Six years ago, Rick Ector—a firearm trainer in Detroit—started an event called Legally Armed. Participants receive free training, including one-on-one instruction with an expert plus time at the shooting range.
“This is an event to see if owning a gun for personal protection is right for you,” Ector told the Detroit Free Press. “If it's not right for you, find some other means of protecting yourself.”
Ector said that 700 women had registered for the most recent event, although the rainy weather likely took a toll. He estimates that roughly 600 showed up, including many first-time shooters, this past Sunday at Top Gun Shooting Sports.
“I live in a safe area, but you just never know,” attendee Claudia Gutierrez told the newspaper. She showed up at the urging of her husband. Others concurred with Gutierrez. “The world is getting so bad I have to defend myself,” stated Jackie Plascencia. Added Charlene Ybarra, “It’s rough out there.”
