Women With Guns soon to be mainstreamed

[Tucker's Mom]

Now....THAT is so cute!! Did you photoshop this one yourself? 'haven't seen this one before....

[gdcleanfun]

Now....THAT is so cute!! Did you photoshop this one yourself? 'haven't seen this one before....

Nah, it's from photobucket.com.

[merischino]

I'm glad to see this video. The funny thing is, I'm one of the women driving this trend (I'm a newbie all-around).

What the video didn't talk about was gender-issues for women learning about, researching, and purchasing guns. For example, there was some talk about the pink guns and the ladysmiths, but none of the real-life scenarios i've read about and lived in the past few weeks where those girly models are pushed by the salespeople who quite simply are uninterested in listening to the actual questions the accompanied woman asks - driving all the "answers" towards the man, driving all the "answers" for the unacompanied woman towards the what I'll call a kind of lowest-common-denominator girl's gun.

Lowest Common Denominator Girl's Gun? First sales direction: aim the woman to the revolvers. Second sales direction: aim the woman to the pink revolvers. Third sales point, if still no sale, aim the woman towards the absolute lightest/smallest high-quality revolver in her established caliber or price range. If neither of her preferences suit your recommendations, correct her and point her towards your reccommendation. My actual experience in over 9 different gun stores over the last 3 weeks is that the progression generally goes: S&W Ladysmith then Pink then Airweight then Judge then Airweight then CIA Special then airweight then SP101 then airweight. or some similar back and forth.

I found that the salesmen (with one notable exception) universally seemed sincere in wanting to help, but balancing sales goals, sales experience, and gender expectations just plain sort of seems (to me) like a bad mix. That one notable exception was the only salesman I encountered who just plain had his own conversation/lecture completely irrespective of any very specific and pointed question I might ask. I.e. "I'm looking for concealed carry options that are hard to find specifically non-tactical thigh holsters for women. Do you have any?" and the response being admittedly in the category of "holster" but lasting for over 2 solid minutes of holster-y information that never implicitly or explicitly answers the question, never really makes a quality statement or judgement on the type of holster requested, and never quite manages to make an alternative holster recommendation, and ultimately ends with, so are you going to buy xyz gun today?"

Now, I've done a lot of legwork like the video says women are likely to do. Why does everyone I talk to assume, even when I've asked a question that is specific and direct, that I am a completely blank slate upon which they can draw their own pictures?

The good news in this story is that, as I mentioned above, everyone seems to be good natured and sincerely interested in being of help.

The other part is, I'm really hoping that when I send my feelers out I will find that there is a strong community of women carriers -- both online and, ideally in my locality as well -- with whom I can learn and practice. I have been to all the local ranges and haven't seen any ladies' nights posted but will keep my eyes peeled.

[gdcleanfun]

I'm glad to see this video. The funny thing is, I'm one of the women driving this trend (I'm a newbie all-around).

What the video didn't talk about was gender-issues for women learning about, researching, and purchasing guns. For example, there was some talk about the pink guns and the ladysmiths, but none of the real-life scenarios i've read about and lived in the past few weeks where those girly models are pushed by the salespeople who quite simply are uninterested in listening to the actual questions the accompanied woman asks - driving all the "answers" towards the man, driving all the "answers" for the unacompanied woman towards the what I'll call a kind of lowest-common-denominator girl's gun.

Lowest Common Denominator Girl's Gun? First sales direction: aim the woman to the revolvers. Second sales direction: aim the woman to the pink revolvers. Third sales point, if still no sale, aim the woman towards the absolute lightest/smallest high-quality revolver in her established caliber or price range. If neither of her preferences suit your recommendations, correct her and point her towards your reccommendation. My actual experience in over 9 different gun stores over the last 3 weeks is that the progression generally goes: S&W Ladysmith then Pink then Airweight then Judge then Airweight then CIA Special then airweight then SP101 then airweight. or some similar back and forth.

