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Congrats to the missus on a huge step towards carrying!

My wife has her LTC but doesn't carry. I told her that I'm not going to talk her into carrying, she has to make that decision on her own, but I would help her out if she does decide to. We're taking a handgun retention class this Monday. I think that will open her mind a little more.

I think the biggest deal for women shooting for the first time or not liking shooting is just intimidation and not shooting the right gun. My wife, mom, sister in law and mother in law have all been around guns forever but still didnt not want to shoot or handle pistols. They had all shot pistols (mostly larger caliber .40 or .45) and hated it and usually only fired a couple rounds and was done. The biggest turning point for all of them was my wife's p238. Once she got it, all of them shot it and like it. It completely changed their outlook on pistols and they actually enjoyed shooting it. My wife wouldnt even go to a range and shoot before (we live in country and shoot on our property normally) now she will shoot anywhere without any issues. It took me a few years to find the right pistol for my wife but once I did she now carries it everyday.

minytrker wrote:I think the biggest deal for women shooting for the first time or not liking shooting is just intimidation and not shooting the right gun. My wife, mom, sister in law and mother in law have all been around guns forever but still didnt not want to shoot or handle pistols. They had all shot pistols (mostly larger caliber .40 or .45) and hated it and usually only fired a couple rounds and was done. The biggest turning point for all of them was my wife's p238. Once she got it, all of them shot it and like it. It completely changed their outlook on pistols and they actually enjoyed shooting it. My wife wouldnt even go to a range and shoot before (we live in country and shoot on our property normally) now she will shoot anywhere without any issues. It took me a few years to find the right pistol for my wife but once I did she now carries it everyday.

I just don't understand starting newbies - especially women - on large caliber handguns.

My MIL was taken out shooting with some co-workers and they started her off on a large revolver. She thinks it might have been a .44 magnum, but I don't know if she's completely sure on that one, since she's not a "gun person." Needless to say, she did not enjoy it. The wife and I had to practically drag her to the range when she visited, and then had to convince her that my wife's gun (a Ruger .22 semi-auto pistol) wouldn't be nearly as harsh. She actually enjoyed herself and is thinking about taking a handgun class that is taught by her state troopers. It's amazing how much the initial experience affects someone's perception.

Moral of the story: baby steps.

My wife got her CHL a couple of years ago and as someone said, when I bring home a new gun it automatically becomes hers so we have a few duplications in the armory.

FCH wrote:...We are going to the range tomorrow so she can decide whether she likes a Ruger SR9c or a Sig P238 (they don't have a P938 to rent).

She shot several different guns today and came back to the Sig P238. I'm hoping she will not mind the little bit of change from a .380 to a 9mm. I'm going shopping for a P938. Hope I'm lucky. She needs some practice before her LTC class on Feb 1.
edit: (hope the OP isn't upset with me hijacking his thread - at least it is the same subject

Taking a tip from

cbunt1 wrote:...Word of advice: at least in my house, the wife's having "her own" guns is just as important to her has having "her own" tools in the garage...and makes it far more likely that she'll grab one and carry it. We've actually ended up with a couple of duplicates this way, but it means that she's far more likely to have a gun on her at any given time. She has a couple that I simply don't touch...under threat of "unhappy wife!" ...

I took my wife shopping today. She picked it out, she filled out the 4473, she paid for it. She calls it "my gun". Tomorrow we go to the range. I hope she lets me fire it some.
There are some things about being retired that are great!

FCH wrote:I took my wife shopping today. She picked it out, she filled out the 4473, she paid for it. She calls it "my gun". Tomorrow we go to the range. I hope she lets me fire it some.
There are some things about being retired that are great!

Congratulations and good job!!!!!

I hope she lets you fire it some too, but don't be disappointed if she doesn't. This is an amazingly big step, and you'll eventually get to shoot it (trust me on this! )

I love hearing success stories like this.

