Stanria: I'm happy that he wants to include you in this. That says alot for him! I think a good start - if he hasn't already - is to find a secure place to lock them up. We have gun safe.
We have guns. I have been around them all my life, but I have never shot one. I have knowledge of them, but not of shooting them.
It just wasn't something I have ever been urged to do. They don't scare me though. You need to do some soul searching about your fear. I do remember years ago when the children were babies one of the tools I had to use for my business was a rotary saw. It was loud, and it could chop off fingers if you didn't use it correctly - along with other things. I put on my safety gear, and did go slower than people normally do at first. With more use? I learned to respect the power tools that seem to scare me, and the fear slowly went away. That's NOT to say my measures to be cautious were not present. Those never left me. It turned into a more healthy fear - or respect for the tool.
With time and experience, and other important aspects like your husband treating them with respect? Those fears will start to lower, and you may find you like shooting. (Shrugs) Or you may not! It's a personal thing. Yet, conquering those fears - remember fear at times can be irrational. That's not a blow, cutdown, etc. It just is. I had an irrational fear of the saw. My heart literally was jumping out of my chest for a while. I knew in the back of my head that if I followed all the safety aspects, and wore the gear? I would be fine, and I needed to learn this for business anyway. My anxiety levels lowered with experience, and in the following years used that saw for things OUTSIDE my business. Personal things, people that needed help, etc. I could see their fear of the saw, and they couldn't believe I would just JUMP right in and do it. Yep, I recognized their reaction. I had it in the past.
This isn't a matter of submission. He also has a responsibility to treat your healthy/irrational fears with respect. There are plenty of bible verses to cover that - as I'm sure you know. The bible is also against coercion. Remember this a gentle balance in life, and in marriage!
It could also be a tool to raise your self confidence. You know you can face fears, and do it anyway. Do you know how many people ALLOW their fears to hinder things in their lives? they just plain refuse to move forward. What you might see as submission I see as strength. I found that I had less fear of other power tools, because I had faced the saw I feared. I respected the new tool, but my heart wasn't pounding through my chest this time.
Growing up I never saw such fear of guns as there is today. Many of the statements made are based in emotion, and it seems to me to scare people. No one in their right mind wants to shoot someone. I'm OLD at this point, and I don't know one person that ever has - outside war. Not one. Heck, I don't think I know anyone that knows anyone that shot someone. My children were taught from a young age - as I was - about weapons and the serious nature of them. People seem to forget that not every child grows up in an urban area, and the only time they have ever seen one was on TV. All tools need to used with respect.
Do this for yourself, and not your husband. It's okay later if you find this is NOT your cup of tea! Respect goes towards your direction as well, and if you don't want to go shooting one day? He can go alone. OR you can go without your gun.
I will tell you my H and I purchased our retirement property within the last 2 years. We went back to the rural environment. lol it is odd hearing people now shooting their guns in their ranges they have on their property. They do that to keep their skill up, and because we do have predators in the area. Honestly? I was surprised that my H never brought his weapon with him once so far. When I heard them shoot the first time? My Urban side kicked in...lol! I'm used to it now.
Discussions about guns is normal, and the respect for them is always present there. I find you learn a different mindset, and the fear turns to respect. That was opposite to our Urban home in which there is real fear there. When my kids were in Elementary school? The school found out my H goes hunting. We were told to come in to talk to them about the 'guns' we had in the home. Heck, they even brought in a police officer! Their ignorance was on full display, and even the police officer told them they needed to calm down. You should have heard them?! You would have thought we had toxic waste in the house or something. The officer was impressed with our approach, and told the school they needed to chill. Their meeting was based in 'fear' and not reality. lol they never bothered us again, but I know they were scared of us. (eye rolls) He wasn't a hunter, but a potential serial killer. (snickers) Talk about way past irrational fear here!
Have Patience with yourself! Even if guns never become your cup of tea? The respect part will grow, and the fear part will lesson more and more with time. It comes with experience!
