guns and dating

[Invisible_Dave]

If you act embarrassed or shy about them, like there is something wrong, they will be weirded out. Girl read that stuff. Most girls find guns sexy, so use it to your advantage. Approach it with confidence, like you are proud of them. Like as a man of the house you will use these tools to protect her. They love that stuff.

Ps if you teach your girl to shoot, don't cheat...just saying.

[mag360]

Unless the new girl you are taking out is paige wyatt i'd keep the gun thing on the dl until you and her are more familiar with each other. I think i gave it a month, maybe less before i took my current girlfriend of 3 years shooting.

[Dantedamean]

It's late, I'm lazy, I didn't read the other posts so I have no idea what was already posted. Meh, sue me.

If your serious about this girl, I would wait a minimum of 2 months before you even hint at the subject. You want her to have a decent handle on your personality first. Yes unfortunately, especially in Kali, guns have been demonized. So your going to have to take it slow if you have no idea how she will react.

You also need to prepare your self for the "your crazy" response. If she's not into guns you may be able to still work it out with her, but if she's total anti about it, you need to keep from getting attached because it obviously won't work out.

I think the best way to go about it is to start off talking politics. Talk Romney vs Obama and such. Then get into the UN and Syria, talk about how useless they are right now, that will lead you into the Arms Trade Treaty. Hey look we're on the subject of firearms. Then go from there. ( this method works I've used it, you just can't push it. If she changes the subject don't immediately jump back. )

If I were in your position I would avoid hunting for now, simply because girls don't like to shoot Bambi ( not facts just stereotyping ) I know plenty of girls who like guns but not hunting. It's just a bad way to get onto the subject if you've never talked about it.

So ya hope that helps.

[NoHeavyHitter]

Just make sure and wear your "Uzis, Floozies, and Jacuzzis" T-shirt on your first date. If she says she'll go out with you again, you should be good to go.

Alternatively, you could just ask a gal if she'd like to go to the range with you and grab some lunch afterwards. Be reasonable and bring a .22 rifle to start her out with and when she's comfortable and shooting decent - move her up to the AR. Have a plan to take time (before hitting the range) to go over basic safety rules. Lots of women would like to try shooting - especially if they go with someone that doesn't try tricking them into firing a .44mag snubbie AND they feel you're safe enough to learn from.

If that flys, next time take her rock-climbing at an indoor facility (with safe climbing gear). That will let her know that you don't have a "one-track mind" about guns.

[ClarenceBoddicker]

Don't worry about the full time gun obsession, it will slow down a bit when you get older. It's not like CA residents can collect anything remotely cool like live machine guns. Once your collection gets big enough your interest will drop, as there is nothing really new with guns being done since 5/19/1986. All you can do is go backwards & most of the really neat old stuff is way to expensive to touch now.

Sadly many females have a negative view about guns. Many think only homicidal psychos own guns. The schools & media push fear on females that gun owners will kill them or their children. Many females feel vulnerable in society & guns make them feel even more vulnerable. Many females view a home as a safe place to escape a dangerous world. The current PC message is that guns in the home are dangerous. They may be OK with a guy they feel they can trust owning a few, but a massive collection makes them wonder about a guy. It's one thing to be rich & have lots of toys, but most females find it strange when a guy obsessively dumps most of their free money on one hobby. They can understand cars more, as everyone owns them & you can drive it unless its not street legal. Some females will understand collections if you compare guns to shoes & bags. Most females get turned off listening to guys talking about mechanical stuff like cars or guns. It's hard for them to get into something they don't understand or care about.

Then there is the fear & intimidation part. Most female gun noobs don't enjoy shooting like almost all guys do. It takes most females awhile to be comfortable around sudden sharp reports. Many guys push too much trying to get them shooting. Most guys spend years playing with toy guns & then BB guns before shooting. Most females don't have that history & rushing into shooting live guns to please their SO can be a stressful event. Because of CA's crap laws & the POS DOJ, there is a sense that all guns in CA are quasi legal at best. Some females worry about a guy with a big collection getting into trouble with the law. Most females who are into bad guys love loud fast bikes or cars, not so much with guns.

Most females are big into honesty & not hiding things about yourself. Casual dating is one thing, but if you get serious you should be 100% open & honest about who you are. Guns are a big part of your life & she deserves to know that so she can decide if that's OK for her. I would not bring up guns until you have had spent some time with her to see if there is mutual attraction. Bringing up something potentially negative like guns too soon could get her to cut her losses, if she is still figuring out if she likes you. I wouldn't do the dropping hint game, as that could just be distracting.

[Theseus]

My wife was ok with the guns, not the activism...she is not a wave-maker. Well, now she is. Lead by example.

But really, I don't usually meet people that are anti, I meet ignorant people. They just don't know or care. As the others say, just date the girl. At some point, if she seems in-to-you, then take her to the range. Her interest in you will be made even more clear. Well, unless she also really likes guns, then it might be the guns she's into.

