Why it's good (and bad) to be a girl with a gun!

[Girlwithagun]

Here are some pros and cons to being a woman shooter. Feel free to add your own.

Reasons its NOT good to be female (in relation to shooting):

1) You have to give up shooting for 9 long months if you want
to have a baby.
2) People assume you want the smallest caliber gun or one that
"looks pretty".
3) Figuring out where to carry is more of a challenge due to
low rise pants and form fitting shirts.


Reasons its good to be female (in relation to shooting):

1) You are automatically dubbed "awesome" by your husband,
boyfriend and others just because you like guns.
2) When you speak, people usually listen.
3) People are generally more than willing to help you out if
needed.
4) Women only shooting clinic= $20, Regular shooting clinic= $80
5) You look COOL!
6) You know that just cause ya look pretty and innocent, an
attacker is going to be in for an unpleasant surprise if
he messes with you.

 

[ducktapehero]

Why do ya have to give up shooting if you are pregnant? Granted I wouldn't recommend blasting away everyday with a 50 BMG but I'm sure you could still pop a few rounds now and then.

 

[Leatherneck]

Is it really necessary to avoid all shooting while pregnant? I believe some women on THR have continued.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Red_SC]

Probably to reduce lead exposure.

 

[mtnbkr]

Sound travels through the womb.

While my wife was pregnant with our daughter last summer, we had a rather violent thunderstorm. During one extremely loud crash of thunder, my wife felt our baby jump inside her. While loud, it was nowhere near as loud as a firearm.

Not worth the risks (auditory damage, lead exposure, etc), IMO.

Chris

 

[Jay Kominek]

Not worth the risks (auditory damage, lead exposure, etc), IMO.

I wouldn't really expect any meaningful lead exposure when shooting outdoors.
And the fetus won't have ears or auditory organs formed at the instant of conception.

Obviously we need supressors to be more available! For the children!

 

[carpettbaggerr]

Lead is especially dangerous during pregnancy. It can cause severe developmental problems, even in very small doses.

 

[Girlwithagun]

I think you can shoot in your first trimester with no-lead ammo but really, no matter how much I'd hate giving up my 1911, I wouldn't want to take the risk.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Dang it, why are all the good ones already taken!

Brad

 

[Eskimo Jim]

Girl,
That's a good list you have going! Glad to see you on the forum.

I'd add a couple to the benefits:

7) your husband or boyfriend will carry your range bag because he's a gentleman
8) The words "thank you sweetie, I love it" often follow the announcement that a new firearm was bought and is now in her collection, rather than his.


-Jim

 

[Langenator]

Another good point (more may follow after consultation with my wife)

9) It's never hard to get your husband/boyfriend to buy you a new gun.

 

[Series 70]

Good:

Much easier for the men in your life to shop for gifts for you.

Bad: (Maybe)

All you ever get for gifts are gun accessories.

 

[spacemanspiff]

i wouldnt call that a 'bad' thing series70.... heck i WISH people would just buy me ammo instead of cloths or other things as gifts!

(230 grain .45acp fmj please. in reloadable brass.)

 

[SiG Lady]

I didn't get any discount...!!!!!!

Would somone please tell the rangemasters at MY range that I should receive a $60 discount on MY courses of study there just because I'm female!!!! Ha! Not a chance!!

Thankfully, though, we lady shooters at this range are treated as equals in all ways and not offered little pearl-handled foo-foo pistols as the only option. Most of my shooting buddies are pretty quick to point out the latest 1911s to me in the showcase when they arrive.

Hmm... perhaps if you start shooting EARLY in the pregnancy, the baby will get used to the noise and not jump about so much. (Rolling thunder's enough to scare ANYONE who's not used to it.......)

 

[Typhoon]

Agree with Girlwithagun and SiG Lady.

No course discounts for me, either, but I don't expect them...

I am usually treated at the range as an equal, but I do get the occasional "sideways" look at the beginning of a class, as in "Great, someone that's going to slow down the class." Bad.

