How to get the fiance into shooting?

[harbl_the_cat]

Have you noticed how that happens Mr. Peta?

Actually I was pulling on Mr. Harbl's chain a bit and don't have a prayer of one upping him as regards care and feeding of a wife goes. In fact I sold the only house my wife thought she owned and so she is now "houseless" and forced to live an unstable life in a trailer. I do prepare all her meals though and she thinks I'm close to perfect now which is a delusion I try not to shatter.

I do think there are good and better ways of introducing anyone to the gun game. I liked what you did. "Easy does it" is probably a good path is most cases. For example going to a high level IPSC match might be exciting for some but intimidating for others. Some gentle exposure at a quiet range would likely work for most at least the first time. I think new people need goals that are easily met. Big noisy guns and fools doing mag dumps beside the recruit won't likely impress.

I do think combining the outing with some social time has merit. With two or more converts, they will likely reinforce just how positive the experience was and most of all how much fun shooting is.

I've taken a few people to the range for the first time and don't know who benefited the most. There's an old saying that goes: " If you really want to learn something, try teaching it". I'm always the winner when I introduce newbies to our games.

Tee hee... "Mr. Peta"

One thing is my wife's not really into shooting, even though I constantly badger her to get her PAL. Without it, she can't qualify for Firearms Legal Defence insurance, and so I deny her access to all the family guns without me being present.

It's pretty nice - since it gives me the opportunity to build some pretty sweet man-caves where she just can't go into, hence the "hiding stuff" quip.

I realized this morning counting all my old registration certificates and receipts in the 8 years I've been shooting (7 years dating/engaged/married), I've gone through about 50 guns, bought, sold, traded and given away. I suspect if she regularly went into my man-cave/gun rooms, that number might be quite a bit lower.

Still, I do my best to keep her happy and while she KNOWS I've gone through that many guns she doesn't quite have a full understanding of the implications therein. She still accepts shooting as a part of me being who I am and loves me for it.

I'm a really lucky man.