The Girls Gun Getaway featuring several female gun bloggers and pro shooters. (photo: Julie Golob)

Most women start writing blogs to inspire other women, or talk about themselves, or if we’re all honest a bit of both. But what is it we are trying to inspire other women to do? Protect themselves, to be sure, but there’s another element of our community we can’t overlook and that we, as a group, can do so much more with.

I get teased on a fairly regular basis about being a “tough independent woman,” and while the cliché is overdone there is something to be said for the label itself, the problem is that a lot of women seem to be interpreting it in a way that only harms them in the long run. Being tough and independent isn’t about being angry, it isn’t about rebelling against the status quo but rather about being confident in yourself and in your actions.

While shooting is a start towards confidence, it’s not an end. There are a lot of other things we can do to feel better about ourselves and our lives. Most of it’s mental, of course, positive thinking and feeling good about ourselves, but there are other things we can do, other activities we can partake in, to continue an upward climb towards true inner strength.

Shooting does several things for us, the first of us which is (for many) pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone. Having an explosion detonate in front of our face is not something we are conditioned to handle, which is why for many shooting can be perceived as “scary” before they have tried it. Participating in an activity we might not have expected to participate in, and then training to become good at it, requires a lot of self-confidence, which is why shooting pushes us in that direction every day.

Also, as has been pointed out many times, shooting gives us a sense of equality, a sense of safety, a sense of being in control of ourselves. That sense of control is empowering, and is something we should seek in other aspects of our life. This, along with the “tough woman” image of shooting guns, gives us a more positive self-image, which is a powerful thing.

Participating in fitness activities and other sports can have the same effects shooting does. Since I started shooting I’ve taken up weight-lifting and started studying nutrition and trying to eat right. It has made a huge difference in my self-esteem and helped me to realize the extent of control I have over myself, much as shooting does. I would encourage every woman shooter not to stop there, but to continue to step outside of her comfort zone and find other activities that energize and empower her to be the best she can.

When you start shooting, you adopt a lifestyle, and if you embrace that lifestyle there are no boundaries to what you can achieve.

Let us know what it is that you love about shooting below in the comments section.

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Such a cute finished product! Be sure and send us photos of yours, too!

• 100 empty shotgun shells
• 100 count string of Christmas lights
• 15′ round wire floral wreath
• red ribbon (approx. 2″ wide and 20′ long)
• floral pins (the pins are shaped like staples, but the legs are about 1-1/2″ long)
• glue gun
• bow of choice

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Natalie Foster: I am so happy to do another interview with you! This is a big deal- you guys are on Season Four of the show. How does it feel?

Stephanie Hayden: It’s great! When we first started this so long ago we thought we would do a couple of seasons and it would be fun and then, you know, you would go back to your regular job. But to see that people took to us so well and that they want us to stay around is just phenomenal. It is such a compliment and we are really humbled.

NF: This season has already been such a cool one. The fact that you guys had Chris Kyle come in wanting your dad’s signature and the Red Jacket logo on a gun for his charity is so cool.

SH: Thanks, you know, we always just try to make sure that anything we are doing is putting a positive light on the industry. Having someone like Chris Kyle say that a signature from one of us is actually going to increase the value of a firearm still blows us away. To have someone like Chris ask you for something like that is just unbelievable. It doesn’t even really register. And Chris is such a great guy. He is just so cool to work with.  He is honestly probably one of the funniest good ol’ boys I have ever met. For being the US’s most deadly sniper, that was kind of a surprise for me. He definitely has a really great personality.

NF: That segment between Flem (Glen Flemming) and Chris Kyle in which they discussed PTSD and the process of leaving the military was one of my favorites. Can you give me a little window – a behind the scenes picture of how that happened? Was that spontaneous or was that something they really wanted to talk about on the show?

SH: No, that was just part of their conversation. I have seen that many times before. When guys get together and they have both been through the same thing – it’s like two moms talking about kids, but instead it is two guys talking about war.  They understand each other and it is totally natural for them to get to that place. A lot of the guys who have been through that come out with that same feeling. The friends that you make there are family and it is really hard to let go. So many of them suffer from stress and they go through so much in their own personal lives, too. It was really cool to see the guys come together with that brotherhood and connect like that. It is kind of strange to see two Billy Badass get all emotional, but it is really cool that they talked about it on the show. I hope other veterans got something out of it.

