43 Percent Of Handgun Owners Are Women, Almost A Quarter From Urban Areas

The face of the gun owner is changing. As you’ve no doubt heard and seen over the past several years, women are buying guns and learning to shoot at record rates. Since 2007, there’s been a remarkable 270 percent increase in women seeking concealed-carry permits, and a recent Harvard/Northeastern survey shows that 43 percent of today’s handgun owners are women.

Nearly a quarter of female firearm owners live in urban areas, where the increasingly hostile environment has led many to seek means of self-protection. And while a firearm can be a source of empowerment for women, many are finding it can also be a source of enjoyment. The proof can be found in the rapid-fire growth of ladies-only shooting clubs like The Well Armed Woman and A Girl and A Gun. 

For the anti-gunners who like to claim that firearms don’t make women safer, try telling that to these ladies. They’re locked, loaded and taking safety into their own hands.