Seen At 11: New Research Shows Gun Purchases By Women On The Rise

February 6, 2012 11:55 PM

New poll numbers show that women are buying firearms in greater numbers than the past. (Credit:CBS2)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — New statistics show that women are buying firearms in increasing numbers.

Laurie Adamo, a Scarsdale mother of two, has been shooting for about a year. She said she took to it immediately. She told CBS2′s Kristine Johnson that she decided that she and not her husband would be trained and ready in case the worst should happen.

“I know that we’re OK and nothing will happen because I won’t let it happen. I think your perspective changes a lot when you have a child and you see things happening in the world,” she said.

Adamo may be part of a growing trend. The latest Gallup Poll on guns says that 47 percent of Americans now have guns, more than any time since 1993, and women are buying in increasing numbers. Twenty-three percent of women report that they are gun owners, that is up from 13 percent in 2005.

“Our membership has just exploded,” said Scott Bach, head of the New Jersey Association of Gun and Rifle Clubs. “People are waking up to the fact that they are responsible for their own safety.”

…

“The woman is usually the matriarch who is seeking training, where the husband seems to be reluctant. But the woman it’s like, hey you work in the city all day, what if like 9-11 you’re trapped in the city for a week?” Colandro said.

Shari Spivack is one of those women.

“I take my job as a mom very seriously. I’m responsible for my children. Having it (a gun) there is just another layer of protection. Hopefully I will never have to take it out,” she said.

But gun control advocates say they are skeptical of Gallup’s numbers, which show that serious gun violence has declined dramatically. They said that people who keep guns in their home ignore the danger.

Read the full article here:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/06/seen-at-11-new-research-shows-gun-purchases-by-women-on-the-rise/

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SHOTGUNS. AND WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE.

by Sally Hope

Yesterday was not the first time I shot a shotgun. I’ve been interested in guns ever since summer camp, as a kid, where I’d spend hours on the riflery field, shooting circular targets. It’s all I wanted to do. I didn’t care about canoeing or tennis or swimming. I wanted to shoot rifles. The sound of the shells popping out of the guns thrilled me. The sound of the pop of the bullet excited me. Running to my target to see how I did was so much fun I spent 90% of my summer camp time doing just that.

Growing up, guns were never part of my family. Hardcore liberal parents living in suburbia didn’t exactly give me a country experience growing up. And so I never realized how strong my draw to that lifestyle was, until now. Last year I spent the year shooting whatever I could get my hands on, and going to ranges and fields with whoever would take me.

Pistols, revolvers, .45s, .50s, rifles, 20 gauge shotguns, 12 gauge shotguns.

I shot targets. Potatoes. Clay pigeons. Water bottles. And I even gave myself a cranial beating with the kickback from the most powerful handgun known to man (not my proudest moment).

And so when the opportunity came up to go to a shotgun/skeet range, eat BBQ and drink whiskey with my girlfriends, I jumped at the chance.

READ MORE

http://sallyhope.com/uncategorized/shotguns-and-what-that-has-to-do-with-your-life/

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I have compiled a little group of my favorites so far, but it is a working list, so if you find something that fits this bill, add it in the comments and I will repost it.

For Her:

Personally, I love gun jewelry that is just a little unexpected, if you know what I mean. I like conversation pieces- little things that people who are in the know would get, but outsiders would find cool, too.  These are some of my favorite Valentine-worthy selections:

Hot Caliber Jewelry

Hot Caliber Jewelry - The Impact Earring: $250

The Bolt Face Necklace

From our friend Annette (AKA 30 Cal Gal), the Bolt Face Nekclace: $65

Bang Bang Boutique Range Bag

The Official Girl’s Guide Necklaces

Gold plated and silver necklaces from $75 to $120

• Silver Handgun
• Gold Handgun
• Silver AK
• Gold AK

For Him:

Hot Caliber Jewelry - Cufflink: $225

For Both of You:

Chocolate Weapons!!

Yummmmmm....

Fun for the Kids (or a really silly office)

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Magic Valley Women Gain Confidence Through Better Shooting Skills

By Andrew Weeks – aweeks@magicvalley.com | Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 2:00 am |

Ed Glazar * For the Times-NewsKris Rambur takes aim with her Glock 19 pistol Monday at the Twin Falls Rifle and Pistol Club as her friend Lisa Baily looks on. The women say that learning to shoot sparks more confidence and they feel better protected.

TWIN FALLS • Kris Rambur has seen it before — a calendar full of attractive women dressed in bikinis and holding guns.

The chauvinistic approach to women and guns makes her angry.

“Those things get me so riled up because those women don’t usually even shoot,” Rambur said.

The Twin Falls woman wants to help change the perception that guns are just a man’s hobby. Not all women are ignorant of guns, she said, just as not all men are gun savvy. She encourages women to become acquainted with firearms and to practice shooting, even taking classes to obtain concealed-carry permits.

There are at least three good reasons: It helps women have more confidence in themselves, she said, and gives them protection if they’re ever physically threatened by an attacker. And the third: Having a gun hobby is just plain fun, said Rambur, who target shoots at local ranges at least three times a week.

