:help::My wife is very afraid of guns. She totally understands why my Son and I carry. I took her to the range a couple of times but she jumps everytime someone discharges a weapon. She then goes out to the waiting area and sits. Any ideas?
LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS!
Better ear protection, maybe. It could be she's really reacting more to all the unknowns of the range, than the 'bang'. My approach would be pretty simple. "This is something that most folks find to be a lot of fun, it's important to me, and I'd really like it to be something we can do togehter." Then go from there to address the perfectly normal (and totally reasonable, IMO) concern she may have for her safety at the range.
First step, in my approach, would be to ensure a) there's a range officer at the range, and b) she's met the range officer.
Better yet if that RO has a Nazi uniform on. That's what it takes at some public ranges, as retards surely abound.
Another completely separate approach, independent of the first, is familiarity with firearms (in general) and safe procedure. If she's the least bit sensible and analytical, then a routine procedure is important. This is how I pick up the firearm, withdraw it from the holster/case, and this is the first thing I do with it. I hold it this way,, always, point it this way, always, and check it this way, always. Everytime. This can be done at home (and IMO is BESt done at home), before you even go to the range. Dry firing, in a safe way using a routine, would likely help too. Establish Rules, and abide by them at all times. Be a guy who obeys the rules everytime--sorta like the idea that if I want my boy to wear HIS helmet on the motorcylce, I wear mine, too. If I want my kids to understand a safety vest while on the boat, I don't show them how important it is by not wearing mine because "I'm an adult".
Prove you know the Rules, obey them, and are smart enough to watch out for folks who don't when your'e at the range. What I hate most is folks who are too smart for the Rules--they're a pain in the butt and they are a liability to the sport.
What Valkyrie said...listen very closely. The use of firearms is so soaked in ego and testosterone it's a wonder to me anyone can hit a target or not shoot themselves. An RO and shooting instructor put it this way: guys are born believing they know how to ride a motorcycle, shoot a gun and drive a car right out of the chute. It's our culture, and an expectation we have that has no foundation. The evidence to the contrary abounds, yet we do not see. Ego and testosterone are the enemies of good shooting, and more importantly, the enemies of enjoyable shooting. Much like the case with golf.