HELP !! Converting WIFE...

[Target1911]

What type of training or competition shooting have you done in the past? Bare with me, it is relevant.

[smokindragon]

What type of training or competition shooting have you done in the past? Bare with me, it is relevant.

I have not done competition shooting, but would love to. Just no time.

[NcongruNt]

Whew. Lots of things to sort through, and it's likely going to take a long time to do that.

You've gotten some good advice above. When I first applied to get my license, my girlfriend was afraid of guns. "They're scary" was the wording. Obviously your wife has had that notion reinforced by scary people making her a victim. While an armed robbery may or may not be helped by a gun on her part, there's a lot more to it than that. Situational awareness is a far greater tool than a gun in avoiding predators. In the same situations she described, a gun very well could have made a difference, had she been practicing good situational awareness, especially the mall story. In such an instance she may have been able to avoid the robbery altogether, though I could not say for sure, without having been there.

Another point of significance: Abduction scenarios nearly always end up with the victim dead. My mother was a victim of such an abduction when I was a child. She was kidnapped under ruse of a traffic accident, taken to the desert, raped, beaten, strangled, then shot 6 times in the head. Employing a firearm could not have worsened the outcome of her situation. This story made a significant difference with my girlfriend, and helped her to better understand why I carry. She has since learned how all of my weapons operate, and has visited the range with me to learn the specifics of each weapon.

Penn and Teller have a Showtime television show, the name of which cannot be said on this forum per the 10-year-old rule. They have a specific episode about gun control. Watching this episode opened her eyes up a lot to what kind of people carry guns, and why they are not simply bad inanimate objects that kill people. Suzanna Hupp tells her story in an interview, as well as others. There is a thread with a working Google Video link to this episode on the forum, located here (link in the second post):

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 8&p=138330" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Warning: there is language in this show that may offend some. Please be aware of this before you click the link.

[smokindragon]

In such an instance she may have been able to avoid the robbery altogether, though I could not say for sure, without having been there.

Yes, I truly believe if she went to a CHL class and learned a little about situational awareness and had she had a weapon, she would have got that low life. Because the way she described it, two guys pulled up in a car and the passenger had to walk towards her a good 15 feet and ask her what time it was, if I were to see that I would know that something wasn't quite right and am sure I would have been in the red zone right away and ready to pull that iron.

[Target1911]

What type of training or competition shooting have you done in the past? Bare with me, it is relevant.

I have not done competition shooting, but would love to. Just no time.

I would suggest some sort of competition for you. Even if it is only 1 time a month. The reason for this is it gives you more confidence in handling your weapon under stress. Her seeing that "self confidence" in you, and your ability to safely handle a weapon under stress may ease her fears. In a sense you are flanking the problem (her fear) rather than bull dogging it head on.

She also needs to know (and this may take some time) that the "GUN" is NOT to blame for the robberies. That is like blaming a car for the "driver" running a red light and t-boning her.

Most "Fear of Guns" comes from lack of ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE of them. It's like fearing a large dog that you do not know. Why do you fear it? You dont KNOW if it is friendly or aggressive. Once you learn that the dog is friendly, you no longer fear it.

[Venus Pax]

Mars and I have always had guns in the home; however, he was initially opposed to my carrying one on my body.

His was a "you'll-shoot-yer-eye-out-kid" argument, reminiscent of The Christmas Story (1983). I've carried regularly for more than two years, and I still have both eyes.

I recognized his concerns. Guns are not toys, and mishandling could injure or kill someone. I made it a point to get a handle on my clumsiness, gain knowledge, and apply different methods for keeping my gun secured. I did not quit carrying at his request, but I also did not argue with him on the issue. I decided that I would either persuade him by example, or that we would simply agree to disagree on this issue.

Fortunately, it didn't take long. He observed consistent improvement in my gun handling and gun safety around the house. I purchased a touch-combination safe for storage of a few handguns. I took classes. It wasn't long before he decided to get a CHL as well.

What cemented the idea for him was a violent crime a bit too close to his heart. A friend of his has been healing up from a major back surgery. He and his wife went to Dave & Busters for their first date since his surgery. They wanted to play shuffleboard. He was stooped over when walking, but could get around--it just took him awhile. A bacchelor party was taking place near them, and one participant had consumed a bit too much alcohol. After a while, David looked at his wife and told her he wanted to use the restroom before they left, and to wait for him. Before he could finish his sentence, he was struck from the side, pushed into the air, and landed on his back at the very location of his incision from his surgery. The drunk then turned to his wife and began posturing for an attack on her. Fortunately, other members of the bacchelor party got control of him by force. David was back at square one. He had to undergo the same surgery and painful recovery all over again. (Both of these people had a CHL, but their weapons were in the car since D&B is a 51% location, even though they weren't drinking. Also, they didn't see the attack coming.)