slider Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 I am new to the forum, and wanting to get back into shooting again with an air rifle and see where we go. Problem is 2 kids and a wife who is reluctant to allow guns in the house. She isn't against shooting/hunting just having guns around. Being ex military and extremely safety concious my attempts to re-assure her that said 'guns' will be locked away from children, doesn't seem to help placate her. Any one else had problems like this and how did you go about changing their opinion. Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bipolar Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 I am new to the forum, and wanting to get back into shooting again with an air rifle and see where we go. Problem is 2 kids and a wife who is reluctant to allow guns in the house. She isn't against shooting/hunting just having guns around.Being ex military and extremely safety concious my attempts to re-assure her that said 'guns' will be locked away from children, doesn't seem to help placate her. Any one else had problems like this and how did you go about changing their opinion. Thanks in advance tough one that have you got a mate who is willing to house a gun? and welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted June 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 I am new to the forum, and wanting to get back into shooting again with an air rifle and see where we go. Problem is 2 kids and a wife who is reluctant to allow guns in the house. She isn't against shooting/hunting just having guns around.Being ex military and extremely safety concious my attempts to re-assure her that said 'guns' will be locked away from children, doesn't seem to help placate her. Any one else had problems like this and how did you go about changing their opinion. Thanks in advance tough one that have you got a mate who is willing to house a gun? and welcome to the forum Only mate who could look after it is 100 miles away, bit too far just to pop out for a couple of hours. really would like to introduce the little fella to the joys of shooting. Think the discipline involved would do him good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipster Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Slider, I understand where your Wife is coming from, but i also understand the pleasures of shooting for sport. Initially i was also aganst guns in the house having two boys of 12 - 13. I conceded when my husband (Slipster)suggested taking them target shooting first and they joined the local club, this taught them not only the pleasures but mainly the disciplines of keeping them. Now they all go shooting together an thoroughly enjoy it, the guns are locked away at all times, they are more than aware of the dangers and have total respect for them. Yours Mrs Slipter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Maybe if you bought a shotbun cabinet for the airgun? That way it would show that the burgular proof cabinet is ample protection from the kids. Might be overkill but you've gotta do what you've gotta do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer rabbit (r1000) Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 my missus didn't like the idea of guns at all, let alone having them in the house (this is because of wars & people shooting at each other in the streets. i pointed out the fact that guns don't kill people, people kill people). i eventually convinced her that, if operated by a responsible person & treated with respect, guns are as safe as you keep them, she now (on occasion) comes with me to our shooting club she also believes (as i do) that shooting animals should not be just for fun, it should be either for food, or for a cull (she still has some difficulty understanding that part! she also forgets that if it's a quick clean kill, then it's as humane as you can get! - she has a little problem with live targets ) it's hard work, but keep at it...........................they will fold (eventually...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 I thought it was just me..........first time a gun came in the door it was the gun or her...................Honest..it was almost divorce...... After about a year, she turned round and said that I could get one after we were talking about something..... I now own 2... Like yourself, Im an ex squaddie, and there is a subtle difference between a .177 and .22 air rifle when compared to a SLR, Gimpie or SA80....... Ones a gun, the others an air rifle....THe comments about,,,,do you know what a gun can do to a person didnt really help the argument..........No dear...........I am an ex soldier, I have no idea.... My daughter is now 6. Ive been shooting for about 2 years. Condition was that she didnt know that I had one, it was kept out of the way, locked in case etc.....However as she was getting a bit older and daddy was going out "fishing" I thought that it was best to educate her about what I was doing. I took the gun out and talked to her, she knows that she is NEVER to go anywhere near it, touch it, look at it etc etc when I am not there. She will happily sit there and ask me what the pigeon has been eating when we open the crop and are breasting... Its always difficult, but its not like you are an idiot, you know the dos and donts. Ive just told the missus that I am going to get a gun safe............only because I want a shotty next...but she doenst know that yet.....And then my guns are going in there. out of the way and will be totaly safe... Might take you some work, but they get over it after a while......Get her a handbag......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertie Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Very tough one mate. Tread carefully or it will cause more troubles than gun is worth, i'd definatly get a cabinet and show her kids can't get at it. Good luck with her though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P03 Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Welcome to the forum Slider, Tricky situation, one way to try and bring her on side is to ask her exactly what her objections are.....then point by point go through her list of objections and counter them with practical solutions (a bit like doing risk assessments really). You'll probably find that if you can get her to sit down and think about her objections there really won't be that many. Best of luck P03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer rabbit (r1000) Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Welcome to the forum Slider,Tricky situation, one way to try and bring her on side is to ask her exactly what her objections are.....then point by point go through her list of objections and counter them with practical solutions (a bit like doing risk assessments really). You'll probably