More and more women 'coming out' as shooters

[penguinofsleep]

Just saw this. Glad others have noticed this trend too. As for this happening, to me it simply is. Not good or bad in and of itself imo, but it is encouraging to see a wider variety of people shooting now days.

Last time I was at the local range, it was a weekend (vs normal weekday trip) and every single lane was taken. However, this time when I stopped to look at my surroundings before shooting, it seemed like there were actually more women (and girls) shooting than men. Later after a few guys in some other lanes left, I think it would have been pretty safe to say there really were more women at that point.

With that being said though, a lot of them did look like new shooters, and like many new shooters in general, a lot of them (along with the men in their party, if any) didn't exactly know what they were doing and did create a few unsafe situations. This was including one where the person I was shooting with observed a barrel that was pointed very close to my head, finger on trigger, round chambered, after a pistol recoiled. I was told about this several seconds after it occurred (I presume when it was safe for them to step in and tell me) and I was about to go over and politely + tactfully give them all a few pointers. However, I guess the range staff saw this too as he had just rushed over with a very concerned look on his face and taught them very soon after. I saw similarly unsafe behavior, but not as bad, occurring during my time there (seemed unintentional).

What would those here suggest the best course of action is? For my own safety (and the shooter's), I will go over and tactfully/politely but very firmly correct blatantly dangerous behavior such as that described above, but do any of you have any suggestions that may be particular for female shooters? Keep in mind that this is when the actions/behavior is so widespread that the range staff can't watch over them all and I can't possibly be running up and down every lane to say something either w/o looking like a crazy. On a similar note, I do feel odd sometimes standing back carefully eyeing all the new shooters (who happen to be mostly female often times) for unsafe behavior for safety's sake, but I also know that this must have given some wrong impressions at one point or another to female visitors. Is there another way I can go about ensuring my own safety (or at least with female shooters, I know most guys won't think anything of it)?

[movie zombie]

perhaps, penguin, the range you use needs more range officers on weekends. i'd have a talk with management.

[RedFord150]

Male here, just adding to your list.
Queen Latifah was previously arrested for illegally carrying a handgun. Unfortuantely, she was also arrested om drug charges. I guess she is both a Gun Supporter and a Marijuana supporter. see link below;

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/feb/04/queen-latifah-held-on-gun-drug-charges/

[mosinnagantm9130]

I think people are aware that I'm male, but fwiw I think this thread is a good idea.

I think it has sticky potential.

[movie zombie]

Male here, just adding to your list.
Queen Latifah was previously arrested for illegally carrying a handgun. Unfortuantely, she was also arrested om drug charges. I guess she is both a Gun Supporter and a Marijuana supporter. see link below;

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/199...-drug-charges/

an update on a 1996 story would be interesting.

[Gem1950]

I think I saw where even Rachel Maddow (I know, I know) went shooting and enjoyed it but couldn't get past her liberal pathos. If women like her could be reached and taught that their ideas about public and personal safety don't jibe with the real world...it would be a giant step forward.

[RedFord150]

an update on a 1996 story would be interesting.

She is not currently in prison, has her own talk show, and is very well paid.
Other than this, not much I can find. I am guessing she keeps this part of her past buried pretty deep. I have not heard her speak publicly for or against gun ownership. No need. Her actions tell us everything we need to know.
If you are curious about her punishment or if she might now be a 'prohibited person', I have not been able to find that out. I am guessing with her money, she was able to hire some really good lawyers and get the best possible deal. Possibly even reducing the charges to something very inconsequential.

[savannah]

I honestly have to say I don't give a "fig" what famous women shoot guns, or if they shoot. I am an American citizen and I shoot. Fame does not give shooting more credibility nor does being a woman make me any different than any other red blooded American that wants to shoot.

I also don't buy tabloids.

[ElDub1950]

I honestly have to say I don't give a "fig" what famous women shoot guns, or if they shoot. I am an American citizen and I shoot. Fame does not give shooting more credibility nor does being a woman make me any different than any other red blooded American that wants to shoot.

I also don't buy tabloids.

[BonnieB]

To each his/her own. Not everyone cares what famous people do. Some people are so sure of their places in the world that they don't feel they need guidance. I often feel that way, but I'm older than god and wildly independent, as all know.

I sure wish someone had taught me to shoot when I was a girl. Or even that it was OK for me to learn to shoot. I wish I had even known that women shot, except for Annie Oakley or Dale Evans. I can't remember one single woman shooter, in real life, from my childhood.

