Gun ownership rising among women [View all]

[davidn3600]

Many people assume that "every shooter in the United States is a 50-year-old white guy," quips Natalie Foster of the website "The Girl's Guide to Guns."

Many people are wrong.

The number of women who owned guns spiked to 23% in 2011, compared to 13% in a 2005 Gallup poll. While the organization hasn't released updated statistics yet, most think the rates will continue to rise.

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...Shooting gives us a sense of equality, a sense of safety, a sense of being in control of ourselves. That sense of control is empowering, and is something we should seek in other aspects of our life. This, along with the "tough woman" image of shooting guns, gives us a more positive self-image, which is a powerful thing.

...Since I started shooting I've taken up weight-lifting and started studying nutrition and trying to eat right. It has made a huge difference in my self-esteem and helped me to realize the extent of control I have over myself, much as shooting does. I would encourage every woman shooter not to stop there, but to continue to step outside of her comfort zone and find other activities that energize and empower her to be the best she can.

http://news.yahoo.com/more-more-women-buying-guns-why-123214928.html