One of the biggest selling points for me when teaching others to shoot is that it's FUN. I've always said if you can get the giggle, you've got the shooter.
It never occurred to me that there was an attitude out there that it wasn't okay for women to have fun shooting, that it was only okay for them to shoot if they choose to for self-defense. That the only reason women would want to shoot is because they're afraid. I can't say that I've ever run into that.
Obviously, other women have run into that attitude, as Natalie Foster discusses in her new video "Welcome to the Present".
She makes some valid points, go check out the video.
6 comments:
Here, here, I think everyone should have the right to have fun shooting. My wife and I were married almost 43 years ago, and at that time we would go shooting a lot. I am very proud to say my wife could out shoot not only me, but also my brother and a couple of other male friends. Those times and the ones still today are great fun.
I'm with you, I've not come across any women that choose to own a gun simply for protection, that is was for the pleasure of shooting.
I think there are probably still a lot of women out there that do fall under the category of for self-defense only and the only reason I say that is because of my observations in my CCW class and at the gun counters.
I know for me, I just enjoyed shooting long before I thought about them as self-defense weapons, I know that's weird to go backwards and not just automatically think of them as that as well when getting into them but my main reasons for buying my first gun wasn't for self-defense only, it was because I simply wanted to own my own gun and plan on owning many more before I die.
I was surprised by her observation, as I said in the post. I do see women entering our CCW classes who are buying for self-protection, but I always emphasize the "fun" aspect of shooting.
If it's a chore, you won't stick with it or become proficient. If it's fun, you'll be willing to try anything, which is important in training. You have to find the fun in moving and shooting and using cover and challenging yourself. Standing at the line and poking holes is paper is boring (in my opinion) and is absolutely unrealistic training for self-defense.
There are plenty of women who shoot just for fun and do not ever plan on using their gun for self defense. By planning I mean they actually say, I could never shoot someone, I just like to shoot.
Shooting is a blast and even if somehow I was guaranteed safety, I would still shoot my guns.
If it wasn't fun, why would I do it? Agree 100% on the giggle!I usually look for the smile, if I haven't got the big grin by the 3rd shot...I feel like I haven't done my job as an instructor.
I agree! What the heck? People amaze me.
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