The USCCA \u201cWomen\u2019s: What\u2019s Your Why\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our very first class, we\u2019ll explore our Whys<\/em>. Every woman walks in with her own reason for being there. I certainly had several when I took my first class\u2014some of them deeply personal, and those I share in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d like to share a bit about my Why<\/em> for becoming a USCCA Certified Instructor\u2014and why I choose specifically to teach women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the saying goes, this world is changing, and things aren\u2019t the same as when many of us were growing up. For a variety of reasons\u2014the economy, rising violent crime, and an increase in hate crimes, to name a few\u2014more 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Either way, there is a gun in the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In conversations with friends and acquaintances, I\u2019ve noticed a pattern. While their husbands are (hopefully) educating themselves and practicing safe storage, many women remain hesitant to get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll leave that up to my husband.\u201d But here\u2019s the truth: even if you can\u2019t 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\u2019s just to pick it up safely and secure it properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I consider myself extremely conscientious about gun safety, yet I still experienced a situation that changed my perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t open\u2014the batteries had died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a backup method: a key-lock hidden behind a plate that required a screwdriver. I had the key\u2026 but couldn\u2019t find a screwdriver anywhere. Time was ticking, yet I couldn\u2019t leave until the firearm was secured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All\u2019s well that ends well\u2014but the experience left me thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What if I had younger children in the house? That moment reinforced something important: unexpected situations happen. No matter how responsible or careful you are, things can go wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy would I want to?\u201d
\u201cIt\u2019s so scary.\u201d
\u201cI went to the range once, but I felt so uncomfortable\u2026 it\u2019s such a man\u2019s world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if this had been someone else\u2019s firearm\u2014one I was afraid to touch or didn\u2019t 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n