I found that the salesmen (with one notable exception) universally seemed sincere in wanting to help, but balancing sales goals, sales experience, and gender expectations just plain sort of seems (to me) like a bad mix. That one notable exception was the only salesman I encountered who just plain had his own conversation/lecture completely irrespective of any very specific and pointed question I might ask. I.e. "I'm looking for concealed carry options that are hard to find specifically non-tactical thigh holsters for women. Do you have any?" and the response being admittedly in the category of "holster" but lasting for over 2 solid minutes of holster-y information that never implicitly or explicitly answers the question, never really makes a quality statement or judgement on the type of holster requested, and never quite manages to make an alternative holster recommendation, and ultimately ends with, so are you going to buy xyz gun today?"

Now, I've done a lot of legwork like the video says women are likely to do. Why does everyone I talk to assume, even when I've asked a question that is specific and direct, that I am a completely blank slate upon which they can draw their own pictures?

The good news in this story is that, as I mentioned above, everyone seems to be good natured and sincerely interested in being of help.

The other part is, I'm really hoping that when I send my feelers out I will find that there is a strong community of women carriers -- both online and, ideally in my locality as well -- with whom I can learn and practice. I have been to all the local ranges and haven't seen any ladies' nights posted but will keep my eyes peeled.

Welcome to usacarry.com. Glad you are here. My husband says that he gets the same look when he deals with inexperienced sales people. I know that look well. It’s as if the sales person thinks to him/herself, “I will stop in my tracks because I just heard the same question that I just answered but it’s being asking again, so I’ll give the same answer!” lol So, I continue to ask until they stop in their tracks and then really listen to the question and usually by the third or fourth time they figure out what it is I’m asking and they then give me a satisfactory answer. We have two, and probably many more, CCW instructors here, Glock Fan and Netentity; they often give no-nonsense answers to very-pointed questions. They will let you know if they don’t know something.
BTW, there are a few people here on this web site that don’t like this forum, and for whatever reason who don’t like me for starting this forum. If you care to use it, you have an ignore list option in your User CP (control panel) where you can silence their nonsense.
Again, welcome.

[G50AE]

...an increasing trend for women with guns coming into the mainstream.

So I am confused, was it gunowners or women that were previously considered to not be part of the mainstream? I have never considered either demographic group to be out of the mainstream.

[OngoingFreedom]

Last year I decided to finally get my HCP in Tennessee (Handgun Carry Permit). The starting point was to take the (all day) class, and since I was buying a handgun and it would be in the home I suggested to my wife that she take the class with me to reduce fear, for education and to improve her competency with it should she need to use it. She agreed.

Lo and behold nearly half the class were women and so was the instructor. One couple was taking the class as part of their wedding anniversary celebration! My wife appreciated the instructor's patience and my keeping comments/suggestions for her to myself as she felt intimidated that I knew a lot (former military) and she did not. I let the instructor do her job and wanted my wife to feel as comfortable as she could.

Well.

After getting our certificates and driving home she dropped a bomb on me...



"Can I get my HCP too?"



NEVER thought she would want one! Not only does she now have her HCP but has her own gun (one that she chose) and carries as well.

[gdcleanfun]

Last year I decided to finally get my HCP in Tennessee (Handgun Carry Permit). The starting point was to take the (all day) class, and since I was buying a handgun and it would be in the home I suggested to my wife that she take the class with me to reduce fear, for education and to improve her competency with it should she need to use it. She agreed.

Lo and behold nearly half the class were women and so was the instructor. One couple was taking the class as part of their wedding anniversary celebration! My wife appreciated the instructor's patience and my keeping comments/suggestions for her to myself as she felt intimidated that I knew a lot (former military) and she did not. I let the instructor do her job and wanted my wife to feel as comfortable as she could.

Well.

After getting our certificates and driving home she dropped a bomb on me...



"Can I get my HCP too?"



NEVER thought she would want one! Not only does she now have her HCP but has her own gun (one that she chose) and carries as well.

Yes! Woot! Woot! Good job all around! Congrats and WTG to you both!

Is your wife a member of USA Carry too? There are lots of us women here, more every day it seems.

If not already, you can sign up/renew an NRA membership with a discount thanks to Luke, the owner of USA Carry. See here or here.

[Hildab]

Am on a ladies only tactical team, women are coming out of the woodwork and wanting to learn how to shoot. We are all about promoting women in this sport, why not there are plenty of gun designs for smaller hands, and many women only shooting groups.