Guns have long been a man’s world. But as growth in the firearm industry slows down, gunmakers are increasingly focusing on women to boost sales—and that bet is starting to pay off.
The number of women in the U.S. who practiced target shooting at gun ranges jumped 60 percent, to 5.4 million, between 2001 and 2013, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), an industry trade group…
…
The rise in firearms sales to women is largely tied to self-defense, said manufacturers. More women, especially younger ones, want to ensure that they’re protected at all times.
“Today’s woman is very interested in being able to look out for herself and her family,” says Eveland
via Gun makers’ big bet on women pays off.
Beside the obvious self-defense, target practice and even hunting, here is a list compiled by one of the top ladies in the gun world, Limatunes:
And women like guns because …
# 11 Gun don’t leave brass all over the toilet seat. (as per Gail P.)
10# A gun doesn’t complain when you take it shopping. Even to buy “personal” products.
9# You can make a gun dress in whatever you think it will look best in and it doesn’t complain about itching, scratching or that you’re “not accepting it the way it is.”
8# A gun is specific on what it wants for dinner.
7# A gun will always be there when you need it.
6# Guns don’t threaten to rip the arms off of other guns you look at.
5# Guns don’t go off by themselves or with other guns and decide to do REALLY STUPID stuff.
4# You can take a gun to the gunsmith without it complaining that it’s just “a flesh wound.”
3# A gun maintains the same shape and size no matter how much you feed it.
2# Even if you let other girls handle your gun it will always come back to you (even if it takes a little effort to get it back).
#1 A gun knows the perfect answer to all those tough questions we women ask: shut up and lay there until she needs you.
Update: # 11 Gun don’t leave brass all over the toilet seat. (as per Gail P.)
To be fair, I think it’s not so much that they’re surprised that women like to defend themselves as it is the degree to which they now feel it’s necessary to go in order to do so.
Sort of like going shopping in Walmart and seeing someone decked out in a biohazard suit. Some people wash their hands, others get the flu shot, and then there are those who feel a biohazard suit is necessary.
Until guns are seen as something other than an extreme form of self protection, I think you’ll always get this.
Just my 2 cents.
Kyle nailed it. It’s NECESSITY these days…
“Foolish men prefer weaker women.”
-Holo the Wise Wolf, Spice and Wolf
A real man finds a woman who can’t look after herself boring and useless.
Gun don’t leave brass all over the toilet seat.
HAHAHAHAHA… That is great!
Mothers usually spend the most time with their children. How could I not do any and everything possible to protect them?
One of my boys made a smart remark about Dad bringing home the bacon, and Mom cooking it. Dad reminded said son, ‘Well duh, that way she has a HOT skillet within range when she starts swinging!”
Gentleman, it’s all about the right tool for the right job…
That article is framed in a way that I find interesting. It’s framed as being about the gun industry’s choice to market firearms to women, and that choice leading to more sales. It’s about what the “gun industry” chose to do. It’s NOT about women choosing to prepare to defend themselves and choosing to buy guns. It’s not about women’s choices, and the results of those choices. Why is it framed that way? Why aren’t women being talked about as actors here?