The USCCA “Women’s: What’s Your Why” initiative encourages women to identify their personal motivations for pursuing firearms training, education, and concealed carry. Common reasons include protecting loved ones, building confidence, overcoming discomfort with firearms, and taking control of personal safety through training.
In our very first class, we’ll explore our Whys. Every woman walks in with her own reason for being there. I certainly had several when I took my first class—some of them deeply personal, and those I share in class.
I’d like to share a bit about my Why for becoming a USCCA Certified Instructor—and why I choose specifically to teach women.
As the saying goes, this world is changing, and things aren’t the same as when many of us were growing up. For a variety of reasons—the economy, rising violent crime, and an increase in hate crimes, to name a few—more people in my community have chosen to arm themselves. More specifically, many of the men in my community have obtained licenses and purchased firearms. Some have gone on to carry concealed, while others simply want protection at home.
Either way, there is a gun in the house.
In conversations with friends and acquaintances, I’ve noticed a pattern. While their husbands are (hopefully) educating themselves and practicing safe storage, many women remain hesitant to get involved.
“I’ll leave that up to my husband.”
“Why would I want to?”
“It’s so scary.”
“I went to the range once, but I felt so uncomfortable… it’s such a man’s world.”
But here’s the truth: even if you can’t think of a single reason to own or carry a firearm yourself, if there is one in your home, every adult in that home should know how to handle it safely. Even if it’s just to pick it up safely and secure it properly.
I consider myself extremely conscientious about gun safety, yet I still experienced a situation that changed my perspective.
One afternoon, I had been practicing dry fire at home and realized I was running late for an important appointment. As I went to secure my firearm, the safe malfunctioned. The biometric lock wouldn’t open—the batteries had died.
There was a backup method: a key-lock hidden behind a plate that required a screwdriver. I had the key… but couldn’t find a screwdriver anywhere. Time was ticking, yet I couldn’t leave until the firearm was secured.
In the end, I carefully hid the firearm in my closet, locked both the closet and my bedroom door, and rushed out to my appointment. On the way home, I stopped to buy batteries and a screwdriver, and finally secured everything properly.
All’s well that ends well—but the experience left me thinking.
What if I had younger children in the house?
What if this had been someone else’s firearm—one I was afraid to touch or didn’t know how to handle?
What if I had been the only adult present and needed to act quickly to keep a firearm out of the wrong hands?
That moment reinforced something important: unexpected situations happen. No matter how responsible or careful you are, things can go wrong.
And that’s my Why.
Firearm safety training isn’t just for enthusiasts. It’s not just for those who feel confident or interested. It’s for anyone living in a home where a firearm is present.
You may not love the idea. You may find it intimidating. You may wish the firearm wasn’t there at all. But if it is there, there is a responsibility—one that comes with knowledge.
At the very least, every adult should know how to safely handle and secure a firearm.
Because safety isn’t optional—it’s essential.