My wife and I have a don't ask don't tell policy now, and separate checking accounts for vices and personal hobbies. She gets her lattes and massages, I get my guns and ammo.
However, right after we got married she asked about "the number." Of course this means something different to gun owners than the general population. She had always known I had more than a few, and is/was fine with it, although has never shown much interest in shooting, but she was just curious about the number. I told her. (It's not even that big a number)
When she picked her jaw up off the floor though she kind of chuckled and said something to the effect of "why do you need that many?"
This is the crux of the issue. Like you said, having 30 guns in the home, in a safe, is no more dangerous than having 3. But a lot of people just don't understand our passion for the various makes and models, and how each one has its own history and unique design and they are like tools...there is always one right tool for the job. So the question is why do you need so many? Are you some kind of gun NUT?!? They just don't understand, and maybe never will. It would help if your wife collected something--anything--that you could make the comparison.
If you try to explain why they interest you it may help, or maybe not. My wife still kind of rolls her eyes when she sees me on THR constantly, or looking at the latest Cabelas flyer, but she knows they aren't going anywhere and I don't spend our shared pool of money on my hobby. I'm sure she'd rather I spend less on guns and shooting and more on her, but what woman wouldn't? Just don't brag to her about how awesome your new $1400 AR is, and then get her a cheap knockoff piece of jewelry for Valentines day!
However, right after we got married she asked about "the number." Of course this means something different to gun owners than the general population. She had always known I had more than a few, and is/was fine with it, although has never shown much interest in shooting, but she was just curious about the number. I told her. (It's not even that big a number)
When she picked her jaw up off the floor though she kind of chuckled and said something to the effect of "why do you need that many?"
This is the crux of the issue. Like you said, having 30 guns in the home, in a safe, is no more dangerous than having 3. But a lot of people just don't understand our passion for the various makes and models, and how each one has its own history and unique design and they are like tools...there is always one right tool for the job. So the question is why do you need so many? Are you some kind of gun NUT?!? They just don't understand, and maybe never will. It would help if your wife collected something--anything--that you could make the comparison.
If you try to explain why they interest you it may help, or maybe not. My wife still kind of rolls her eyes when she sees me on THR constantly, or looking at the latest Cabelas flyer, but she knows they aren't going anywhere and I don't spend our shared pool of money on my hobby. I'm sure she'd rather I spend less on guns and shooting and more on her, but what woman wouldn't? Just don't brag to her about how awesome your new $1400 AR is, and then get her a cheap knockoff piece of jewelry for Valentines day!