Tennessean Article - More Tennessee Women Carry Guns

[TGO David]

Source: The Tennessean (Link to article)

Wednesday, 03/07/07

More Tennessee women carry guns

Experts cite crime fears, empowerment as reasons

By CHRISTIAN BOTTORFF

Staff Writer

For years, Nashville real estate agent Kim Hoard considered toting a gun for

her safety at work and while traveling alone with her two children, ages 7

and 10.

She recently took action when she started getting harassing telephone calls

from a man who saw her photo in an advertisement.

Hoard is now enrolled in a gun safety class that starts this month, and she

is planning to obtain a permit so she can carry around a .38-caliber revolver

that is now collecting dust at home.

"I have strangers in my car every day," Hoard said. "I meet strangers in

empty houses all day long. For me, it seems like the logical step to protect

myself."

Hoard is one of a growing number of women in Tennessee who have

obtained handgun carry permits in Tennessee the past two years.

Last year, 9,921 women received permits to carry handguns in Tennessee

— a record number. That was almost 500 more than in 2005, and about 80

percent more than in 2004, a year that ended a decline in such permits.

Permits are issued after completion of a handgun safety course, and after

background checks and a fingerprint analysis by local, state and federal

authorities.

Crime fears are factor

Officials from the Tennessee Department of Safety say it is not clear why

women have signed up to carry handguns at such an increased rate the

past two years. Before 1996, local sheriffs' offices issued the permits.

But gun experts, such as Barbara Oonk of Nashville, say that women are

increasingly exercising their gun ownership rights in light of concerns about

crime.

"Why should we not have something to protect ourselves?" said Oonk, the

Tennessee representative for the Second Amendment Sisters, a national

organization promoting female gun ownership. "Why should we let someone

else have their way, when you could protect yourself?

"There is so much crime going on, and it is proven that states that have

carry laws see less crime. If everybody is carrying, there would be less

crime."

David Nash, the chief handgun instructor at the Shepherd School Inc. in

Nashville, said that his classes are frequently filling up with women like

Hoard, who will soon be one of his students.

"A lot of it is personal empowerment, as women want to feel in control of

their own lives," Nash said. "Some of it is a personal situation where they

might be living alone and want a handgun at their house to feel safe."

It is also increasingly common for couples to sign up together for gun safety

classes, Nash said.

It is no surprise to 32-year-old Lila Walker that so many women are

choosing to carry handguns.

"It seems that with the surge of single women in their 30s now who maybe

don't have that male role in their life — we're facedwith the fact that we

have to accept responsibility for our safety in maybe some nasty

situations," Walker said.

Walker, a disc jockey for a country radio station in Chattanooga, obtained

the handgun carry permit when she was 26. Since then, she heads to the

gun range about once every four to six months to improve her shooting and

gun handling skills. She carries her gun in her holster in the small of her

back.

"Just as I would not go without a hammer in my toolbox at home — it's just

a way of life for me," said Walker, who grew up with family members who

taught her about gun safety.

Women are 'more aware'

Hoard said she also didn't find it surprising to find out that women are

bearing arms.

"I think women are becoming more aware," Hoard said. "They're becoming

more independent in having to protect themselves. I think personally, we're

seeing more on the news about personal attacks. Whether be home

invasions, robberies … the increase in crime has a lot to do with it.

"We hear about it every day."

Women often opt for lighter guns, such as a .38-caliber or .357-caliber,

Oonk said. And the way women carry them is based on their personal

preference, she said.

Tennessee gun laws permit gun owners to carry their guns out in the open.

Often, however, women use special concealment purses that look like

typical purses, but give easy access to the weapons through a special side

pocket.

Others use holsters that are form-fitting and can fit close under their

clothing at the waistline, Oonk said.

Oonk uses a special concealment purse and a holster, she said. But

sometimes, when she is in an area known for crime problems, she wears her

.38-caliber handgun out in the open in a holster so everyone can see.

"When I go into a place like that by myself, it's not a bad idea to let people

know not to mess with me," Oonk said. "I've just got to keep my eyes open

360 degrees all the time, and I've got to be aware of what's going on."

[Guest Fuel]

My wife is taking real estate classes right now. I never thought about the "meeting strangers" factor of selling real estate. I'll be forwarding this article on to her.

[shaftbass]

I noticed our own David Nash was mentioned in the article.

I wish I could get my girlfriend to carry, but she is only now coming around to wanting me to teach her how to shoot.. it's a step in the right direction, though.

[Guest Len]

Man Tungsten, you are fast! I logged on this morning to post this article myself! A very interesting article. Note the stats on permits in general and women seeking permits.

(Begin rant here.) For to long has this industry ignored or paid only token attention to women. Women make up more than 50% of the population, have hundreds of billions of dollars in buying power, influence most purchases and economic decisions in most households, and in my opinion, are the key demographic to focus on when considering the future of the shooting sports and the 2A. Women are a large block of voters who tend to supportanti-gun laws more so than men.

A couple of questions:

1) How many women are members of TGO? (I personally know of 2.)

2) How many gun shops, shooting ranges, schools, and other facilities are "women/newbie-friendly?" (I've seen more than my share of gun shops combined with pawn shops in poor neighborhoods that look unsafe to enter even when armed. Is this the image we need to project?)

3) What sorts of outreach has the industry made to women locally? Folks, when the mainstream media is doing a better job of this than we are, that is a sad state of affairs!

Once these and other barriers to entry are overcome, most of the folks I know in the sports and industry are great people, willing to help and to teach. But these barriers are holding back how many new shooters, regardless of gender? Its all about perception folks, and in many cases our industry, our sport and our movement does not project a very newbie/women-friendly image. Change or die.

Early morning rant over. Time for breakfast. (End rant here.)

[Guest ProguninTN]

That was a good article. I'm glad somebody posted it. For once, I did not see anti bias from The Tennessean. I'm also glad that the article recognized that open carry is legal. (A common misconception is that TN requires concealment.) For those of you who conceal carry, no offense intended. (I support and have done both methods of carry.) Also, good to see a mention of David Nash (a fellow forum member), Buford Tune and A.P.P.S. (I am an alumnus of A.P.P.S.'s Carry Permit and Armed Security Courses.)

[ZZRguy]

That was a good article. I'm glad somebody posted it. For once, I did not see anti bias from The Tennessean.

I agree, I am surprised that the the Tennessean printed that article.

My wife is going to a HCP class next month.

[Guest jackdog]

I'm in agreement with Len. We as a group should do a heck of a lot more to promote women into our sport as well as carry. My wife works with a girl whose husband took the carry course with us, she did not. I asked her why and she said that no one ever taught her to handle guns or shoot. We have had them out to the house numerous times since, and I have taught her gun safety as well as shooting. We have kept the range from 10 yards in to help her build confidence. She's scheduled for a carry course next month.

People fear things they don't know or understand, it is up to us to reach out and help them learn. Hey I am not an instructor, but I do know proper gun safety and how to shoot. It might not be a bad idea for some of the instructors out there to offer the ladies a 50% discount, women love a shopping deal.

Jackdog.