Posted: 5/7/2026 5:42:46 AM EDT
|
So I’m trying to find some ways to bring this topic up without pushing her away from firearms, after taking my girlfriend who is 30 years old to the range for the first time in her life. She brought up the idea of her getting her CHL license which I fully supported and she went and picked out a Glock 43x without much influence from me. She got herself a belly band holster for it and then tonight she mentioned to me that she is gonna use the pistol more as a “scare tool” if something bad happens. How do I bring this up without causing a disagreement or making her not want to carry. |
|
Not sure what your asking, sounds like she is already introduced and interested. If she is going to carry, train and be ready to use it. If she is not going to use the gun when needed it more likely will get take away and used against her. I got my wife pepper spray for this reason, no way she would shoot a person even though she can shoot. |
|
Honestly, brandishing is a part of self defense. I've stopped a threat by the prescence of a firearm. However, you if you bring it out, you must be ready to use it and she needs to learn that... gun, knife, pepper spray, closed fist.... I recommend taking a self defense class with her, like Krav Maga or something even more firearms focused. Let her see how much disparity there really is between a man and woman (only in an actual class). |
|
Originally Posted By AR_Dale: Not sure what your asking, sounds like she is already introduced and interested. If she is going to carry, train and be ready to use it. If she is not going to use the gun when needed it more likely will get take away and used against her. I got my wife pepper spray for this reason, no way she would shoot a person even though she can shoot. That’s what I am trying to bring out of her. Is for her to be ready to use it if that time comes and not hesitating. She’s got pepper spray which was before I came along. I say she’s definitely interested in it since she bought herself a membership to a local range that has class offerings and discounts on things. I never took any of theirs but she’s interested in them and that’s without the sales person pushing it or me. |
|
Sign both of you up for a good self-defense or intro-to-pistols class. Let the instructor tell her why she's wrong. And then the two of you have a common base of experience to talk about what the instructor said. That way she's not arguing with you, she's arguing with somebody else whose opinions she paid for. (Or you did, but whatever.) Outside expert effect. |
|
A class is a good choice. Brandishing will either get it taken away by the bad guy or you get arrested and charged with assault etc . It’s really best if it’s not pulled until the confrontation has become a physical attack. Have her use pepper spray as the back off get away from me tool. Add a small easy to open knife to her key ring. Even small knives make people want to get off of you to see what’s sticking them. The gun is the last resort unless you’re a cop in which case some states allow officers to hold suspects at gunpoint and check crime scenes with drawn guns like on TV ….but not all states allow that even from police, and they go full retard when civilians draw guns. Know your state laws . If police get involved - it’s important that she says that she was terrified; then shut the fuck up and ask for her lawyer. Especially if you did nothing wrong - you must shut up, and lawyer up. Nothing you say will be used to help you. |
| Since she has interest start with fundamentals. Grip, trigger, sights, stance, manipulation of weapon, etc. Then aimed slow fire using Weaver stance with proper PPE. Also several reloading techniques, stoppage drills, operating from low ready. Go slow and explain when she has questions. Don't try to do everything in one day. Skills come with repeated practice. Lots of good and some bad sights on the Net that deal with firearms training, cavet emptor. If you can afford the cost Thunder Ranch and gunsite offer some of the best training in the US. |
|
There is a very good book for females, written by a female. "Armed and Female" by Paxton Quigly. It may be a tad dated, i read it a while ago, but i really like what she had to say. Real world examples, etc. Worth a shot (no pun intended) |
Hell on miniature trout and short round women.
Joined:
Sep 2022
Posts:
2949
EE: 0% (0)
USA
Joined:
Dec 2024
Posts:
183
EE: 0% (0)
TN, USA
|
Originally Posted By jwliv180: Sign both of you up for a good self-defense or intro-to-pistols class. Let the instructor tell her why she's wrong. And then the two of you have a common base of experience to talk about what the instructor said. That way she's not arguing with you, she's arguing with somebody else whose opinions she paid for. (Or you did, but whatever.) Outside expert effect. This. I have suggested our gun club prohibit fathers, husbands and boyfriends attempting to teach shooting to female relatives. Many times he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. |
|
I see lots of guys at my range messing this up. When starting out any new shooter (women and kids included) realize that they (at the start at least) are generally less interested than us macho gun nuts . Pay attention to their comfort . Do the range trip when the weather is mostly comfortable , Leave the magnum blaster in the safe and pick something somewhat comfortable to start . Make the range trip short and plan it so they leave wanting to do it again next week (or whenever) New shooters and women in general are more sensitive to noise , make sure you have good hearing protection . I favor foam plugs with electronic ear muffs over the plugs so they can ask questions and hear commands. |