How To Get Women Into The Gun Concept

This has been a hot topic of conversation for several months now, making national news of the record breaking number of women purchasing guns and getting concealed carry permits. There has also been an increase in the number of women seeking training in general self-defense tactics.

Still there remains an “antigun” biases with a large population of women. Some refer to it as the Suzy Homemaker Issue. Women have achieved being equals in our culture, but many still hold on to the thought process that the gun is the symbol of male violence and therefore something they want nothing to do with, even something they allow themselves to fear. It is a topic discussed by Susan Brown Miller in her book Against our Will. I acknowledge that there was a time and place in our history that that may have been true. But in today’s modern progressive society especially where a woman may very well be the head of her own household, the gun is a tool just like any other. It is not about male or female, it is about empowerment. As women we take on the role of Mother Bear to protect our cubs. We don’t have claws or teeth as does a real mother bear, so we need to get them artificially… guns, knives, kubatans, pepper spray, stun guns… these are all forms of claws and teeth we use to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

What I ask of all women is that you give yourself every opportunity to learn, grow and thrive in all ways possible. Learning to handle firearms for sport shooting or otherwise is a very empowering adventure and it changes your perception of “self”. It is very important for women to have positive female role models in the firearms industry. I strongly encourage you when seeking out a firearms training course, that you look for one that has a female role model on staff rather than an overall male environment. Especially if you are new and feeling timid. Knowing that there is someone like you teaching from a similar perspective will ease the experience.

It might not be for you, it might turn out to be the most exciting experience you have ever had, but it will spark a feeling inside you of YES I CAN. Take that and use it in your life. Learn… Grow… Thrive!

Resources for Women in the Firearms Industry
· Kathy Jackson- The cornered cat
· Gila Hayes- Effective Defense, The woman the plan and the gun, Personal defense for woman
· Paxton Quigley- Armed and Female

“They Support Us”

For the past 2011 Spring Turkey Season I was very fortunate to be on assignment for Game & Fish Magazine and on set for the production for the new season of Benelli on Assignment beginning July 1 on Outdoor Channel.  Although I am excited about every opportunity for a spring turkey hunt, this event will be one of my favorites and will always give me that warm and fuzzy feeling. Joe Coogan (Benelli Brand Marketing Manager and Host of BOA) and Cristie Gates, (Benelli Media & Exhibit Mgr) worked hard to bring several women from across the nation together for a hunt on the beautiful privately owned Sarco Creek Ranch, Goliad Texas. I don’t use that word lightly, the ranch was gorgeous and the people were just as beautiful. Milton Greeson was our gracious host, and John Welder was his right hand man and were very successful at making all the girls feel like a Princess!

I was pumped about being able to shoot the new semi automatic, Stoeger M3500 with the new Federal Premium Mag-Shok #7. I believe that all our guns were new on the market, and to us, which is sometimes a little intimidating, but with no delay, we were off to the gun range.  Ergo with expert instruction from Joe and Cristie, we patterned our guns and gained confidence! As with all hunts, the times between the hunts are where lots of memories are made. Bunking with the girls, talking til the wee hours of the morning, and then RISING in the wee hours of the morning, we all kept up the pace and it was somewhat exhilarating to be exhausted!

Joe, our gracious host for the show, had scheduled and organized for months to ensure the timely execution of the production and the turkey! It all worked out great, (although not always on cue, the turkey‘s did not realize they were the “stars“ of the show). The patience and perseverance of the girls, the guides, Joe, and the camera crew are all to be commended, and proved that with the right camo clothing and gear, you can hide up to 6 people from several turkey only a short 25-30 yards away!

I could go on about the hunt, and you can be sure I will another time, but I would really like to take this opportunity to praise the sponsors. It is very promising to see the industry support and encourage women to hunt. With Benelli taking the initiative, there were several companies that stood with them to make this hunt possible, and that is what truly gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling.

As Glen Beck might say, “They support us”, so I say, lets support them.   Please check out their websites and please remember them when you, or someone you love needs gear for the field:

www.BenelliUSA.com for the guns, the hunt, and the new found friends. Only the best for us! Thanx Joe & Cristie for all of your efforts. A job extremely well done!

www.HuntersSpecialties.com for supplying turkey gear for the hunt, with various calls, seats, vests, you name it they sent it.

www.FederalPremium.com for all the ammunition and also for Jason Nash who called in my Tom & Melissa Juneske who gets the “Roommate of the Year” award!

www.SHESafari.com for all the great camo clothing! We were Invisible and Cute! (As I always say, “Camo can be Classy”TM )

www.BurrisOptics.com for the awesome FastFire scopes attached to our shotguns! It is an amazingly helpful tool when aiming at that turkey’s small head down that big barrel!

www.HazelCreekTaxidermyInc.com for the realistic decoys that brought them in close, and also the expert calling lesson!

www.RealTree.com and http://www.underarmour.com for providing camo for the men and guides who led us to victory! (I will have to add, they were also Invisible and cute!)

“Thanx for the Memories……”

Babes with Bullets comes to Colorado next spring

It’s official—Kay Miculek and the Babes with Bullets (BWB) Ladies Action Shooting Camp are coming to Steamboat! This is a shooting camp for women only, taught by champion lady shooters. BWB is a wonderful introduction to shooting, or a great way to improve your skills if you’re already a shooter. The all-ladies environment really adds to the learning experience and enjoyment of the camp. Read more

Paige Eissinger – Member of The WOMA

Although a newcomer to the outdoor industry, Paige Eissinger is no stranger to the outdoors. She lives with her husband, Richard, on 113 acres of beautifully wooded property overlooking the Big Dry Fork Creek in central Missouri. Populated with deer, turkeys and other wild game, Sunnyside Farm is an ideal hunting spot for Paige and Richard.

Owner since 2000 of 2 Smart Chix LLC, a one-woman web and multimedia design firm, Paige is the web administrator for The WOMA web site and author of Tech Talk, a regular column on the site. Her background is in the technology field as a web site designer, blogger and podcaster. She hopes to bring a taste of technology to the many women (and men) who not only enjoy the outdoors but want to stay up-to-date on the latest tips, tricks and tools the Internet offers for their business and personal technology needs.

You can hear Paige “Chicki Chicki” Eissinger and co-host Kim Beasley, The Blog Queen on their bimonthly podcast, Views from the Coop, at www.viewsfromthecoop.com, or live on Blog Talk Radio, www.blogtalkradio.com/viewsfromthecoop.

Marti Davis – Member of The WOMA

Marti Davis, of Willard, Mo., is a field staff member for several outdoor companies including RedHead and Hunter’s Specialties.  She is a professional speaker and a coordinator for Women in the Outdoors (NWTF).  She also instructs Hunter Education and Bow Hunter Education courses.

Marti spends her day-job at a quarry scheduling deliveries, or as she likes to say, “telling men where to go all day long!”  This avid outdoorswoman can usually be found outdoors fishing, hunting or shooting whenever she’s not at the quarry or catching a few hours of sleep.  In the photo, she’s showing off a double-bearded tom, taken recently during Missouri’s shotgun season.