Concealed Carry and the Wife

[jsudar]

So, in the the wake of all the recent home invasions, gunpoint robberies and the fact that we will have a socialist president shortly, my wife says, "We need to get our concealed carry permits while we still can."

I say, that's cool, I'm six years overdue anyway. We both go take the class and she seems super interested and asks a ton of questions, stretching the class out to almost five hours. I'm thinking cool, she's really into this, maybe she'll let me spend more money on guns.

A week later, I have my paperwork filled out, fingerprints done and all that stuff and I ask if she wants to put her papers in the same envelope to save a stamp or two. She's says, "No, I don't think I really want to get mine anymore. I'll probably never carry."

I tried to explain about all the money she'll save avoiding background checks when she buys new guns, but she's not taking the bait...
I don't get it. It was her idea and now she's backing out. I guess I shouldn't even attempt to understand her logic.

 

[spencurai]

It sounds like she has some unresolved issues about the responsibility of a concealed carry. I wouldn't push her, just get your papers in and get your "red driver's license".

Get her a wheel gun for around the house to protect herself, teach her how to use it, and maybe she will get more comfortable and put in her papers so she can carry it day to day.

 

[Rot Box]

At least she was willing to take the class! My wife says no that's your thing I'm not into it--plus I'm tougher than I look... Seriously I explain that locking the doors and crossing your fingers isn't the best defence, but maybe I'm missing something?

Anyway like spencurai said keep one at home for her. I'd also have one when your out together. A little is better than nothing :-\

 

[lewis]

I ran across this same issue. Bought her a piece and went to take the class with her and she backed out. I took the class and carried everyday until I had to pull it out and use it. Its a good thing I had it and don't know what would have happened if it didn't but it became to real for me after that and haven't hardly carried since for fear of someone innocent getting hurt in the moment of when bad is going down and it being my fault. Overall I think she just isn't confindent around them enough to be able to use it in a high tense situation. I have been around them my whole life and still not sure how I would handle myself in such a moment eventhough I have been in a somewhat bad situation and have also hunted for years.

 

[Cherokeester]

I ran across this same issue. Bought her a piece and went to take the class with her and she backed out. I took the class and carried everyday until I had to pull it out and use it. Its a good thing I had it and don't know what would have happened if it didn't but it became to real for me after that and haven't hardly carried since for fear of someone innocent getting hurt in the moment of when bad is going down and it being my fault. Overall I think she just isn't confindent around them enough to be able to use it in a high tense situation. I have been around them my whole life and still not sure how I would handle myself in such a moment eventhough I have been in a somewhat bad situation and have also hunted for years.

I like the honesty in your post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

I like the honesty in your post. Thanks for sharing.

x2. I had someone break into my house last month when I was home. I thought they were still in my house so I grabbed my shotgun and yelled down the stairs. Then I had to go down and make sure no one was there anymore. I was really really scared, not for myself, but for the fact that it was the real deal, that there was a possiblity that I might have to use a gun, and I might be faced with a decision that would affect me for the rest of my life.
Since then, I dont know how many times I've heard "Man, I wish that happened to me, I would have blown that guy away." I don't think most people realize how big of a decision it is to use a gun on someone else. Its something you can never take back.
But I'd still rather have the option and not take it, than not have the option at all. It allows freedom of choice. The only reason NOT to carry IMO would be if you don't think you will be able to make the right decision under stress, or be able to handle living with your decision after the fact. But that's hard to predict, no matter how well you think you know yourself.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

I guess I shouldn't even attempt to understand her logic.

I gave up on trying to understand women a long time ago.

 

[Tacoma]

I had a guy walk into my apartment in Salt Lake. That taught me all I needed to know about my position on shooting someone. Would it suck? YES IT WOULD. Would I do it? YES I WOULD. It's not something I take lightly at all, but my life is far more important to me than the person who wants to take it to get my stuff. There have been two other times I thought I might have to shoot someone and it was a lot different then, no jitters, just nice clear front sight.

The decision has to be made before you draw, that the person on the other end presents enough threat to merit KILLING THEM.

*shrug*

 

[Herzog]

I believe we had our house attempted one night. Scary stuff... There had been a few other houses in our area that got hit but our house sits more open and viewable with not much hidden getaway space.

