Posted on 04/11/2006 2:20:06 PM PDT by tarawa
Women with guns By Liz Vargo The Record Herald
The chances of spotting a woman at a rod and gun club used to be a shot in the dark.
But women who are buying memberships to local sportsmen's associations are right on target with state and national statistics.
According to Jerry Feaser of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, female enrollment in state hunter and trapper courses has steadily increased over the past five years.
The courses are required for all first-time licensees. Enrollment has jumped from 7,107 women in 2001 to 7,846 women in 2004, according to the state
The game commission has a handful of new women wildlife conservation officers, Pennsylvania State Police and FBI are promoting the employment of women and more women are discovering that hunting is an enjoyable outdoor family activity.
Society is accepting women who know how to handle a weapon, and the ladies are taking advantage of the opportunity. *
Common in Hollywood
The first female law enforcement officials appeared in “Charlie's Angels” in the 1970s. Today, Mariska Hargitay of “Law and Order's SVU” and Melina Kanakaredes of “CSI New York” carry their guns with a sense of professionalism and confidence.
Women are entering more corners of the man's world, said Athena Varounis, a retired FBI agent. And men will have to get used to it.
“Nothing surprises a fugitive more than a woman FBI agent arresting them,” Varounis said.
Varounis and her friend Ellie Benish, both of Waynesboro, recently joined the Waynesboro Fish and Game Club to maintain proficiency with their firearms.
Varounis started with the FBI at age 26 in 1980. At that time, she said it was nearly unheard of to be a female agent. The first group of female agents graduated from FBI training in 1973, she said.
“If a woman went to shoot a weapon 10 years ago, all the men at the range would give her a dirty look. But it's more acceptable now that it's on TV,” Varounis said. “I'm not surprised statistics have gone up.”
Bobbie Kuhns of Chambersburg said the same is true in the hunting world. Kuhns didn't grow up with guns in the house and none of her friends hunted. But now she enjoys trap shooting with her husband.
“In my generation, women didn't have guns around. Now, my two 13-year-old nieces really look forward to hunting,” Kuhns said.
Increased participation
Both Ron Miller of the Waynesboro Fish and Game Association and Bob Mohler of the Greencastle Sportsman Association have noticed more women at the shooting range.
“In today's world, a lot of ladies are getting the urge to carry a handgun,” Miller said. “And women are doing more hunting.”
Mohler noted better equipment has added to increased female participation. If people use the proper equipment and shooting stance, firing is much easier.
“Before, women thought it was a man's thing. Guns are going to kick, they're going to hurt. But if a gun is properly fitted ... you can learn to shoot it,” Mohler said.
Today, women can purchase guns that are smaller and fitted properly. There are more products and opportunities for women shooters, he said.
Varounis said there are an increased number of sporting goods - not just weapons - available to women. She didn't even have a sports bra when she joined the FBI.
An entire section of the NRA Web site is devoted to women, and Kuhns promotes firearms as one of several activities at Greencastle's Women in the Outdoors event in June.
“I like the fact that more women are fighting back. Too many women are victimized through no fault of their own. I also like the fact that women who want to hunt are doing so,” said Varounis.
Ready, aim, fire!
Mary Loy, a teacher in Chambersburg, said parents sometimes give her a funny look when she says it's her weekend to trap shoot.
“Not a lot of people I know go out to shoot, but I've gotten a few people interested,” Loy said.
Loy's husband got her involved in trap shooting. She has noticed several husband and wife teams at the shooting range.
“I was a little apprehensive the first time,” Loy said. “I never held a firearm before and when I pulled the trigger, I wasn't sure what would happen.”
Elisabeth Yeun of Chambersburg felt the same way when she picked up a handgun at last summer's Women in the Outdoors event in Greencastle. She said the opportunity presented a challenge.
Both women were surprised how easily they hit a target on the first try.
“I was surprised how good I was ... hitting the target with a .22-rifle was really cool,” Loy said.
“I got very close to the bull's eye, and you get immediate results,” Yeun said. “I was kind of fun, more so because of the target, and it posed a challenge.”
Mohler, who worked with women at the event last year, said he also was pleased how easily they caught on.
“I'd like half the women who shot last year on my team,” he said.
Loy has been trap shooting for three years and said with more practice, she may start competing.
Yeun - who shot a handgun - was glad she rose above the challenge of shooting a gun. But overall, she won't pursue it as a sport or form of protection.
“I appreciated learning the method. But it would be a really hard decision (to shoot someone) because you're not just harming them, you could kill them,” she said.
Huge responsibility
Varounis encourages women to take safety into their own hands. She rides a horse in the countryside and always takes her weapon because “you never know who's out in the woods.”