NF: You guys have been so great about the military from the beginning of the show. Your dad was a Marine and, of course, Flem served. It’s really cool to see that you guys continue to honor those who serve for our freedom.

SH: Thanks. This country would not be what it is today without them. There are so many things that these men and women do for us that people take for granted.

NF: Ok, switching gears a little bit, let’s talk about more of your guests. Joe Perry of Aerosmith came on the show. I know you are a fan of his. How was that for you?

SH: That was insane! I have been such a huge fan of Aerosmith since I was a kid. I was born in the 80s and my mom loved all the hair bands, so I grew up listening to Aerosmith and I have never stopped. They continue to put out great music. So when they came down we got to work on a really cool old-school project with them we were so excited. It was a dream come true. And we really got to know them, which was awesome. It was unreal to get to spend time getting to know someone who you grew up thinking was one of the gods of Rock and Roll. They are really just down to earth, great people. For a guy that is such an icon, such a legend to be that down to earth and friendly – it really surprised me. They say that there are stars out there who are still good people, but Joe redefines “great people.” The whole family is really wonderful.

NF: You have met some pretty incredible people because of the show. You’ve had Ted Nugent come visit as well as other music legends. I bet Kris, with his blooming music career, is really excited about that.

SH: Yeah, Kris thought it was incredible. He has been invited to go play with Joe’s son – it is one of those things that he will get to as soon as he gets a moment away from Red Jacket. It has been really cool. Kris has had a chance to meet a lot of the people that he really looked up to in music and it has been awesome. It may not necessarily be the type of music he plays, but he is still in awe.

Ted Nugent chats with Will during his Red Jacket visit on Sons of Guns.

NF:  So beyond Joe Perry and Chris Kyle, this season has already been amazing. What else can we look forward to?

SH: Well, of course, if it hasn’t been released, I cant say anything, but I can tell you that we are building some of the most incredible weapons I have seen lately. You already saw our 57mm recoilless. They used to use it for avalanches. That one was so fun to work on. I mean, how often do you get a snow storm in the South?

NF: Sounds like you guys are having fun down there, as usual. So tell me about how life has changed for you since the show started airing. It was less than 2 years ago that life was kind of normal, right? And now, four seasons in, things are very different. You have a huge fan base, you got married – tell me about how the adjustment has been.

SH: Well, yes, I am married. Kris is a wonderful father. We do have two kids. A lot of people are asking about babies and the thing is, we are already raising two! So I don’t see that coming any time soon (laughs). We are just both really focused on what we are doing and trying to progress with life. We bought some land and we have been trying to get it ready to build a house. All of that has been a lot of work. And that is just personally. With the job, we have gone from one of those places that a handful of people knew about to this huge company. But things have stayed the same in a lot of ways. It is just a bigger family. That is the way we like to describe it because it still has that home-y feel but now we have more cousins and brothers and so on. The projects are definitely getting more interesting. We have branched out even more than before and it is just always getting better.

NF: How has the celebrity factor been for you? All of you guys have fans who adore you and I know you like to interact with them a lot. Is it fun or challenging or a little bit of both? How do you deal with it?

SH: I would say it is a little bit of both. The thing is, when you are on TV people expect you to be perfect. And we are just people. We are just doing our job. You can’t be perfect no matter how hard you try to be. Other than every now and again when someone chooses to point out a personal flaw, most of the people we meet are just so wonderful and they give you such positive feedback. It reminds you why you do what you do – why you deal with that camera in your face every day. And honestly, we don’t mind having the cameras around. The crew does a great job of staying out of the way – just doing their thing and letting us do our thing. But with the fans, it is always great to spend some time with them and talk to them and see what they think about what we are doing. The kids are my favorite. I got to go to Survival Expo in Las Vegas recently and we met so many kids who watch the show and it was the most heartwarming thing ever. One little girl named Haley walked up to me with tears in her eyes and told me I was her hero. I had to do everything in my power not to break down crying. I am just a regular girl from the South. It just blows you away that people connect with you so much. All Haley could say was that it was so great to see a strong independent girl on TV. I thought about it for a while and I get it, it’s just, who would have ever thought it would be me? And all I can do is to try to be that- to be a good person and to do good things for people and to deserve that admiration. And trust me, you never really feel like you deserve it.

