My wife finally gets it( guns as protection)

[boltaction]

Sometimes the lightest straw...

I have had at least one self-defense firearm available to me in my home for years. My wife was happy about that, but whenever I suggested that SHE learn to use a firearm for when I am not around, or even learn to unload or know how to handle one safely, she always put up a barrier, saying I was the gun person in the family, period, conversation closed.

Of course, without any overt coercion, I continued to bring up stories of people, including women, the elderly, etc. using firearms for self-protection. But I knew not to "bang my head agains a brick wall", and I did not bring up the question of her firearms education again.

Then, LAST WEEK, out of the blue, she said she wanted to learn how to handle a firearm!!! What was the straw that broke the camel's back? It was an article in the recent Reader's Digest (not one of my favorite publications) about the professor couple from Dartmouth who were knifed to death in their home in 2001. It seems that the two teenagers who killed them had stopped off earlier at ANOTHER house to try to kill the occupant there, only to be turned away when the occupant waved a firearm. That's it. You can imagine my shock and surprise when she declared her desire to finally learn, and then my double shock when I heard about the odd instance that led her to this final decision.

I would like to think that gentle but persistent education laid the proper pathway. I immediately realized I had a "High Road" moment here, and was just waiting for the right thread!

still shocked,
Boltaction

 

[DrPsycho]

If this is what it takes to convert an "anti" - the price is way too high.

 

[RandyB]

It amazes me this mind set that "it can't happen to me." My wife has the belief that whatever happens to us is God's will. My own belief is that God is not going to change the laws of physics and will let us suffer the results of our actions/inactions. My wife feels that it is important to have smoke alarms, locked doors, seat belts, etc. but believes that guns have no place in the overall protection of our family. She has even made the comment that if someone broke into the house "she would beat them up." My wife is 5'2" and has no martial arts training. Sigh...............Needless to say that if someone break into the house I will be going it alone, and hope that she doesn't do something dangerous. My hope is that she will get to my daughter and call 911.

My prayers to the victims of this assault and that justice is served to these perps.

 

[LightPlanePilot]

quick question here...

do the laws in your state allow for the defensive shooting to protect another person (not yourself, or immediate family)?

If you're not the one at risk, how could you use the 'self defense' claim to justify the use of force?

 

[chaim]

His attitude is "Honey, nothing bad like that is ever going to happen to us."

Next time he talks about you accidentally shooting yourself or if he uses the phrase "the gun could just go off" (or something to that effect) throw his words right back at him- "Nothing bad like that is ever going to happen to us". It may also help to point out that statistically you are far more likely to be right than he is (you are more likely to need a gun than to accidentally shoot yourself).