But she adds about 99.9 percent of those who own a gun shouldn't have one.
“When you have a weapon, you have the responsibility of using it,” she said. “It's very, very different shooting at a target than a person ... Most people don't understand the responsibility of carrying a weapon. It's life or death in front of you.”
Whether for hunting or for protection, Miller said the Waynesboro Fish and Game Association has safety classes lined up.
“People with a fear of guns don't step up to learn about them, in my opinion,” Miller said. “Even if people never intend to use a handgun, they should still come out to take a course to learn about them.”
Miller said sometimes women have no interest in hunting, but their husband and children enjoy the activity. If guns are around the house, a person should know how to handle them, he said.
Varounis said it's a good idea to take a course, but no one should be forced into it.
“The gun is not a toy,” she said. “Guns are protecting you, law enforcement is protecting you. People shouldn't look at guns like they have cooties, but you have to respect the gun.”
Encouragement
For Kuhns, hunting has become a great outdoor sport. She travels with her husband to hunt antelope, turkey and elk.
Many families have found hunting and trap shooting an enjoyable outdoor activity, she said.
“It's a great chance to take the family outdoors,” she said.
For women who aren't sure whether to pursue it, Kuhns encourages opportunities like Women in the Outdoors or public sessions at local associations.
“You have to want to do it,” Loy said. “I encourage anybody who wanted to try it to do so in a non-threatening environment because it's really safe.”
Both Miller and Mohler also hope to see female attendance go up locally. Mohler said applications for membership doubled among women from last year to this year.
“I encourage everyone to participate more,” Mohler said. “You can learn to shoot.”
First one to comment.
As a woman I loved this article. I competitively shoot sporting clays, am a member of a local range, and also a lifetime member of my state's wildlife commission. Back when I started shooting some 10 years ago, there were no women in my club, and I was always one of only two women who participated in local shoots. Now, there are 12 women members. I've alway given the men a run for their money in the competitions! There's nothing more sensual than a woman who can handle a gun!
First one not to post a pic from Gordon's Calender
I'd love to take my wife shooting at the local gun range. I think she'd love it. I think she doesn't mostly out of embarrassment of knowing next to nothing about firearms. Having me do the instructing may be an issue as well. She thinks I already have enough of the whole "know it all" thing going on as it is.
Well, with these two statements she has discredited herself.
Interesting.
"This is my Rifle, This is my Gun..."
Maybe you could have someone else instruct her? I admit my husband and I don't get to the range much, but it sure is fun when we do. The main reason we don't get there much is the money and the time issues. I do hope to change that eventually.
[There's nothing more sensual than a woman who can handle a gun!]
Tell me about it.
Yeah... I've thought of that. I'll keep working on her. See what happens. I'd love for this to become a family thing. Ana is still a bit young though. Got a few years yet before she's even big enough to consider taking to the range.
"(because) it's more acceptable now that it's on TV"
Unbelievable. Ahh - and I suppose the "surprised fugitives" in real life will just roll over and allow themselves to be get beat up by female agents just like their gonadless counterpart male actors on television. Riiiight.
Sorry. Don't buy it. TV is not the guidebook for our culture. It's agenda militant aggressive feminism is destructive to our culture, not the other way around.
What about 
this one?
I took a girlfriend to the range. I started her with a 22. She did very well.
She asked if she could shoot my 92FS. Now, this woman is 4 foot 10 and maybe 100 lbs. I showed her how it worked, where the saftey was and handed her the piece.
She shot a almost perfect group into the groin area of the man shaped target.
I pity the fool who attacks her.
Actually, we live in a semi-remote area of a very populated county in Florida - if a bad guy is running - our "neighborhood" would be a great place to hide ...
After several scary incidents I decided a police baton (long story) wasn't enough but my wife's view was "Buy a gun and I'm leaving with the kids".
I bought a Glock Model 19 (9MM) and a gunsafe. My son and I would go to the "swap meet" and practice. He was instructed on gun safety and sworn to "no key searches". He's done fine.
One night (6 months later) she noticed me on the porch with our gun. Busted! Except (as planned) we'd had a gun in the house for 6 months and nobody had been killed or threatened.
I was also able to hand her a copy of our "Gun Rules" which outlined what we'd do as a family if the gun was out.
Took a little while but now I've got an inside the belt holster, a 15 round mag and 2 10s and we're looking at shotguns.
She went down to the range (indoor but nice) once but the noise freaked her out and she just couldn't (mentally) pull the trigger.
We haven't given up ... I think she might like a nice, shiny and small pearl-handled revolver! Suggestions are welcome. ;-)
Nope- "Honey West" was before Charlie's Angels...1965
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