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Wife should talk with husband about fear of guns
Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^
| 2/13/06
| Joyce Brothers
Posted on 02/13/2006 8:50:39 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
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To: Bob
"It could even make for a very unpleasant situation should the victim be a predator in your yard and you have to see it dispatched. "
Consider that this predator may be a pit bull chomping on her kid. Opps, no guns, maybe a broom will suffice. Good luck babe, better call a neighbor or cop (with a gun) to deal with it.
81
posted on
02/13/2006 10:01:58 AM PST
by
BadAndy
(The DemocRATs are the enemy's most effective weapon.)
To: HairOfTheDog; jalisco555
I would say that it is quite normal and even smart to be afraid of any dangerous weapon that could kill you or a member of your family.
It's reasonable to surrender to a phobia, but only if it's a firearm. A kitchen knife or a SUV could kill you, but fearing those would be silly.
It could even make for a very unpleasant situation should the victim be a predator in your yard and you have to see it dispatched.
A predator in the yard dispatched by the gun is a VICTIM of gun violence.
There is almost no upside to having a gun if you aren't a gun lover, and you shouldn't have to live with this creepy feeling indefinitely.
If you aren't a GUN LOVER, then guns are a BAD THING. Your phobia is healthy, in fact, I'm willing to reinforce it for you so you are even more fearful.
That said, I think you need to sit down with your husband and discuss all this. He needs to be able to tell you how he feels about having -- and possibly using -- the gun. Did he buy the gun mainly to minimize discord in the new neighborhood -- in other words, to fit in?
Is your husband weak minded? Does he feel the need to buy into the GUN CULTURE so his neighbors don't look down on him? Make him explain to you why he feels the need to have a lethal weapon in the home when you are so terrified.
Does he have any background or training in gun use and gun safety? Was he ever in the military? And do you agree that you really need it?If so, take some lessons and do some skeet shooting so that you can gain some mastery and lessen your fears. Keep the gun locked up, of course, and keep that fear at a healthy level. After all, they are deadly.
Your phobia is healthy, just so long as it's aimed at guns
If you still feel terrified after taking these steps, I suggest that you surrender your weapon.
And back to my original post.
She's feeding this womans fear of guns due to her own fear. A gun is not sentient object capable of action and as such is no more dangerous than any other machine. Fear of a firearm is no more reasonable than fearing your hedge clippers.
82
posted on
02/13/2006 10:02:51 AM PST
by
Dr.Zoidberg
(Mohammedism - Bringing you only the best of the 6th century for fourteen hundred years.)
To: HairOfTheDog
Certainly it's normal to begin with a fear of guns, but it's not common, normal, or logical to maintain that fear after that 15 minutes of instruction and experience. And that's what our beloved Dr. is suggesting, I believe. She should have stressed the gun safety and instruction instead of giving in to all the uninformed stereotypes like "guns are creepy and dangerous, you SHOULD be afraid!"
83
posted on
02/13/2006 10:06:41 AM PST
by
Nova442
("Cry Havoc and let slip the Dogs of War.")
To: kiriath_jearim
for Valentine's Day I got a gun for my wife.
It's a good trade.
84
posted on
02/13/2006 10:09:54 AM PST
by
Rakkasan1
(Muslims pray to Allah, Allah prays to Chuck Norris.)
To: kiriath_jearim
Husband should take wife to NRA "Don't be a victim" lesson and NRA shooting lessons.
Only reason not to is that his wife will, probably, learn how to shoot better than he does... My wife did!
85
posted on
02/13/2006 10:11:22 AM PST
by
Little Ray
(I'm a reactionary, hirsute, gun-owning, knuckle dragging, Christian Neanderthal and proud of it!)
To: kiriath_jearim
There is almost no upside to having a gun if you aren't a gun lover, and you shouldn't have to live with this creepy feeling indefinitely. "Joyce, you ignorant slut."
86
posted on
02/13/2006 10:14:50 AM PST
by
Bloody Sam Roberts
(Crime cannot be tolerated. Criminals thrive on the indulgences of society's understanding.)
To: HairOfTheDog
There is almost no upside to having a gun if you aren't a gun lover, and you shouldn't have to live with this creepy feeling indefinitely. Did he buy the gun mainly to minimize discord in the new neighborhood -- in other words, to fit in?
