She has always disliked guns (ever since my fomer alcholic step-father tried to shoot her - go figure), but she lives in a neighborhood that has REALLY gone down the toilet the last 15 years. I gave her some pepper spray, and something tells me she might be better off just sticking to it than trying to learn a gun, due to her, how shall I put this, general lack of mechanical skills, motor skills, a cool head, etc., etc. She is probably the kind of person that really would have the gun taken away and used on her, which is why the OC makes more sense to me with that in mind. But, OTOH, IF she were to learn to use the gun (strictly as home defense, not carry), then certainly it can be deployed against the VTA from a much greater/safer distance than the OC spray, obviously. Any other factors.
Should I try it? (Teach my mom to shoot)
- Thread starter Futo Inu
- Start date
You personally? Absolutely not. I tried to teach my wife something once, it was like we were practicing for divorce hearings. Should you have someone else teach her? Certainly, even if she doesn't get a gun, a working knowledge of them can't hurt. Should she actually have one? Well, that's really up to her to decide, but you can help her with the selection process if she does.
Sorry, folks. I strongly disagree.
Generally speaking you may be right - I’ve neither seen nor conducted an
acceptable study on the subject. However, I find it insulting, truly insulting,
when I am told I can not share what I have learned with *any* member of
my family.
To imply that I would have less patience with my wife (or other family
member) than with an acquaintance or stranger is excessively and
unacceptably presumptuous. To imply my wife could not learn from me (or
me from her) belittles our relationship.
Both my daughters are totally unafraid of firearms and require safety
procedures to be followed in a strict manner without exception. They also
recognize if a firearm is unfamiliar to them and they ask the appropriate
person to show them how to ensure it is empty, etc. etc.
Do not stereotype people, arrangements, or relationships. (I’ll stop my rant
before I become equally insulting!)
-----
My wife had no experience or background with firearms other than her
father and brother using rifles for deer hunting. Worse, her family hates
handguns for all the stereotypical reasons.
Shortly after we married, I wanted my wife to become more familiar with
firearms. She refused training from others and asked me to show her the
basics. I did. We had an interesting and fun time - both of us.
She still has little interest in firearms but is aware of (and practices) the
appropriate rules of firearm safety. She has come a long way but has no
interest in going further. This is her right! It is irrelevant whether or not I
would prefer otherwise. I refuse to demand that my wife become a clone of some imaginary ideal merely for my pleasure or even for her own protection.
Now you may retort that an “expert” would have awakened a great and
exciting interest in firearms and she would have progressed to be a second
Annie Oakley and that I failed the RKBA movement, etc. etc.
My answer would be inappropriate for TFL.
If you believe that family members can not pleasantly and successfully
learn from each other (regardless of gender), that is your right. But don’t
*ever* imply it is 100% true, should never be attempted, or that such
bigotry applies to *my* family.
I’m in the wonderful position that both my daughters still ask me to go
shoot with them. They are 23 & 24 years old and we just love it!
To each his own, folks. To each his own.
-----
BTW, some time ask me how I showed my legally blind Mother how to shoot
a Model 28 S&W revolver (.357 magnum with a 6” barrel) and a S&W 4506.
Generally speaking you may be right - I’ve neither seen nor conducted an
acceptable study on the subject. However, I find it insulting, truly insulting,
when I am told I can not share what I have learned with *any* member of
my family.
To imply that I would have less patience with my wife (or other family
member) than with an acquaintance or stranger is excessively and
unacceptably presumptuous. To imply my wife could not learn from me (or
me from her) belittles our relationship.
Both my daughters are totally unafraid of firearms and require safety
procedures to be followed in a strict manner without exception. They also
recognize if a firearm is unfamiliar to them and they ask the appropriate
person to show them how to ensure it is empty, etc. etc.
Do not stereotype people, arrangements, or relationships. (I’ll stop my rant
before I become equally insulting!)
-----
My wife had no experience or background with firearms other than her
father and brother using rifles for deer hunting. Worse, her family hates
handguns for all the stereotypical reasons.
Shortly after we married, I wanted my wife to become more familiar with
firearms. She refused training from others and asked me to show her the
basics. I did. We had an interesting and fun time - both of us.
She still has little interest in firearms but is aware of (and practices) the
appropriate rules of firearm safety. She has come a long way but has no
interest in going further. This is her right! It is irrelevant whether or not I
would prefer otherwise. I refuse to demand that my wife become a clone of some imaginary ideal merely for my pleasure or even for her own protection.
