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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Do you want to know the secret to a good marriage?  Here is one tip: “It’s not what you say, it’s what you don’t say that keeps you together”.  Take my husband, Michael, and I for instance.  When we decided to get married we talked through many scenarios to make sure there were as few surprises as possible.  We knew we wanted to work hard, have kids and buy a house…with no guns. Yes, I was never going to allow a gun in my home, especially a home with children in it.

It’s not like I’d had a bad experience with guns. Society taught me that guns were wrong.  I’d heard every anti-gun argument out there without ever getting the other side.  I didn’t want them anywhere near my child or me. One would think that Michael, a veteran of the Marine Corps, would’ve had something to say about that, but he didn’t.  He kept quiet.  At that time, we were living in New York City and Michael knew it would be ridiculous to argue since it would be next to impossible to own a gun in NYC.  He probably also knew that the more he pushed, the more I would pull away.  Let’s face it; once you put a stake in the ground, you don’t want to move it.

In 2004 we made the trek to Los Angeles where we bought our first home. This was the first time in my adult life that I lived in a home instead of an apartment and I’ve got to say, I was a little nervous.  I wasn’t sure I liked living so exposed.  Plus, now we had a little boy that we both wanted to protect.  Shortly after we moved in, a man came to our door requesting some gasoline.  Being a New Yorker, I was overly suspicious and denied his request for me to take him to our garage where he could look for something to help start his car.  But I was worried that I was being an unfriendly neighbor since he claimed to live on our street and had a little girl that just died (all BS by the way).  Michael knew better.  As I turned to get his attention with my hand on the door, he positioned himself in a spot where the man could not see him and put his finger to his mouth so that I did not alert the man to his presence.  If the man had tried to force his way in then Michael could always use the element of surprise…but not a gun since I would not allow it.  A few months later, a neighboring house was robbed.

I didn’t feel comfortable and I don’t like being uncomfortable in my own home.  Michael knew it and suggested he get a gun.  We talked about my concerns and he explained to me the steps he would take to keep it safe and inaccessible to our son.  I thought about it for a long time and made a decision to trust my husband.  I was confident that he knew what he was doing and it was important for him to be able to protect us.

Now, you’ve heard the saying,  “Guns are like tattoos.  You can’t have just one.”  Well, it’s true.  So, several guns later, I could say I felt safe.  But was I being responsible?  What if Michael was out and I needed to protect my son and myself?  What good would a gun do me if I didn’t know the first thing about shooting it?  Plus, I was really enjoying all those shooting shows on TV like Top Shot and Sons of Guns.  Maybe it was time to exercise my 2nd Amendment right.

Mother’s Day seemed like as good a day as any to learn how to shoot.  Michael packed up the truck and we went to the local indoor range with two of my best girlfriends. They had been shooting most of their lives and were always up for some shooting—the perfect support group.  It wasn’t the first time I ever fired a gun so I can’t say I was scared (although it does take a moment to get used to the noise of the surrounding guns and one of the main reasons I would suggest shooting outdoors for the first time.)  I had some difficulty with the sights for I have a blind spot in my right eye.  Michael did an excellent job of explaining gun safety and the basics of shooting.  I no longer feared guns and wanted to become a shooter.  I thought I should have my own gun so that I could become proficient with it.  Michael gave me the gun I shot that day, a Smith and Wesson M&P.  Since then, we have been shooting several times.  Instead of date night at the movies or a restaurant, we often opt for a couple hours at a range.  I learn more each time and I improve with each shot.  Of course I do, I have a great teacher.

Maybe women look at guns differently than men?  I know there are women out there that grew up around guns and don’t have the same fears.  I also know that there are many women that have never even seen a real gun let alone shot one.  Maybe we want to feel secure enough in our relationship or ourselves before we allow such a huge responsibility into our lives.  There is a lot of trust that goes into firing a loaded weapon and you need to make sure your relationship can handle the responsibility.

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