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This Past Sunday Me and the wife were out running errand. Went to the mall your normal weekend stuff with the family. By force of habit I always park my truck backed up in a parking spot or away from normal parking due to its size. Well we were leaving the Mens warehouse when a car came screaming into the parking lot slamming on his breaks right in front of me. It scared the living daylights out of my wife. My radar kicked in and immediately saw in the car was a man with his family. So the threat level was heightened but minimal due to him having his kids 3 in the back seat. I sat there with my truck in drive and my foot on the break waiting to see what he was going to do next. I can see him and his wife were arguing he corrects himself and parks. Well parks on me. When I drove off my wife Tells me how scared she was with that car doing what it did. On our way home this brought up the discussion of having a weapon and training on how to and how not to use it. Also what were my out options. Later last night while having dinner the conversation continued on what she seamed to be a threat to her. She finally tells me that she needs to learn what to look for and asked me to set up a training for her. She went on to say after some classes then and only then will she get her ltc and carry. So I am very happy to see that she is now interested in learning.

Congrats, I know it took some convincing to get my wife to understand how quickly things can happen and how to be ever vigilant, in the situational awareness department. Only after seeing me closely watching a developing situation, that she had not even noticed, and then have me describe what was taking place, the possible outcomes, and my exit strategy, that she began to pay more attention. She now plays the what if game with me, identifying exits, choke points for egress, dicey looking situations, and things that just look hinky.(yes that is a technical term).

My wife has also decided to get her LTC and I have taken her to the range to go over the qualification procedures so she will be more comfortable with the process when she takes her class.

Keep us updated, we love to add new LTCers and especially when they are significant others to our current ranks.

lildave40 wrote:This Past Sunday Me and the wife were out running errand. Went to the mall your normal weekend stuff with the family. By force of habit I always park my truck backed up in a parking spot or away from normal parking due to its size. Well we were leaving the Mens warehouse when a car came screaming into the parking lot slamming on his breaks right in front of me. It scared the living daylights out of my wife. My radar kicked in and immediately saw in the car was a man with his family. So the threat level was heightened but minimal due to him having his kids 3 in the back seat. I sat there with my truck in drive and my foot on the break waiting to see what he was going to do next. I can see him and his wife were arguing he corrects himself and parks. Well parks on me. When I drove off my wife Tells me how scared she was with that car doing what it did. On our way home this brought up the discussion of having a weapon and training on how to and how not to use it. Also what were my out options. Later last night while having dinner the conversation continued on what she seamed to be a threat to her. She finally tells me that she needs to learn what to look for and asked me to set up a training for her. She went on to say after some classes then and only then will she get her ltc and carry. So I am very happy to see that she is now interested in learning.

Excellent.

Sounds as if Her greatest 'realization' was one of potential vulnerability and the swiftness in which a person might be placed in peril.

From what you have posted... your Wife has wisely chosen to seek information that will better allow her to recognize how threats manifest and what might be done to avoid or deal with them. That is a milestone and the single most important thing a person can do.

Having a firearm (lethal force weapon) is good, but of course...it is the last tool you want to use (circumstance permitting).

I'm sure you pointed out to her...that had that situation been an attempt to block you in, you could have used your vehicle (truck) to push or drive though the one blocking you, versus the option of presenting your weapon. Things she might not have thought about.

Husband/Wife relationships being what they are....3rd party training is often the best accepted method. Not to say the two of you can't discuss scenarios, solutions and partnering.

Good job Sir!

flintknapper wrote:

lildave40 wrote:This Past Sunday Me and the wife were out running errand. Went to the mall your normal weekend stuff with the family. By force of habit I always park my truck backed up in a parking spot or away from normal parking due to its size. Well we were leaving the Mens warehouse when a car came screaming into the parking lot slamming on his breaks right in front of me. It scared the living daylights out of my wife. My radar kicked in and immediately saw in the car was a man with his family. So the threat level was heightened but minimal due to him having his kids 3 in the back seat. I sat there with my truck in drive and my foot on the break waiting to see what he was going to do next. I can see him and his wife were arguing he corrects himself and parks. Well parks on me. When I drove off my wife Tells me how scared she was with that car doing what it did. On our way home this brought up the discussion of having a weapon and training on how to and how not to use it. Also what were my out options. Later last night while having dinner the conversation continued on what she seamed to be a threat to her. She finally tells me that she needs to learn what to look for and asked me to set up a training for her. She went on to say after some classes then and only then will she get her ltc and carry. So I am very happy to see that she is now interested in learning.

Excellent.

Sounds as if Her greatest 'realization' was one of potential vulnerability and the swiftness in which a person might be placed in peril.

