My daughter wants a gun

[O6nop]

My 25 y.o. daughter just told me that she was interested in getting a gun, for protection. That comment scared me at first. Her apartment was recently burglarized, while she was away. I am, however, starting to warm up to the idea. I told her I was excited and would be happy to introduce her to it. I've tried in the past to get her interested, but I think she never gave it a thought until now. I have only been involved with handguns for about a year and a half, but I have a CHL and have been practicing and taken several classes. Of course, I'll try and get her enrolled in a class by a professional instructor, but it wouldn't hurt for me to get her started.

It took me a little while to get over the little bit of fear I had, now I feel pretty comfortable. I still yearn for more classes. If I can start showing her the ropes, it will help me learn even more, I hope.

I don't know if there is a good reason or a bad reason to want a gun, as long as it's legal, but if she's interested, I gotta be there to help.

Anyone else have a family member, that you never thought would be interested in guns, suddenly show an interest?

[lrb111]

yep, about 5 or 6 of them. Our daughter was the second one, and she stunned me with it.

[seamusTX]

Anyone else have a family member, that you never thought would be interested in guns, suddenly show an interest?

Yeah. I think a lot of people are unconsciously waiting for an opportunity or some kind of "permission."

- Jim

[Stupid]

Not to sound like an anti, owning a gun comes with responsibility, a lot of them. I always frown upon the idea of having a gun just "for protection" simply because "having a gun" does not protect you in anyway. Here's something an anti would say and I would agree: a gun is more likely being used to kill you than you use it to defend yourself.

OK, I would start with:
1. moving to a better apartment
2. Read the book "Strong on defense"
3. Some serious gun safety
4. Go with the CHL
5. Read the book "In the gravest extreme" and "On Killing"
6. Buy a gun

[longtooth]

O6nop,
My Dad died in 1996. Sometime in 2000 my mom called me & said she wanted to talk. That was out of character for her so I made an immediate trip across town.
She asked me what I thought about her getting a gun & learning to shoot it. Mom had shot a rifle a little but never a hand gun af any kind. "Well Mom I thing it is great. lets just change one thing. Lets learn to shoot & then get the gun." She now owns 3 hand guns, one rifle, (goes deer hunting w/ me) & is wanting a plinking .22 & a shotgun for squirrels. Mom is 76.
I have about 45 yrs of safe shooting, have trained quite a few in the last 15, & several ladies. I did train Mom. I do not recomend teaching close family to many. Even Father Daughter when the daughter is out of the home may not be good.
Mom has now been shooting for a good 7 yrs. She is in process of renewing her CHL. She comes over & works in the loading room. She is never too busy to go to the range when I call her. She loves shooting.
She is also very proficent w/ a personal defence weapon.
One of the things Mom said to me after about a yr of shooting was, she now had much more confidence in dealing w/ the presures of life that single women have to deal w/. ie: She has bought her own car & is now buying the 2nd since Dad died. She has put a couple of real "CAR SALESMEN" back in the show room & asked for a new one. Good job Mom.
I think it is great for your daughter to want to learn to shoot.
Sertainly, awareness & acertive verbal defense skills should be learned also. This has been the biggest blessing for my Mom. I really teach these to ladies. Even those who do not carry or even have a gun.

Bottom line. Help her get started. Get her some GOOD PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. I even suggest going w/ her if the instructors allow it.
I started this w/ Mom when she went to her CHL class. It was a blessing for me & her both. I have carried it over to others I have trained. It gives them assurance when the one that has trained them to shoot is willing to go to the CHL class w/ them too.

Good shooting.
LT

[RPBrown]

All but my oldest were taught at an early age about safety and shooting. The oldest daughter (34) wasn't interested at the time.
Last October she came to me to teach her to shoot. I refused to teach her to shoot but, taught her safety and paid for her to go to several classes. Then for her birthday (at her request), I sent her to her CHL class. And for Christmas she got an XD9 subcompact.
After I read this thread, I asked her what was it that changed her mind. She said that it was 2 things, 1st was the fact that we go shooting as a family from time to time and she felt left out. and 2nd was the way things are in this world, she needed a way to protect herself.
Proud of all my kids (5) . All now have CHL.

[Popshot]

Step 1. Introduce her to shooting your handgun to learn the basic safety and marksmanship skills.
Step 2. Convince her to use another instructor. This is not that you cannot teach, but so she learns these skills from more than one person.
Step 3. Time for her to get her own handgun. Provide guidance, but let her pick.
Step 4. Practice-Practice-Practice.
Step 5. Introduce her to CHL, including the responsibilities, pros-cons, but that her own safety is her responsibilty.

[hi-power]

I can't help because I'm still trying to get the wife interested in shooting. I probably shouldn't be the one to do it, (there's a fine line between me instructing and nagging, apparently), but I don't think she'd take a class by herself. I may have to sign us both up for a small class and have the instructor teach her.