Sent from my XT910 using Tapatalk 2

[Vita Brevis]

I'll admit, I've only skimmed through the other replies (I just woke up and my attention span isn't what it could be at the moment), so if I repeat what anybody else has said, I apologize. This is what I've done in the past with women I've dated:

Don't bring up the gun subject yourself unless you have to. If she asks about your hobbies, focus on other stuff you do (if you don't have other hobbies, maybe find a couple? Obsession isn't an attractive color on anybody). Couch your gun hobbie in nonthreatening terms: going to the range, plinking, etc.... Myself, I've always mixed in a little humor, like mentioning the fact that I grew up in the foothills so I'm part redneck, which means that I HAVE to go into the woods and shoot appliances- it's in my blood. If she seems put off, maybe invite her to the range, but don't press the matter. I've dated some girls who hated guns, some who loved guns, and some who THOUGHT they hated guns until I took them shooting and showed them that safety is the #1 priority. My current better half falls somewhere in between. It took me nearly four years to get her to the range with me. Prior to going, she hated guns. Now, well, she's merely indifferent... I guess that's progress.

[Wrangler John]

Honesty is the best policy in all things. I met my wife at the shooting range, she was learning to shoot bullseye with a 3rd Series Colt Woodsman Match Target and a customized 1911. Her boss practically gave the pistols to her so she could get started. She worked for a firearms distributor and manufacturer. When she started the job she was so naive she thought the place was operated by the mob, but she needed the job. She soon learned guns were fun. The only mob she had to contend with were the old grumpy owners and gunsmiths.

I worked with a guy that loved guns, but wasn't allowed to have them in the house. When they had a son and a daughter, daddy wasn't allowed to talk about guns, or have gun magazines in the house. His wife found pictures of rifles that the boy had cut from magazines outside the home, she left the old man for a couple of months and took the kids with her. Taught him a lesson.

So, there you are. Women are funny about such things, if they don't appreciate everything you do, maybe even join in, then there will always be a undercurrent of tension and suspicion. You will be blamed for caring more about your guns than her every time you make her angry. If she's the type that needs to be coddled about guns, dump her and move on. Just my opinion.

[luvtolean]

If you're looking for a PIC to have some fun with, then whatever.

If you're looking for a real relationship, and guns aren't a "phase" for you, you have to get it out there. Don't be goofy about it, just, "What'd you do last weekend?"...<blah blah..How about you?> "Man, had the best time at the range, bought a new Glock etc etc..."

I'm not sure I ever discussed guns with the second to last girl I ever dated. But it wasn't going to be marriage.

As the relationship progressed with the lady who became my wife I made it clear, guns, motorcycles and racing were me, and were not open to her restrictions (for me or any unborn kiddos) beyond financial/time issues said hobbies might cause the household.

[97F1504RAD]

How about instead of telling her you love guns, Simply tell her you enjoy target shooting that may go over better than saying I love guns.

[zvardan]

If your love is limited to mostly guns, you might want to consider expanding your hobbies a little bit.

Don't get me wrong, I love guns too, but you'll be hard pressed to find a girl who will be satisfied with just that.

[blockfort]

I second the comment that it helps if you're in to some form of shooting sport. I tell girls that I compete in pistol shooting a couple of weekends a month. If they make a strange face, I tell them "hey, come on, shooting is in the Olympics, how bad can it be". And then I tell them that my sport is even more fun; they time us to run through a shooting obstacle course. If they don't think that sounds either fun or adventurous (or hot!), then it's a sign of some serious incompatibility with how we like to enjoy ourselves. She should at least be neutral, but supportive or interested would be better. Now just letting her know that you compete or shoot for fun is one thing, you don't have to show her how much you love all things gun related, or how excited you get; that can come out only if she's into it. Let her know that sometimes you go shooting, that you're not the stereotypical gun freak, and see how they react. Guns are much more popular now, and you'll be surprised how many girls are in to them too but keep it hidden.

[MiddleKingdom]

Sigh, I might just say that I'm a chubby Asian kid that still lives at home and has a collection of guns and all he does just talk, breath, shoot, clean guns. I am not sure what to say when she asks what my favorite hobby is.

That was me in the 90's minus chubby. You will always have your passions, but your priorities change. A gal I dated showed interest in handguns so we had a date at the range. She limp wristed my P226 and ended up with a stovepipe. I asked her to place the gun down on the bench, but she wanted to know how to clear it. I told her I'd show her, but I insisted that she should put down the gun first. Man, did she give me grief later on the drive home. She felt that I should show her how to clear the weapon right then and there. I knew that was the beginning of the end.

How about instead of telling her you love guns, Simply tell her you enjoy target shooting that may go over better than saying I love guns.

I really agree with this. Save the passion for later down the road if all things work out.

[CAHighSierra]

Anyone who thinks another person is psyco or has "issues" because you own and shoot guns is not worth involving in your life. One thing you have to remember when dating a woman, theres no "changing" them. People are who they are and if they dont fit your lifestyle, keep on truckin. There should be no shame in a relationship.

[Nor Cal Scot]

I've been back on the dating scene for a while. Friends hooked me up, had a match.com profile, etc. To me, it all depends on how much time you have to waste. For me, life is short. To spend two months with someone and then have things go weird because you are a gun guy...that's a precious time wasted. Fortunately now, my friends hooked me up with a great gal that loves to shoot. She even expressed interest in buying one yesterday.

So, I personally tell them right away... I usually say, "I enjoy all sorts of hobbies...backpacking, hiking, fishing, shooting, guitar, etc." Throw it in there with other things to show I'm not just a gun nut.

It's really up to you...wanna get laid? Don't tell them and get er done. Think there is long term possibilities? Bring it up so you don't waste your time.