Request for info: are more women buying handguns?

O

Oleg Volk

Staff Alumnus
I got an email asking for info on stats (which I'd imagine would be hard to compile with any degree of accuracy) on the increase, if any, on women's purchases of firearms in general and handguns in particular.
Sources of stats much appreciated, too.
Thanks.

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Oleg "cornered rat" Volk (JPFO,NRA)

http://dd-b.net/RKBA
 
YES!!! I have been spending a lot of time at the range with the wives friends teaching. They are actually starting to get it!
 
Free guns: Sure as long as you give it back after the range session. :) I always let people at the range shoot my guns, especially if they are looking at buying something I may have. I consider this common curtesy. Many people have done this for me when I was staring out so I could try differnt guns before I spent the cash on something I didn't really like. Good way to break the standard paranoid schitsophrenic stereotype and keep people involved.
 
Just speaking from personal experience, my last two handgun purchases went to my daughter and my wife.
(sigh) I can remember when the only guns on my firearms wish list were guns that I wanted!

[This message has been edited by Karanas (edited March 15, 2000).]
 
Search on Women and Guns magazine. They have a site. Or see if you can get a copy at Barnes and Noble.

They discuss this stuff quite a lot and probably can tell you.

There is also a professional level literature on gender issues and firearms that can be accessed through search engines at a college library. A librarian could help you.
 
Oleg -

I can say for certain that more women are buying guns and shooting them, at least in my area. I work parttime at a store/range. I have seen an enormous increase in the numbers of women coming into the shop, both to investigate buying, buying and shooting. Although many of them are wives of male shooters, a surprising number of them are single. One thing I can say is that two of our biggest referrers are women, one lady always (as in every time) comes in with a new friend to shoot.
Several things I believe influence this. We are in Northern Virginia, and crime is really filtering over from the Maryland/DC side since the light rail systems have been expanded. So the women who work late, or take the light rail, work in the malls, or just enjoy going out in the evening, are taking responsibility for their safety.
Also the local IPSC, SASS, and IDPA are reporting higher participation by women. ESPECIALLY the SASS folks, must have something to do with the dressing up ( ;) ).
I do not have any hard numbers, although as in many states the CCH lists are public record, one could do the research to see how many women are getting them.

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Freedom is not Free
 
I know that whenever I want to buy a new handgun, my wife complains that it cuts into HER handgun buying budget. And she has more than I do!
Good luck in your study,
Bill
 
The American Shooter show yesterday had a bit on women and CCW and said purchases were up.

I once gave a seminar to a bunch of TX female psychologists in training. When we went to lunch, I happened to hear two of them at the end of the table in a heated debate.

It was Glock vs 1911!

Interviewed a female Ph.D. yesterday and she said she was a serious Karate player and interested in self-defense - wants some gun training.
 
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