Posted on 04/28/2012 8:46:35 AM PDT by marktwain
Am I less feminine because I’m a gun-loving girl?
Of course not. (If anything, I find myself getting more girly the more I play with guns.) However, a few conversations I’ve had lately have caused me to examine how loving guns affects my projected self. Allow me to be clear: By no means am I fixated on others’ opinions of me, but as a single woman in my early 30s, I believe it’s understandable that I care (within reason) about my perceived femininity and sexuality.
The first conversation happened a few weeks ago while I was in NYC visiting my family. An old family friend was introduced to my new passion, ArmedCandy. While she was nervously supportive, she quickly asked, “So how’s your love life?” And at the same time she shot my mother a look that said, “Don’t expect grand-kids from this one.”
At the same dinner party a twenty-something (wall-street type) guy mentioned that he found it odd that his colleagues in the “Houston office” carried their guns to work. I responded, “Outside NYC this is more normal than you realized.” Of course, this led to a conversation about guns and concealed carry vs. open carry. As we spoke I could see a look come over his face that clearly meant he was envisioning me as Lara Croft.
A third conversation occurred last weekend while I stood amongst a bunch of gun guys. Standing next to me was a beautiful young woman who is also a Marine. The guys stressed that they find it sexy when a woman knows her way around a weapon. We females noted that, through their actions, these men also appreciated the opportunity to come to a woman’s rescue.
So why is a woman’s femininity and her shooting interests so intertwined?
I can only speak to this question through my personal experiences, since a deeper analysis might require a PHD or something.
Call me what you will, but I’ve been on more than a few “range dates”. I don’t object to this type of date at all because if part of dating is about finding common interests and we both enjoy shooting then we are starting off on the right foot. One guy was a very good teacher; another was not. One guy was a much better shot than me; another stopped calling when I shot his weapon better than he did.
The good teacher made it clear that he wanted me to be capable of protecting myself and often built on my education. He also appreciated that teaching me meant he could break the touch barrier.
The less good teacher turned me lose with a large caliber pistol before I was ready. When it scared me, he showed me that he was macho enough to handle it.
The guy who shot much better than me used the range as “part one” of a three part date that got incrementally more romantic. The range got some blood flowing but didn’t require too much conversation, then came a glass of wine on a sunset cruise… (yes, points)
Obviously we don’t need to bother discussing the poor guy who was barely competent with his own weapon.
From these experiences, I can decipher one main idea. It’s not the activity, it’s the beholder. If a guy took a girl dancing, they might have a great time even if he had two left feet. Then again he might teach her to float across the floor or he might step on her toes and count, loudly.
What’s clear to me is this: No matter who’s watching, I’m a gun-loving-girl, there’s no doubt.
Through my lifetime of research, the consensus shows there’s nothing sexier than a confident woman who is enjoying herself. Therefore, if I enjoy going shooting and learning about firearms, then the rest should follow… Right? Women are expected to be everything for everyone but at the end of the day we must be true to ourselves. We walk a fine line between Damsel-in-Distress and Self-Sustaining-Island. It’s a difficult balance, but it’s just part of the job. If you’ve got that balance in check, then work it girl! And why not throw guns into the mix?
Some men want a woman that they can take care of, and I can see that, but I want a woman that is also a competent partner that can carry her weight, and then some!
Women and guns are a winning combination for me.
Handguns are a girl's best friend!!"
Women that are comfortable with weapons are in short supply ,, they can be assured of serious attention on dating websites.
Every woman should know how to shoot. Women in general are better shots that men because they have better fine muscle control. If you go back in time in America, most women could shoot and shoot well. Think foxes, chicken hawks, and hen houses for an example.
In today’s world “An armed woman is a rapists greatest nightmare.” Teach your daughters to shoot.
UWP
Here’s a question for a competent woman who likes guns.
I sent away to Wolff for a stronger 16 lb. slide recoil spring, since I’m using only FMJ .45 and they recommend it for this make & model. I’ve read that the factory 13 lb. spring can cause a broken slide stop. Ordinarily I would go with what the manufacturer installs, but I also replaced the guide rod since it was plastic (!).
.45 FMJ: Let’s not go there, OK?
So it arrived the other day and I installed it. However nothing was said (that I recall) about a new hammer spring, and I didn’t know they would be sending a new hammer spring as well. Should I replace the hammer spring?
(Keep in mind that I don’t want to, and you can’t make me, sister. So there.)
It is always nice to have some spare parts!
Perhaps some of our many knowledgeable freepers can answer the question more completely.
I think my wife is very sexy on the range. (and most other times too!) When she is concentrating, sighting down her S&W... Doesn’t matter what she’s wearing, stance/pose... She’s sexy.
Man, this thread could use some pictures.
Bring sexual equality since 1839 (Patterson Colt).
Making people into citizens since 1775.
An insurance policy that protects one before being victimized.
Is the corollary, then, that you have to be fat and ugly to like guns? It is so not the case. Sarah Palin. I rest my case.
It’s infinitely harder to rape a woman when she’s pointing a gun at you.
Pray for America
Not at all. A woman who is very attractive becomes even more attractive. It is an additive quality.
Fat, ugly, and attractive are rather subjective quantities.
No, they’re quite objective!
As a former platoon leader and company commander, I made the following observation, which admittedly is a broad generalization. Many male soldiers came into the Army having some level of exposure to firearms, and while a handful were highly proficient, many had spent their youth reinforcing bad shooting habits, and would come to BRM classes and the qualification range thinking they already knew everything. Most young female soldiers had little to no exposure to firearms, and approached with a degree of alert apprehension, fully willing to listen to every single word their NCOs told them. They were essentially blank slates, had no bad habits, and came to the range (or weaponeer) fully willing to execute precisely as they had been taught.
Again...broad generalities, but enough to make an impression on me.
depending on the gun, recoil is managed by both the recoil spring and the hammer spring. if you’re putting in a higher rate recoil spring you may need a lower rate hammer spring to retain the same overall spring rates. this is for guns with hammers, guns that are striker fired are different.
I agree with that. I don't know what it is outside of the obvious common interest. The eyes are more likely to wander when it comes to ladies with guns.
Interesting the girls shoot body-facing the target rather than tactically (body-angled). Conscious choice or are they simply more comfortable that way?
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