I think carrying seems to be a bigger psychological leap for women than it is for men. It's also seems a lot more inconvenient for some women to carry on body than men which reduces them to off body carry, with all of its inherent issues.My wife has been through NRA courses Basic Pistol and Personal Protection in the Home, and has her CC permit, but she never carries.
I agree. My wife spent a long career in high-fashion retailing and for a lot of women, even ones where it doesn't make that much difference, changing the slightest thing about clothing profiles and/or accessories is a big deal. That makes no sense to guys and a lot of enlightened women have gotten over it, but the effect is not to be underestimated.I think carrying seems to be a bigger psychological leap for women than it is for men. It's also seems a lot more inconvenient for some women to carry on body than men which reduces them to off body carry, with all of its inherent issues.
I don't know about your wife's condition, so I am not commenting on that specifically. But as someone who has vision issues myself, but is still a very competent shot, I always like for people to know that "legally blind" is not "totally blind."I've taught her basic firearm safety and she's been to the range to get familiar with a S&W 640 loaded with .38 +P.
The Mrs is legally blind, so she's never going to get a carry permit, but at least she can hit COM from across the room, which makes me feel better about her being alone at home.
Everyone you meet knows something you don't.
- H. Jackson Brown
I appreciate your understanding about folks who have low vision; we've had to explain the concept of "legally blind" many times. In my wife's case, her vision has deteriorated pretty far: she can't make out even gross detail much farther than arms reach, even less is bright daylight. I always announce myself whenever I come home so that she has no doubt that its me. Our friends also all know to identify themselves if they come to our door in case I'm not home - our front door camera has an intercom si she can talk to whoever us there without actually going to the door.... Now if you are way past the threshold, that's a different story. But I cringe when I hear the liberal media "out" some gun owner because they are "legally blind."
I think you have just described my wife's aversion to change! And I know we had the same conversation about "Won't that gun just go off?" Only I laughed and said "Only you could ask that after using two fingers to try and make it go off when you wanted it too!" My first wife carried in her purse. I would make her cardboard dividers that would hold her gun and holster upright, and would keep anything else away from her gun. In those days I had never seen a concealed carry purse. DRI agree. My wife spent a long career in high-fashion retailing and for a lot of women, even ones where it doesn't make that much difference, changing the slightest thing about clothing profiles and/or accessories is a big deal. That makes no sense to guys and a lot of enlightened women have gotten over it, but the effect is not to be underestimated.
Also, while I think safe off-body carry is theoretically possible, anything my wife puts into her purse goes into "a great abyss." She can't find her keys or her phone in her purse half the time. Finding a gun when she needed it would be problematic. The purse would make a devastating impact weapon, though!
Add to that what I call the "perceived klutz factor." A lot of women have been brought up to think that they can't handle tools, especially guns, and apparently, tire pressure gauges. It's not true! My wife can be incredibly precise with kitchen tools, including her knives, which I keep very sharp. But my wife assumes that if there are bullets in a gun, it can go off by itself.
I have a DAO gun I sometimes carry with 9# trigger She has fired it on the range and she can barely manage the trigger. One day she asked, "Could that thing just go off by itself?" I was thinking, "What? You could hardly get it to go off when you were trying to get it to go off!" But I just said "No, it's very safe." Discretion is the better part of valor. Happy wife, happy life!
