Thanks. I admit that the purpose of this post was twofold; to get some help with my problem and to brag.
Gwinny, it's a long story (at least chronologically), but it certainly merits telling.
My mom used to be completely anti-gun. Completely. She used to toss off all the anti "facts": a gun will be taken and used against you, you're more likely to shoot someone in your own family than any crook, etc. Now, I've always liked guns, but all of her rhetoric tended to make me a rather guilty 10-year-old when I became more and more fascinated with them.
As I matured, so did my perspective. After high school, I began to get into the nuts and bolts of pro-gun logic. I read gun rags, which were moderately helpful, and I found TFL, which was extremely helpful. I was a completely reconciled human being. I had my arguments down. Yet, I still concealed my enthusiasm and ardor for guns and the 2nd from my mom.
Sooner or later it had to come out, of course. You all know how it works. A few times I tried to have rational discussions with her, but she just called me a nut and became disgusted.
I was having an effect, however. One evening, after being rather quiet for a while, she admitted that she hadn't been logical; that she was allowing her emotions to override common sense. After a rather torturous, on-and-off period of education, she has come to share my disgust of useless gun control laws and realize that guns are a positive (or at the very least indifferent) tool.
My mother has always believed in being thorough; she says that if we own guns, we must be trained--well trained. I gave her literature from several schools and she said that Gunsite looked like the best one. I was inclined to agree. So, unless something radical happens, we are probably going in the summer. I'm sure I'll have this whole character thing hammered out by then.
So, in conclusion, if you want a pistol-packin' mom, you've got to wear her down, patiently, with the rightness of your cause. Take it real slow, maybe a brief discussion every week or so. Before long, she'll be bringing up gun-related articles in the paper since she knows that is what you are "in to". Then, since she brought it up, you can educate her a bit.
It just takes time.
Now, as for the suggestions, they are all excellent, but;
I have talked to my advisor precisely once and my professors precisely never. This is a huge university. I think that anyone I asked there would become suspicious if I brought up Gunsite. I think. At any rate, I've never been within ten feet of them. At some point, I'm sure that will change.
HS, I don't really know my GP that well, but I know my chiropractor somewhat better. My father is close friends with a highly respected neurologist; that's an idea...a good idea! Thanks!
Apologies for the wandering post and thanks again for your responses.
I love it! Soccer Moms, meet Pistol Packin' Moms.
Moms are great!