need some help with the wife

[JJEH]

I'm glad that my wife and I speak the same language. Safety first is also essential in our house. All kids are familiarized, no one is acting up or is doing other things we should be concerned about.

That's the main point in my opinion. Let them all shoot the .22. After they know it and you and your wife see that everything works out in a safe manner you both are good to go

 

[speedyquad]

i sort of went through this last week. i asked to buy a m&p40c. she said no, then it turned to what do i get. i asked her what she wanted...the answer was nothing...oh snap...blocked...i went to bed(working 11-7am and a saturday), when i got up, she said i want new glasses...easy score as i have been on her case to get new glasses for well over a year now...i picked the 40c up thursday and just from the feel she is wanting one of her own...maybe i'll play the what do i get game too...

 

[Joewisc]

It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.

 

[Old TexMex]

My wife loves the rifle. Her quote on home defense? "I'll go to the window and you get them out in the open." whoa...

 

[cyphertext]

First thing, sit down with whole family and discuss safety. Use the Eddie the Eagle program from the NRA for the younger ones....If you are not familiar, it has 4 basic rules....

If you see a gun
1. Stop
2. Don't touch
3. Leave the area
4. Tell an adult

Drill that into the kids. Applies at home and anywhere else they may go. Then, make sure the firearm is clear, with no magazine, and allow them to see it, touch it, etc. Use this time to go over the safety rules of handling a firearm.

1. Treat all firearms as if the were loaded.
2. Keep your booger hook off the bang switch (finger off the trigger...keep it fun to keep the kids listening, but emphasize safety)
3. Never point a firearm at something you are not willing to kill or destroy
4. Know your target and what is beyond it

Take the mystery out of it. Anytime my boy asks me about one of our firearms, we get it out, make sure it is clear, let him handle it and I answer his questions.

Drill those into their heads and make sure they understand before you even think about going to the range. Kids that show they understand safety while at the range help us RSO's relax a little...

You might even consider getting a single shot bolt action to start the kids out on, so that you can control them a little. It is easier to teach them to shoot safely when they only have one round. You can put just a single round in the magazine, but that is a pain and the temptation to load up the mag is strong!

Once your wife sees your commitment to safety, and how you teach the kids to be safe, she will probably calm down a little.

 

[Blastmeister]

Get it, keep a trigger lock on it AND in a gun safe. Keep ammo in a separate place. Train the family in gun safety-- don't just practice it, demonstrate it, each and every time.

Oh, and have fun when you shoot!! With all the idiocy floating around these days, people forget that shooting is a fun sport to do w the family. Safety first and you'll all have a great time.

 

[littleriver1]

My wifes dad showed her how to shoot a 22 lr when she was young. Thanks Dad! Sure made my life easier. She did not have a clue on the inprovements in home defense guns, just as she doesn't know about or care what makes a good work truck. Some times I think it's better to just get what you want and know to be the best. However I also think it's best to plant the seed, let it grow till it becomes her idea. My wife and doughter love to fish so every time we would go to the sporting goods store I would walk her past the gun counter and let her hold the guns I was looking to buy. When that gun came home it was not a problem. Buying the safe first got me out of the "what the ____ were you thinking" dog house to the "thank's I love you, your not as stupid as your xwife said".

 

[tompehret]

My wife of 10 yrs. had never shot or handled a gun before we married. She watched me show her then teen-aged son how to properly handle and shoot a pistol. (He's now a BM 2nd. with the USCG in the Florida Keys.) In watching, she relaxed. Then she saw the whole point. Then she got curious. Then she started REALLY watching the news and got into current events. Now she's an NRA Life member, a SASS competitor and a CCW holder.
It's a process, but it works.
And, she's a tall, slim blonde.

 

[DeezNutz70]

I agree with cyphertext. That is the exact way I have dealt with my kids (17, 15 and 6) and having firearms in my home. My wife had a bit of a freak out when she seen our 6yr old handling my SW99 .40 for the first time. After explaing to her that I was "taking the mystery" and "ohhhh wow" factor out of it while instilling safe handling practices she was ok with it. They know these are not toys and they can see them at anytime, they just have to ask. As far as handling your wife I wont be of much help. While I have yet to get mine to the range her feeling is I work hard and deserve a reward once in awhile for it. When I came home with my new M&P15X she only said "..its a lot bigger than I thought it would be". She wants a new couch. When asked if after that I could purchase another gun (wanting 15-22) she said I could buy as many as I want (boy she messed up!) but wants me to get a cabinet. Im going with a safe instead for the peace of mind. Good luck op. I guess Im just a very happy and lucky husband.

 

[PALADIN85020]

You'll probably find that once you take the wife and kids shooting with you with that .22, they'll be hooked on shooting for life.

In this modern age, it's probably prudent to keep all firearms locked up when not in use or needed to be accessible for emergencies. But even more important is for you to review the fundamentals of firearms safety first, and teach that with firearms use goes responsibility. Before I took my oldest grandson out with the Winchester 69A I bought him on his 11th birthday, he had to do "ground school" first. I gave him a written list of the safety rules that he must follow, and had him commit them to memory to my satisfaction before we went. We also did dry-fire exercises in the back yard to familiarize him with the workings of the action and sighting. After our enjoyable "first shoot" I instructed him on how to clean the gun safely, and protect it for future use. His parents were committed to locking it up except for maintenance or range sessions.