Keep the gun locked up, of course, and keep that fear at a healthy level. After all, they are deadly.
This is hardly "talk to her husband and give shooting a try".
I see 98% of the responses pertaining to Joyce Brothers and the rest concerning the woman.
87
posted on
02/13/2006 10:15:14 AM PST
by
VeniVidiVici
(What? Me worry?)
To: Nova442; Dr.Zoidberg
Certainly it's normal to begin with a fear of guns, but it's not common, normal, or logical to maintain that fear after that 15 minutes of instruction and experience.Agreed. So if she's still afraid of them after doing that... then it's not normal apprehension, and if she remains afraid (which most of us know is unlikely) then it's not a bad idea to offer her the advice that she doesn't HAVE to accept them. I don't force guns on people who are afraid of them, but that's just me. The woman should give it a fair shot, and that fair shot includes an 'out'. It's not "try this and you better like it or ELSE we're going to force it on you anyway... now don't be scared!"
If I saw all the ridicule being aimed only at the weak part of Dr. Joyce's response, while seeing better advice offered here on the thread, I'd have no problem with the tone of the thread. But many here mocked the woman for even worrying about it, when the more constructive response from all of us SHOULD HAVE BEEN to wish she was a friend of ours, so we could show her just how safe they can be. Instead, many have reacted with scorn and ridicule toward this woman for even expressing any fear.
To: VeniVidiVici
I see 98% of the responses pertaining to Joyce Brothers and the rest concerning the woman. But do you see 98% of the the responses as good PR for the image of gun ownership? Or do they feed the fear and bias you claim not to like?
To: stainlessbanner
Here's a gratuitous pic for any anti-gun lurkers here. A gun that will make your average dumbed-down, brainwashed, pathetic, hand-wringing, gun-fearing whiner pee their diaper:
Heh heh!
90
posted on
02/13/2006 10:24:52 AM PST
by
Joe Brower
(The Constitution defines Conservatism. *NRA*)
To: kiriath_jearim
I would say that it is quite normal and even smart to be afraid of any dangerous weapon that could kill you or a member of your family. She ought to be white-knuckle terrified of the family car, then.
91
posted on
02/13/2006 10:26:48 AM PST
by
Campion
("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
To: HairOfTheDog
I'm sorry, but if I could get 98% of any group of people to do what I want I'd be rich.
Some folks have stronger reactions to certain hot button issues than others.
Dr Joyce Brothers claims to be an expert in many things. Obviously, in this area she's deficient, thus opening herself up to ridicule.
92
posted on
02/13/2006 10:39:15 AM PST
by
VeniVidiVici
(What? Me worry?)
To: jalisco555
This is an argument we can easily win if only we choose to make it. Agreed, and thanks for doing your part :~D
To: Joe Brower
To: kiriath_jearim
She shold ask a neighbor lady to teach her to shoot. She lives in a rural area and all of them shoot.
Single shot, 12 ga would be a good start.
To: HairOfTheDog
You're welcome.
96
posted on
02/13/2006 10:49:35 AM PST
by
Joe Brower
(The Constitution defines Conservatism. *NRA*)
To: kiriath_jearim
Dear Joyce.
Which would be more traumatic.
Seeing a coyote shot in the back yard.
Seeing a coyote eat your toddler and you can't do anything but cry and watch...
97
posted on
02/13/2006 11:02:13 AM PST
by
TASMANIANRED
(The Internet is the samizdat of liberty..".Liberty is the right and hope of all humanity"GW Bush)
To: HairOfTheDog
But is mocking and ridiculing this woman over a very normal fear of the unknown Most of the mocking was directed at the very liberal psychologist, who actually claimed that a predator animal would be a victim.
Now, I don't know where you come from, but around here, the predators are not the victims.
98
posted on
02/13/2006 11:22:59 AM PST
by
Full Court
(Keepers at home, do you think it's optional?)
To: MineralMan
Yeah? And so...how's that working out for you, then? It means that I have met personally with Jeff Sessions.
It also means I don't listen to people like you who want to tell others how they should, or should not rally for the 2nd.
99
posted on
02/13/2006 11:25:03 AM PST
by
Full Court
(Keepers at home, do you think it's optional?)
To: HairOfTheDog
100
posted on
02/13/2006 11:28:49 AM PST
by
jalisco555
("Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us and pigs treat us as equals" Winston Churchill)
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