MSNBC: 'Chicks with Guns' -- 15 million U.S. women pack heat

[LAGC]

Pop quiz: Name one accessory that grandmothers, moms, girls, wealthy socialites, middle-class females and low-income women might be likely to own — and cherish — all across America.

If you answered “a gun,” you’d be correct.

Based on polling research and gun-sale statistics, an estimated 15 million to 20 million women in the United States own their own firearms. Dozens of those heat-packing women are documented in “Chicks with Guns,” a new book by photographer Lindsay McCrum that is sure to challenge almost anyone’s assumptions about gun ownership.

“Their numbers are really high but their profile is actually really low,” said McCrum, who spent three and a half years capturing artistic and arresting portraits of women with their weapons of choice.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44690575/ns/today-today_people/t/chicks-guns-million-us-women-pack-heat?GT1=43001

Hell, yeah! We hear a lot about the stereotype of middle-aged white men being gun-owners, but more and more women and minorities are joining the gun-owning ranks every day!

The more diversity the better! The sooner we steal the issue back away from conservatives.

:bounce:

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Estimated 15 million out of estimated 80 million total..

I would say the balance does not hold to the gender balance of the general population.

[TheWraith]

2. Perhaps not, but it's improving greatly. nt

[TheDebbieDee]

3. I pack heat, too............pepper spray!

I don't know how much good it will do me though, rolling around on the bottom of my purse. I'd doubt that I'd get to it in time to ward off an attack!

[AtheistCrusader]

4. If that is what you are comfortable with, and wish to carry

more power to you.

[ileus]

6. same with my wife....kimber pepper blaster.

She wouldn't dream of carrying a gun (except sometimes at work)so instead she carries the pepper blaster. She tries to keep it in a side pocket apart from all the junk inside her purse thing.


I even carry one at certain times.

[PavePusher]

7. If you actually want to be able to use it defensively....

it needs to be in a pocket or in a belt-clip/holster.

Never carry a defensive weapon where you can't actually access it rapidly, or where it may well be removed from you. After all, first target of opportunity is.... the purse.

[Remmah2]

8. An option.

There are some brands that can attach to your key chain, easy to keep track of. You can mace them or give them a face full of keys.

[SteveM]

16. You know, there's an invention-in-wait, here...

Maybe purses should have a pocket of sorts into which pepper spray containers can be inserted. When attacked, the exposed business-end of the container can be activated, without even removing the device or even dropping the purse; a sort of point and squeeze.

[holdencaufield]

5. Disappointed...

...this thread isn't nearly as exciting as the headline would suggest.

[Remmah2]

9. Women and guns are nothing but trouble.

Every time I take my wife or daughter shooting I end up having to clean the firearms.

[ileus]

10. or buy a new gun or shooting accessory...

[gravity556]

11. HA!

My wife not only carries and loves to shoot, she also loads her own mags and cleans her own guns. She can tear down her AR (in purple, of course) in the blink of an eye. And though I hate to admit it, she can outshoot me with a rifle, but I'm better with a pistol. She shot a friend of ours .50 a few times and her grin was so wide I though the top of her head was gonna fall off. :)

[ileus]

12. My wife want's pink funiture for her AR....

[PavePusher]

15. I hope your friend is very forgiving...

that had to hurt.

('Cause I can't leave a good typo in the dust... :evilgrin: )

[SteveM]

17. Yeah, but it was only .50 of the time! nt

[gravity556]

31. Suuuure, make fun of my faux pas and dangling participles...

Here's my aforementioned lovely and well armed wife...



I built the rifle for her for Christmas one year. Both because she wanted one and she wouldn't let me shoot mine when we went to the range...

[DissedByBush]

30. What's it with women and big booms?

Wife doesn't like the .22 or the .380.

But give her the .303 British or .44 and BIG SMILE.

[gravity556]

32. Mine loved shooting the Enfield.

Brass buttplate and all. She didn't care for my .44, but that's because she doesn't like revolvers at all. She is, however, a very good shot with a 1911 and even better with her Glock 19.

[oneshooter]

34. Mine shoots HighPower reduced course with a AR I built her.

And also shoots BPCR with a 38-55 Remingto roller.

Note to Hoyt, She does NOT use a red dot sight.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[Nuclear Unicorn]

23. Hubby, being ex-army, insisted I clean whatever I shot as part of "weapon familiarization"

I cannot believe how long it took to get the stink of the oil out of my hands.

blech

[oneshooter]

13. And I am happy to say that both my Loving Wife, and my Mother are among them. n/t

[DWC]

14. My kind of women !!

and proud to say my wife, three daughters, and about-to-be daughter in law are among them.

Semper Fi,

[iverglas]

18. forgive me if I point out the difference

between owning firearms and "packing heat".

The blogger who posted here a while back would be an example. She enjoys shooting as a sport, but in absolutely no sense does she "pack heat".

Extremely misleading headline, reproduced here without that being pointed out.

Some women in the book work in law enforcement. Some work on ranches. Some relish the thrill of hunting birds or big game. Some are accomplished competition shooters. Some are fiercely concerned about protection and self-defense. Some have guns that have been passed down in their families for generations and have become cherished heirlooms.

[LAGC]

19. Well, you have to pack it with you when you go hunting.

But I get your point.

Out of 80 million gun owners, only a few million actually conceal-carry on their person all the time, if that's what you're getting at.

[Kennah]

20. It's about 5-6 million carrying

However, in Texas for CY2010, the breakdown is 78% men, 22% women.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/PDF/2010Calendar/ByRace/CY10RaceSexLicAppIssued.pdf

[iverglas]

28. I believe that's "with a licence to carry"?

I don't think they mean the same thing.

[Kennah]

29. True. One never knows on a day to day basis how many people are really carrying or who they are.

[Remmah2]

21. I think you meant to point out media hype & sexism.

This select group of women accepts firearms as the norm of their empowerment, diversity and assertiveness. Seems the traditional media point of yiew is to see them as abnormal when in fact the media stereotype of "chicks w/guns" is in fact sexist.

[iverglas]

27. I think you tried to make shit up

And you succeeded!

This select group of women accepts firearms as the norm of their empowerment, diversity and assertiveness.

is not what the article says or is about.

But then I don't imagine you read it.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

24. The first photo, the B&W one, shows absolute irresponsibility and disregard for safe handling

That thing should be in a holster and turned away because you never know when it might go off.



I am, of course, refering to the baby not wearing a diaper.

[Xela]

26. Refreshing...

Great to see a bit of good humor at the gungeon.

Kind regards,

Xela

[gravity556]

33. LOL!

Concur-those things have a variable hair trigger and dispense biohazardous fluids at random times...

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Xela]

25. Great story

Thanks for sharing.

Xela