It’s no secret that the firearm industry is a male-dominated environment. In fact, 43% of men personally own a firearm compared to 22% of women. However, according to a study done by Gallup, over the past 15 years, female gun ownership has risen 20%. This is compared to male gun ownership, which has stayed at a consistent 40% throughout the same period. Ownership of guns among women is on the rise, and every woman deserves to experience the benefits of getting into shooting.
5 Benefits Women Gain from Owning and Shooting Guns
1. Protection
In 2019 (most recent FBI crime clock figures), violent crimes such as sexual assault, robbery, and murder occurred every 26.3 seconds. You may be tempted to think, “Oh, that will never happen to me.” However, this mentality is extremely dangerous and contrary to personal safety practices.
In 2022 alone, 1.23 million violent crimes were reported to the FBI. These numbers should be a reminder that no one will prioritize your safety for you.
Firearms are still one of the best means of personal protection and provide a fighting chance at survival. Guns help level the playing field, regardless of how big, strong, or fast your attacker is. No human is a match against a bullet traveling roughly 2,000 ft per second (depending on ammo and caliber).
2. Life Lessons
Believe it or not, firearms allow you to learn a lot of useful life lessons that can help you become a better human being. In my brief time shooting, I have learned the importance of patience and the enjoyment of trying new things.
My personal experience with firearms has helped shape who I am as a person. Not to mention aiding in my ability to manage challenges. Everyone will take away different lessons from shooting. You never know what you can learn about yourself until you give it a try.
3. Stress reliever
One of my favorite things about shooting is that it is a great stress reliever. Shooting involves a lot of focus. I find that the more mentally focused I am on something, the less “noise” I have buzzing around in my brain.
While shooting, I’m not thinking about all the responsibilities I have or how hectic my day was. I am instead focusing on the target in front of me and nothing more. We all deserve to feel at peace, and shooting is an effortless way to experience that sense of tranquility.
4. Community
Women understand how it feels to shoot as women. So, it is crucial that we have spaces where we can interact and learn from one another. Going to the gun range, taking a safety class, or joining a Facebook group are a few simple ways women can make friends and connect with others who share similar values.
You quickly learn that the firearm community is full of the most uplifting, kind, and helpful people you’ll ever meet. Likewise, and more importantly, it is a community that all women can belong to as well.
5. Empowerment
One of the most surprising things I have learned since I began shooting is how confident I feel afterward. Without fail, every time I finish a session at the range, the world around me appears brighter. I have an extra pep in my step and believe I am unstoppable.
It is one of the most rewarding feelings. One that cannot be truly understood until you shoot a firearm for the first time.
All women deserve to feel confident. Handling a powerful tool such as a firearm is an effortless way to say, “I am capable. I am strong. And I can do anything I set my mind to.”
Conclusion
Whether it’s your first or nine hundredth time, firearms will forever give you an outlet to manage daily life stressors. Likewise, they will help you feel safe, make connections with like-minded people, and teach you confidence. Not to mention, they will help you learn some important life lessons along the way.
As a woman, you owe it to yourself to experience the benefits that come from shooting.
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