol Permit.

My daughter-in-law stayed with us for a while and all of the guns were locked up unless my wife or I had one out. My wife's nephew stayed with us and the same routine applied.

There are enough States Attorneys out there who think they "make their bones" on gun-related cases and they are anti-gun to begin with. They scare me.

 

[akodo]

I suggest you look into the brand name 'gunvault' or similar lockbox that still allows relatively rapid access to your firearm.

I think you are making the right choice regarding not allowing her to access YOUR firearm without some reasonable first steps on her part.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

I think the female mind is always something to consider, like a couple have suggested. She might be intimidated socially at a range, like many are at a gun store. Best to ask casually if she wants to accompany you out to a private place where you're going to target practice. If not, give it up, it's pointless.

 

[Kragax]

Also an CCW and NRA instructor here. I come from a shooting family. My mother was one of the best rifle shots Ive ever seen and I don't mean .22. She was taught by the Marines in our family. I have no doubt that she could fend of a group of invaders. However she had little or no handgun experience. At one time she asked me to borrow a handgun for protection purposes. In my stste if you shoot someone with my gun we could both go to jail. But anyway this was mom. I went over to show her a couple different types and to let her handle them. The 1911 was out of the question. The Colt revolver didn't fit her hand yada yada. She shot the revolver at the club and decided on her choice. She bought a 20 gauge pump gun. Being around guns all her life she told me " Ill never shoot it enough to be able to hit anything if Im scared" She was a smart lady.

 

[mgkdrgn]

My questions....should I handle this differently?

In a word, no.

Would you lend her your car if she didn't feel like taking the time to learn how to drive?

 

[foghornl]

IF anyone is going to have a firearm "at hand", then they absolutely NEED TO KNOW HOW AND WHEN to use it.

Otherwise, it is only a metal and/or polymer club....and a poor one at that.

If you have to, spring for an entry-level firearms instruction class (or 2) for "Sissy".

 

[techmike]

In addition to the need for training for your sister (you are doing the right thing BTW) you need to consider the overall picture.

Home defense is a lot more than just a loaded pistol under the bed. Make your home a harder target through alarms, use of lighting, good locks, a dog. your security plan should be multi layered. You wouldn't buy a hammer, put it in a tool box and consider it a set of tools.

 

[ultradoc]

buy her a 22 and take her to the range and teach her. If she doesn't want to go to the range or learn how to shoot the 22 is yours!

 

[Deanimator]

How many times have we heard about somebody who lives with anti-gun parents?

"Their house, their rules."

In this case, it's "your gun, your rules".

If she's not interested in how to even safely HANDLE your gun, she has no business having access to it.

If she wants to have access to a gun without proper knowledge of how to handle one, let her BUY one. Doesn't seem like she feels threatened enough to do so.

 

[eye5600]

Two words - Louisville Slugger

I'm somewhat in this camp. Keep the guns locked, but give your sister some sort of non-lethal defense option, e.g. pepper spray.

 

[kirkcdl]

Buy "yourself" a Makarov for her birthday,the Mak has to be the best way to get a girl hooked on shooting.Once she is comfortable with it,say "Happy Birthday"...

 

[Grey_Mana]

Speaking for myself,
I would give my sister access, because I trust her judgment.
When she was 22? Probably not. Because I'd worry about her friends having access.

IMO, a person is much more likely to hurt a BG with a gun, than to hurt themselves. One the other hand, letting the worry & frustration fester may motivate her to learn.

Just like married couples sometimes have issues learning from each other, she may not want to learn from her brother. Do you have any handsome friends that could teach her? She might be more willing to make time then.

 

[DonP]

Don't give in.

I had the same conversation with one of our daughters (25 years old) last year. They had a series of break ins in her area and she wanted to borrow a gun, "just in case". I had a nice little Charter Arms Undercover in .38 Spl. that would have been perfect for her.

She has gone shooting with me before so I told her to come home the next weekend and we'll go to the range for a safety check out, some target practice and a long conversation about the use of deadly force and its consequences.

She said she "didn't have time to go shooting". I told her no check out - no gun. So I bought her one of those nice Kimber Pepper Spray units and a stun gun to keep handy.

You don't want your sister to shoot the neighbor if he comes checking out the house or a shadow the next time you are gone.

Like they say, "With great power comes great responsibility", that applies to guns more than just about anything else.