‘Bit by the Bug’

On Monday, she and friend Lisa Baily were at the TwinFalls Rifle and Pistol Club demonstrating their skills with firearms.

Hitting a bull’s-eye comes easy to these women. Baily, a 39-year-old Kimberly resident, started shooting about three years ago, while Rambur, 38, has been shooting since she was 17.

Her dad taught her about guns, how to hold a pistol, how to aim. But he never let her load them.

“He’d do things with the gun and then hand it to me,” she said. “I’d shoot it down range and then hand it back to dad, who’d reload it for me. So I never learned the mechanics of gun fundamentals until I took a class. That’s when the drive began. I just got bit by the bug.”

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/lifestyles/recreation/magic-valley-women-gain-confidence-through-better-shooting-skills/article_89b175a9-2f44-57ca-99ee-be13a592e64c.html#ixzz1lF76jkOm

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OK, I just made that up. There is no such thing as Zombie Apocalypse Tuesday. But there *is* such a thing as the Zombie Apocalypse Store.

I can honestly say, I am not much of a zombie planner. But with the rise in popularity of all things zombie, I have become aware that this is an area to which I need to dedicate some serious attention.  Hornady has zombie ammo. Duracoat has zombie paint. The Zombie Shooters Association is growing my leaps and bounds. Even the Center For Disease Control has zombie preparedness warnings. Clearly, I have been living under a rock. But no longer! I am now officially prepared for the coming onslaught thanks to the kind folks (living and undead) at The ZAS. Check it out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

PS- The Zombie Shooters Association is going to LOVE this!

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To find out more info on the Sensory Safari, check out this page: http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_id=242

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Dear Manufacturers,
First, I would like to thank you for carving out a place for the ladies here in your typically male-dominated world of firearms.  We appreciate the effort on your part and it sure looks like it is paying off. Women are coming in to the shooting sports in droves. Yay for us!  That said, there are a few things I would like to see from you to keep improving in this particular space. I don’t ask a lot, but I do think these little tweaks here and there would make a huge difference to the ladies and we could bring even more chicks in to the world of firearms. (And revenue for you – nudge, nudge.)
First, for the love of Samuel Colt, do me a favor and start naming your guns. Sure, there are some famous models out there, like the Walther PPK (or James Bond gun), that need no introduction (to the experienced shooter, that is), but when I have to remember, like, 6 numbers and letters for every new model I come across, it becomes a little dizzying. Not to mention the fact that that series of numbers and letters makes the gun totally forgettable. A few examples off the top of my head- what was Arnold Schwarzenegger model number in the Terminator movies? Can’t remember? Me neither. I do, however, recall the names of Optimus Prime, the Star Ship Enterprise and The Dreaded Pirate Roberts’ ship, The Revenge. See what I mean?  Most people don’t know their social security numbers until college, but they know their full names within months of being born.  Are we on the same page now?

Bottom line- artists name their work: The Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Starry Night.  And people name the things they love. We don’t call that precious dog of ours German Shephard 2nd Pup 4th litter. We call her Sable because we adore her and think of her as one of the family. Catch my drift? Within the gun industry, we already kind of do this – no one uses the technical name, Barret Model 82A1. We call it the Barret .50 cal. Lesson: simplify for the benefit of everyone involved and be proud of that gun!

I would like to thank LaRue Tactical for doing this very thing with the PredatAR. Good start, guys, but this does bring up another point. My girls out there might dispute this and I am always open to input and suggestions, but can we please go with something less aggressive? More mysterious, perhaps? Think less Jurassic Park and more film noir.  How about The Phantom? Patriotic works too- the Liberty, maybe? Charter has got the right idea with the Pink Lady – the name is a little old school for my tastes and we have got to do something about that font, but since it hearkens a memory of Danny and Sandy singing Summer Nights, I will go ahead and give it my seal of approval.  If you guys are truly stumped, check out the names of OPI nail polish colors to get those creative juices flowing.

Next, you are doing a great job scaling the grips down to fit our hands – thanks for that. And speaking of grips, I recall last year seeing that Walther was testing a customizable back strap with at least 5 or 6 different colors. I thought that was genius! It is the firearm equivalent of being able to switch iPhone cases on a whim. Great idea- I would really like to see more of this kind of thinking. And while I know you are making an effort with the pink stuff, could we see colors like white and turquoise, too? Shake it up a little, if you don’t mind.

Lastly, and this is a super important one, give me an all-inclusive starter kit. Cannon does it with their cameras. Sephora does it with Bare Minerals. Now I would like to see it from you guys, too.  It is a genius way to do some great branding and advertising. Put together a starter kit for the new shooter. Let the shooter choose the gun and have a bag waiting for him or her with cleaning supplies, a video, ammo, a lock, a hard case for flying (with current laws and instructions), ear and eye protection and maybe even a key chain and a pen. I want you to think of me, the consumer. What do I need? Just tell me. Help me out a bit and make all of this stuff less intimidating. Take a cue from Apple. I want the software already built in to my hardware, in a manner of speaking.  If you have questions, you know where to find me.

