More Women in Shooting Sports

The numbers are increasing...

It's not just women in Colorado outdoors that are enjoying shooting sports! The Denver Post reported, "Greater numbers of women join shooting, hunting ranks..." For more on this, read the numerous links by searching the topic on http://www.google/. "It's fun", and there are classes taught by police investigators, detectives, and other experience people. One of the more frequent posts on any related forum is the husband or wife that has not accepted, or is afraid of firearms.

Why would women be turned off to the subject?

Could this be driven by the media or Hollywood? This is people not educating children about firearms, but just scaring them by telling them guns are bad? Let's see, children should be taught fear by their parents rather than learning to think for themselves? Try to get around that one, if you're a parent.

Have you met a teenage girl/boy competition shooter? Ever attended a shooting clinic for kids? There's an example of adults working with our youth. In that venue, our children learn are taught while practicing safety, and responsibility of firearms (while being around a few of the millions of guns floating around our population.)

Our experience or education shape our own thoughts and actions, yes! Let's hope our friends aren't using fear to teach kids anything about guns or loud barking dogs. Both are worthy of understanding and honest approach (or avoidance). Be afraid if you have to, however, please don't instill the same in others that you care about...

Archery for Women Mentor: Geena Davis

A sport to practice in the back yard! Ask Geena Davis, the award winning actress, mentor, and mother - whose talent (and six foot height) have made her easily recognizable on-screen to movie and television fans alike.

Coaches, mentors, and practice, along with her own competitive streak - moved her forward, and closer to the selection of the team for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Did she earn a medal in those games? No, Ms. Davis became a semi-finalist - competing for a spot on the Olympic team, consisting of 16 members. Others made the U.S. Olympic Archery Team and the right to compete at the games in Sydney. In the two to three years after she began practicing, and right up until her ranking as semi-finalist, Davis made amazing progress with her efforts!

Ms. Davis is working to help young women and others - to accomplish their own goals in sports. After becoming a semi-finalist for the team, the fortyish lady went on to more movie, and television roles and gave birth to three children. She promotes women in sports, and otherwise helps encourage girls, and women to participate, and often succeed in areas where 'boys' often dominate the sporting world. Ms. Davis' websites are worthy of visiting: http://SeeJane.org, http://Geenatakesaim.org, and http://womenssportsfoundation.org.

Archery should be viewed as more than an event for viewing during the Olympics? We're talking about girls learning to interract with their peers, being active in sports, and eventually leading others, while mentoring younger participants. More coaches are needed in women's sports, as well as participants. As Ms. Davis has pointed out in the past, with quality coaches and talented team members, the spectators will show up! Spectators are themselves participants, indeed!

Oh, you many not have caught the part about practicing that skill near the back door. Twenty feet away - may not sound like a challenge with a bow and arrow. It's not only worthwhile, but takes practice to hit the mark! Archery (or bow hunting sports) shouldn't be viewed as 'buff' or 'rough and tough' or only for 'tomboy' gals. Your choice of a sport for active involvement, spectating, or even coaching is up to you!

Women sports writers like Lynne Frady enjoy sharing their experiences, or giving advice when they're not participating in, or watching the calendar for 'hunting' season to begin. Talk about people doing things that they are passionate about! Here's a short list of women that are involved in archery, or other hunting sports: Michele Leqve, Sheila Ogle, Myra Smith, Osa Johnson, Sue Tabor, and Cynthia Vannoy. Articles by or about some of those women can be found on the websites listed, below.

For more about Lynne Frady, and other women involved in archery, visit the following websites: http://realtree.com, http://womenhunters.com, and http://usarchery.org.

At left, Lynne Frady is posing with her 'trophy' wild boar.

Noise 'About' Guns in Florida











A controversial new law took effect in Florida on October 1st regarding guns and their defensive use. The “stand your ground” law says that if a woman (or man) is confronted, then that citizen has right to use a gun or other violence to act in self-defense. The person confronting you must be a perceived threat, but doesn’t have to have a gun him or herself. Previous state law said that the person being confronted must try to calm the situation or flee, rather than by this new method of defending themself.

Then, on the Monday following that day in October, members of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, based in Washington, were reported to have handed out fliers at the Miami International Airport, cautioning visitors to take "sensible precautions" and to be aware that altercations on highways, in nightclubs or on the beach could provoke a shooting.

