Julianna Crowder – WOMA Member

Julianna Crowder

aka The Glock Girl

512-293-9357

julianna.crowder@gmail.com

www.TheGlockGirl.com

www.AGirlandAGunClub.com

www.WomensSafetyAcademyTexas.com

My Journey:

I am a certified instructor for The WARRIOR in Every Woman (R), Concealed Handgun License Instructor for the state of Texas, Texas Hunters Education Instructor and a Certified Instructor with the NRA. My husband John Crowder and I host an IDPA club Capitol Area Practical Shooters. I am an active Safety Officer for IDPA and a new member to USPSA, with my sites on Multi-gun next. I was raised around firearms, but it wasn’t until 2004 that I developed an interest in competitive sport shooting, hunting and self-defense education. I am still on the path to becoming a hunter, but my passion for self-defense and education in respect to proper handling and use of firearms is in full gear!

In the spring of 2006, my husband John insisted that I get my concealed handgun license. I was less than impressed with the class I received. I decided that we could do it better, so I enrolled John for the CHL instructors course a few months later. John is the ultimate gun guy, and it made sense to me that with his experience, knowledge and ability to teach others that we had a great business opportunity with him as the instructor and I as the office manager. After 6 months of offering CHL classes, John encouraged me to become a CHL instructor so we could team teach our classes which brings perspectives from both male and female, and how that relates to self-defense, so summer of 2007 I joined the ranks! Late 2009 I began teaching on my own when John was not available to teach with me. At a networking function someone asked me what kind of gun do I carry and I answered “Glock”, and that day “The Glock Girl” was born!

What began as a business opportunity has become a quest! Before I took my first concealed handgun license class I didn’t worry too much about my personal safety, never thought anything bad would ever happen to me and if it did there would be a “Superhero” to save me. Fortunately nothing bad has happened to me, and I have become my own “Superhero” by taking an active role in my personal safety which has improved my odds of not being the target of a random violent crime. The goal is to inspire other citizens, especially women, to take control of their personal safety . It is not just about getting a license to carry a gun, it is about knowing how to safety use the firearms and for the appropriate reasons.

Through my own process of learning these skills, I understand that having a gun is only one tool in my tool box. I also incorporate other methods of self-defense into my plan, and have started a new path to become proficient with my knife, pepper spray and hand to hand techniques. I have been asked if I am paranoid, my answer is no. I am just taking control of my personal safety. No one else can do that for me, I have to be able to survive if that horrible moment ever occurs where I am the target of a crime. Having these skills will help me.

As for my growing passion for competitive shooting, that has been a different journey. I enjoyed being out with my husband and being one of the guys for many years. I never expected to be the Founder of A Girl and A Gun Women’s Shooting League. I am thankful for the hard road that led me to this new venture and for the first time I am taking a serious interest in my own growth in regards to shooting for sport, not just self-defense. A Girl and A Gun is going to tie those two concepts together and will be the super highway in Texas to expanding the number of female participants.