Never Shot a Gun!

[Heather]

During these troubled times, I am growing more and more concerned for the safety and security of my family.  I fear that a time not to far from now things are going to get really bad. When there are a bunch of people trying to break down our door to steal our stuff I don't want Matt to be the only one able to defend our home.   I have expressed my concerns to Matt along with a desire to be taught to shoot a gun.  For some reason unknown to me he is extremely hesitant to do this.  According to Matt, GB has agreed to let me learn out at his place, so why he hasn't yet is beyond me.  I hope that if enough GBO members support the idea of him teaching me to shoot that he will.  Please vote yes in support of fellow American who wants to be better prepared to defend her family!

Heather

[jjas]

At the risk of getting in the middle of a family squabble, why do you need permission to learn to shoot anyway?

If those close to you won't teach you, find a friend or professional who will. 

[briarpatch]

That is between you and Matt.  No one else.
But I hope you work it out to suit both.

[crustaceous]

Your significant other is usually a lousy teacher. Just ask my wife about the kayak (drowning) lessons I gave her.
Take a class from someone else.
Maybe he can sleep sounder knowing you don't know how to shoot!

[45-70.gov]

i   am glad  to know  there are ladies  out  there  that  still  know their place
it  is good  that  you are waiting for  your mans permission
and  that  you beleive  he  is the only one that knows enough  to teach

i  wish  i had an adoring  pet woman  like  matt has

At the risk of getting in the middle of a family squabble, why do you need permission to learn to shoot anyway?

If those close to you won't teach you, find a friend or professional who will. 

make that  a friend AND  professional

That is between you and Matt.  No one else.
But I hope you work it out to suit both.

now that  your out  of the closet [as a non-shooter]
i  hope it works
after you told me you hadn't shot  i meant to send matt a PM

BUT  NOW YOUR  OUT

MATT.........TEACH  HER TO SHOOT
MATT.........SIGN  HER  UP FOR A PROFFESIONAL CLASS  TOO

That is between you and Matt.  No one else.
But I hope you work it out to suit both.

OH  YEA   WHAT HE SAID TOO

Your significant other is usually a lousy teacher. Just ask my wife about the kayak (drowning) lessons I gave her.
Take a class from someone else.
Maybe he can sleep sounder knowing you don't know how to shoot!

and  what he said  too

[Questor]

No, you shouldn't have Matt teach you how to shoot. If you're worried about your safety, learn from a professional. Most people who shoot know absolutely nothing about defense. Defense and shooting are not the same thing, they are totally different in concept and in practice.

On the other hand, if part of your interest in shooting is recreational, then still don't have Matt teach you how to shoot. You'll likely inherit his bad habits. Again, learn from a pro and read a good book on marksmanship.

Taking a few lessons early on makes a big difference, especially in a defensive situation.

[45-70.gov]

when  sons  took hunter safety classes when they  were young
i  also took the class  with them.....even  though  i knew  it all.......i was  wrong  and learned a lot

you  and  matt  should take a professional class together
i was  too busy intertaining myself to give you a good answer in my previous post

[Singleshotsam]

Only you and Matt can sort this one out.  Putting pressure on Matt by using the forum isn't going to make him less hesitant.  Put the kids to bed, then sit down and talk to him 1 on 1 about the subject as his wife and best friend.  That's the best advice I can give.  

[SM Outdoors]

Matt should consider himself lucky from the standpoint that he has a partner that actually wants to be a partner... That said I too was very nervous when the Mrs. said she wanted to learn.... HMMMM when was she last mad at me and what did she say? In the end I did teach her and we have had a better relationship for it. We regularly take the skeet machine out back and kill a couple hours now and then on the weekends. I am also a little more comfortable knowing if the SHTF I have help standing guard as you pointed out. Good luck (to both of you)

[powderman]

Of course you should  learn. Talk to Bill I'm sure he'd be more than happy to teach you. I taught my wife right after we were married. Don't just learn, practice. POWDERMAN.