Positive role models for girls and young women are critical to them finding their proper places in the world. Better that they role model on a humanitarian, a doctor or a First Lady, than some trashy pop star.

Positive role models for grown women, who are trying to take charge of their own safety, help those women to feel normal and mainstream, instead of feeling weird about it. I wish I had known a woman, any woman, who was a shooter or who carried, even when I was middle aged. All I knew then were guys, and they were so gung-ho, it turned me off.

It took me til I was in my sixties to arrive at the place where it tickles me to be seen at the range, out-shooting the 22 year old guy next to me. Sometimes I even wear pink.

I'm pretty clear that interest in role-models is age-based. That's why teenagers dress like pop-star hookers and talk like hip-hop stars when they are totally white-bread suburban. As we get older, we get more certain of who and what we are, and don't have to be wanna-be's any more. But I still want to be Katharine Hepburn when I grow up.

That said, civil discussion and differing opinions are the lifeblood of the Women's Forum and everyone deserves her/his say.

[savannah]

I truly believe in role models for young kids. Those role models should be the parents of the kids. When the kids show up at the range then it should be you and I that are role models, not Oprah or Whoopie.

I don't understand why someone who sings or plays a role on TV or in movies has more credibility. Yes, they have more visibility, but it is us that have given them that visibility. They are no smarter and definitely most of them should not be role models for our children.

I didn't recognize that I was not being civil. Just a differing opinion on who I would like kids today to emulate.

[jeremiah12]

I truly believe in role models for young kids. Those role models should be the parents of the kids. When the kids show up at the range then it should be you and I that are role models, not Oprah or Whoopie.

I don't understand why someone who sings or plays a role on TV or in movies has more credibility. Yes, they have more visibility, but it is us that have given them that visibility. They are no smarter and definitely most of them should not be role models for our children.

As a high school teacher I can say with certainty that there is a huge difference between what should be and what is, especially when it comes to teenage girls. Peer pressure, the overwhelming desire to fit in, and the societal pressure to be pretty and sexy cause so many teenage girls to stop seeing their old fashioned parents as role models. If the family is having issues to begin with, the girls are even more lost. These girls want to be popular so they look at those girls and young women that are popular and emulate them.

At my school, when a female student violates the dress code, we now take a picture. Parents will swear that their daughter was appropriately dressed when she left for school. When they see the clothes she was wearing, reality hits, they had no idea she even owned those clothes or was dressing like that.

It is extremely important to have positive role models to point out to teenage girls, as well as to women of all ages. As I stated much earlier, my mother's solution to protection from DV and living in a bad neighborhood was to get me a rifle when I was young. I was the oldest son, so at age 11 I had to kill to protect her and my siblings. She went through her 69 years of life, 5 marriages, more long term relationships than I can remember, always searching for a man to protect her because she was afraid to learn to use firearms. Every man she was with she made sure knew how to use firearms.

The mother of the only step-father that treated my like his very own son, grew up in the back country of Idaho and learned to use firearms from a young age. Everyone in the family had to hunt to put food on the table. She kept a .357 Smith and Wesson on her night stand and was deadly accurate with it. Her husband was a road construction worker and was away all summer. He never feared for her safety. He said he knew he could never lay a hand on her, he would only do it once and would not survive to tell about it.

We can sit back and let pop culture select the role models for those who are looking for role models or we can seek out the positive role models to present to show there are better alternatives.

[Untamed Cowgirl]

First off let me say hello to all of you at CG. I just joined!

I purchased my first gun two years ago. It is a California legal AK47 I now own two I liked it so much.

When I turned 21 I became interested in Pistols. Since then I have purchased a Glock 19, Glock 26, two Sig Saur SP2022, 2 New Ruger Vaquero sass edition revolvers in .38 Special

I have recently been drooling over Kimber Ultra Carry II (also the pro edition), and the colt defender.

I will always want a Walther PPK, hopefully someday that dream will become a reality.

I also own a Stoger double barrel shotgun and a Remington M887 shotgun, a mossberg 30-06 (for Hunting) and a Ruger 10-22 Breakdown.

I love all of my guns. Each shoot differently but I love having a variety. Each has its own purpose.

My point is in the five years since I have begun shooting and buying guns I love every second of being a gun owner and responsible operator.

[movie zombie]

welcome, Untamed!
yes, I have found with guns there is not "the one" as much as there is joy in variety.

[Gem1950]

welcome, Untamed!
yes, I have found with guns there is not "the one" as much as there is joy in variety.

Ditto!