so what's up with the women folk!

S

sltintexas

New member
I've noticed lately all the women in my life have taken an interest in shooting. I've been asking my wife for a while to go to the range... all of a sudden she has taken an interest in it. She has gone to the range with me over the past few trips and gotten to be a pretty good shot! She is taking her CHL class this weekend.

My sister called me when I was on the way home for a gun show. She mentioned her New Years resolution was to learn how to shoot a pistol. I told her that she could go to the range with me anytime. I called her back a few days ago and asked her if she wanted to go. She said a friend of theirs just took her to the range and she wanted to get a 22 revolver but her hubby was kind of against it. I told her that he'll come around. She is going to the range with me next week to try out a few of my guns.

I told my mom about my wife getting to be a good shot.. she said she had been thinking she needed a gun. She is going to go to the range with me as well.

I've decided, there are quite a few people out there that have a desire to have a handgun for protection & fun, but just don't know how to get started. Not too many people go out on their own, buy a gun, and start shooting with out a little encouragement or guidence from a friend.

Since I decided to bring it up more to my friends, my brother in law has expressed an interest.. and a few co workers. I took a friend to a gun show and he bought a 9mm and he's been to the range with me a few times.

Spread the word and give those around you an oppportunity to learn .. its been a pretty fun experience teaching 'em (not that I am any expert or anything.)
 
I took an interest in guns all on my own back in september. After thirty years of life, I just thought "I should really stop messing around and get a gun. After research and classes, I now carry every day. And so does my wife. And now a ton of people we know are commenting that they've been thinking about learning to shoot. It may be the dawn of a new firearms Renaissance. Or something.:cool:
 
Deep down inside people are getting a little scared. Seriously. Many, many people are starting to think about these sorts of things.
 
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Good post. You never know who's interested until you ask! :)

Women are the fastest-growing demographic among gun owners, and the majority of women purchasing firearms for the first time are doing so for defensive purposes. There are a lot of us out here.

pax
 
Women are the fastest-growing demographic among gun owners, and the majority of women purchasing firearms for the first time are doing so for defensive purposes. There are a lot of us out here.
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I think you're right on that. My local range has "Lady's Night" where women can shoot for $5 (regularly $18). I took my wife last week and the lanes were packed. Most were husband/wife teams but there were quite a few mother daughters and one lane had the whole family (dad, mom, brother, and sister). Pretty neat to see! Can't wait to get my mom out there!
 
Deep down inside people are getting a little scared. Seriously. Many, many people are stating to think about these sorts of things.
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Do you really think it is from getting scared or is it not part of the whole "nesting" thing that is said to be occurring population-wide, you know, spending on food storage, learning to can, taking cooking classes, finishing that degree? For me, it's more about nesting, and checking off the things on my list as I join in the collective "growing up." IMHO. :) Plant a vegetable garden, upgrade the windows, learn to use a gun.
 
Do you really think it is from getting scared or is it not part of the whole "nesting" thing...
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I think that they are one in the same. People are seeing hard times ahead. Those times reflect the lack of preparation, ability and knowledge on the part of many. Those with a basic awareness are taking steps to correct those deficiencies. Whether that means learning to can vegetables or finishing a degree or preparing to protect oneself depends, of course, on the individual.
 
When I bought my wife her little S&W Model 60 3" stainless .357 as a wedding gift, a great many people thought we were nuts! There were the usual jokes about her getting angry and using it on me, etc. I would in turn joke about her wedding gift to me, a Ruger Gp100 4" stainless .357 and the fact that it carried an additional round.

Then we started taking friends and co-workers to the range with us. A gal in my wife's office now shoots at our club. Several teachers, male and female, from my job have come out and learned basic firearms safety and the joy (and stress relief!) of shooting. I've even taken a few former students and had great success with the gals, especially the ones off to college in big cities far from home.

It's evolution!
 
