ApexinM3
Member
Just like the title says, that is what I did today. Took my anti girlfriend to the range today, along with her anti sister & her boyfriend (former Marine, not a gun afficianado). After a few hundred rounds of .22LR they were not only impressed with the sport, but were calling their dad to let him know what they had done.
How it started: I'd started dating a new woman, whom asked what kind of hobbies I was into. I mentioned I like the usual guy stuff (cars, airplanes, football, etc) then casually dropped in target shooting. She piqued her interest:
Her: "You shoot guns? They are bad, why do you like them?"
Me: "Guns are not bad, though some folks out there will do bad things with guns. Cars, too. And now that I think of it, broken bottles, butter knives, candle holders, and other stuff. Heck, your chapstick could be a pretty effective weapon if used properly. But guns, they get demonized.And unfairly, too... Have you ever shot a gun?"
Her: "No, I'm scared of them. They are bad."
Me: "How can you be scared of something you don't know anything about? How about this: I'll take you shooting, and if you still don't like it, I'll never push the issue again. Deal?"
Her response was surprising: she said okay!
So now I have to come up with a user friendly pistol to shoot. Dang, I don't own a single .22LR at all. Time to get one, so at work I filled out the paperwork for a S&W 617 but in the meantime a phone call to my dad & borrowed his S&W 622. Great beginers gun. Simple, effective, pretty accurate for what it is. Served our purpose, anyways. A few days later (today, in fact) I picked up a S&W 617 for myself.
So today, before we go to the range, I give a brief tutorial on the basics of gun safety, and proceed to the instructions on shooting. Boy were they timid! But after explaining how they worked, what was going to happen, etc. they felt more comfortable. So off to the range we go!
We arrived at the range, suited up with eyes & ears and we were assigned our lanes. My GF was nervous & reluctant, as was her sister. We loaded up the mags for the 622, and I again explained the basics, and they were off. Hardly any kick, not noisy at all, they said. Unfortunately my GF is blind (or nearly so) and couldn't see the front sight of the 622, so she moved to the 617, and proceeded to have an absolute ball! Both of them, in fact! And surprise, surprise, my GF says that maybe guns aren't so bad after all.
Afterwards they called their dad, who was elated with the news, and thanked me imensly for doing what I had done. Now they are all talking of getting themselves some .22s to target practice with-life is good!
So to all the naysayers that the antis can't be converted, try it by showing them the hobby/sport/whatever you want to call it. I did & it worked. If we have open arms, perhaps we will have less a stressful battle.