[rparsons934]

I say yes and yes again. There is no point to have firearms in the house for protection if not everyone in the home knows how to use it. What if something were to happen if matt were not there. Classes are a good idea to.

[Oldshooter]

I Think learning to shoot is a good thing................that being said learning to shoot someone is not for everyone.

What I'm trying to say here is that it is very important that a person understands that when they pick up a gun to defend their person or property, that it is a big step and they need to be prepared to take a life and understand when they turn that corner there is no going back and if you do pull a gun and are not able/willing to use it you have opened up a whole new can of worms.

My wife can shoot as good as I can probably, however, she does not have the heart to kill, (a person) so I would hope she never has to find out if she could do it WITHOUT hesitation Cause if you hesitate you risk having your gun taken away and used on you!

Just my Humble opinion

Randy

[myronman3]

maybe there is a reason he hasnt taught you to shoot.... do you get mad at him often?     maybe he dont want to risk getting a bullet in his hide....

[45-70.gov]

heather  is  a martial artist


matt  is already  at her  mercy      lol


well  maybe not  he is the only one that knows how to shoot

[Heather]

i   am glad  to know  there are ladies  out  there  that  still  know their place
it  is good  that  you are waiting for  your mans permission
and  that  you beleive  he  is the only one that knows enough  to teach

i  wish  i had an adoring  pet woman  like  matt has

You think your funny don't you?   

Heather

[Heather]

Only you and Matt can sort this one out.  Putting pressure on Matt by using the forum isn't going to make him less hesitant.  Put the kids to bed, then sit down and talk to him 1 on 1 about the subject as his wife and best friend.  That's the best advice I can give.  

SSS, for most men that would be the case, but Matt ONLY responds to pressure!

Heather

[SHOOTALL]

I can't believe a Southern Belle dosen't know how to get what she wants ! Can't say i ever heard of that before ! Maybe Southern Charm school is in order !

[williamlayton]

There are several things you don't do.
Teach your kids to drive.
Teach your wife to drive.
Teach your wife to shoot.
Now, GB would be a good one to do it.
Matt ought to find someone he trust to do it.
I am going to teach my daughter too shoot this spring.
Blessings

[Graybeard]

maybe there is a reason he hasnt taught you to shoot.... do you get mad at him often?     maybe he dont want to risk getting a bullet in his hide....

Not more than twice an hour but only when both are awake or asleep. 


Having Matt teach her presupposes he can shoot. I've seen him burning up my ammo. He can't shoot for ..... well ya know.  Now me I'm a consumate professional shooter and instructor having taught lots of folks even some who thought they already knew a thing or three. Heck I even own a gun I'm pretty sure iffen I could just remember where I put it. 

[Heather]

maybe there is a reason he hasnt taught you to shoot.... do you get mad at him often?     maybe he dont want to risk getting a bullet in his hide....

Not more than twice an hour but only when both are awake or asleep. 


Having Matt teach her presupposes he can shoot. I've seen him burning up my ammo. He can't shoot for ..... well ya know.  Now me I'm a consumate professional shooter and instructor having taught lots of folks even some who thought they already knew a thing or three. Heck I even own a gun I'm pretty sure iffen I could just remember where I put it. 

Does that mean you will teach me to shoot?

Heather

[bilmac]

Reason he don't want to show you is often times the wife ends up the better shot. I dare say if I didn't practice constantly my wife would out shoot me. She is just kind of a natural, never practices, always gets her critter.

[Singleshotsam]

SSS, for most men that would be the case, but Matt ONLY responds to pressure!

Heather

That was just my advice.  You know how to deal w/ your man lol.

If its pressure he responds to, maybe a choke-hold or two might persuade him?  After he wakes up the 2nd time he may wisen up lol.

