Why Take a Ladies-Only Firearm Class?
When New Mexico passed its Concealed Carry Legislation and instructors had to be certified by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, I was an NRA instructor and would assist a friend with his Concealed Carry classes. At breaks, the women would always come up to me and ask me questions. It was obvious they didn’t want to express their concerns or ask for more information in front of a class of 30 men. My friend encouraged me to become a certified concealed carry instructor and teach ladies-only classes. I have been doing so, along with co-ed classes, ever since.
There are several reasons why a woman may prefer to take a firearm class from a woman with other women. When I conduct my ladies-only classes I ask each student why she signed up and the response I get is usually because she is scared, nervous or afraid of guns; or that is what she feels is the right answer to say because society teaches her that she should be afraid. Sometimes I hear that a male relative or friend tried to teach her but was too impatient, or there was no one to teach her. I have found that women want to learn to shoot to get over their fears, learn safety and to feel empowered and confident.
One bad experience is all it takes to make anyone uncomfortable around firearms. My own first experience with a handgun was no different. I was in my mid-twenties and the man I was dating decided I needed to come to the range with him and his friends so I could shoot his 50 caliber Desert Eagle pistol. It was an open space range in Nevada; there were no berms or range safety officers. I stood at the line in the dirt (had my ear muffs and safety glasses on, thank goodness for that), brought the heavy pistol up took a breath and jerked the trigger. Several things happened at the same time: the recoil knocked the pistol out of my hands (I wasn’t shown how to grip it correctly), and the recoil also pushed me backwards, right onto my butt! My boyfriend and his buddies were laughing for quite a while after this and I didn’t touch a pistol again for years. Their message made me feel that I had stepped into a “man’s sport” and that I didn’t belong. I associated shooting a firearm with being stupid, afraid I would get hurt and being embarrassed by my first encounter with a pistol.
Years later my brother taught me to respect firearms, understand that they are just tools and to respect myself by teaching me to shoot and treating me with respect. My brother was a Sergeant in the Air Force, in the Security Police. We went to an indoor range in Las Vegas, Nevada and before I even touched the pistol he went through the basic gun safety rules: Always point the muzzle in a safe direction, always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot, always keep the firearm unloaded until you are ready to shoot and know what is beyond your target. He took the time to show me how to properly grip the handle, how to stand (a Weaver stance), how to properly line up the sights for a sight picture, how to breath through the shot and how to squeeze the trigger. We practiced a while with an unloaded firearm, then he showed me how to load it, make it ready then squeeze off my first shot. That first shot was exhilarating and scary all at the same time! I felt empowered because I felt strong and capable. I realized that with proper training and respect shooting can be fun for anyone. We must have shot about 100 rounds that day and I will forever be thankful to my brother for taking the time and having the patience to work with me.
In a ladies-only, class the female instructor understands that society has taught most women to be afraid of firearms, that the media drums into women that we should stand and scream or, worse yet, wait for prince charming to protect us. The world seems to say that women cannot handle a gun. A ladies-only class helps us to “normalize” the sport of shooting and helps us understand that all women are strong and don’t need to be rescued by a man. Currently in society, women are taking back their power. For example, the #metoo movement where women are stepping up and showing solidarity by demanding we be seen and heard in instances of abuse. Women are protesting to have legal control over decisions about their own bodies. It is no different for us to demand our right to defend ourselves and our families, as it is a right guaranteed us by the US Constitution in the Second Amendment. Recognizing that we have the right to learn how to shoot whether for sport, hunting or self-defense is in itself an empowering action.
True ladies-only classes are taught by women, for women. Women carry and learn differently than men. I have seen this over the years as an educator and researcher while studying learning differences between women and men for my Ph.D. in Education. Women are multi-taskers, we do several things at once. Tell us two or three things to work on and we’ll go crazy trying to work on all three at the same time. Tell a man two or three things to work on and he’ll work on one until he is satisfied that he has it, then move onto the next, then the next. Most women need to know why they are doing something; we need the whole story. Why do I have my three fingers on the grip and index finger on the frame while drawing from a holster? Most men want you to tell them, in as little detail as possible and getting to the point, then they’ll do it. Most women need a sense of community or feeling as though we are all in this together, while for most men it’s a competition; who is better, faster, more accurate. Most women will support each other, cheer each other on, becoming empowered together.
One of my favorite things is to take a new shooter, instruct her in firearm safety, then let her shoot. The big smile and sense of empowerment is priceless. For her, seeing and feeling that shooting a pistol isn’t hard and feeling empowered and accomplished at getting over a fear is invaluable! I am lucky enough to experience this dozens of times in my job as an instructor with Shoot Like A Girl (SLAG). Shoot Like A Girl is an organization which empowers women by introducing them to the shooting sports. SLAG has a semi-tractor trailer with a mobile range that travels the country. Women 16 and up can come into the trailer and shoot a military grade simulation using a pistol and rifle, then shoot a “test flight” with a compound bow. We take each woman through the gun safety rules, show her how to load a magazine, rack the slide, unload the magazine and properly put the gun down on the bench. It is so exciting to see these women, who are taught by women, get so excited after shooting. They want pictures of their targets and of us, the instructors! If you ever have an opportunity to attend an event, I highly recommend it, even if you already shoot.
By attending a ladies-only firearm class you will learn to safely shoot while at the same time build confidence and empower yourself. Perhaps you’ll even make a few lifelong friends.
Shooting sports is an industry where females are the fastest growing segment of the population. It only makes sense that there is a need for more ladies-only classes. Experiencing respect, gaining a sense of pride and being empowered is something you deserve!