When I was a boy, my dad followed the same procedure with me on my first gun (also a Winchester 69A), but with one difference. I was allowed to keep the gun and ammo in my room with the full knowledge that if I ever abused that privilege by acting in an unsafe manner with the rifle there would be hell to pay. In those days, the thought of burglars breaking in and stealing a gun never occurred, because break-ins were quite rare. It's a different world today.

Again, have them enjoy shooting, but always teach safety and responsibility first. Those lessons will endure for a lifetime.

John

 

[roadkill45]

i've been married 31 years......have always found a suppressor works the best!
She doesn't go shooting with me but knows how to handle her .357 with .38+P's in it. Thinking about getting her a Public Defender with 2.75 000 buck. actually pretty soft shooter and she will hit what she is aiming at for sure.
funny i have a gun in every room and my grandkids 2 y/o twins and 4 y/o boy never touch them. they know those are papas, of course only one is chambered and up high enough that they can't get at it. mostly they want all my flashlights!!!

 

[wacky_weeble]

Just my two cents

At this point your fighting the "trust issue". Until you hear a yes its a firm no. I think your best bet is showing her you are safe and it is safe. Keep it locked up and don't force the issue.

Taking her to the range or talking about it without her asking is pushing it and will set you back. Get a safe and remember that right now its out of sight out of mind.

My wife told me she would leave me if I ever brought a gun in the house. Now 10 years later I ow. Several and carry. She doesn't enjoy shooting like I do but she knows I am safe and even feels better when I carry.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[Maddmax]

I've only been married a few years and already had all my "toys" well before hand. So no help here. I don't ask her about her tons of cloths,shoes,coats,belts.... And she doesn't ask about my stuff. Bills are paid on time and we both have full time good jobs. Her kids are grown and gone. We do love spoiling the grandkids though.

 

[cjkpkg]

Thanks everyone...I am really enjoying all the responses. And more importantly...learning.

 

[Buford57]

Lots of good advice. My sons grew up with guns in the house. Rifles and shotguns were in an open rack in my study. Handguns were on the headboard of the bed or on my belt. They were taught early not to touch without supervision, but were taken shooting as often as possible.

Much of the knee-jerk response to EBRs is the result of TV nonsense. Remove the mystique with reality. Encourage your wife to shoot with you so the boys will see this is an "grown up" activity they will get to join in when they prove themselves responsible. Under supervision let them hold, examine and when you think appropriate, shoot.

I don't own an EBR, and likely never will, strictly as a matter of taste. But I'll defend to the death your right to have as many as you can afford.

 

[dereksfl]

cjkpkg: You should have "got a gun" for your wife. You will find out it will be the best trade you ever made!

 

[don5]

There is some really good advice being given in this thread. I personally started my son witha single shot davy crickett.He was six. Now my son is 13 and he still shoots it. He likes to shoot groundhogs with it. He has several guns with a 1522 in his collection and he still shoots it. I have talked to him several times about guns and handling them. Remember all children are curious. As a parent I felt it was my responsibility to teach him about guns. I wanted to take the mystery out so he would not learn about pistols or guns from one of his friends. I have also told him that he is to never go hunting with one of his buddies until he is like 25. I told him that is usually how hunting accidents happen. I told him that he hunts with me and that is it. He understands my reasoning behind that rule.

 

[Lager]

Luckily, my long time wife has embraced firearms recently, by asking me to buy her a 22lr pistol. I showed her the Ruger Mk3 bull barrel in stainless, she loved it. Now its hers and shes gotten quite good with it.
So, now she understands when I want to buy a new gun, but it comes with a price.
Im not a rich guy and I watch over the family expenses carefully.I know when we have the money to buy a new firearm and when we dont.But what I didnt realize it that I have to plan for double that amount coming out of the bank account.
Here is how it goes.
Wifey tells me she wants a new big freezer, she already has one. It works just fine. I stall,telling her we dont have the money and the one she has works great.
I find a great deal on a fire arm for $500 and buy it.
Within a week I get a knock on the door. There is a delivery man outside with a brand new freezer to be delivered.
She gives me the "look" that says, "dont even say a word"
Last week I found a Dan Wesson 357 Ive been looking for for dirt cheap, its mine now.
She came home with the new WI game system shes been wanting, two days later.
I didnt say a word.
Women will make you pay.
Its best to keep your mouth shut,especially if they cook your food.

 

[44 special Dave]

Well to the original poster. You certainley need to learn.

Your first to sentences tell me you don't know her (or most women) very well.

If her big concern is safety around the kids, I get that! that makes sense.

I'm wondering if it's just because she really doesn't like you doing something she doesn't like.

Focus on safety with the kids around. I suspect your gun "discussions" are far from over.

Best of luck
Dave

 

[Locked-N-Loaded]

This is another one of those threads with poorly worded titles