MedWheeler
Member
My wife, born and raised in the USSR, has been gun shy for obvious cultural reasons. She knew I owned firearms (just not how many!) when we married and has always been supportive of my involvement in this pastime, but has shown little, of any, interest herself. There have been a few subtleties regarding at least an increased awareness, such as commenting when watching a woman on a "gun program" on TV shooting that it looked like it "could be fun.", and once telling me that she'd like to know where one of my guns is when she's at home with our daughter. But, I've never been able to capture the right time, place, and emotion from her all at the same time to capitalize on this.
The other day, she told me that one of her co-workers, a petite female teacher who happens to be about seven months pregnant, is a carry-licensee and routinely carries, keeping a gun in her car at the school. My wife seemed surprised. The conversation that brought it about occurred during another one in which another teacher (from NY) was questioning her son's in-laws firearms hobby (they're from down here.) My wife had piped up that "my husband carries a pistol", and "Julianna" (name changed) had said she does, too.
Then, yesterday, some other Russian friends we were to visit later in the day told us to schedule our visit for "after we get home from the firing range." He shoots; I've shot with him before, but we did not know his wife does as well. On top of that, their daughter, home for the holidays from college (in DC, of all places!), had begged them to take her for the first time.
When we did arrive at their house, the daughter was raving about how she wants to do it again. She showed me her targets, and had done quite well with her father's G17 and G19 pistols.
My wife is not at all aghast at this. I think she's even more intrigued; these are very level-headed people for whom she has a lot of respect.
I think a safety and range day is coming up soon. I'm excited. I told her friends I will try to get her to the range, but that I don't want to push anything. In fact, I'll probably offer her the option of meeting me there. That way, if she doesn't like it much, she won't have to stay if I want to.
The Russian friends even suggested a family range day sometime. We'll see how it goes...
The other day, she told me that one of her co-workers, a petite female teacher who happens to be about seven months pregnant, is a carry-licensee and routinely carries, keeping a gun in her car at the school. My wife seemed surprised. The conversation that brought it about occurred during another one in which another teacher (from NY) was questioning her son's in-laws firearms hobby (they're from down here.) My wife had piped up that "my husband carries a pistol", and "Julianna" (name changed) had said she does, too.
Then, yesterday, some other Russian friends we were to visit later in the day told us to schedule our visit for "after we get home from the firing range." He shoots; I've shot with him before, but we did not know his wife does as well. On top of that, their daughter, home for the holidays from college (in DC, of all places!), had begged them to take her for the first time.
When we did arrive at their house, the daughter was raving about how she wants to do it again. She showed me her targets, and had done quite well with her father's G17 and G19 pistols.
My wife is not at all aghast at this. I think she's even more intrigued; these are very level-headed people for whom she has a lot of respect.
I think a safety and range day is coming up soon. I'm excited. I told her friends I will try to get her to the range, but that I don't want to push anything. In fact, I'll probably offer her the option of meeting me there. That way, if she doesn't like it much, she won't have to stay if I want to.
The Russian friends even suggested a family range day sometime. We'll see how it goes...
