ShooterMcGavin
Regular Member
I recently found a new girlfriend. When I say this, trust me guys and girls, this is a big thing for me. I don't have a problem finding a date, but choosing one girl to call my "girlfriend" is not something I do often. She is sweet and cute, and all the other mushy-stuff I knew I wanted to be serious with her but, like all women who I date, there is always the question "how will she accept that I own/carry guns?". She grew up in Viet Nam in the 1980s and has lived in Texas since the mid '90s. I brought up the gun-topic in response to her living in Texas.
ME: "If you are from Texas, do you have any experience with guns?"
HER: "No." (roughly paraphrased)
ME: "Are you afraid of guns?"
HER: "No. Why? Do you own guns?"
ME: "Yes. I hope that doesn't make you uncomfortable."
HER: "No."
About a week later, I was wearing a shoulder holster around the house with a fullsize M&P40. She showed up at the door and I greeted her like that. She was visibly afraid and asked me many times "why would you answer the door like that?". She told me she felt very intimidated and worried that I would hurt her. I put the gun away. She told me that she is scared of guns in the home, because that should be where you are safe. I made it clear to her that I also carry a gun outside of the house. She didn't really object, until I actually did it. I stopped carrying for a brief time, while I felt she needed to get to know me better. Since then, I have carried concealed. We went out at night in Seattle and a "street-guy" (not a beggar) kept a close eye on us and then made a disrespectful comment towards her as we passed him to get back to the car.
She has since asked me not to bring a gun to her apartment, and she has asked that I not carry a gun when we go into Seattle. I told her I will respect her wishes in her home but I will not stop carrying a gun when I go out or go into Seattle. I don't think I will be staying overnight at her place any more. She objected to me carrying in Seattle, until I reminded her of the guy in Seattle who was keeping a close eye on us that night. She still doesn't want me to carry, but she kinda said "ok" to that. When we were going into Seattle for the day, I put on my OWB holster because my pants wouldn't fit a IWB holster. She insisted that I don't carry like that "because people will look and think it's weird". I told her that I don't care, but I relented. A week after that, I put on my OWB holster and spent about 2 hours with her before she even noticed. She got annoyed after that, but I was trying to show her that most people don't even notice. BTW, she only noticed the gun on my hip when I opened the car door, standing in front of her, and bent over to move some things out of the car. Later that day, we went to the Mercer Island Farmer's Market. Nobody complained, and I even had a very good experience and exchange regarding protecting innocent lives with a young girl there - a very "hippie" type who I thought would never accept the carrying of guns by an individual. We went to Alki and I had another good talk with a guy there, who was curious about "why" and laws. Now, she insists that I not OC around her. Sometimes, when it's warm out, I don't want to wear an outter shirt to cover up, especially around/inside my house.
I'm not really writing to ask for advice (although it's welcome). I'm just writing to put the topic out there for other like-minded individuals. I am totally faithful, totally honest, and totally supportive of this woman, but I am still not sure where this relationship is going. I can only put in my best effort to support her and care for her but, in the end, I still need to be myself.
ME: "If you are from Texas, do you have any experience with guns?"
HER: "No." (roughly paraphrased)
ME: "Are you afraid of guns?"
HER: "No. Why? Do you own guns?"
ME: "Yes. I hope that doesn't make you uncomfortable."
HER: "No."
About a week later, I was wearing a shoulder holster around the house with a fullsize M&P40. She showed up at the door and I greeted her like that. She was visibly afraid and asked me many times "why would you answer the door like that?". She told me she felt very intimidated and worried that I would hurt her. I put the gun away. She told me that she is scared of guns in the home, because that should be where you are safe. I made it clear to her that I also carry a gun outside of the house. She didn't really object, until I actually did it. I stopped carrying for a brief time, while I felt she needed to get to know me better. Since then, I have carried concealed. We went out at night in Seattle and a "street-guy" (not a beggar) kept a close eye on us and then made a disrespectful comment towards her as we passed him to get back to the car.
She has since asked me not to bring a gun to her apartment, and she has asked that I not carry a gun when we go into Seattle. I told her I will respect her wishes in her home but I will not stop carrying a gun when I go out or go into Seattle. I don't think I will be staying overnight at her place any more. She objected to me carrying in Seattle, until I reminded her of the guy in Seattle who was keeping a close eye on us that night. She still doesn't want me to carry, but she kinda said "ok" to that. When we were going into Seattle for the day, I put on my OWB holster because my pants wouldn't fit a IWB holster. She insisted that I don't carry like that "because people will look and think it's weird". I told her that I don't care, but I relented. A week after that, I put on my OWB holster and spent about 2 hours with her before she even noticed. She got annoyed after that, but I was trying to show her that most people don't even notice. BTW, she only noticed the gun on my hip when I opened the car door, standing in front of her, and bent over to move some things out of the car. Later that day, we went to the Mercer Island Farmer's Market. Nobody complained, and I even had a very good experience and exchange regarding protecting innocent lives with a young girl there - a very "hippie" type who I thought would never accept the carrying of guns by an individual. We went to Alki and I had another good talk with a guy there, who was curious about "why" and laws. Now, she insists that I not OC around her. Sometimes, when it's warm out, I don't want to wear an outter shirt to cover up, especially around/inside my house.
I'm not really writing to ask for advice (although it's welcome). I'm just writing to put the topic out there for other like-minded individuals. I am totally faithful, totally honest, and totally supportive of this woman, but I am still not sure where this relationship is going. I can only put in my best effort to support her and care for her but, in the end, I still need to be myself.