(Don Turner) – People erroneously assume that the typical gun owner and concealed carrier is a middle aged male. But recent statistics indicate that women gun owners have increased exponentially over the last decade and have now become and important market to gun companies and critical participants in the gun control debate.
Nobody can really point to why the segment is growing…it just is spiking every year. A National Shooting Sports Foundation study found that since 2005 women gun ownership has increased by 77% since 2005. In 2005 13% of gun owners are women and now they represent 23% of gun owners and incredible increase in any industry. I think it comes down to common sense, today’s woman is much more independent and takes responsibility for her own protection.
Still this emerging segment is relatively uninformed and guns remain a mystery to many. Nevadan’s For State Gun Rights in an effort to expose those mysteries and make it fun has started a Women, Weapons and Wine Series.
(Warning here: Alcohol and Firearms NEVER mix so don’t draw the wrong conclusion. Don’t ever mix them)
The object is to have women only shooting events, where even the instructors are women, to familiarize them with firearms of different types and calibers, basic firearms safety, and firearms legislation that affects their rights and at the same time fundraise for the organization. The shooting portion of the event is serious business but once that part is over women can debrief at another location and socialize over appetizers and wine. This isn’t your mom’s Tupperware party.
In fact, the first event is Thursday, March 19, 6pm at Big Shot Indoor Shooting Range and there are various options ranging from pistol packages $150.00, rifle packages $165.00 and machine gun packages $185.00. Every package includes appetizers and refreshments.
In 2013, by party line vote, the Nevada Legislature passed SB221, which required private party firearm transfer sales to go through a federal background check. The special interest group that pushed this forth was Everytown USA funded by former NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Governor of Nevada vetoed the legislation, which forced Everytown USA to import people from all over the country to collect enough signatures to present it as a ballot initiative in 2016.
Nevadans For State Gun Rights is the PAC that is taking on the task of defeating the NYC Mayor Bloomberg Ballot Initiative voters will see in 2016. The ballot initiative would require background checks for all private party sales or transfers which even the Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association has said is largely unenforceable.
