Top Excuses to Give the Wife Unit For Buying A Gun

[Partisan Ranger]

I'm pretty new to this board - came over here from the wonderful Lucianne.com at the recommendation of Standing Wolf.

I have a CCW in the great state of Virginia but I haven't purchased a handgun yet. I have come mighty close at a couple of gunshows and was at Old Dominion Sports in Winchester on Saturday, drooling over a Kimber.

We just bought our first house and there is always 100 things we need for the house that pretty much outrank a gun, at least in my wife's mind.

So the question is: What excuses/justifications have you used to purchase a firearm? And how well did they work? Did your wife go out and buy a couch in response? Thanks.

Partisan Ranger

 

[Soap]

I normally say, "Honey I'm going to buy ____." She says, "Okay!" Honesty is the best policy in my household. And if she says, "Honey, I'm going to buy ____." And I normally say, "Okay!"

Early on we realized that we are both very rational consumers; I don't give her unreasonable requests, nor does she give me unreasonable requests. Once you figure out what is reasonable/unreasonable...and agree on it, making any sort of purchase is no problem.

Welcome to the board BTW!

 

[Sheslinger]

In our household, it goes something like this...

"Honey, I really like this rifle. Can I have it?"

"But, sweetie, I thought the next one was mine..."

Welcome!!!

Sheslinger

 

[cslinger]

Oh I'm sure the excuses will come to you naturally at some point.

Right now I would just say buying a house gun is right up there with buying a house fire extinquisher or two. Doesn't have to be a high dollar model but something that serves both as a house gun and carry gun would be appropriate to start out and would be downright economical because you are trying to kill two birds with one stone. How about we fit you for a nice SIG 228 or 229. Not too big, not too small and will work for both situations.

The first gun should be easy......the twenty-first is where you really need to work on your justifications and excuses, because it is just to protect you or it's in case the other one breaks just doesn't cut the mustard anymore and Sheslinger is much too smart to buy the possibility of mutant ninja grizzly bears from the nuclear power plant scenario.

Chris

EDIT: Wow, Jules you beat me to the punch. You must have been typing at the same time I was.

 

[Sven]

Partisan Ranger:

I first saw Standing Wolf on Lucianne back when he was calling for us to nuke the terrorist savages.... when I saw a Standing Wolf on another forum (this forum), I knew it had to be the same guy.

It was.

I just had a long thread about some friction with my girlfriend over buying a rifle. In the end, we settled on a 'gun tax' of 10%... every $1000 I spent, she gets $100 in shopping money. It's a fair deal, from where I sit.

Then again, we aren't married.

 

[Mute]

You should try to be reasonable but remember one very important thing. It's easier to ask for forgviness than permission.

 

[Partisan Ranger]

"Right now I would just say buying a house gun is right up there with buying a house fire extinquisher or two. "

Oh, my wife has that angle covered. That's when she trots out the, 'Well, we should just buy a home security system then.'

Believe me, I'm the last guy who is going to pick up the phone when I hear the tinkle of glass at 2 am. Oh, Mr. Security guy, please come save us, boo-hoo. Right....in that TV commercial, I keep waiiting for the husband to pull out a .45 out of the nightstand and blast the intruder to hell...

BTW, the Sig 228/229, are they similar to a Glock? I've thought about a Glock for carry, but the idea of having a gun locked and loaded in my waistband with no external safety makes me a bit nervous. A seller at a gunshow told me about a now-ex-cop who blew his *** off literally with a Glock.

Thanks for the ideas! Honesty, maybe I have to try that....

 

[Kharn]

Dont forget the words "Sale", "50% off" (MSRP prices are way, way high, especially if you are buying used), "Never going to see this price ever again" and "Here's some shiney metal and fancy rocks, please dont shoot me with my own (recently purchased) gun."

Kharn

 

[dairycreek]

Make a list!

Early on in our marriage we sat down and made lists of things we each wanted (or had) to have. We agreed that we would work down each list one item at a time with the lists alternating. Thus once we had purchased number one on her list we would cross it off and then move to number one on my list, etc. There were some things we could agree on immediately such as the need for a kitchen stove before a rifle. It worked well as it assured that each of us got our "turn" and got the "stuff" we wanted. We've been married 42 years now and, at the beginning, it really did the trick. As we got older and as money became less of a problem we just decided to get what we wanted when we wanted it. But in the beginning the lists did the trick. FWIW. Good shooting

 

[pax]

I have never had to explain a gun purchase to my wife. That's because I have a husband, not a wife.

Oh, my wife has that angle covered. That's when she trots out the, 'Well, we should just buy a home security system then.'

Okay, from that point, don't argue.

Simply ask questions: "If we get a home security system, what would we do when the alarm goes off?" (Call the security company, call the police, etc)

"What would we do while we are waiting for the (security company/police) to get here?"

Don't answer the question for her. Let her think about it, answer it however feebly, and mull it over. Let her stew on it for a couple of days.