From what you have posted... your Wife has wisely chosen to seek information that will better allow her to recognize how threats manifest and what might be done to avoid or deal with them. That is a milestone and the single most important thing a person can do.

Having a firearm (lethal force weapon) is good, but of course...it is the last tool you want to use (circumstance permitting).

I'm sure you pointed out to her...that had that situation been an attempt to block you in, you could have used your vehicle (truck) to push or drive though the one blocking you, versus the option of presenting your weapon. Things she might not have thought about.

Husband/Wife relationships being what they are....3rd party training is often the best accepted method. Not to say the two of you can't discuss scenarios, solutions and partnering.

Good job Sir!

I'm sure you pointed out to her...that had that situation been an attempt to block you in, you could have used your vehicle (truck) to push or drive though the one blocking you, versus the option of presenting your weapon. Things she might not have thought about.

Oh yes most definitely. She asked me what would I have done if there were no kids and they blocked me in. I told her I would have turned the traction control off and floored it. I would have annihilated that Honda with my 2500 hd. I also told her with as big of a truck I have reverse works just fine as well.

Oh yes most definitely. She asked me what would I have done if there were no kids and they blocked me in. I told her I would have turned the traction control off and floored it. I would have annihilated that Honda with my 2500 hd. I also told her with as big of a truck I have reverse works just fine as well.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
No doubt.

However...even smaller vehicles can effectively push a like sized (and even larger heavier) vehicle out the way in many circumstances.

Particularly if a vehicle attempts to block you in with their vehicle perpendicular to yours (T-Boned). Simply target the lightest portion of the vehicle (normally the area about the rear axle or just aft of it) and drive (full power) through it. Even the front of the vehicle can often be moved without too much more trouble, though it is heavier. Avoid centering the vehicle if possible.

Moving a vehicle parallel with yours is a more difficult proposition...depending upon size, weight and traction, but if you act quickly...you can normally create enough space to escape or change the angle of attack to something more favorable.

Again, there is lots of instruction available out there. Just needs to be thought about and studied a little bit, so you don't 'freeze' at the moment you need to do something.

You already understand that very well...and now your Wife seems accepting of it too.

Good for you guys!

AndyC wrote:Good news - pity it took a scare, but sometimes that's all it takes.

Advice for any married man: get someone else to teach her - and let her pick out her own pistol (subject to your knowledgeable veto)

I agree with Andy on this. Unless you want to add to YOUR collection then just get her what gun you want (just be prepared if she likes what you picked out for you) then when she doesn't like it, it becomes yours and you get her another gun that you like. See the routine here?

as one of the few women on the board, yes, get someone else to teach her. Let her chose between a women's class or not and a female teacher or male.

As a side note, if anyone wants for me to scare the crud out of their wife, just let me know. Some hooting and hollering about the aliens / voices while flailing my arms about should do the trick.

RPBrown wrote:

AndyC wrote:Good news - pity it took a scare, but sometimes that's all it takes.

Advice for any married man: get someone else to teach her - and let her pick out her own pistol (subject to your knowledgeable veto)

I agree with Andy on this. Unless you want to add to YOUR collection then just get her what gun you want (just be prepared if she likes what you picked out for you) then when she doesn't like it, it becomes yours and you get her another gun that you like. See the routine here?

Or the opposite.... My wife ended up doing all her own research (at my insistence) and settled on a Sig Sauer P320 compact. After she got it we were at the range shooting and of course she let me send a few down range with it........ I loved it. But alas, it was hers. She made me go buy my own....

AJSully421 wrote:As a side note, if anyone wants for me to scare the crud out of their wife, just let me know. Some hooting and hollering about the aliens / voices while flailing my arms about should do the trick.

Just dont do it at my house my wife will pump some 00 buck rounds your way. Your arm flapping better propel you faster than 1200 fps

AJSully421 wrote:As a side note, if anyone wants for me to scare the crud out of their wife, just let me know. Some hooting and hollering about the aliens / voices while flailing my arms about should do the trick.

Wouldn't even get noticed at my house. Pretty much the norm.

My ex-wife (notice I said EX) was on me from the first thought of me getting my CHL. She was constantly saying things like, why do you need a gun license and omg do you HAVE to take a gun everywhere we go? Now almost two after our divorce, she is in the process of getting her license. I'm not sure what changed with her. We are still on good terms, so I have been and will continue to help her get her LTC. After all, my daughter still lives with her.

There are classes offered in some areas that are geared toward husband and wife learning to work together when problems arise and force is needed. I have a friend who teaches this type of course. After she gets done the first leg of her learning jouney I would recommend that course if you can find one.

AndyC wrote:
Advice for any married man: get someone else to teach her - and let her pick out her own pistol (subject to your knowledgeable veto)