Dealing With An Anti-Gun Wife

[roguesam]

You, Sir, are a fortunate man.

 

[Rocketgeezer]

Mine is..different. We're not married, but do live together so I suppose it's along the same concept.

She was raised in a house full of firearms (her father owns quite a few rifles, shotguns and handguns), but I guess never took much interest in them. I tried to take her out twice, and started her with a .22LR. Apparently it was "too big" for her and she was terrified\shaking, and wouldn't squeeze the trigger. I tried again another time, but same response. She was generally always around them with me since I had a couple rifles when we met and moved in together - adding the handgun was an interesting step that was much easier than I thought. I got it, showed it to her and she had no interest in it. I started carrying it CC for a few days, then starting OC'ing it and didn't really get much reaction other than her looking at it. That continued for a couple days and now it's just there for her. She's never really said it to me, but I've overheard her saying it to a couple people that it makes her feel safer that I carry.

I've been trying to get her to shoot, but she have been mentioning over the last couple months it would have to be "small, cute, and dark pink" before she'd shoot it - I've tried explaining the concept of the different ammo (the one she showed me she liked was a 2" .357 magnum), but it's all about looks; maybe a light .38SPL load wouldn't be too bad..

For me it's all about baby steps and slowly trying to warm her up to the idea. Just slowly and carefully put things into place, and eventually everything will fall in and line up. :yes4:

Maybe you should look for a 22 revolver, at least to start with, because even 38s in a 2inch barrel gun can give he shooter a good wack with recoil, and you will want to make the first few times at the range as pleasent a experiance as possable........good luck

 

[revjen45]

It's threads like this that remind what a jewel my wife of 43 years is. She isn't into guns like I am (Professional Gunsmithing degree - not many are) but she is competent with them and would not hesitate to to send any goblin who threatened her, her loved ones, or her home off to the long dirt nap. We have already discussed the knife to the throat scenario (not too likely since we both pay attention), and she is ready to duck while I shoot. On top of that she is a master of fine cookery. Her Christmas cookies won the Nobel Prize. Like I said, I got a jewel.

 

[dogshawred]

I sympathize with your problem. Do you know any female instructors that could approach your wife in social setting so she doesn't feel ambushed and become defensive immediately. Possibly a local female officeer that instructs that may do charity work or even church social, anywhere she is not going to feel ganged up on. Your problem can be overcome as it has been done numerous times before, it all depends on how much you want it to happen. Be very patient and what ever you do don't make her feel she is stupid or dumb for thinking the way she does, it isn't her fault. Her parental experiences have her emotionally attached to her parents desire to be gun free and with there being gone she has no one to tell it is ok to think differently.
In my experiences; my wife never took my work for anything until she heard her father tell her the exact same thing I had told her, I hate it when that happens. Both of us being in agreement. Her dad is gone and nothing has changed and I remind her often of the past occurances.
Good luck to you.

 

[kerb]

Sorry guys i'v never had that problem, dad was a gun guy, mom didn't shoot but had been around them all her life, now my better half dont care what I bring home as long as its got sights she likes. no matter what the gun pistol, rifle, shotgun, if its got nice sights she shoots it, we have had out permits for some time now, get out to shoot when ever we can, also my grandaughter has been going with us for about a year now, and I have to try real hard to do as well as she does

Sounds like you got a keeper!
My wife is the same. She loves to shoot. She has a couple of pistols that she shoots fairly frequently.
I took her to my son's last sporting clays tournament and she's interested in learning how to do that now.

Life is good!