Wife says "OK", let the building commence

[puma guy]

Good choice. Hopefully you can familiarize her little by little and her fear can be overcome. My wife was never around firearms and her unfamiliarity was the cause of some worry. She now has her CHL and I have purchased her two pistols. A Buck Mark that she started with and a 9mm S&W Shield that's her carry weapon. It can't be stressed enough that kids can be quite resourceful, so keep that in mind when you store your weapons.

[MeMelYup]

You indicated you have several children, the oldest 11. Find a firearms instructor to teach all of them, including your wife, basic firearms safety. Then start taking them all to the range, or you can start them off with airsoft. Make Shute if you use airsoft they treat it the same as a regular firearm. Habits learned with toys or models will roll over when using the real thing. Her comfort level should greatly increase. You could do the teaching yourself, but a firearms instructor teaching may be easier for her to accept.

[budroux2w]

You indicated you have several children, the oldest 11. Find a firearms instructor to teach all of them, including your wife, basic firearms safety. Then start taking them all to the range, or you can start them off with airsoft. Make Shute if you use airsoft they treat it the same as a regular firearm. Habits learned with toys or models will roll over when using the real thing. Her comfort level should greatly increase. You could do the teaching yourself, but a firearms instructor teaching may be easier for her to accept.

[MeMelYup]

You indicated you have several children, the oldest 11. Find a firearms instructor to teach all of them, including your wife, basic firearms safety. Then start taking them all to the range, or you can start them off with airsoft. Make Shute if you use airsoft they treat it the same as a regular firearm. Habits learned with toys or models will roll over when using the real thing. Her comfort level should greatly increase. You could do the teaching yourself, but a firearms instructor teaching may be easier for her to accept.

I have heard that wives are more acceptable when an actual instructor teaches them

An instructor would be correcting an inconsistency where you (husband) would be criticizing.

[C-dub]

Wow! Good news for sure, but what happened between June 12 and June 13? Her transformation is nearly complete if she's asking about getting a CHL.

[jbarn]

You can get a gun cabinet for a hundred bucks. I implore you to not get a gun in the house until you have a way to secure it. Hiding it behind anything is not a good plan.

[Divided Attention]

You are in Cypress, there are several wonderful ladies programs in the area. One that meets in Spring, and one in the Magnolia/Montgomery area that I know of off the top of my head. The Magnolia/Montgomery group has a GREAT youth program as well! I wish you all the best!

[Jumping Frog]

She asked about getting a CHL the other day mainly due to the layout of the retail store she works at. She wanted to know if she could carry while working. I told her that since her store isn't posted that she possibly could as a "customer" but she would need to check store policy for employees carrying.

She should NOT check the store policy.

If she has not been given written notice using 30.06 language (such as an employee handbook), or been given verbal notice by a person with authority to do so, then it is legal for her to carry in the store.

However, if the store is large enough that she needs to ask someone, the answer is very likely to be "no". If it is a large retail operation with an organized Human Resources department, the question of firearms will create consternation, concern, and a strong desire to "do something". Then she has been given notice and it would be a Class A Misdemeanor to carry. She will have also inadvertently made herself on focal point of concern.

Of course, if she is working in a small Mom & Pop outfit where the owner likes to go shooting with the employees, that is a different scenario all together. My concerns apply to large businesses and are based on 35+ years experience interacting with HR/Legal/Risk type people.

[Keith B]

She asked about getting a CHL the other day mainly due to the layout of the retail store she works at. She wanted to know if she could carry while working. I told her that since her store isn't posted that she possibly could as a "customer" but she would need to check store policy for employees carrying.

She should NOT check the store policy.

If she has not been given written notice using 30.06 language (such as an employee handbook), or been given verbal notice by a person with authority to do so, then it is legal for her to carry in the store.

However, if the store is large enough that she needs to ask someone, the answer is very likely to be "no". If it is a large retail operation with an organized Human Resources department, the question of firearms will create consternation, concern, and a strong desire to "do something". Then she has been given notice and it would be a Class A Misdemeanor to carry. She will have also inadvertently made herself on focal point of concern.

Of course, if she is working in a small Mom & Pop outfit where the owner likes to go shooting with the employees, that is a different scenario all together. My concerns apply to large businesses and are based on 35+ years experience interacting with HR/Legal/Risk type people.

She needs to refer to any employee manual or new employee orientation she was given concerning weapons. As JF states, if there is no verbal notification or written notification in the form of 30.06, then she can LEGALLY carry. However, if the store has an employee policy about not carrying she could be subject to dismissal, whether they notify her or not.