Thanks again for the forward momentum in welcoming the ladies to this wonderful world. We are glad to be here. I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us at SHOT show this year.

And in the words of one of my favorite authors, Brad Thor…

Keep Your Powder Dry,

Natalie

Now… Lets all go watch Grease.

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NF: OK, there is a lot going on over at Red Jacket. Fill me in, sister!

SH: Yes, there is a lot happening. We are pretty excited. The first thing I want to let people know about is the contest we are doing. If you want to participate, you write in to Discovery with your idea for a gun build. We will look through all of them and decide on the winner. That person will have their gun idea built by the guys at Red Jacket for an episode.

Red Jacket is also going to be doing a contest of our own to give away a pair of tickets to the annual Birthday Bash, which is Will Hayden’s Birthday party. The winner gets meal tickets, ammo, and things like that. They are gonna get the works: hang out with the cast a bit and shoot all the guns- all that good fun stuff.

NF: Cool! When is that?

SH: Birthday Bash is the first weekend of June every year. It is very hot, but it’s worth it!

NF: That is super cool! The Birthday Bash is legendary. I have seen so many pictures of you guys having a ton of fun. People who go always talk about how much fun it is. How can people enter the contests?

SH: Keep your ear to the ground on that one. We are not announcing the details yet, but we want to make sure everyone knows that it is coming up very soon.

NF: Great – So let’s talk about the show. What on earth is going on? There are some rumors swirling and I need you to nail some of this stuff down for me.

SH: Right, so as far as the episodes go, they named the final episode ‘Wedlock and Load,’ which has had everyone kind of jumping on it and thinking that they know what is coming. It definitely gives the impression that something is kind of going on with me and Kris, but I mean… really?? Let’s put it this way, don’t you think that is a little fast? Marriage is not something you just jump into without thinking – you have to be absolutely certain. And that takes some time. So you have to wait to see what happens. You will really just have to hang on and keep your eyes open. You’ll find out soon enough!

NF: Wow! Sounds like there is a twist in there. What else can you tell us about it?

SH: There are some serious twists and turns through the next two episodes. You are going to be on the craziest roller coaster ride ever. And the moment that you think you have got it figured out or the moment that you think you know what happens, you are going to be totally blown away. Even in the beginning of next season – when this season ends and you think, “Ha! I knew this was going to happen.“ The beginning of next season is going to blow you away again. It totally knocks everything that you thought was final completely off the rails.  It has been an interesting couple of months for us, really. You know, there is a lot that people think that they know about us because of spoiler alerts on the internet and all of that.  Some of it is real and some of it is definitely not. There is a lot floating around and let’s just say that nobody has got a real clue of what is going on. They all think they know, but they really don’t.

There will be a lot of tense moments, but also some really happy, interesting moments, too. The guns that we have worked with in the last couple of episodes- the ones that they will be showing – were just incredible.  The next episode actually shows you the weapon that I told you about when I said I finally shot something that scared me.  I cant tell you what it is yet and I am just dying to share, which is one reason I will be with you, Nat, live on the Girl’s Guide to Guns facebook page answering questions so that we can talk about anything that anyone wants to know.  I will be online to clear up any misconceptions or the way things came across to people. I just want to really reach out and kind of go over some of that stuff.  Of course, I cant give away the next episode – I can’t give away spoilers, but I will do my best to answer all the questions.

NF: Cool- I am super excited about that. So…is it just me, or was this a really short, fast season?

SH: Good question- this season break is only going to be a month. We are breaking, but we are not breaking for long.  It is a paperwork thing. They didn’t really want to break us but they kind of have to.  We will right back on the air in February.

NF: Oh, good. We need our Sons of Guns fix!

Steph showing me the full auto suppressed 9mm

SH: You won’t be waiting too long. Also, we get a lot of remarks of people saying that they don’t want to see the show turn in to OCC or to become super drama- filled. But I definitely want people to keep in mind when they are watching these next couple of episodes that there is a lot of tension and there is a bit of drama, but it is not here to stay. We are all a family and family does go through really big things together. Sometimes it just happens – there is drama there. People get upset. People say things that they might not really mean. People react in ways that are completely out of their character when these things happen. Just stick with us and know that we are a family and we are going to do whatever it takes to push through at all times. No matter what happens. If something happens that upsets you, just understand that everything happens for a reason.

NF: Wow – I am officially intrigued! I will definitely have some questions lined up for you when you do the online interview this week.  Now, I understand you guys are going to go on tour, too. What is the story there?

SH: Yep, we will be doing meet and greets at different Academy stores around the country. We have plans to do a full US tour and we are very excited to get out there and meet some people!

Sounds like some pretty exciting stuff all the way around!  If you have questions of your own for Steph, you can ask her live on the Girl’s Guide to Guns facebook page on January 12 at 1pm Central time.  You can also leave questions for her in the comments section below.

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While I grew up in a household with guns, I am not, nor was I ever, a hunter. Don’t get me wrong. I like meat. A lot.

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