About midway through the class, once I start kicking some fanny, I get the same "sideways" look as in "Damn, I wonder what agency she is with?" I've been asked that several times. The answer is "None!" "Civilian!!!" Good!

And, I have had my range bag carried for me....

Andrea

 

[LynnMassGuy]

I gotta' get my wife shooting!

 

[ken w.]

women and guns

I wish my girlfriend would go shooting with me more often,and when she does she shoots better than most of the guys!.She made a complete a$$ of an old guy who said something rude about her and handleing a rem. 1100 trap gun.She shot a strait 24 but missed the last one.It was her 3rd or 4th time out.I can't shoot that good.That old guy didn't shoot the rest of the day!Every time I take her out she seems to enjoy it but says she does it for me and then makes me take her to the mall!

 

[Cliff]

GirlWithaGun, after having the pleasure of meeting you in Annapolis,hearing your testimony,and talking with you, as well as associating with you on this fine board, I'd be honored to have you as a shootin' partner ANYTIME,ANYWHERE. Remember folks, she showed up on Feb. 10th,and March 16 with her two sons,stayed all day,both days, to help our (hers too) cause. And her two boys were about as lively as a 220 charge going through a 110 line.

Admit it, most guys,some guys would have punked out,having to stay all day with two lively kids. All the above to say that she showed more devotation,dedication,spirit,etc then a lot of so called RKBA/2A involved male shooters.

As far as the issue of pregnant woman and shooting, In our basic pistol classes we cover this at length. While there is no solid medical proof that the fetus is harmed by exposure to the noise of gunfire,to be on the side of caution,we strongly advise that any woman in any stage of pregnancy abstain from shooting. The embryonic fluid will substain and protect the fetus,but will also allow sound to travel and either have a harsh and/or soothing effect of the fetus.

 

[SiG Lady]

One of the neat things about being treated more or less 'equal' at the range is, the guys let me shoot THEIR guns, no questions asked. If someone brings in a new gun, one of the first things they do is offer to let me put a few rounds thru it. And I usually do. We learn by doing. ...and sharing.

 

[admar2]

girls with guns are hawt!

even my wife

 

[Scarface]

My Girl with a gun

Dear Girlwithagun,

My Grilwithagun shoots skeet with me, goes to the range with me, takes shooting related classes with me and helps me make decisions on the next gun to buy. This next August, we will have been married for 36 years. I love to shoot, but mostly, I love to shoot (or anything else) with her. I think the best thing about a Girl with a gun is when the interest is shared with someone special.

I wish you the same happiness we have had.

Be well,

Scarface

 

[Waitone]

Don't know if its good or bad. Just an observation.

Is it really a smart idea to give woman a loaded handgun when she is in that "irritable" time of month? Just askin'.

 

[Scarface]

Dear Waitone,

We've made it 35 years and counting and always had a gun in the house. Believe me, she's got a temper, too. For me, her big brown eyes are much more dangerous than any firearm.

Be Well,

Scarface

 

[pax]

Waitone,

Well, it sure isn't wise to try to take it away from her.

pax

Premenstrual Syndrome: Just before their periods women behave the way men do all the time. -- Robert Heinlein

 

[Dave R]

Shooting while Pregnant

Yes, there is danger to a fetus' ears from shooting while pregnant.

The ears become fully funtional around 6 months into the pregnancy. And they are developing before that. (Someone who knows more can verify/amend that timing)

Water transmits sound much more effectively than air does. Any noise that could damage your hearing, could damage the baby's. There is no way to put on hearing protection in utero.

So that's a downside to being a girl with a gun.

One more advantage--I've talked to several instructors who say girls become better shooters faster than boys. Dunno if its better fine motor skills, fewer bad habits to undo, or what. I guess that's sexist, but that's what I hear. In the CCW class I took, a woman won the final competition.

'Course, we had to use range guns instead of our own. And the light was bad. And I didn't know POI/POA on the gun I was using.