When the subject comes up again, ask again. If you know the standard 911 response time in your community, tell it to her while asking the question: "911 response takes about 8 minutes. What will we do during those 8 minutes?" Then shut up and let her talk and think for another couple days. Do not argue and do not get sucked into justifying your answer. Make her justify her answer -- to herself, not to you.

When the subject comes up again, ask again. If you know of any Dial-911-and-die type horror stories, mention them when you ask the question. "Did you see that news article about the woman who was on the phone with 911 when the guy stabbed her to death? What should she have done while she waited for the police to get there?" Then shut up. Don't argue with her. Don't get drawn into a long conversation. Just let her think about it.

When the subject comes up again, ask again. If she's starting to get the idea, tell her that you would like to buy a gun because you would like to have some way to protect yourself until the police get there. If not, shut up and let her talk for awhile, then go back to step one.

Keep hammering that one question. Keep it a question and keep forcing the choices back on her.

pax

Free advice is generally worth what you pay for it.

 

[spacemanspiff]

partisan, you could also watch the movie "panic room" with your wife (if you havent seen it already that is) and then ask her if protection of the home is a valid concern.
if the answer is in the affirmative, then you do some research and realize home defense requires a good shotgun. but since a shotgun isnt concealable and your CCW likely doesnt allow for a longgun, then you do some more research with your wife and discover you need a handgun of an adequate caliber for self defense, and also find something your wife can comfortably carry for her protection.

btw, the kimber tle ii, verrrry nice. and elliot smallarms in FL has a good price. I just paid $699 (after shipping and ffl transfer was still under $750) from them, (504)833-3140, ask for David. they likely have decent prices on other Kimber models as well.

 

[cslinger]

Hey a security system is a great tool to let you know if somebody has broken in, the problem is what if they decide not to leave, then what do you do.

I have smoke detectors in my house, does that mean I shouldn't have fire extinguishers?

Take the following for what it is worth because I am one of the boards resident SIG-O-HOLICS.

For defensive purposes I like guns that are point and click. No external safeties, no smart guns, no locks etc. I also like having the ability to second strike the bullet if for some reason it doesn't go bang the first time.

Glocks are great guns but I don't like how light the trigger is. Not a bash just a personal preference. I think they require a little more training and a little more care in their use.

SIGs have quite a few things that I like.
They are extremely accurate.
They are the most reliable semi-autos I have ever used.
They have a decocker so I can carry in double action.
The first trigger pull is heavy enough to alleviate my fears of too light a trigger.
Although heavy they have smooth triggers by in large.
They hold their value reasonbly well.
They fit me well. I like the control layout.
Easiest Semi-Auto to field strip and clean IMO.
Safest semi-auto to field strip and clean as the slide must be locked back to break down.

Now the downsides are.
Price
Long trigger reset so they cannot be shot quite as fast as say a Glock or Walther P99
Tend to have a higher bore axis so getting back on target fast is tough for some people.

Basically if I were looking for a good all around home defense/carry gun I would go either SIG 228 in 9mm, SIG 229 in .40 or .357 SIG or a nice Double Action .357 revolver with say a 4 inch barrel, Ruger, Smith etc.

Both guns are reliable to a fault, easy to use as they are simply of the pull the trigger gun go bang variety, safe as both have heavy first shot or all shots trigger pulls, accurate, easy to clean and maintain.

Remember I am a SIG guy so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. Any of the following companies also produce superior products and runt he price spectrum from very inexpensive to second mortgage.

HK Bring your checkbook and two forms of ID
Smith and Wesson (Don't like the semi's because of magazine disconnect "FEATURE"
Ruger very good gun for the money.
CZ probably a better gun for the money.
Walther, get the ones with the German proof marks.
Glock
Kimber I am not a 1911 for carry kind of guy but some good stuff here.
Sprinfield The XD is a fine little pistol and out Glocks Glock in IMO.
and so on.

Just do a little research and make sure you are buying from a reputable company and you are comfortable with the manual of arms and you will be fine.

Just because the finest combat handguns in the world are made by SIG, don't feel bad for buying one of the inferior guns I have listed above.

Chris

 

[jade]

get a gun and a dog. you could get something good but cheap like a CZ. i still think dogs are the best warning. if you lose power, your alarm system won't work, but your dog will. so will your gun.

jade

 

[4 eyed six shooter]

Teach your wife to shoot and buy her a gun. I now buy my guns, and she buys hers. We both shoot each others guns so it works out great. We have more guns than if I was the only one buying them. It works and is fun to have the wife go shooting with you. There is also the peace of mind knowing that the wife has a CCW and can defend herself if necessary.
Best to all, John K

 

[Bowlcut]

If its going to be a house type gun, by all means if you can get her involved. After you do a little scouting at the stores, take her with you. Let her fondle the guns as much as you already have. If its truely going to be for the both of you, let her also make a decison.