Proud of all my kids (5) . All now have CHL.

That IS something to be very proud of. Safest house on the block during the family BBQ!

[BobCat]

You might suggest she look at http://www.corneredcat.com for a woman's perspective. It is a good start if she has no previous experience with firearms.

I agree with the steps Popshot listed; no point in reiterating.

Congratulations on having your daughter grow up and take responsibility for her own safety and well-being.

Regards,
Andrew

[casselthief]

My 25 y.o. daughter just told me that she was interested in getting a gun

congratulations!
seriously, it's a good thing, in the end.
if yer in the DF/Dub area, lemme know, my ol' lady (just a few years older than yer daughter) is an aspiring handgun enthusiast, mebbe they can talk, or go shootin'.
otherwise, good luck, and don't forget to make it a positive experience by having some fun with everything.

[O6nop]

Thanks for your support and advice.

Step 1. Introduce her to shooting your handgun to learn the basic safety and marksmanship skills.
Step 2. Convince her to use another instructor. This is not that you cannot teach, but so she learns these skills from more than one person.

This is pretty much how I planned to start out, I tried to make that clear in my first post. I know I couldn't teach her what a professional could, but I'm not going to just drop her off at a class and say 'go learn'
I plan on taking her to a gun show, invest $5, let her handle a few guns, talk to some of the dealers. There's one place at the Austin show in particular I like, don't remember the name but it's something like guns for girls.
Casselthief - Thanks for the invite, but we live in Austin.

OK, I would start with:
1. moving to a better apartment

Everyplace is a potential danger, anyplace can be targeted anytime, that's one reason why we all should carry. This one is better than the last one she was in but she's on the ground floor. Personally, I think it was someone who knew her. Won't get in to that.
The hardest part will be getting her to read books

She grew up in a different state than I did, one with strict gun laws. It was in the country, cold mountainous where hunting is popular. Lots of her family (on her mom's side) were hunters but they used to speak of poaching and going to hunting camp and mostly consuming alcohol (visions of the scene in Deer Hunter before they went off to Nam ). I think she developed a dislike for guns.
As she sees how interested I am, maybe her curiosity has peeked and would like me to guide her into it. I want to take it slow so she doesn't lose interest.
Again, thanks for your advice. I'll let you know how it evolves.

[seamusTX]

Everyplace is a potential danger, anyplace can be targeted anytime, that's one reason why we all should carry. This one is better than the last one she was in but she's on the ground floor. Personally, I think it was someone who knew her.

You're right that no place is immune from crime, though some neighborhoods have higher crime rates than others.

You probably know this, but there are many separate issues here: home security, personal safety, firearms handling and shooting, and CHL.

Owning or carrying a firearm will do nothing to prevent burglaries. There are locks and burglar alarms that you can install temporarily in an apartment. I think burglar alarms are the best deterrent, dogs second.

It sounds like she also has to be more careful about choosing her friends. I've heard about any number of cases where people were victimized by their relatives and "friends" whom they trusted.

I think the "Refuse to be a Victim" program sounds good, though I have no personal experience with it. You can find similar courses at adult continuing-education places. Google is your friend.

As you know, neither a CHL nor a weapon will do you any good if you are oblivious to impending trouble.

Good luck with everything.

- Jim

[Stupid]

Sorry, guns are NOT there to prevent crimes. They may serve as a deteriant and defense, but not prevention.

Situation awareness and knowing what to do when things aren't right are far more important. It's true that crime is everywhere, but some places do have less crime. Living in a better and more secured place does reduce your chance of being victimized.

Owning a gun comes with great amount of responsibilities. One of them is that we must go out of our way to AVOID any confrontation. Guns must be our last resort to our personal safety and security.

[cyphur]

I think it is great she is interested, I am trying to get my wife interested. I may buy her a little Ruger 22 pistol to start with......


Rant -
I don't behave any differently now that I carry with a CHL than I did before it - a gun is just a tool, and not even your best one at that.

I don't there comes with any more responsibility with a firearm than driving a motor vehicle properly - even when used properly it can end up killing people.

But, that is just my belief. Responsibility is responsibility, it should be an absolute, not just for certain aspects of your life.

/rant

[kauboy]

Sorry, guns are NOT there to prevent crimes. They may serve as a deteriant and defense, but not prevention.

I'm fairly positive that if I ever have to use my gun in self defense, I will have prevented a crime.

Guns are most assuredly there to prevent crime. Our forefathers knew that their hunting muskets could also be used to beat back the criminal acts of their corrupt government. Guns prevent crimes every year, far more in fact than are actually used to commit crimes. FBI studies have proved it. An armed population suffers from less crime. That's prevention.