My wife is one of those who though supports the 2nd amendment, but is not crazy about guns in “our” house. And even less thrilled about the one in my night stand. I do think she is coming around. With what is now almost an epidemic of home invasions in Western WA, with one that happened just 2 weeks ago just up the street from us, its strengthing my argument.
I can only suggest to take her to the gun range on ladies day. Many ranges have rental specials that day to allow her to try multiple weapons and just be exposed to it all. I would visit ahead of time and make sure that some of the range officers are women as well. It makes the experience all that more comfortable for her. No pressure needed...just encourage her to try it and realize that a gun is an inanimate object laying in a drawer or leaning in the closet is no more dangerous than a knife on the kitchen counter. It can’t jump up and cut you, but a 4 year old can reach up and pull the knife off the counter and get cut, so some commonsense is in order, you don’t set the knife where it hangs over the edge of the counter when you have toddlers running around, you move it away from inquisitive fingers reach. Same thing with a revolver or shotgun etc. Keep it in smart locations. And everyone in the family needs to know where it is, how to shoot it and to not fear it...practice and exposure is the best way to make sure that it is not a novelty to some 10 year old to play with, if he or she has been to the range a dozen times with it, they won’t see it as an exploratory item to figure out, they know what it is, they have got to use it and they have experience and training in gun safety rules. Please don’t tell them...the gun is off limits...there will be a time when you are there and human inquisitive nature will take over and ....well just don’t...treat it like a hot stove, knife or tree climbing or anything else...give your kids the experience and training to understand why being safe is needed. Had a friend who would not let her boy climb a tree, one day, she wasn’t around so he goes in the back yard and she comes home to a broken arm...a self fulfilling prophecy...had she just helped him learn how to climb up and down, emphasized the need to test branches, keep one hand always on a safe branch etc etc...well you get the picture...treat guns the same way for loved ones, help them experience it safely and confidently, shoot something like a 22 first so the explosion doesn’t scare them etc.
I recommend you acquire a GUNVAULT ‘biometric’ gun safe for the bedside. I have mine secure-loc’d (steel cable) to the bed frame, and all I have to do to open it is reach down and put three fingers on the three sensors, and it pops open.
This safe ensures any little ones or other unauthorized users cannot get to the weapon, but I can.
Also, I leave it open at night to eliminate any delay or fumbling around.
My wife is quite happy with that.
It doesn’t read fingerprints, but rather a touch pattern, so she and my USMC son can both open the safe as needed.