NF: So what comes next? What are you looking forward to for the rest of the year? Any big trips or events going on?

SH: Well, we are actually currently shooting Season Five, so you have plenty more to look forward to. We are trying to go to SHOT show again, in Vegas, which is always fun. I am also trying to get back to Phoenix. I fell in love last time I was there. I have a great friend who lives there who I am dying to go back and see. And I can assure you there are plenty of surprises in store other than that.

Thanks, Steph! Keep up the good work!

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If you’ve been looking to purchase a firearm for concealed carry, as many Americans are doing, you might have already noticed that there are a lot of different firearms on the market which are supposedly idea for the purpose. While it’s true that many people carry many different handguns and the vast majority of them do so successfully, some handguns offer certain advantages over others.

Especially if you’re new to firearms and don’t currently own one which might be suitable for home defense, you’re probably already considering the possibility that your new concealed carry handgun could also serve as a home defense weapon. Alternately, you might be looking for a home defense firearm first – keep in mind that even if you’re not completely sure that you want to carry a handgun outside your home, it might be a good idea to keep that possibility open.

Pistols, rifles, and shotguns are all viable choices for home defense - but only pistols may also be used for concealed carry.

Most people need some time to get used to the idea that they're carrying a gun.

Pistols, rifles, and shotguns are all viable choices for home defense – but only pistols may also be used for concealed carry.

Many people buy different firearms for these purposes, and they aren’t wrong to do so. In fact, handguns are inferior to shotguns and rifles from a technical standpoint. But with the purchase of additional firearms comes additional costs – not only the cost of the weapon, but also the cost of the different types of ammunition used for handguns, shotguns and rifles.

In addition, more time must be spent maintaining proficiency with different types of firearms. Most people enjoy shooting if they’re introduced to it responsibly, but not everyone can take the time to shoot a number of different firearms on a regular basis.

Using one firearm for both carry and home defense, then, is not an unreasonable course of action. But which handguns fit the bill?

Firearm Size and Caliber

Buying a handgun for concealed carry only works if you actually carry it. Primarily, there are two factors which could negatively affect your desire to continue – or start – carrying a handgun. These are the physical characteristics of the handgun and how much recoil it has.

For the first period of time after you start carrying a handgun, you’re probably going to be uncomfortable simply because of the presence of a handgun on or near your body. It takes a little time to get used to the idea.

However, if the handgun is too big or heavy, it will cause unnecessary physical discomfort. It might also be a little too obvious, or cause “printing” – the outline of the handgun might be visible through your clothes. Therefore, it’s best to avoid unnecessarily large or heavy firearms for concealed carry purposes.

Large handguns are easy to shoot, but not easy to conceal.

That said, you don’t really need to go to the other end of the scale – tiny and extremely light firearms.
Small firearms in major calibers – or even small firearms in general – can be difficult to control. Most people won’t be able to get a good, positive grip on the weapon, and reduced firearm weight combined with a relatively large, fast projectile will always result in stout recoil. These factors combine for an unpleasant and sometimes unproductive shooting experience. Avoiding the use of the firearm because it’s not fun to shoot won’t do you any favors if you have to use it to defend yourself, and you might end up disliking it so much that you don’t carry it at all.

The tiniest firearms are often the hardest to control.

So a sensible course of action for concealed carry is something that’s not too large and heavy, but also not too small and light. Something you can get your hand – or hands – on, and something that you’ll actually want to shoot.

Specific Firearm Models

Perhaps the most obvious example of the type of firearm which fits this bill are the compact and subcompact offerings from Glock and Smith & Wesson – specifically, the Glock 19 Gen 3 and Glock 26, and the Smith & Wesson M&P and M&P Compact. The largest of these is the standard M&P, which is similar to the Glock 19 in length but has a longer grip; the smallest is the Glock 26, although the M&P Compact is very similar in size.

Those who are familiar with Glock model numbers will note that I did not mention the .40 S&W versions of the compact and subcompact Glock. The G19 and G26 are both chambered in 9x19mm, which is an excellent all-around defensive cartridge. It is easier to control than its slightly larger competition, offers a higher magazine capacity, and is also cheaper to buy.

