Females & Firearms

This evening, our local (Houston, TX) ABC affilliate runs a special segment on their 10pm news, focusing on Women With Guns.*

*if they post this segment as a video on their site, I will update that bold with a link

I watched this couple minutes of airtime with rapt attention, and here are a few observations:

The segment opens with some women who can damn well shoot!  At what appeared to be seven or ten yard distance, the groups being fired, live on camera, averaged no more than four inches with no flyers.  This, with both S&W (or Taurus?) snubbies and a full-sized Glock in 9mm or .40 S&W.   I could not I.D. the handguns beyond those quick takes.

Featured are normal, sane, respectable women who are CHL holders.  To me, the students appeared to be late '30s~mid '40s suburbanite types.  Either professionals or housewives.  Or, of course, both.

The report citeed Texas Department of Public Safety  stats  of 247,000+ CHL holders, of which 44,000+  are women.  And if I heard it right, that that female percentage is the fastest growing segment of the class.  Which, was reported if not approvingly, at least not derisively.

KTRK's reporter showed a good center-pouch CHL ladies leather purse while highlighting a lady who carries at all times, and another who carries when she feels she needs to.

The report placed a strong emphasis on the fact that these women, and all CHL holders train ardently for non-violent dispute resolution.  The female instructor got that point across with no clouding whatsoever.

On air, that same instructor explained that many women are reluctant to handle a handgun in the beginning, but with some instruction, usually become better shots than the men.  (I already know this, having instructed some four dozen-ish women to shoot....  most respond to instruction much better than the average Joe at the range.)

And finally, this most unusual feature showed these ladies being happy, having fun, and with two couples being featured also.  One an instructor couple and a second just as a shooter couple...and they didn't make 'em look like Reba McIntyre types from Tremors.

All in all, this was how news ought to be presented.  Objectively and factually, with no sneer, spin or other coloration by the reporter. 

Of course, I'm sure that a buncha prune faced lemon suckin' anti gun fear mongering million mom march types will decend upon KTRK with heaps of e-mails and letters of scorn.  Count on them to berate KTRK for not "baaaaallllaanciinnngg" the segment with the obligatory Brady (panties in a) Bunch spokesweasel, or the usual lying VPC propagandist.

How much do you want to bet that those groups will scream for "equal time" to respond to the Females & Firearms segment?

Equal time, my ass.  After forty or fifty years of virtually nothing but a steady media anti-gun drumbeat, this one segment is but a grain of sand on our side of the scale, versus a dumptruck load of the same from them and their ilk over the years.

But the nature of truth being what it is, that one grain of sand will weigh heavily upon that scale.

Truth outweighs a lie, even a Big Lie.  All it takes is a few truth-tellers who just won't quit! This segment told a big truth, and in a huge way. 

I salute KTRK for their objectivity, honesty and courage in airing this feature.

I strongly encourage you to do the same.  They hear us in our uproar when we're slammed.  Let's make sure that they hear us in our praise when they get it right:

KTRK TV
3310 Bissonnet,
Houston TX 77005
Our Phone Number is (713) 666-0713

( their "contact us" page doesn't provide the e mail addy, it sends the mail internally via their webpage, but I'll send this post's permalink to 'em all the same)

Comments

[MorningGlory]

It's nice to hear that the media can produce and air an unbiased segment about anything. I especially approve of their topic this time. We ladies are proud to join the ranks of responsible shooters -- I wonder why it took us so long?

[PJ]

MorningGlory: The fact is that many women can shoot - and have for years - it's just not one of those things we talk about. When you do talk about it, you get the look. The look can mean a couple of things, but usually it's an "Oh, are you a dyke? That's a masculine thing" look. Like somehow because you can wield a weapon, you're less of a woman. I can fire shotgun, handgun, and rifle (damn well, if I do say so myself) as well as defend myself via Tae Kwon Do. I don't feel less feminine at all. If anything, I feel more like a woman. Strong and independant.

I guess it's similar to what our grandmothers went through in WWII. Wearing pants, going to work, etc. were not really viewed as lady-like at all until then, and afterwards, when they tried to shove us back into skirts and the kitchen, we said "Hell, no."

I've had to defend myself with a firearm against an attacker who outweighed me by 40 pounds. After that I swore I'd never be helpless again.

So here's to our Grandma's and here's to "Hell, no!"

Thanks for the link, Jim. I have some others to share it with.

[MorningGlory]

PJ, you're so right. I get "the look" on a regular basis. Last fall, I attended an RWVA Shooting Clinic here in North Carolina. A gentleman that I had dated once or twice stopped by the house while I was gone, and my daughter told him I was "at sniper school". I never heard from him again! Clearly, no great loss.

I live alone with four cats. I wouldn't call myself "heavily" armed, but I would strongly advise against coming into my home without an invitation. I refuse to be helpless just because I'm female.

[KCSteve]

My ever-indulgent wife has fun with her coworkers on occasion. Not that long ago they had to come in on a Saturday so she wore her 'Kalashnikitty' shirt. Got lots of "Oh, that's so cute I need to get one for my daug... Is that a gun!"

This past Saturday we were at a 'gunnie' picnic and there were a number of ladies present. One of them brought her .357 with the 4" ported barrel for my wife to try (now we know what her next gun will be). My ever-indulgent wife let several folks try her shotgun. If you're petite, check out the Mossberg 500 Bantam model. Not only a short stock (that you can make 1" shorter) but a shorter action as well. One young lady and her boyfriend went from the picnic to the gunstore and got her one on the way home. Next person who tries to come into their apartment in a not-so-good part of KC is likely to get a nasty surprise.

Keep up the good work ladies!

[Army of Mom]

My husband took me shooting for the first time in October 2004. He had to drag me to the range because I did NOT want to go. Now, I love it. I have a 38 special, but have my eye on a Kimber or a S&W 40.

http://www.armyofmom.com/2004/10/day-2-part-1-hand-me-gun-and-load-my.html

now, I help my husband take other people shooting, too.
http://www.armyofmom.com/2005/03/bang.html

Next will be a CHL for me and a new gun. Maybe for Christmas.