The Importance of Gun Safety and Self Defense

It is a cruel fact of life that women are more susceptible to rape, assault, and other crimes than males. Our smaller stature compounds the problem. An armed female, however, has leverage over an unarmed male regardless of size. However, a gun is less effective—and more dangerous—if not coupled with proper knowledge of gun use and safety.

If you question the benefits of having a gun, consider the words of Massad Ayoob. Ayoob makes a living teaching both men and women how to use firearms safely and effectively. He describes one of his students as an “accomplished academian and author with roots in the women’s liberation movement.” Ayoob says, “She considered the gun to be the hideous side effect of testosterone poisoning.” That was until she was assaulted and nearly died.  She bought a .38 special and took Ayoob’s training. She later told him, “It had occurred to me that I neglected one important element of my empowerment.”

The difference in women’s bodies and men’s carries over into handling weapons. Firing a gun is not as simple as pointing and pulling the trigger. There are standard stances that optimize accuracy and decrease bodily stress on the shooter. Using a gun properly is even more complicated for women because gun sizes and standard shooting techniques are not adapted for a woman’s size or center of gravity.

Ayoob claims that women are easier to train. He says that because we have better fine motor skills than men we often excel at pulling the trigger without leading the muzzle off target. Also, because we have greater pelvic flexibility and a lower center of gravity, we better adapt to shooting behind cover. What Ayoob describes as our greatest advantage is the fact that we, “don’t instinctively balk at taking instructions from a male in a male-oriented discipline.” In other words, as women, we don’t think that because of our sex we should automatically be able to do something society deems masculine. (Click here to read Ayoob's columns, including several on women and guns. Another resource is Paxton Quigley's Armed and Female, written by a strong female advocate of women's self-defense.)

A woman with proper firearms training is as proficient as a man with such experience. We just need classes geared towards us that focus on shooting techniques that optimize our physical and mental advantages.

Locally, On Target Virginia is now offering spring and summer classes and private lessons by request. On Target Virginia aims to help people develop the knowledge, skill and attitude needed to operate a handgun safely. Their 8-hour Basic Pistol course is a relaxed, hands-on class allowing students to develop the safe habits and foundational skills to be a responsible handgun owner. The classroom portion of Basic Pistol and the live-fire session (scheduled at your convenience and included in the course fee) satisfies the training requirement established for a Concealed Weapons Permit by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Click here for more information about On Target Virginia or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The web site includes a Q&A page and testimonials as well as contact information.