The M&P models are, of course, available in 9mm as well. Compared to the Glocks, they offer the advantage of being more adaptable to right- or left-handed use, as well as an interchangeable backstrap system which allows the user to better fit the pistol to the size of their hands. In addition, the M&P may be disassembled without pulling the trigger, which may be an important feature to some.

A midsize handgun such as a Glock 19, along with a flashlight, is a good choice for self defense, both inside and outside the home.

Glocks offer the advantage of being on the market longer. They have a larger and more robust aftermarket support base, as well as the availability of all manufacturer spare parts. Also, the Glock trigger is regarded as being superior to that of the M&P, although neither comes with what could be considered an excellent match or target trigger. Finally, with stock barrels, Glocks in 9mm are often found to be more accurate than the M&Ps in that caliber, although the differences are likely to be minor and both pistols are liable to be more accurate than most shooters.

Depending on the size and shape of your hands and body, one of these pistols might be a better choice for you than the other. The Glock 26 and M&P Compact are definitely a little easier to conceal, but the Glock 19 and M&P are a little easier to shoot. I highly recommend going to a firearm range that rents handguns out for a nominal fee and shooting each of these pistols – as well as any others you might be interested in – in order to determine which one is the right choice for you.

Each of these firearms would also serve well in a nightstand or small bedside gun safe in addition to being useful for concealed carry. The Glock 26 is the only outlier in that it does not have an accessory rail for the attachment of a weapon-mounted flashlight, but the others do allow lights of various sizes to be attached.

Other Important Factors

Whether you choose to buy a weapon-mounted light or a handheld light, it’s critical that you identify your target before you shoot. The lights in your house might be out or the switch too far away, so take the extra step of buying a good flashlight and keeping it near your firearm. Additionally, night sights are a good option for a home defense or concealed carry firearm.

Regardless of the firearm you end up buying, be sure to practice regularly with it, and educate yourself on the laws regarding self defense in your area. Don’t fret too much about the model or caliber of the handgun you buy. It’s far more important that you know how and when to use it.

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Niki Jones, founder of the all-female shooting group, the Austin Sure Shots, is one of the coolest chicks I have met in my time as a shooter.  I asked her to whip up a little guest blog to tell us about her time at Gunsmoke for an episode of American Guns on the Discovery Channel (Weds 9/8pm).

I recently appeared on this season’s third episode of American Guns on the Discovery Channel. The whole experience, from beginning to end, was extremely fun and very exciting! 

When I found out I had the opportunity to fly to Colorado to see about trading in my (in)famous “Snow Queen” AR-15 for a bigger, badder AR-10, it was bittersweet. I wanted to bring back something for the girls of the Sure Shots (my women’s pistol league in Austin, TX) that we didn’t already have. We already had plenty of AR-15s, since about a dozen of us participated in our Sure Shots AR-15 Build Project where we built our own rifles, each one as unique as its owner. But we didn’t have any AR-10s among us, and a bunch of the girls had been saying they’d like to get into some long-range precision shooting.

Though I knew that sacrificing the Snow Queen for the good of the league was the right decision, I still had a pit in my stomach at the idea of being without her. I mean, I had built her myself, each and every part chosen by me to make my dream gun (Lightweight 16″ Moly barrel, free-floated and coated; POF railed hand guard, coated; Battle Comp compensator; Spikes Tatical lower, coated; Bravo Company Gunfighter charging handle; NIB Bolt Carrier Group; Ergo Stock; MagPul Grip; MagPul BAD Lever; MagPul Rail Sling Attachment; MagPul Gen III Sling; Troy BUIS; AImpoint Pro red dot optic). The Snow Queen was truly a labor of love, and it didn’t hurt that she shoots like a dream either.

So, I packed my bags and headed off to Denver to visit GunSmoke, Snow Queen in tow. I had seen American Guns before and loved the show, and I was curious to see what the Wyatts were like in real life. Well, they could not have been nicer. The first person I met was Renee, when I walked into GunSmoke and she was at the counter. She was super friendly and got really excited when she learned I had started a women’s pistol league that in only a year and a half had over 150 members. Rich was the same. I didn’t know he was such a huge supporter of women and guns, but it was clear almost immediately that my “cause” was close to his heart, and that this deal would happen.