Anyways, it was probably around 2 AM when the dog started going nuts. I didn't realize how fast I could jump out of bed completely aware with my gun in hand. Our dog kept going nuts every so few seconds and I could hear some very slight noise, but I was unable to tell if it was inside or out. With the adrenaline pumping, it was like time slowed down perfectly and I could see everything that was going on as I walked the whole house at point ready to identify and shoot. I'll agree, one of the scariest moments because you just don't know what choice you will have to make but I was definitely ready to make it.

While I was walking through (note this all happened quite fast) I turned on lights ahead of me to let them know somebody was in the house and that I was coming fast. Luckily I didn't find anybody in the house but I'm very positive that our house was tested. I think that they checked our lower window wells, made some noise on purpose to see if they could stir up an alarm or a dog and they did.

I do feel more confident in how I will react after that night. If anything, it was a good live training for me. I also grew up around guns, mostly shotguns. But it's a different world when you are in defend mode as opposed to hunting or any other offensive.

 

[BroncoMama]

As a woman, I can say it would wise not to try and understand women's logic. If she wants you to understand it, she will explain it to you, until then, you'd be better off shooting yourself in the foot!

 

[LT.]

Having a permit to carry is a worth while and worthy cause. However, it is not correct to shoot to kill. You are of course shooting with the intent to stop an action. Sometimes while stopping an action the aftermath is death but, it should not be the goal to kill.

LT.

 

[Tacoma]

That's a good point, LT. Unfortunately for the bad guy, killing them is oftentimes the easiest way to stop them, or an unavoidable side effect of stopping them.

 

[spaggyroe]

Having a permit to carry is a worth while and worthy cause. However, it is not correct to shoot to kill. You are of course shooting with the intent to stop an action. Sometimes while stopping an action the aftermath is death but, it should not be the goal to kill.

LT.

I don't fully agree with this statement LT (or maybe I just misunderstood). It seems as though you advocate wounding / mamiming someone to stop a threat. For the situation to be serious enough for me to draw and fire my weapon, it must also be serious enough to warrant ending that person's life. If the situation doesn't warrant killing someone, then one has no right to shoot them.

I pray that the day never comes that I have to use a weapon against a human, but if it does, you can be certain that I will indeed shoot to kill.

 

[Tacoma]

I think what he's saying is regarding mindset: the CCW permit holder is not out to kill people, they are out to stop threats to their life. That's why I said what I said just after that.

My personal view on stopping them is that dead people aren't threats anymore, and I intend to put bullets where they effect that reality.

 

[Rot Box]

My instructor taught us to "shoot to stop". As horrible as it might sound in some cases someone will loose their life to be stopped…

 

[jsudar]

The only thing I ever want to shoot is paper targets and western family diet grapefruit soda cans--'cause hydrostatic shock is cool. I didn't get my permit so I could be a hero at Trolley Square or something, but rather to make sure that my family and I make it home alive every time. I would never want to shoot anyone, but I would rather kill someone than be dead or spend the rest of my life knowing I didn't do all I could do to protect my family.

I guess I had already made my decision in regard to those matters, so I didn't really think that maybe she hadn't.

I just thought it would be a good thing for her, since she does real estate and goes into a lot of creepy houses and I have to work nights every now and then.

 

[EROK81?]

I've had my permit for a year or so now. Carried once just to show my dad the holster I got. I can't conceal worth a **** either.

On a side note, the CCW class in Utah is a major joke. They need a serious overhaul so people can actual fail the class.

 

[Magerdgr]

Gotta agree with alot of whats been said here. Nobody who carries with defense in mind looks forward to the day that they may need to use there weapon. That being said, It is a reality that every one of us who does picks up along with our gun every time we strap it on. If you carry, you better be prepared and willing to use your weapon when you draw it, if your not, don't carry. If you carry a weapon half heartedly or unsure of yourself you are much more of a threat to the general public and your family IMO.

On a side note, I know many people who have their CCW yet don't carry. I think that this isn't a bad thing, it shows that they are responsible enough to take the course, but mature enough to say "I'm not ready/willing to take on that responsibility".

Here is a REALLY good short article on to carry or not to carry. One of my Favs!

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/ccw/havegun.htm

Just my $.02

 

[NoTrax]

4 of the 8 siblings plus one parent has a CCW in my family, none of them actively carry on their person. I guess its just a pain in the a** for them. I know they do more often than not have it available when at home, or even away from home.

 

[cuban b]

On a related note.

Don't even buy diet grapefruit soda unless you plan to kill it.

If you take it lightly, you will be sorry.