And that's something that I recommend every husband do for their wife. Take them to the gun dealer, but let them try the different models and make the final decision. You can make suggestions ... "Are you sure you want that smaller .38? It may be smaller in size than the 9mm, but the recoil will be much more intense." But ultimately, you need to let them make their own decision, and if they choose wrong, it will be a learning experience. It's not the end of the world. My first firearm was a .38 Lady Smith & Wesson revolver, and it didn't take me long to realize that just shooting target practice was no fun. It beat me up too much!
So my husband took me down to the local gun dealer and I traded up to my Springfield XD 9mm when I decided to begin formal training. It has been a great range gun, but I soon realized that it was not a great concealed carry choice. I have added to my collection, and each time it was MY choice! When you are the one filling out the paperwork and the purchase is in your name, it really means something!
It is a right of passage for young boys; their fathers take them down to the store and they buy their first BB gun or their first shotgun before hunting season. And those boys are never the same! And it is the same for us women. Somehow, taking that step yourself (instead of letting your husband make your purchases for you) is an investment that empowers you. You now have the responsibility to take that investment seriously. It is a sizable expenditure and should not be taken lightly or wasted. When you fill out that paperwork and sign that form, and then walk out with a case in your hand, you have a new identity. You are a gun owner! And it is liberating!
On July 26th, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) gathered the signatures of 51 Senators on a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton opposing any treaty that infringes on our rights. The letter stated "As the treaty process continues, we strongly encourage your administration not only to uphold our country's constitutional protections of civilian firearms ownership, but to ensure--if necessary, by breaking consensus at the July conference--that the treaty will explicitly recognize the legitimacy of lawful activities associated with firearms, including but not limited to the right of self-defense. As members of the United States Senate, we will oppose the ratification of any Arms Trade Treaty that falls short of this standard."
And as of this moment, the Conference on the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (U.N. ATT) has broken down and will not report a draft treaty to the member nations. But we can't slack off. It is likely that the Conference will submit a new draft treaty after the U.S. election, and the NRA has proclaimed that they will keep up the pressure to defeat it. Without the NRA, it is likely this treaty would have been ratified by the Senate and one more death knell would have been delivered to the Second Amendment. But the NRA can't continue to fight without our help!
So instead of relying on my husband and other men to lead the way, I made my own decision and added my voice to the discussion. I now have a "dog in this fight" and it feels good!
Proverbs 31:11 "Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value."
I would also recommend, they consider taking something like an NRA Basic pistol class.
ReplyDeleteThey should shop around for the best in their area, and check out several instructors before signing up, the quality varies.
Many times for new shooters, the instructor will provide a 22 for no extra charge, and let them check out other guns the instructor has, also some ranges have rentals and might try guns of interest before buying
Yes, there are NRA classes as well as other accredited training courses throughout the country. If you're not sure about the class, ask for a recommendation from someone who has taken that specific class. And don't just stop with the Basic class. Continue your training and increase your knowledge and skills by taking advanced classes. I am amazed how much I've learned in a little over a year by taking all the classes that are available!
DeleteYes never stop training, I have my own school, and in addition to training students, I also train NRA Instructors.
DeleteI have trained with Massad Ayoob, Ken Hackathorn, Larry Vickers, Todd Jarrett, and had training at Blackwater (or whatever they call it these days)
I just wish that more people would realize taking a ccw class does not make one a trained gunfighter
Belle,
ReplyDeleteGreat points about choosing our own weapons! At my most recent shooting and target practice session with girlfriends, our instructor told us that usually the husband does all the choosing, leaving the wife with something not suited to her! You hit the nail on the head!
Great blog!
I just spoke to one of the instructors that teaches at the range I attend, and he said the latest Beginners Class for Women was the best he's seen. When they started about a year-and-a-half ago, women showed up with "hand-me-down" guns that their husband or father had discarded as unsuitable.... everything from one-shot revolvers to .45s that were way too much gun for them, But this time, he said women came to the class with Glocks and XDs and were knowledgeable about the advantages of their gun and why it worked for them. Women are really taking gun ownership seriously and that is encouraging!
DeleteI really appreciate the candid and empassioned voice you give and have been giving to many issues of our time that need better exposure. I would point you to another resource related to this post you might consider that is found at this site:
ReplyDeletehttp://appleseedusa.org/
I think your readership will find this to be a valuable resource.
rainman
Yes! This is a great organization! I urge everyone to support this group that keeps our heritage alive through clinics and programs that promote the benefits and safety of gun ownership. Thanks for the link!
ReplyDelete