find that if you can get her to sit down and think about her objections there really won't be that many. Best of luck P03 :yp: pretty much what i did, but it still took some convincing (she's coming round.....slowly) a mate of mine is in a similar situation, but his is because of house space (he's been limited to 6 weapons ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caplock Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Blimey o reily, if this is something YOU as an adult are interested in ie shooting, wheather its pop guns or full bore, then why not? You are part of a partnership, ie working and supporting each other as well as the family. There shouldn't be any rules or stipulations that prevent outright your entitlement to your choice of hobby/sport/relaxation. Everyone knows the rules concerning firearms and airguns in this house from a safety point of view, it's my hobby/interest. It just so happens that I like rifle/shotgun and airgun shooting, MY interest alone in this house, I don't go around banning activities for the kids or mrs because I don't agree with it! I'm not interested in the slightest in lots of their activities but don't lay the law down because of it Together you stand divided you fall, get a grip and get shooting! Cheers Cap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Some good tips already, best one (already mentioned) to list the problems. When someone "just doesn't like" something its very hard to argue agaisnt becuase the objector might well be less knowledgable and therefore feel threatened and just go "NO" - I see this a lot and its relatively simple to overcome. I usualy find that compromise always wins, and that objections are normally about something else when it comes the gf or the wife. For instance mine didn't want guns in the house "NO WAY". After some feet stamping I got to the bottom of it, she wanted something doing in the flat before I started spending cash on guns. Obiously this was particular to my situation, but you could try a a random bit of diy she's been on about and then hit her with it, might work and its harder for her to say no My dad bought me an air rifle when I was about 10, to show me about gun safety, correct handling and primarily so I had one and wouldn't be tempted to go and try and get hold of one on the QT. Learning the correct ways to behave, handle and respect any form of gun or weapon are important skills, something you could use to persuade the wife. The thing I have found is don't dig your heels in, let it go a week or so and bring it up again naturally. If all else fails get one and play the "bargain, bloke was getting rid once in a lifetime I saved a fortune" card, just make sure she don't find the bill GL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 How can someone not like guns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 How can someone not like guns! belive me theres a lot about,try and tell them that guns are safe in the right hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterash Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Maybe if you bought a shotbun cabinet for the airgun? That way it would show that the burgular proof cabinet is ample protection from the kids. Might be overkill but you've gotta do what you've gotta do! Dont forget to say she can keep all her jewellery and money in there as well Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Dont forget to say she can keep all her jewellery and money in there as well :yp: Good luck Lol, fair point. I had a safe anyway for the family silver / mrs pin's collection of sparkly things etc. As soon as she saw a propper safe it all moved into the locking top bit of mine. Cow, I wanted to put me shells in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theskyfox Posted June 25, 2006 Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 Luckily I don't have an other half (yet lol) that moans about my shooting, both my parents just label me as a "gun nut" (as do some of my friends) but I dont mind, its in a good way lol and they don't mind. However, when out meeting girls etc I seldom ever mention anything to do with the air-guns etc because you can guarantee they won't like it (with the exception to one girl I ever met). lol, basically I just keep it low key . And oh, I am planning on getting a gun cabinet for my air guns because they are quite valuable and I hate the idea of anything happening to them! -Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 i met a girl who did not like guns at all,good buy to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted June 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Thanks folks for all the comments, Good to hear from someone like Mrs Slipster, just got to try and get her to read the messages. Always planned to get a gun safe if I did get her round to my thinking, both kids under the age of four. Lancs Lad good to hear from someone in my home town and having experienced my current predicament. To everyone else thanks for the advice, will hopefully keep you posted. Cheers Slider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted June 27, 2006 Report Share Posted June 27, 2006 i would let the wife leave and live with my guns happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted June 27, 2006 Report Share Posted June 27, 2006 Get a decent shed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer rabbit (r1000) Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 tell her she can't have any sharp kitchen utensils in the house, & get rid of that rolling pin!!! :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richie Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 Problem is 2 kids and a wife who is reluctant to allow guns in the house. Any one else had problems like this and how did you go about changing their opinion. Thanks in advance hi slider... as other members are advising you to get a secure gun cabinet and maybe position it in the loft or far out of sight as possible. failing that tell the wife its either the guns or her.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plexer Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 Dont forget to say she can keep all her jewellery and money in there as well Well yes she could but then you'd be the only one able to get access to it unless she gets her shotgun cert as well. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer rabbit (r1000) Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Dont forget to say she can keep all her jewellery and money in there as well Well yes she could but then you'd be the only one able to get access to it unless she gets her shotgun cert as well. Ben that makes it a great place to put the credit cards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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