As with everyone above its about keeping your butt out of trouble till the calvary show up. That should be your main point in the discussion with her. That it isnt a ends all type thing, its a stop gap till friendly's show up to help you.

But you really should let her be part of the decision. Get a few in mind then let her hold them as well. Something like a double stacked .45 mag'd pistola might not fit her hands. I would recomend soemthing like a Walther p99. Its plenty small enough with the interchangable backstraps that a woman can easialy wield it. Plust the no external safety is good for defence and you dont have to walk around with the hammer cocked. Make sure it has the eagle over N mark on every part of it tho. Sigs are fine arms as well, just they might be a tad large if your wife is a small framed lady

 

[AndABeer]

shoes

 

[LiquidTension]

"Honey, an alarm system is a good idea, but it's not a magical force field. It doesn't KEEP ANYONE OUT, it just lets us know that someone is here, probably with the intention of doing us harm."

"Which is faster honey, police response time or front sight...squeeze."

Also remind her that the police do not usually show up before a crime - they just show up to document the occasion.

I know it's a little different with a wife, but a past girlfriend made me use the "I don't feel the need to justify the use of MY money to YOU" speech when she wouldn't listen to reason

Like Dalton says in Roadhouse: "Be nice. Until it's time to not be nice." Or something to that effect, anyway.

 

[.45Ruger]

Try telling your wife that this is really something you think you need to protect her and that new house. If you can try to pick up some overtime or do od jobs for money so that the expense of the gun doesn't come out of the budget.

 

[Selfdfenz]

"I just had a long thread about some friction with my girlfriend over buying a rifle. In the end, we settled on a 'gun tax' of 10%... every $1000 I spent, she gets $100 in shopping money. It's a fair deal, from where I sit.

Then again, we aren't married."

Sven, Sven, Sven.

Oh well, at least you now have the option to haul out the famous "jewlery tax".

Partisan Ranger

#1
You have asked the question that tries (married) men's souls. The right answer is not deemed such by the fact that it gets you this pistol on this occassion, but rather, the right answer is the one that allows you to enter the plain of unrepentant gun purchases for a life time.

#2
Verily, the only thing that drives a normal wife more crazy than seeing Acme Sporting Goods and House O'Guns in your check register is seeing their husband sitting still.

S-

....bought a house you say .....she has #2 covered forever, and ever and .....

 

[BlkHawk73]

First of all, Thanx for this thread. I just bought a P7M8 and have yet to make it known to the wife. I do like the "shoes" idea. With my last purchase, it wasn't too bad ($250) but for her to find out about this one ($1100) would be suicide on my part. I'm following this thread for my own benifit now!

 

[AnklePocket]

My wife has no problem with guns - just in the reckless spending of money. She's very good with the finances and I've learned from her example, but if there's a gun that I've got to have then it'll happen. I tell her that I'm just trading mine in for another that I'd rather have. Sometimes I do just that and sometimes I don't. Other than that I do exactly as I'm told.

 

[CAP]

Simply tell her self defense and preservation are required and buy the gun you can most afford now. Tell her after the buy if you have to depending on the wife.
Or don't tell her.

Any time in a relationship 1 partner mandates something to the other, one party is backed in a corner unless both parties agree, usually beforehand. Surely you have an idea how she might feel.

So tell you are doing it. And ask her to go shooting.
Or tell her you have done it, and ask her to go shooting.
OR don't tell her. (probably not recommended in a healthy honest relationship. )

But if it is a priority to you and not to her, therein lies the rub.

Good luck.
Yes I am married... Happily I think.
And no, I don't tell her what I buy/bought but I have offered and do offer her to look anytime she would like.

 

[Ladybug]

I'm with Pax.... but generally speaking any "non-joint" purchases I make, we usually agree on him getting something and me getting something ("YOU can buy that stupid canoe, if I can get that awesome gun" sort of thing)... works pretty well for me!

 

[Partisan Ranger]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I will take it all into consideration. I like the idea of 'trading' purchases ie. I spend $500 on something, then next time she gets to do the same (not that we can afford to do that on a monthly basis!).

Actually, I think I have it figured out, based upon that line of reasoning. She is going back to school for a year to get her Bachelor's in Respiratory Care at Shenandoah University. I (I mean, we) have to pay $200 for a downpayment on her tuition and almost $300 for an English class she has to take at the community college. $500 right there!

My wife is actually pro-gun as I am (I think I've had an influence on her politically - I'm a conservative firebrand). She just likes to use the 'let's get a security system' ruse to get me to spend more money on the house. She knows that 911 and a security system are useless when a criminal scumbag is breaking your door down.

I've told her that I want her to get a CCW sometime herself. She isn't opposed to the idea. I figure a little .38 snubbie would do her just fine.


Partisan Ranger

 

[Scott Evans]

Start a holster business.

Each time you add a new holster to your line you will need to acquire the handgun that it is intend for so as to insure the proper fit.

“I don’t want to Honey ... but I need it for work …â€


Works for me.