The producers, who were as equally as nice and welcoming as the Wyatts, had told me to just be myself and walk in and negotiate like it was any other regular deal. Easier said than done—having giant lights and cameras pointing at you is nerve-wracking, to say the least. But when I described to Rich what I wanted in a precision rifle, he was very receptive. And when I threw in that I also wanted a grenade launcher, both Rich and Renee were DELIGHTED! I could tell I had ‘em…

I had to place a trade-in value on my gun, so I went with $3,000 due to all of the Snow Queen’s top-of-the-line parts, perfect custom paint job, and all-around uniqueness. When he said he’d give me $2K for the Snow Queen and that the AR-10 would be $10K, I didn’t balk TOO much—I expected that he would want the gun he builds the Sure Shots to be top-of-the-line as well, and I knew that AR-10 parts are not as varied and available as an AR-15. But, we couldn’t stop there. I’m originally from New York, and New Yorkers are born negotiating! So instead of accepting the $8K difference, I came back with $7K. When he said he just couldn’t do that, I bluffed that I was going to walk—but in all honesty, I wasn’t leaving there without sealing the deal! I’d come too far and already committed to my mission. Luckily, he didn’t let me walk out, and he agreed to $7K. It was ON.

Happy girl.

They took a couple weeks building my gun, and then I flew back for the “reveal” of the Sure Shots’ AR-10. I had assumed it would happen in the store, so once I realized the American Guns producers had me heading toward the mountains, there was a great feeling of adventure and excitement! I pulled up to an old quarry in the middle of nowhere. The American Guns crew was waiting at the top of a cliff, and they wouldn’t let me near the edge to see what was down below. The suspense was killing me!

FINALLY, the moment had come. I was about to finally see the AR-10 I’d been dreaming about! Standing on top of that cliff, Rich, Renee, and Paige presented me with the most INSANE rifle I’d ever seen… and it was WHITE! It looked like the Snow Queen on steroids! And like the Snow Queen, it had some black accents, including a badass scope accurate to 700 yards, and even some little black cross-bones on the scope brackets! But the pièce de résistance was the grenade launcher I’d asked for! Big and black and badass, it sat underneath the rail and just took the rifle to the next level! I knew the Sure Shots would die when they saw it!

Rich coaches Niki on the course they have built for her.

Once I was finished freaking out over the rifle, it was time for them to reveal what was over the cliff. They had set up a full tactical course for me, complete with exploding targets, each of which said “SURE SHOTS, Austin, Texas” and had a life-sized pinup girl beside it! But first, I had to take a long-range shot. So into the prone position I went, right there on the edge of the cliff. From experience with these rifles, I was expecting a much bigger impact when I pulled the trigger, but this gun was smooth… no recoil at all! I was in love. Then it was onto the tac course, and it was a blast! Rich took me through it—we literally ran down the side of the cliff, and I had to shoot targets whenever he spotted one and called it out. And the targets exploded! At this point I could tell by the way the cameramen were shooting us that they were going to be able to totally capture the action and the excitement, so that was one less thing for me to worry about!

Then, when I thought it couldn’t get any more fun, Renee called out on the two-way radio from where she stood on the cliff that there was a cluster of targets around the corner we were coming up on, and to “Use the grenade launcher!”… so that’s what I did. Switched over to the launcher, and let one fly. HUGE explosion! So much fun. I mean, how can it NOT be fun to blow things up in the middle of Nowhere, Colorado on a random Tuesday afternoon?

And, then it was over. And I flew back to Texas. I kept the news of my adventure under wraps until close to the time my episode aired because I really wanted to surprise the Sure Shots, and to say they were surprised is an understatement! And the Wyatts have kept in touch—Renee and I have been emailing, and Rich called in during our episode’s viewing party to say hello to all the girls! I’m hoping Renee and Paige will come out to Austin and shoot with us soon. All in all, it was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

Thanks Niki! And keep up the amazing work!

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Earlier this week, I decided it was time. Time to take my curiosity and desire of shooting into my own hands. I’ve loved shooting

The lovely and talented Miss Hope.

ever since riflery class in summer camp back when I was 10. But unless it was camp, or a guy friend of mine who owned guns and
could take me out, I didn’t have a clue where to go. Or what to do. And I was scared. And felt stupid. And years passed in between shooting, so every time felt like the first time.

