Spouse's attitude toward your firearms?

[billv]

Just wondering about others spouses or significant others attitude toward your firearm.

Over the 30 or so years of marriage, my wife would occasionally mention that we needed a firearm. I pointed out that I had my dad's Colt 45 revolver in a drawer in the bedroom, but it was useless for most situations. If a gun was really needed, it needs to be within arms reach. She didn't get it. Seems to think that if someone were breaking down the door, I'd have time to go get it. Note that I'm not a hunter.

Six months ago I decided to do something about my self defense. Seeing the national debt going up, the potential for anarchy was on my mind. But self defense too since I see way too much crime. I purchased a XDM 45, got my TX CHL and I open carry at home and usually conceal carry when I go out. If I'm going somewhere that bans firearms, I leave it at home as I don't want the risk of it being stolen from my car. While I live in an area that doesn't have much crime, I talked to a police officer at my gym and he mentioned that crime is headed our way. There have been sporadic crimes all around my house within 10 miles, ranging from home invasions to murder to robbery. There has been simple burglary and tire slashings on my street at night.

I go to the range 2-3 times a month, and dry fire 2-3 times a week and practice drawing and reloading. I do some competition shooting so I get different experiences than just shooting in a line at the range. It's a part time hobby and a full time tool for my defense. I enjoy shooting and the challenge of improving my aim and capability. I hope to God I never have to demonstrate it in a real life situation. But I will if I have to.

I will be getting a Mossberg 500 Combo shotgun this week with a tactical 18.5" and 28" barrel. That will become the nighttime defense weapon loaded with #00 buckshot and maybe some Duplek Hexolit 32's. I was planning on doing some skeet or trap shooting with the long barrel.

I'm contemplating getting some sort of 30-06 bolt action rifle with a scope. Just in case the SHTF and I do have to become a hunter. And to give me a wider distance range of defense of my home. I'm not interested in assault/automatic rifles.

Now my wife is telling me I'm becoming obsessed with guns. I don't think so. At the same time, she doesn't complain when we go out together and I'm carrying (if she even realizes it). I'm not modding my guns (well except for that trigger job I want for the 45) or buying several of the same type. I do have a tactical light and laser for the 45. And I'm considering a light for the shotgun (laser seems ridiculous at the shotgun's effective range but might give some pucker factor to the BG but also give away my position). Each firearm has its purpose. They are tools.

Right now, my wife refuses to hold my 45, even unloaded. As some time I want to at the least teach her how to unload it and make it safe and so she knows basic gun safety.

I imagine some are in my situation and that most aren't. What's yours?

[NavyLCDR]

My wife thinks I am obsessed with guns too. She just doesn't have a problem with it!

She loves that I taught my new step-daughter gun safety and how to shoot and they both fully support my open carry.

[JPKirkpatrick]

Just wondering about others spouses or significant others attitude toward your firearm.

Over the 30 or so years of marriage, my wife would occasionally mention that we needed a firearm. I pointed out that I had my dad's Colt 45 revolver in a drawer in the bedroom, but it was useless for most situations. If a gun was really needed, it needs to be within arms reach. She didn't get it. Seems to think that if someone were breaking down the door, I'd have time to go get it. Note that I'm not a hunter.

Six months ago I decided to do something about my self defense. Seeing the national debt going up, the potential for anarchy was on my mind. But self defense too since I see way too much crime. I purchased a XDM 45, got my TX CHL and I open carry at home and usually conceal carry when I go out. If I'm going somewhere that bans firearms, I leave it at home as I don't want the risk of it being stolen from my car. While I live in an area that doesn't have much crime, I talked to a police officer at my gym and he mentioned that crime is headed our way. There have been sporadic crimes all around my house within 10 miles, ranging from home invasions to murder to robbery. There has been simple burglary and tire slashings on my street at night.

I go to the range 2-3 times a month, and dry fire 2-3 times a week and practice drawing and reloading. I do some competition shooting so I get different experiences than just shooting in a line at the range. It's a part time hobby and a full time tool for my defense. I enjoy shooting and the challenge of improving my aim and capability. I hope to God I never have to demonstrate it in a real life situation. But I will if I have to.