"I took an interest in guns all on my own back in september."
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I too took an interest all on my own last May and I took an intro class. Then i Novemeber, I finally got the funds to get a handgun. I signed up for another class in December, when suddenly my husband decided he was interested. Since then, he got a handgun, we both took a Self Defence in the Home class, and I've gotten an evil black rifle.

I have recently discovered that my boss and his wife are in the process of discussing learning to use, and getting a gun. I have volunteered to take them to the range and have also given them the info on the classes I took. My husband has also found a female co-worker who is interested in learning more about guns (her bf is a gun nut, but they scare her a bit), so I sent her the same info I sent my boss.

There are a lot of people that are interested (or already have guns), but until I started actually talking about going to the range and taking classes, they didn't say anything. I think they are somewhat afraid that they will say something and find out the person they are talking to is a big anti-gunner. I know I didn't really mean to say anything around my boss because of that assumption - glad to find out I was wrong about him!
 
Ginger said:
Do you really think it is from getting scared or is it not part of the whole "nesting" thing that is said to be occurring population-wide
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+1

A lot of folks, both women and men, have decided that taking out a second mortgage for a couple jet skis, or buying another pair of Manolos, might not be the wisest thing to do. A lot of us who grew up listening to Grandma's tales of surviving the Depression feel like we just woke up from Never-never Land, and suddenly knowing how to grow a vegetable garden and use the shotgun in the closet and change our own oil seems a lot more important than another bead or trinket.
 
My friend is the same way. She likes going to the range and all but really didn't feel the need to get her permit.

One day she asked if I could leave my P11 in her room at night. "If someone broke in, I don't think my yelling would wake you up right away".:o

Then a week later while watching the news about local break-ins, sexual assaults and drug activity, she decided it was time to get her permit.

And...just last night she said, "I want my own gun" to which I pointed out the P11 I loaned her. "No, it's not mine though. I want you to buy me one.".:rolleyes: Yeah, with what money?

I sold my SP101 recently to fund a Kahr K9, picking it up (hopefully) today. I have a distinct feeling it'll get commandeered in the near future.

Oh, and my friend's VERY left leaning GF has recognized self protection early on. Every time we hit the range, she brings her SP. Ironically it was apparently used in a murder/suicide a long time ago, but it doesn't seem to bother her.
 
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The biggest thing you can do to encourage people to admit their interest in learning, is just talk about going shooting like it is a normal weekend warrior activity like any other, such as golf, cycling, jogging, rock climbing, etc. I have found that when someone asks what I am doing this weekend, just saying I am going shooting at my sportsman's club is an effective response. Sometimes, you get questions right away. Sometimes you get that anti-gunner drivel. Sometimes you get silence and a broken off conversation. Sometimes you find a kindred spirit. BUT if you just continue talking about it over time like it is normal and tons of fun ALWAYS you find some people who will approach you privately and want to go. Take them. It never fails and I say this living in California's capitol city. Even here, where folks are deathly afraid to admit they are afraid or want to learn to shoot for any other reason, if they see a genuine opportunity to learn, they will jump on it. It has gotten to the point where I have several thousand dollars tied up on firearms and equipment purchases solely to have on hand to teach kids, or small women, etc. Guns I never shoot any other time because I have no interest in them but use only to teach others.
DO NOT LET THE ANTI MARGINALIZE AND VILIFY SHOOTING. talk about shooting like it is as legitimate as city league softball.
 
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I am a 68 yr old snow white haired woman. I now have 3 handguns. I got my permit last October (about 1/3 of the class were women) and joined a range that has free Wednesdays for women. I am learning gradually and need a lot of help and more expertise. I wish more women would learn to protect themselves better.

I am of homestead stock (grandmothers had shotguns), my mother had a Victory Garden in WW2, and I have gardened (fruits/vegetables/flowers) since I was in my 20s. I used to can, but that was a pain. Freezing is much easier. I had 2 mini orchards but none now. I am trying to grow 'organic' vegetables in containers for my son-in-law and the kids. The back yard is full of flowers or will be soon again.

