Like me, my wife grew up in a gun-hating family. So she was a bit surprised when I started hunting 20 years ago, and even more surprised when I started collecting various firearms and finally joined a range.

 

She finally agreed to accompany me today, although she insisted she had no intention of picking up a gun. I think it may have been the Historical Society meeting she dragged me to on Tuesday, which I actually (and thoroughly) enjoyed, that made her feel she owed me.

 

We walked around the place, visited all the ranges. Earl the range officer greeted her, even called her "my dear." She seemed fascinated by the big, ugly, dangerous-looking rifles at the 100-yard range. We spent about 30 minutes on the plinking range (for .22 cal and below). She was impressed for the first ten minutes, when I explained gun safety and my rifle's components. She was even more impressed that I missed only one shot, at her direction ("Red rabbit!"). "YOU HIT IT! WOW, you're GOOD!" (She hasn't said that to me in a while).

 

I'm not good, really. Not at shooting

 

Thank goodness there were several women there today, and young people. Right next to us were two teenagers shooting with their grandfather. She noted there were some "nice cars" in the lots, which to an anti-gun snob corroborated the fact that the folks looked like our friends and not like refugees from Deliverance. 

 

Maybe it was a combination of a pleasant summer day, beautiful environment ("This place could be nice," said the nature-lover at one point), and the friendly atmosphere, but all she could talk about on the way home was returning and shooting. She peppered me with questions. 

 

"I'd like to take it up when I retire."

 

Then, later, "Well maybe we don't have to wait that long."

 

I don't know about you, but I see a convert in the making.

 

Good for you!  (And her.)  

 

I think the biggest hurdle is actually getting them to the range.  Once they're there, they generally enjoy it. I've had my GF to GFH and RTSP a few times.  Even got her to take a First Steps Pistol class.  She seems to enjoy it, but she doesn't make it the same kind of priority that most of us do.  

 

Still have not been able to get her to take the drive up to Cherry Ridge, even though I keep telling her how beautiful it is.

Nice and congrats.

 

My girlfriend isn't an anti, but isn't interested in shooting.

 

I accompanied me a few weeks ago because I was meeting her friend and her friend's husband. She said she'd come as long as no one pressured her to shoot.

 

I brought my .22 revolver and she had fun shooting it, so hopefully I can et her back again. Maybe to as interested as your wife, but I can hope.

 

Don't wait too long to get her back so she won't lose the interest.

Nice and congrats.

 

My girlfriend isn't an anti, but isn't interested in shooting.

 

I accompanied me a few weeks ago because I was meeting her friend and her friend's husband. She said she'd come as long as no one pressured her to shoot.

 

I brought my .22 revolver and she had fun shooting it, so hopefully I can et her back again. Maybe to as interested as your wife, but I can hope.

 

Don't wait too long to get her back so she won't lose the interest.

I go fairly often. She always asks me how I did, so she's not 100% anti. "I'm happy you found this cute little hobby" is one of the things she said on the way home. I have a feeling she'll go again, soon. Once she gets the feeling I first got 46 years ago she'll enjoy it. 

 

Note: I only shot .22lr today. We got by on ear plugs, except while we were walking by the 100-yard rifle range. Left the handguns home so if she wanted to stop at a garage sale I would not go to jail for 10 years. In a way she's more manly than me: "How will anybody know?" she asked. 

I got lucky my wife lives to shoot and is very pro 2A