SlipperyShooter
Member
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2007
- Messages
- 95
Sign her up for a formal class.
My wife comes from a hunting family, but she still "doesn't like guns" and I had a heck of a time with all aspects of gun ownership (justifying having them, making purchases, safety with the kids, etc, etc).
Nothing worked until I scheduled a "date" with a local Gun Shop. They offer a "Handgun 101" class that is mostly classroom and some shooting. It covers safe handling, loading, unloading, storage, escalation of force, basic shooting stance, gun laws, concealed carry, etc.
I literally had to force her to go (found a babysitter, etc). Imagine her surprise when instead of 20 redneck hillbillies we found ourselves sitting with: a retired cardiologist and his wife, three female real estate agents, two college graduates, a middle-aged husband and wife, and three couples our age. More women than men!
She not only gained "comfort" being in the same room as 20 handguns, but she ACTUALLY enjoyed herself. She had told me a million times that "if someone breaks in, I'll just shoot them. I don't need to practice." I still remember the terror on her face when she realized that she literally couldn't pull the 12 pound trigger on my S&W Model 60.
Her competitive side kicked in during the shooting and when she switched to a Mark II 22LR, she just ate the middle out of a black circle at 7 yards. She actually enjoyed it! I said "you're doing really well" to which she replied "I'm not about to let these people beat me."
She even agreed to get her concealed carry permit the next day (mostly as a "legal cover" in case she ever needed to transport a handgun).
It was probably the best Saturday we ever spent together, both from an enjoyment perspective and from a "lessons learned." Oh, and she also said "I think we need to buy a new gun so I can pull the trigger."
She is now the proud owner of a S&W M&P 9mm. We're heading to the range next week........
My wife comes from a hunting family, but she still "doesn't like guns" and I had a heck of a time with all aspects of gun ownership (justifying having them, making purchases, safety with the kids, etc, etc).
Nothing worked until I scheduled a "date" with a local Gun Shop. They offer a "Handgun 101" class that is mostly classroom and some shooting. It covers safe handling, loading, unloading, storage, escalation of force, basic shooting stance, gun laws, concealed carry, etc.
I literally had to force her to go (found a babysitter, etc). Imagine her surprise when instead of 20 redneck hillbillies we found ourselves sitting with: a retired cardiologist and his wife, three female real estate agents, two college graduates, a middle-aged husband and wife, and three couples our age. More women than men!
She not only gained "comfort" being in the same room as 20 handguns, but she ACTUALLY enjoyed herself. She had told me a million times that "if someone breaks in, I'll just shoot them. I don't need to practice." I still remember the terror on her face when she realized that she literally couldn't pull the 12 pound trigger on my S&W Model 60.
Her competitive side kicked in during the shooting and when she switched to a Mark II 22LR, she just ate the middle out of a black circle at 7 yards. She actually enjoyed it! I said "you're doing really well" to which she replied "I'm not about to let these people beat me."
She even agreed to get her concealed carry permit the next day (mostly as a "legal cover" in case she ever needed to transport a handgun).
It was probably the best Saturday we ever spent together, both from an enjoyment perspective and from a "lessons learned." Oh, and she also said "I think we need to buy a new gun so I can pull the trigger."
She is now the proud owner of a S&W M&P 9mm. We're heading to the range next week........