Use of "Scare Tactics" to Introduce Firearms

[Annie]

Originally Posted by pax

Anything beyond that is counterproductive, prone to backfire, and probably bordering on evil.

AbsoFriggenLoutely!
Pax, I lurve you just as much here as at W&G!!

[Jay]

my two cents worth....

Fright..... as a teaching tactic is not a good idea. There are loads of examples of "reasons to carry/train", without having to scare someone. Most folks are smart enough to know when they may need instruction, dependent on their individual situation. I do very little advertising for my classes, as word of mouth does very well.

[EdC]

My suggestion is to introduce her to shooting first, if possible. I had been downright anti-gun for many years, but started to become alarmed at all the gun crimes being committed, and made the decision to learn and carry. Once I became familiar with firearms, they lost the "mystique of danger" that they formerly held for me. So my thought is that, if she will shoot a little bit "just for fun" that might lower the hurdle a little bit for carrying for self protection.

That's just generalizing from my own experience, but I suspect others may feel the same. Ignorance about firearms led to a subtle fear of them for me. Now the 4 Rules and practicing them tamed my fear of the firearm. I'm confident that the gun won't go off unless (1) I want it to or (2) I'm negligent.

[Annie]

Originally Posted by Jay

I do very little advertising for my classes, as word of mouth does very well.

And some of his ^ students are VERY mouthy!!

[Jay]

..hook wires to her jaw, and she could power her home........

[Bigum1969]

My wife is only lukewarm regarding firearms. I do have more success sharing the stories about folks who were able to defend themselves thanks to a firearm rather than just sharing stories about random violent attacks.

With her, it is a fine line between being prepared and paranoid. But, a couple of times when things were a little iffy she's asked, "are you carrying?".

[Annie]

Originally Posted by Jay

..hook wires to her jaw, and she could power her home........

...and yours. And hers...and his...and theirs...

[kludge]

Last Saturday my wife shot a gun for the first time in her life. Ruger Single Six .22LR. We have been married >12 years.

We had a Saturday with no specific plans, and she said, "Deer season is coming, why don't you go to the range?" I said, "Why don't you come too?" (About every six months I renew the invitation.) I suggested that after we shoot we go to the apple orchard, something she loves.

After about 4 years of marriage she became pro-gun. When we dated she was deathly afraid of guns. About 3 years ago she bought her first gun, a Kel-Tec P11. At this rate she might shoot it in a year or two... or she may decide she wants something else and trade it. I don't care, but I'm not going to push her.

About the limit of "scare tactic" is when I occasionally read to her the accounts in "The Armed Citizen" from the NRA rags.

Deep discussions on the subject will amost instantly turn her off... thinking about the unthinkable has a bad effect on her. She was quite disturbed when I brought home my silhouette target from the VanVlyman training day; planning a fake "incident" may very well cause a divorce.

My reply when someone asks, "Really what are the odds that someone will attack you," or "invade your house?"

"It happens to someone every day."

[gunbunny]

Communication requires the listener to be capable of listening well. Scare tactics are highly likely to result in someone who (on a biological/chemical level) is not capable of listening to you well due to stress, and on an emotional level, now much less willing to listen to you. I'd consider it similar to practicing for a shooting sport, where you learn to hit the targets first and then learn to hit them faster... first get the significant other to learn to tolerate/respect the concept of firearms and then work on further indoctrination.

[Pami]

Originally Posted by gunbunny

Communication requires the listener to be capable of listening well. Scare tactics are highly likely to result in someone who (on a biological/chemical level) is not capable of listening to you well due to stress, and on an emotional level, now much less willing to listen to you. I'd consider it similar to practicing for a shooting sport, where you learn to hit the targets first and then learn to hit them faster... first get the significant other to learn to tolerate/respect the concept of firearms and then work on further indoctrination.

The bolded section is key, I think. And welcome to the site, gunbunny.