[Sourdough]

Husbands make poor shooting instructors!  My wife and I are both NRA shooting instructors.  We constantly see women that have been so traumatized by their husbands trying to teach them to shoot that they don't want anything else to do with guns, period.  My recommendation is to find a kind Uncle, Grandfather, or someone who regulerly teaches shooting.  My best recommendation is to find someone in your area that teaches the NRA Home Saftey Course with only women in the class.  Those seem to be the most productive for us.  Contact the NRA for the shooting counsler in your area.  Rog  

[gypsyman]

Heather, without ever having met Matt, and not knowing his ,disposition, how is he around kids. Can he take his time and work with, especially a young child, without losing his cool. A couple of the best shooters I ever seen, could hit targets at 200 meters that some people could only dream of. But when they tried to teach their wife and kids, forget it. After 3-5 minute's, yelling at them, absolutley making the learner so shook up, couldn't hit anything, and almost being dangerous.
If Matt has an easy going personality, he probably will be just fine. I know the one time I was shooting with my wife, had my arms around her steading her arms, started nuzzling the back of her neck, range time came to a quick end, as something else came about. Enough of that!  gypsyman

[Badnews Bob]

I think that fuzzy faced old feller Matt hangs around with would prolly be a fine instructor. Iffn you can keep him from being a grumpy ole curmudgeon.

[ms]

Only revolvers there easy to load and unload.  

[Singleshotsam]

Or a pump action shotgun. Bang pump bang pump bang pump ect...

But seriously.  Start with a .22lr.  Work from there.  Once you get used to concentrating on pulling the trigger and not noticing the bang, the larger calibers/shotshells don't seem as scary.

[Casull]

Cause if you hesitate you risk having your gun taken away and used on you!

Not trying to pick a fight Randy, but that line drives me nuts.  I hear the anti's using that all the time and it is BS.  If you didn't have a gun and that same POS was intent on harming you, do you really think it wouldn't happen just because you didn't arm him? 

[Oldshooter]

Cause if you hesitate you risk having your gun taken away and used on you!

Not trying to pick a fight Randy, but that line drives me nuts.  I hear the anti's using that all the time and it is BS.  If you didn't have a gun and that same POS was intent on harming you, do you really think it wouldn't happen just because you didn't arm him? 

No problem and no fight........Not an anti gun nut by a long shot, Who's to say what might happen in the heat of the moment, But if you poke a gun in an intruders face and you dont use it that is what might happen. MY point was not to deter someone from owning or learning to shoot, but to understand what drawing a gun means. You dont have to be an anti gun nut to understand that. Maybe  he is gonna harm you anyway but he should not get your gun to do it with!  I would not be in someones home in that position but the bad guy that would be may have the cahones to call your bluff or talk you out of using it until they can turn it against you. I have faced the business end of a firearm and I'm telling you what I know. A Texas Ranger long ago told me it is better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.  I am always willing to discuss anything with reasonable people .

Randy

[Siskiyou]

To some the thought of a woman from Alabama with a gun could be rather scary, and fatal.  In 1938 my Dad meet and married mom in Alabama.  He moved her to the far North Coast of California.  It was thinly populated area, and one of the nearby neighbors was an Indian Reservation where violence visited often.  

Dad left for work early in the morning and was gone until evening.  It was a time the American people were grateful to have a job.  One morning a noise woke mom and at first she thought Dad might have forgotten something and returned home.  She looked up and a drunken resident of the Reservation was standing in the bedroom door.  The round from the old Army .41 Long Colt splintered the door jam.  The intruder disappeared.  In fact the Sheriff could not find him in the county area, and either he went into hiding on the Reservation or went South.

Mom had no problem shooting a gun, but I rather doubt she had much practice with that old Colt, but it served its purpose.  Years later when I was a youngster Dad traded it off for a 22 pistol.

I have taught a number of women to shoot, and as advised by another poster, it is best that husbands not teach wife’s to shoot.  It takes patients to be a good instructor; a reluctant instructor is not the correct one.  In many cases, it is not a Wiseman that gives his wife instruction.

I am sure Mom wished for that old Colt many years later when she was mugged and robbed while waiting over night for an airplane in Birmingham.  I suspect that mom would tell me that Birmingham is far more dangerous then the Redwoods.