[Guardian]

Hello all, this is my first post on this forum. I've read a few posts already but would like to hear some of your opinion's on my situation.

I am 26, my wife is 24 and my daughter is 13 mo. We live in a very respectable part of town.

Last week I my buddy told me a story about how he was mugged and spent 3 hours begging for his life. Obviously he was able to get out of the situation. However, this story reaffirmed my desire to take proactive measures to protect myself and more importantly, my family, from the sickos.

When we found out my wife was pregnant nearly two years ago my first reaction was that I will be responsible for my family's safe keeping. I said to myself, I need to get some protection. That was two years ago.

I purchased a Mossberg 410 pistol grip pumper to keep in the closet about a month ago. (Before my buddy's recent story). My wife, raised as a radical Liberal was totaly against guns. I was able to persuade her into allowing me to keep the shotgun in the house and loaded. I took her to the range and taught her how to shoot it. She asked me 4 or 5 times in the next two weeks, "when are we going to the range again"? I was overcome with excitement because I felt that she had a new interest in guns and truly enjoyed shooting.

This was always a concern of mine when we became a "serious item".

Then I asked how she felt about getting her permit and carrying a pistol in her purse. She told me she would think about it. I of course interpreted this as, "sure".

So today I bought a .380 Bersa Thunder. My plan was that hopefully she'll like it and it can be her primary carry weapon. If not, it can be my back up when I get my Kimber, and I'll get her what she likes to shoot.

Well, not 2 hours after I bought the thing she told me that she had told her CRAZY liberal Dad (mom wasn't around much and Dad became the knight and shining armor) that I had bought her a shotgun. He explained he was WAY against this, obviously. I then asked her, "well, what did you tell him". She says, "I told him I agreed, but somehow you convinced me to keep a loaded gun in the house". My hopes and dreams were crushed.

Not only was I excited that my wife would allow me to keep loaded weapons around, I was excited that she would carry and that gave me comfort. I also took a great joy in knowing that our relationship and our kids' relationships would grow stronger at the shooting range in the next 20 years.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, at the same time I'm going through a long chain of emails with my immediate family about owning guns, carrying, keeping loaded guns around... My dad just recently started carrying after 25 years of telling me "guns are bad" (Talk about a 180), my sister is open to ideas, but not a gun nut by any means, and my mom thinks she has the answer to everything and that I can teach my kids about guns but if I keep one loaded in the house, someone's gonna shoot someone.

Thank you to those you have read thus far...

So I'm in a very unfamiliar place. I NEED to find a way to bring my wife to our side. I'm not going to try to change her political beliefs, but I need to show her the reality of life and the existence of crazy lunatics that are mentally and chemically unstable, and that we have the right and we need to exercise the right to protect ourselves.

I plan on taking her to the range as often as I can. Getting my mom on board is not as important, because whether she likes it or not I will have loaded gunS in the house with my children.

Who has a pill that will make the ol lady understand that we need to have loaded, ready protection and that there are ways to nearly illiminate the chances of an "accident"?

My fingers are tired, thanks for listening!