The stuff about fitting in is stupid.... I agree. But in my experience, it is "normal" ie common among otherwise healthy people to have an "irrational fear of guns" if they've never been around them.
The irrational fear usually dissapates within 15 minutes of actual instruction and experience.
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!"