Now you may retort that an “expert” would have awakened a great and
exciting interest in firearms and she would have progressed to be a second
Annie Oakley and that I failed the RKBA movement, etc. etc.
My answer would be inappropriate for TFL.
If you believe that family members can not pleasantly and successfully
learn from each other (regardless of gender), that is your right. But don’t
*ever* imply it is 100% true, should never be attempted, or that such
bigotry applies to *my* family.
I’m in the wonderful position that both my daughters still ask me to go
shoot with them. They are 23 & 24 years old and we just love it!
To each his own, folks. To each his own.
-----
BTW, some time ask me how I showed my legally blind Mother how to shoot
a Model 28 S&W revolver (.357 magnum with a 6” barrel) and a S&W 4506.
Dennis:
Ouote:
Shortly after we married, I wanted my wife to become more familiar with
firearms. She refused training from others and asked me to show her the
basics. I did. We had an interesting and fun time - both of us.
I'm happy for you that this worked out so well....but there are time IMHO it's better to let someone else do it.
1. When I bought my son his first shotgun, he was 11 years old. A co-worker and fellow gun club member who just happened to be the State Skeet shooting champion, asked me if I would lile for him to teach my son to shoot skeet.
Of course I greatfully accepted. He did a much better job than I could have done.
2. When my son was 16 and time to get his drivers license, I DID NOT teach him. I sent him to a driving school where he was taught by professionals. I later honed his driving skills. I could have taught him to drive but I'm not sure it would have been worth it.
The fact that you was able to teach your wife and daughters speaks volumes, and I commend you for it, but Sir...we are not all cast from the same mold.
Best Regards
Jim
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
Ouote:
Shortly after we married, I wanted my wife to become more familiar with
firearms. She refused training from others and asked me to show her the
basics. I did. We had an interesting and fun time - both of us.
I'm happy for you that this worked out so well....but there are time IMHO it's better to let someone else do it.
1. When I bought my son his first shotgun, he was 11 years old. A co-worker and fellow gun club member who just happened to be the State Skeet shooting champion, asked me if I would lile for him to teach my son to shoot skeet.
Of course I greatfully accepted. He did a much better job than I could have done.
2. When my son was 16 and time to get his drivers license, I DID NOT teach him. I sent him to a driving school where he was taught by professionals. I later honed his driving skills. I could have taught him to drive but I'm not sure it would have been worth it.
The fact that you was able to teach your wife and daughters speaks volumes, and I commend you for it, but Sir...we are not all cast from the same mold.
Best Regards
Jim
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
DorGunR,
“we are not all cast from the same mold.”
Amen, Sir! *That* was the point I was trying to make.
Both the “instructor” and “student” must be amenable to the arrangement.
In the case of my wife and me, there is NO instructor-student relationship.
We frequently say, “Have you seen this?” or “Have you ever done this?”
Rather than “instruct”, we “share”. Boy, does it work slick!
(Give my wife full credit for such skills - I learned from her!
)
-----
The previous County Sheriff held a “firearms familiarization” class (long
before our CHL law). My wife and I were told we could not attend the same
class because we were married. Had we been single, or even *divorced*
(for God’s sake) we could have gone together. She refused to go without
me (we cherish our time together) so neither of us got the training.
I guess I’m still angrier about that nonsense than I perceived. Sorry to be so strident.
-------
As for Futo and his Mom, we can tell our stories and let them choose,
dontcha think? They know each other better than we know either of them.
“we are not all cast from the same mold.”
Amen, Sir! *That* was the point I was trying to make.
Both the “instructor” and “student” must be amenable to the arrangement.
In the case of my wife and me, there is NO instructor-student relationship.
We frequently say, “Have you seen this?” or “Have you ever done this?”
Rather than “instruct”, we “share”. Boy, does it work slick!
(Give my wife full credit for such skills - I learned from her!
)-----
The previous County Sheriff held a “firearms familiarization” class (long
before our CHL law). My wife and I were told we could not attend the same
class because we were married. Had we been single, or even *divorced*
(for God’s sake) we could have gone together. She refused to go without
me (we cherish our time together) so neither of us got the training.
I guess I’m still angrier about that nonsense than I perceived. Sorry to be so strident.
-------
As for Futo and his Mom, we can tell our stories and let them choose,
dontcha think? They know each other better than we know either of them.