Mine is former Navy Corpsman (as am I) she qualified expert pistol and with the M16 for years, but although she knows that guns are part of my job she just hates that I always have one with me. Completely doesn't get it and doesn't want to. She isn't anti gun, just anti carry, sees no reason for people to carry them in public.

She has known me for 21 years and I know it is pointless to even try anymore to get her on board, so I do what I do and that is that.

You're lucky.

Great success story and thread!! My wife was unsure as to why I felt the need to obtain my CHL and then why I felt the need to carry all the time. She has her own M&P 9 that she enjoys shooting on occasion, but was never fully on board with carrying until some of the more notorious shooting incidents recently. She has now decided that she wants to sign up for her LTC class and has also recruited her sister to join her. Being very cold natured they have deferred until spring to sign up for a class, but she has gone with me shooting more recently and I have gone over everything required for the range portion of the class so that she will be more comfortable when she takes it.

I'll post more reports as she begins her foray into being an LTCer.

Congrats to the OP and others similarly blessed!

The couple who carries together can watch each other's back. I am blessed to have a partner who has my six, and who enjoys shooting as much as I do. She facilitates ladies' shooting group and even recently got a part-time gig at a local range as an RSO and Instructor, where she particularly enjoys spreading the word of firearms empowerment to other women. I think I'll keep her as long as she'll have me...

Today, my wife completed her training and fingerprints. All have been sent to DPS. The wait begins ...
Interestingly enough, after 5 trips to the range and over 250 rounds through her Sig Sauer P938, my wife decided to use my CZ 75D Compact for her qualification. She likes the fact that CZ has less kick than her gun. I heard a rumor there was just one big hole in the middle of the target after the first 40 rounds.

mr1337 wrote:
I just don't understand starting newbies - especially women - on large caliber handguns.

<snip>

Moral of the story: baby steps.

I am in the same boat. Are we here to build up the fan base, or are we here to get a fun laugh out of hearing a newbie scream and jump? This is one of my pet peeves.
A big "atta boy" to those interested in slowly drawing those who have been turned off, back into the sport/lifestyle.

My wife is very familiar with guns. She shoots at least a hundred rounds of 12 g weekly. But she still has not done LTC course and we have talked about it. I wonder though if the issue for many women is "can I shoot someone?". I carry and would use if need be. The most my wife has killed is clay pigeons. One must have the right mental attitude for survival or else a weapon could be turned against you. I don't know if this is linked to the y chromosome or not but I sure would like my wife carrying if for nothing else then carrying a back up for me.

rotor wrote:My wife is very familiar with guns. She shoots at least a hundred rounds of 12 g weekly. But she still has not done LTC course and we have talked about it. I wonder though if the issue for many women is "can I shoot someone?". I carry and would use if need be. The most my wife has killed is clay pigeons. One must have the right mental attitude for survival or else a weapon could be turned against you. I don't know if this is linked to the y chromosome or not but I sure would like my wife carrying if for nothing else then carrying a back up for me.

I don't think it has to do with y chromosomes as much as the culture and attitudes women are raised with. While times They are a changin' most women were still brought up being taught to be nurturers first, and sheltered from any type of situations where they would be put into a fight or flight position. I have met several women who would not hesitate to drop the hammer on someone if they had to. I have met at least an equal number of women who can't even consider it as a possibility. My wife has been around firearms most of her life, and is planning on getting her LTC soon, but at the same time she deplores the thought of even hunting and killing animals. So I guess what I'm saying, is that everyone male or female has to decide for themselves what their choice would be in a situation that may require the use of deadly force. I'm glad that my wife has decided to pursue her LTC, but being fully confident that she will use her gun if required, is still a question.
(unless of course she feels that I have left my socks on the floor one too many times)

I didn't carry until I realized that I was the one who spent the most time with my children and therefore I was the one responsible for their safety. I had a series of dreams one week, they involved a bad guy trying to get my baby daughter, and me trying to deal with him....the final night, I shot him, the next day I signed up for a pistol class. I never, ever have had a problem imagining me shooting anyone messing with me or my kids, I guess I'm the definition of Mama Bear.