With the explosion in the number of new female shooters, gun clubs and ranges are making efforts to become more attractive to the demographic. Cameron McWhirter reports in The Wall Street Journal:
High-caliber shooting ranges are expanding their niche thanks to a new wave of gun-curious Americans, including women, minorities, liberals and the apolitical. About 26.2 million people became first-time gun owners in the past five years, catalyzed by the pandemic and subsequent social unrest and crime spikes, according to annual surveys of gun retailers by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a gun-industry trade group.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is pushing the trend with a new partnership last year with A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League. NSSF announced the partnership, which was through the foundation’s First Shots introductory program, writing:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is pleased to announce that A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League has become an official partner of NSSF’s First Shots® program, the introductory and refresher target-shooting program made available through host target-shooting ranges across the country.
Founded in 2011, A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League is a women-only gun club introducing women and girls to pistol, rifle and shotgun shooting. The league is designed to help women feel more confident and comfortable when learning about recreational shooting and training at the range.
With its more than 300 chapters nationwide, the collaboration of a A Girl & A Gun and NSSF’s First Shots program has the ability to reach thousands of first-time shooters as well as those who want to renew their interest in the shooting sports.
“The partnership between A Girl & A Gun and First Shots has the power to introduce countless newcomers and novices to recreational shooting, firearm safety and a supportive community that enjoys target shooting and training together,” said Zach Snow, NSSF Director, Member Development. “More and more Americans want to learn about recreational shooting and owning firearms for personal security, and First Shots has been designed to assist them by providing education in the classroom and experience on the firing line.”
By providing safe, fun and memorable educational experiences, First Shots partners and host ranges are having great success in attracting first-timers, further engaging new gun owners and reactivating lapsed participants. Surveys show that more than 43 percent of First Shots participants are converted to target-shooting enthusiasts, demonstrating that First Shots is fulfilling a need for providing a supportive environment to those who want to know more about recreational shooting and firearm ownership.
“A Girl & A Gun is proud to partner with NSSF to expand its First Shots program throughout our network. Because our specialty is welcoming women and families to firearms training, the program is a natural fit for our community. We are excited about working with the NSSF and our host range partners to introduce more people to recreational and defensive shooting and prepare them for long-term participation in the shooting sports,” said Robyn Sandoval, President & CEO of A Girl & A Gun.
Action Line: Whether you’re a man or a woman, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, your Second Amendment rights belong to you, and you should exercise them. Please, get training with qualified trainers. Get your gun and your training, now. Click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.