Talk about invoking an outcry. The media certainly has no responsibility to report both sides of a story in this great land of ours. However, when the media reports on this law, and the efforts of this Washington based group, it tends to stir emotions while ignoring our freedoms. This kind of reporting too often omits specific wording of current and past laws, related to this topic, or quotes the law in such a narrow manner, that the story becomes slanted. There's nothing objective about that. This style of reporting not only insults the public's intelligence, but grinds the emotions of the public for an increased market share. That's to sell newspapers, folks! The approach may increase the number of viewers on a cable network's channel for awhile. This writer was a both a newspaper writer and reporter in the past. This is an age old approach to journalism, and tomorrow it will be recalls of possibly 'unsafe' automobiles, or a natural disaster.

Tourists in Florida have not become targets for slaughter with this new law. The law is less restrictive for self defense, and includes new wording within Florida's statutes. The law is here, and perhaps we can look at it while not confusing the general public in the process of understanding it. Why create a smokescreen when we want to bring attention to our side of a discussion? Give us credit for intelligence about this topic, and others related to firearms, and self defense.

"Chicks Packing Heat"

Tamara has done it again! She’s attracted a crowd with her unique writing style on topics related to women and firearms.

Check out Tam's March 24th post: Boomsticks: "Oh my God! The chicks are packing heat!" Yes, guns can be 'Boomsticks.' The site has informative discussions on anything from gun manufacturers to ammo, and includes comments about at least one store, that sell them. With her 'open' opinions and recounting of stories, the comments abound from the readers on that blog. Spend a few minutes, here: Http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/

Target Practice for Self Defense

Is target practice really necessary for women, or men with the self defense gun? It would seem that this would increase the user's ability, confidence, and practice would be necessary for good comfort level.

Thought for the day: "Practice using your firearm at a gun range regularly."

Orienting toward the 'right' handgun for the individual including the comfort level that goes along with practice, and the proficiency that results is important. The biggest challenge should be scheduling the time or finding the partner to accompany you to the range. A mentor, or someone with equal experience. That's for you to decide.

Take time for practice, at least every month or so. There's more places to practice at both indoor and outdoor ranges than you might expect. Check it out. For women involved in shooting sports, this is basic to keeping proficient, and practiced!

As a sidenote worth mentioning: Michelle Chihara promotes BOW, an organization for women interested in the outdoors, many of whose husbands or male family members are actively involved in the fishing, hunting and other activities. The organization, and its members, attempt to break away from the traditional thought of many outdoor activities being passed down, from father to son. She describes the group's members, now in 44 states and counting, along with some colorful descriptions and environmental backdrops in her web-based article. That work, including Chihara's related thoughts, is entitled: "Crashing the gunclub."

A Gun for Self Defense

What level of comfort would be provided by a mace, or a loaded gun in the home? What are the perspectives of women on this question? Most women choose to not deal with deterrents for 'bad guys' due to their philosophy, comfortable lifestyle or other circumstances, and others often leave their dwelling with a 9-volt powered siren, or coach's whistle to alert others for possible help, during a crisis.

Woman Soldier Receives Silver Star
Our Patriotic Hat is Off to You!











A soldier, Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, who fought insurgents in close combat outside Baghdad, is the first woman to receive the Silver Star since World War II. Ooo-ah!

The 23-year-old National Guard soldier, originally from Bowling Green, Ky., and more recently Nashville, won the award for skillfully leading her team of military police soldiers in a counterattack after about 50 insurgents ambushed a supply convoy they were guarding on March 20, 2005.

The narrative accompanying Sgt. Hester’s citation reads: Sergeant Leigh A. Hester is cited for conspicuous gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with anti Iraq forces (AIF) as a team leader for Raven 42B, 617th Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne) stationed at Camp Liberty, Iraq on 20 March 2005, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The team’s mission was to assist Raven 42 in searching the Eastern Convoy Route for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and provide additional security to sustainment convoys traveling through their area of responsibility.

Guns and Aggression

What is it about Men and 'guns' that is a turn-off or has women detest a hobby related to a handgun, rifle or shotgun? There are aggressive men involved with guns and shooting sports, no doubt about that part. When people yell at the tv or radio during a football or other sports event, this is a form of aggression, right? So, is there a balance here of what is healthy, if there's a main stream, or how do you view this interest that men or women have with shooting sports. Some even carry a permit for a gun that sits under the car seat (CCW). Sure, some men are compensating for insecurity. The regular reasons stem from an outlet that provides an interesting distraction from a mundane job, or routines of cutting grass, or performing chores around the house. Some find a level of excitement in regular practice and the proficiency that can be derived from the activity. The same reasons often apply to women.

Target Shooting or Hunting, Anyone?

Do women try to respect the sporting interests of their men, provided that those interests are a part of other diverse interests, including family, travel, nature, while forming worthwhile relationships? Responses are certainly welcome from women whether pro, con, or on the fence!

It is the hope of this writer, that women will respond with comments, and that men reading this blog will respect the different opinions shared by those women.