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Congrats to both of you. I am making slow progress as well. She has agreed that she needs to go the range with me. But, of course, it is never at the top of her list of things she wants to do for that weekend.

baldeagle wrote:Went to Sams today. My first time out with a concealed weapon. When I got home, my wife's first words were, "Did you shoot anybody?"

Got lots of work to do with her.....

Shortly after getting my CHL, I went to Kelly's to pick up baked potatoes for dinner for the family. My 14 year daughter was with me. I got a spot right by the door and so peered over the steering wheel to check for a 30.06 sign. My daughter asked me what I was doing and I replied that I was making sure the restaurant was not posted preventing me from carrying inside. Her reply, was "What does it matter? Its concealed right? Besides, if they don't like you've got something to take car of that, don't you?"

Now, of course, she was kidding - but I was rolling for a minute. When we got home I told my wife her comments - she didn't seem to find it as amusing.

Don't let these guys give you a hard time. I know exactly the tact you are trying to take and I think it is just a valid as the hard line ones they propose. I am also 'working' on my wife using these same conversation starters. In fact, I think my response to the same reply was "Well, why wouldn't I?" That got us talking about the fact that it is legal now, so what is the harm in carrying. It began the transition from it being something 'sneaky' and 'bad' to being legal and prepared.

I also finally got my CHL with the justification that it would make it easier to travel with a weapon - specifically for a vacation we had coming up. The irony is the plastic arrived in the mail the Saturday we left for the trip - a few hours after we had to leave. But since then, the transition has begun. I still have a 'very' long way to go with both me and, especially, my wife. Keep plugging away at it though.

One of the most rewarding moments was a comment she made one time. She had teased me a little when she saw me gear up when we were leaving for Home Depot and Walmart. After the trip, on the way home, I asked her if she remembered that I was armed while we were in both of the stores - if she had thought about it again at all in the stores. She replied something like: "No. I still don't really like guns - in fact they still scare me a lot. But I like the fact that you are thinking about them and are taking care of things." We are making progress.