Shooting has long been considered a “Man’s World”. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There have been amazing women shooters throughout history and the current generation of shooters includes many highly skilled women.
Some wonder why I have decided to partner with a training company called Female and Armed whose primary, but not exclusive, focus is teaching women. I grew up understanding that men and women could shoot if they wanted to, I didn’t think it was a “boy’s club”. But as I got older, and had a daughter of my own, I began to think about the empowerment and safety aspects of teaching women to shoot. Not only is it fun, it can save your life and that of your family. While my daughter didn’t take to the shooting sports in the way I would have liked, she grew up around guns and is very familiar with the safety rules.
Now, I am an associate instructor for a Woman Owned training company and I couldn’t be more pleased. I’m supporting a friend in her business, I have a chance to share my skills and knowledge in a more structured way, and I am learning all at the same time.
Teaching someone to shoot is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Making a woman feel comfortable with a firearm is very powerful. She is learning a sport to enjoy the rest of her life, as well as the confidence of mastering a skill and often outshooting the men. Not all men are comfortable teaching women, but I have always enjoyed sharing my skills and knowledge, and I find that women are excellent students. They do not have a lot of bad habits, or preconceptions.
Am I glad I’ve added instructor to my resume? Absolutely! I look forward to many years of shooting, teaching and seeing the smile that results from a well placed shot.
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