The DOs and Do NOTs of buying for your significant other  

Often on our business we see Well-Intention Men purchasing hand guns for their Significant other. Sometimes this is wonderful, but more often -- trust us -- it's not. 

There is nothing more frustrating than watching a woman smile and nod as she fills out paperwork to pick up a gift she has no interest in. 
 

If you are a male with a female 'other' and you REALLY want her to start to shoot, or conceal carry please (!) for the Love of Pete ...

1 - DO NOT do insane amounts of online research gethering the opinions of those who are not your female other, and the tell her what her opinion should be. 

2 - DO NOT spend crazy money. This isn't an engagement ring. You are not proving your love to her by buying the Most Expensive, Most Beautiful Thing on the Market. This is a tool, so remember it needs to be the best tool for her. (Not just the most popular tool you can find.) 

3 - DO NOT assume a pretty pink gun will make her want to carry and/or take it to the range with you. Unfortunately, colored, less-scary looking guns still don't hide the fact that it is a potentially dangerous tool she may, or may not want. 

4 - DO NOT surprise her with a gun you researched, found to be pretty, and purchased without her. If you think she would never buy one for herself, or if she has actually said, "I don't like guns" take the hint, and don't buy one for her. 

This gets into some complicated relationship things here, like buying her a snow shovel for Valentine's Day. 

Instead DO these things ...

1 - Aks her IF she even wants one. If yes, then take her shooting. Take along some friends and let her try out a lot of options. Revolvers, 9mm, conceal carry size, and my favorite, the Walther PPQ. 

2- ASK her if she enjoyed it, and listen to her carefully. 

If she did not, disengage and abort mission !! There is not much you can do at this point to encourage her to be a shooter, and pushing her will make her NEVER like it. 

If she did like it, YEAH for you!! Now is the time to practice all those good communication skills she has been trying to teach you. This will lead to happiness for all.

Here are a few questions we ask our clients that get the ball rolling ...

• How was the grip? Did it feel comfortable to hold?
• Can you see using it for practice, shooting with it all day? Or did it become irritating after awhile?
• Is you arm sore?
• Would you want to conceal carry?
• Would you consider conceal carry with gun-x or gun-y?

Once you have done your due diligence in communication, do some online research. Remember guns do not have to be new. For a first time owner sometimes simple and low cost is a great option. 

Check our redbeargunbrokers.com, Gunbroker.com, and other auction sites to help in the process. Many times that bright shiny pretty carry pistol is on there for half price.

Why?

Because some other schlub did all the aforementioned DO NOTs, and is now single trying to sell that never-been-fired expensive relationship breaker online.