“Can you just go to a shooting range with no knowledge of guns?” I asked myself . “How will I know what to do?” “What if I feel like a total idiot?” “I wish I could find some guy to take me out and show me what to do.”

This has always been the situation. I’ve always wanted to rely on guys or someone else to show me how to do something that I want to know, but I’m scared about. And this time, that’s where I decided to change the story. I decided it was time to take on the
responsibility myself. I want to learn dammit…and I’m GONNA, whether you’re with me or not.

So I clicked around and did some research and found Girls With Guns (https://www.gwgsi.com/), who had a beginner’s handgun course FOR ladies, taught BY ladies. SCORE!

Amazing instructors at https://www.gwgsi.com/

Easy…right?

Well, it scared me still. “What if I sucked?” “What if I was intimidated at the range?” And all those messages replayed in my mind like a record. I woke up in a panic the day after I bought the ticket for the course, and daydreamed about how I was going to call in
sick. And this continued up until the morning, when I went to the range.

But I did it…and this is what happened after:

It was 2 pm, on a sunny but not too hot Sunday afternoon. I pull out of the range parking lot, on to a windy road, and then finally to the main road that led to the 210 freeway. Country music on. Windows down. And I could not have felt more…ALIVE.

For the past four hours, I had been at a beginner’s handgun course. Taught for women, by women. The instructors were two police officers. Nice, charming, funny, and totally badass. The rest of the girls that were there ranged from a trio of sisters who all owned their owned guns and had gone shooting with their husbands many times before, to the Australian woman who had never seen or touched a gun and was kind of scared them.

Sally getting her shoot on with Girls With Guns Shooting Industries.

By the way…this woman was the best shot of the entire day.

We shot 9mm, a .357 revolver, and a 12 gauge shotgun. We learned safety, and proper handling, and proper shooting. And I learned more that one day than I had ever learned in all my other times shooting – combined. And I felt grateful for this class, and proud of myself for going.

Leaving the range that day, all I could do was picture my future revolver sitting in my car. Shiny. Nice. In it’s case. Feeling badass. Feeling feminine. Completely competent. Unafraid.

And as I was driving along, wind in my hair, smile on my face, I realized I learned four things from this experience:
1) Guys aren’t the only ones who can teach you how to do things that guys normally do.
2) Don’t rely solely on others for your happiness. Must take matters into your own hands.
3) What you want, wants you, and there is always a way to find what you need.
4) Shooting guns, and being safe about it, is totally awesome.

What are your beginner shooting stories? What was it like the first time you went to the range alone? What life lessons have you learned from shooting? Leave a comment below and share your stories.

From one Gun Girl to another…I salute you.

Sally Hope, The Unconventional Traditionalist, is a Blogger/Love and Life Coach who loves hot-pink lipstick, guns, crosswords and cowboys. A former Rockstar (https://youtu.be/jpgCAkSHxNQ), she has taken her show from the stage to the road by traveling around the US in an RV while coaching her clients and inspiring people to live their own Rockstar Lifestyles. Her latest obsessions include traveling, country swing dancing, motorcycles, LOVE, chips and salsa, and adventuring. Whatever it is you are wanting in your life, she will help you get there faster. You can find her at her website (https://sallyhope.com) or her Facebook page (https://facebook.com/xosally) Twitter (https://twitter.com/sallyhopesays) or getting ridiculous on her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/sallyhopesays)

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I’ve never quite done things like the other girls. And honestly…I don’t want to. I’d rather have a day at the gun rangethan sit around drinking martinis and gossiping. And I know there are more girls out there like me.

I used to think I was all alone. All by myself here in the in-between world of being a girl and liking things that people consider masculine. Guns. Trucks. Beer. Feeling both not feminine enough around the girls, and not masculine enough
around the guys. Always walking some kind of invisible line, where I didn’t know who I was supposed to be in any given moment.

The more time that passes, the more I realize that who I am, makes me unique. It might not make sense to everyone, but that’s ok. It makes sense to me and the people that truly love me, and that’s all that matters.