My renewed interest in guns has nothing to do with this back to the land thing. I believe we need more self protection now. I started getting antsy a year ago last spring and started looking for information on permits.

I guess one does learn by doing things wrong - bad way though I think. I first under lubed 2 guns and had trouble cycling - I think. I added extra lub on the slides and had zero problems for the first time ever. Last week I think I over lubed the guns and had feed failures again. Today, I added just a tiny bit to one sides of the rails. I will find out next week If I am finally starting to figure out what I am doing. Last Wednesday, I loaded my magazines and walked into the range with them. Two older guys started laughing and pointed out how many magazines I had (9). One guy showed me his luger from WW2 and I showed them my old Beretta and 2 new concealed guns. It was amusing.

I first got a gun 41 yrs ago when I was chased in my car by guys in a car in the country. They were chased away by my husband with a shotgun. The sheriff would not let me get a gun for protection, so I went to the neighboring state and bought a Beretta for $61 (wow). I just got this gun cleaned by a gunsmith and found parts on the internet for another magazine and extra springs for $69. I barely remember this gun. It looks odd with the long barrel.

I go to the range every Wednesday and only over the last month have I seen any other women. Most look at my white hair, smile, and say it is their first time. I guess they were not expecting someone like me. I think I made them more comfortable. I hope. The permit classes here are full for months. I hope many classes have women in them.

By the way, I did buy the NRA Eddie Eagle DVD for my grandkids. Last night my 4 yr grandson spotted it and wanted to look at it. I told him to wait a while longer. My daughter thinks they are too young to learn yet but her cousin's husband plans on getting a shotgun for home defense and my grandkids will be at their house from time to time. Also, my grandson is starting to play 'shooting' games with other kids now. I think it is time. I do keep my guns locked up with combination locks (when they are not on me).
 
More women interested

You go, Carolmo.

I got my license (a CHL in Texas) in 2005. There were several women in the class. One of them was a top shooter. I notice a few more women at the ranges. Some of them are just starting out and are being taught by their well-meaning, but condescending husbands. They should get real instruction, but that will probably cause a domestic dispute. Others, like yourself, are more experienced and practicing on their own or with others.

I agree with lawboy about just talking about shooting like you're talking about going to the store, that it's an activity that is as normal as anything else.
 
took wifey to the range again tonight for "family night". Saw lots of husband wife teams and few there with their kids.

Dang wifey is getting to be a REALLY good shot. I saw one guy look down range and then walk down to our stall to see who was shooting. HA, YEAH, THAT'S MY WIFE!

We are taking our CHL classes tomorrow! We went out looking at guns tonight after dinner. She is starting to get educated on what she likes and doesn't like. I have given her very little of my opinion. I just told her what ever she picks out, lets do some research on it.. and our home range has a ton of rental guns we can test out.
 
Three of the guys I work with carry. Three of the ladies have talked about it, but have not followed through. I've offered to do a range day so they could try their hand...no takers! :confused: Maybe this summer!

Mark
 
As the country's economic situation worsens, the thin veneer of civilized behavior wears off quickly. About 4 months ago, I purchased my first gun, at the young age of 68. I have since bought 2 more firearms, and have at least 3 more on my "want list". Shooting is a great hobby, and I have met some great people in gun stores and at various ranges. But the best part of this new found interest is the feeling of self-empowerment that being a gun owner brings. I'm liberal leaning, but I'm also a strong defender of the second amendment. Remember that one of the first steps toward a dictatorship is to disarm the citizens.:)​
 
carolmo - good for you! I wish I was near enough to go shooting with you some time. :)

I have yet to see another woman shooting at my range. Saw one at the firing line last week, but she appeared to be just watching her boyfriend shoot. Ladies night is usually me and a couple of guys. Could be there are more women members and I just haven't seen them yet, I don't know.
 
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