We have been married for 35 years, and we dated for 3 1/2 years prior. When we were dating I was a reserve police officer. She had shot various guns a little with her family, and I took her shooting a couple of times. She was a good shot, understood the safety and operation of the firearms, but just wasn't that interested in shooting for fun. Once we were married we moved. I resigned my police officers commission so longer was shooting PPC competition. Frankly I was burned out at that time, so got out of shooting, except for hunting, for many years.
After we moved Texas in 1998 they had already passed the CHL legislation. I got interested again and got my CHL and became an instructor. She still didn't have any interest in shooting or guns overall, but supported me and my endeavors.
Fast forward. After I retired 3 years ago I opened a couple of businesses as well as continuing my firearms instruction. She took a job running the office for a friend who has a construction business. These keep us busy and let us make some 'fun money' during retirement.
A couple of months ago the construction company had a couple of employees who got fired for drug use. She was a little uneasy being at the office by herself unarmed, so decided she might want to go ahead and get her license. I was having a class for some of the folks at our church about a month later so she became a student. I will only allow 5 shooters at a time during qualification, and she made the 11th student. We decided to let the others shoot in the two groups of 5 and she would sit out and I would do her qualification later.
Yesterday was a nice day, so we went to the range. She hadn't shot a gun in over 35 years. I gave her the basics again, and she shot a practice round with no problems. She went ahead and did her qualification and scored very well. So, she then wanted to try some other of my handguns to see what she liked. She shot well with those too.
I had brought along a new AR-15 to try on the range. I shot it a few times in the sled and had her spot for me. Then I asked her if she wanted to shoot it. She said yes, but once in behind the stock, she was very nervous. I asked her why and she said 'All of the reports about this high-powered rifle and how devastating it can be'. I think it was really more a fear of hard recoil. I sat back down and made a shot while she put her hand on my shoulder to show her how light the recoil was. That put her more at ease. She went ahead and shot and then shot a few more times while I spotted. Let's just say I don't want to be down range of her up to about 300 yards!!
Now, back to the title. After she had shot it we discussed the AR-15 and her shooting. We came to the conclusion she now has PTSD as well. But in her case it is an acronym for 'Please Take me Shooting Dear'
Now we are discussing what to get her for a carry gun. I think she is in the market for a Kimber Micro 9
So happy we now have another thing that she will want to do with me as we grow old(er) together.