This is a battle cry for all the girls out there who love things that most people don’t think should go together. You want your nails done AND you carry a handgun. You’re sensitive AND you’re tough. You love your cowgirl boots AND
your high heels. You pay to get your hair done AND you wear it in a pony tail. You are it all. And you don’t have to choose.

I think the best thing any of us can do in our lives is love and accept ourselves for who we are. We were born this way. All unique. All perfect. I don’t know why I like firearms just as much as I don’t know why I like strawberries. I just do.
And the more I feel bad about myself for liking guns (or strawberries), the more unhappy I am.

Self-love is one of those funny things. We all know we’re supposed to do it, but we forget so easily and so quickly how. It’s a practice, just like any other.

So I hereby give you permission to be exactly who you are. Stand tall and firm in your beliefs and wants and desires. It is truly a beautiful thing to see a woman who knows who she is and doesn’t apologize for it.

So the next time you want to go to the gun range instead of drink martinis with the girls DO IT. Invite them along. Maybe ya’ll will find a brand new way to bond. Getting over your fears together. Feeling empowered for doing something that girls don’t normally do. It’s important for women to support each other. But even more importantly is that you support yourself.

Do any of you feel this way? What have been your experiences being a girl who loves firearms? What types of things do you face? Leave a comment below to share your story.

Sally Hope, The Unconventional Traditionalist, is a Blogger/Love and Life Coach who loves hot-pink lipstick, guns, crosswords and cowboys. A former Rockstar (https://youtu.be/jpgCAkSHxNQ), she has taken her show from the stage to the road by traveling around the US in an RV while coaching her clients and inspiring people to live their own Rockstar Lifestyles. Her latest obsessions include traveling, country swing dancing, motorcycles, LOVE, chips and salsa, and adventuring. Whatever it is you are wanting in your life, she will help you get there fasterYou can find her at her website (hyperlink: https://sallyhope.com) or her Facebook page (https://facebook.com/xosally) Twitter (https://twitter.com/sallyhopesays) or getting ridiculous on her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/sallyhopesays)

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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

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

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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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Where to Hide your Gun for Home Defense

Having a gun in your home can increase your safety. On the other hand, having a gun in the home can be a liability. If you don’t know how to handle and store your gun, you could find yourself on the wrong end of the barrel.

Using a gun for home defense starts by being smart. You need to be smart enough to be trained in the use of your gun, and smart enough to keep it out of the hands of a home invader.

It’s that last part – keeping your gun out of the hands of a home invader – that we want to talk about today.

Gun storage creates a conundrum. On the one hand, you need to keep the gun safely locked up and hidden from a home invader. On the other hand, you need to be able to have access to your gun in order to defend your home.

These two goals are often in conflict. If you lock your gun inside a case in a closet, for example, you need to get to the gun case and fumble around with the lock (usually in the dark). By the time you get to your gun, you could be in peril.

If you keep your gun in a drawer by your nightstand, however, a home invader could get to it before you. Even worse, a house guest (such as a small child) could get their hands on your gun and harm themselves or others.

Compromise options

There are a number of ways you can work through this problem. Most involve a tradeoff between speed and safety. Here are a couple of the best options:

Store your gun in a convenient, out-of-sight location. A locked nightstand drawer could work; just make sure you always have a key hidden nearby and easily accessible.
Procure a gun box. This is probably the ideal solution, if you can swing it. A gun box stores your gun and ammo inside a locked box. Choose one with a keypad or biometric entry to reduce the time it takes to get in. Some gun boxes even have “breakaway” sides that will let you reach in, grip the handle, unlock the box, and remove the gun in just seconds.

Ammunition storage matters, too

It’s worth taking a minute to think about ammunition storage, as well. Conventional gun safety says that you always store ammunition separate from the gun. This, of course, leads back to the speed problem.

Gun safes and gun boxes let you store the two together, because both are locked down. If you’re keeping your gun in an unlocked location, you’ll still want to store your ammunition separately.

Ideally, you’ll never have to use your gun for home defense. You’ll take it out regularly to pop off a few rounds at the practice range, and then put it back into its secure location. However, if the time comes that you do need to use it, you need to make sure
it doesn’t fall under the control of a burglar or worse.

Madison Parker is a home security expert whose advice is sought after by friends and strangers alike – Read more of her work at the blog Home Security Systems!

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