I will be getting a Mossberg 500 Combo shotgun this week with a tactical 18.5" and 28" barrel. That will become the nighttime defense weapon loaded with #00 buckshot and maybe some Duplek Hexolit 32's. I was planning on doing some skeet or trap shooting with the long barrel.

I'm contemplating getting some sort of 30-06 bolt action rifle with a scope. Just in case the SHTF and I do have to become a hunter. And to give me a wider distance range of defense of my home. I'm not interested in assault/automatic rifles.

Now my wife is telling me I'm becoming obsessed with guns. I don't think so. At the same time, she doesn't complain when we go out together and I'm carrying (if she even realizes it). I'm not modding my guns (well except for that trigger job I want for the 45) or buying several of the same type. I do have a tactical light and laser for the 45. And I'm considering a light for the shotgun (laser seems ridiculous at the shotgun's effective range but might give some pucker factor to the BG but also give away my position). Each firearm has its purpose. They are tools.

Right now, my wife refuses to hold my 45, even unloaded. As some time I want to at the least teach her how to unload it and make it safe and so she knows basic gun safety.

I imagine some are in my situation and that most aren't. What's yours?

My wife was brought up in a home where her father and her mother both shot pistols and shotguns (the mother was infrequent at it though). My wife has always been supportive of my using firearms (being in the military and then as a LEO).
After we had a couple of close calls where my having the firearm with me prevented something bad happening to us, she became even more supportive of my having and using firearms. She even has her own pistol now and goes to the range with me.
I try to include her in all my activities, since she is more than just my wife, she is my friend and whom I want to be with always. After 37 years of marriage, I can safely say that she is my best friend.
Try to include your wife in your shooting practice. Take her with you and have a lighter recoil handgun for her to become acquainted with. Work with her slowly and eventually she'll become more "at home" with them. Besides, if you teach her to use the .45's, then she might want to keep them
~John

[Mr.357Sig]

My wife fully supports the use of firearms. She's even taken a two-day course specifically designed to introduce women to handguns. She fired about 800 rounds at paper and steel targets out of her then-new FNP-9.

She's always been a big 2A supporter - wouldn't have married her if she would not have been. That's a deal breaker for me.

My next step in her gun training will be shotguns. I've got a Remington tactical and a SBS double barrel that I'm sure she'll love as much as our handguns.

[vettefreak]

My wife wants nothing to do with firearms, but doesnt mind me having them.

[majorleewild]

I am very fortunate in that my wife loves to shoot guns. She and I both shoot competitively with pistol/revolver, rifle and shotgun. We both have CCL’s and she likes to browse the tables at local gun shows. The only drawback is her requirement for me to do all the reloading and gun cleaning…she does not like the smell of the solvents and thinks that all my Dillon machines are too complicated for her to work correctly. It is a small sacrifice in order to have a wife who likes to shoot and does not complain when I bring home a new toy.

[cardinalfan]

My wife of 30 years was a bit like yours, even afte being robbed at gunpoint 5 years ago. Told me I didn't need any. Now she has her CCW and picked out her own EDC after shooting several different guns at a local range. Then after shooting my .45 (Colt Defender) said she wanted one like that too, so I bought her the Defender in 9mm. From totally anti to a CCW toting grandma in a few months.

[britt]

my wife loves too shoot and my girles shoot too

[Skywarrior]

I have my guns they are the ones that fit my needs (home defense,ccw,hunting, target, trap and skeet.). From handguns, rifle, blackpowder and shotgun.

She has her own.

She likes a .40cal, I like a .45cal. She likes a .32cal, I like a .380cal. and so on. But we both see the need for guns in our lives.

[eaccents]

My HUBBY is supportive of my interest in firearms, but has ZERO interest in shooting or shooting sports. He does think I am a bit obsessed, since I have 3 pistols and a shotgun. I now have my eye on an AR .... and after that I'd like a 1911, and then a lever action rifle ... but I have to wait until he gets over the last purchase before I bring up the topic of a new gun! :)