Everyone’s got a friend who’s “into guns,” just like everyone’s got a friend who’s “good with tools.” I wouldn’t trust anyone but a certified mechanic to service my brakes, so why would I entrust firearms training to someone who’s only a casual enthusiast?
The worst is the boyfriend/spouse who decides to teach his lady to shoot. They have the best of intentions, but there are right and wrong ways to teach this, and most of the time, the male doesn’t have the knowledge or understanding to teach shooting well.
The image above is a bit of parody, from on Kathy Jackson’s wonderful site, but it rings quite true. Experienced shooters will take notice of the fact that the subject is being taught the wrong grip and stance, and she’s being shown on a .44 Magnum–not the best choice for new shooters.
At least she’s wearing eye and ear protection.
There are a number of problems teaching your significant other (hereafter abbreviated as “SO”) to shoot. The first is that there’s an emotional bond between teacher and student, and that doesn’t work. Your SO will want, on some level, to please you, and that adds a layer of pressure to an endeavor that’s already stressful for newcomers.
Furthermore, you’re not going to be as detached as you need to be. Gun safety isn’t always cemented by positive reinforcement. Sometimes, you have to be stern. This can be sticky when you’re dealing with someone with whom you’re sharing cuddle time.
I’ve also seen this go horribly wrong, with overbearing guys who belittle their SO because they get frustrated. People learn at different rates, and women in particular are often trying to overcome prejudices and fears they’ve been fed all their lives regarding guns. They don’t need to have, “you’re not doing it right!” screamed at them on top of that.
Trust me, if I were involved (big hint here, ladies!), I’d let someone else do the training.
Lastly, there’s the issue of experience. Are you sure you’ve got the fundamentals down to the point you can teach them to others? Think about this. If you only shoot a couple of times a year, and you’ve never had any formal instruction, you’re not ready. There’s an order in which to do things, and there are ideas to impart that may not have occurred to you.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with seeking a third party for this. Nobody’s saying you’re a bad shot, or that you don’t know what you’re doing. There’s simply a difference between knowing and teaching, and the latter is best left to someone who’s done it before.