Almost every day (and sometimes several times a day) a man comes to the range and explains that he is here to select a gun for his wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, or similar.  This situation stills leaves us with the slim chance of convincing him otherwise.  The saddest cases are those men that come in and while perusing the inventory of both new and consignment firearms explain the handgun he chose for the female in his life and why he chose it.  My heart sinks as those words are spoken and I feel for the woman who is using a handgun that probably doesn't fit her hand, is probably not the highest caliber she can effectively control, and most importantly is not a handgun that she LOVES! 

From time to time a customer will come in (both men and women) and ask the our customer service representative, "What is the best handgun for a woman?"  If I am behind the counter and a male employee is asked his response will usually be, "Well, it depends." And then he will point to me and say; "She carries a full size 1911 in .45ACP."  This basically demonstrates to the customer that handguns whether manufacturer, model, or caliber are not specific to either men or women.  Rather there are many handguns that differ in size, shape, function, and caliber that appeal to different PEOPLE.  Since they are not gender specific and there are so many options available, it is extremely important (and has actually become a pet-peeve of mine) that women (and actually ALL people in general) chose their own handgun. 

Ladies, ask yourselves what does that man in your life buy you?  Does he pick out and purchase your clothes for you?  Your shoes?  Your purses?  Make-up? Other personal items?  There may be a woman or two that is the exception to this, but I'd bet one of my Wilson Combat 1911s that most women select those items themselves even if the man provides the cash. There may be a few cases where the man has been properly trained in selecting certain items. For example, my husband has been properly trained in the area of purses for Kristen.  He knows the smaller the better, he knows the colors I'll carry, and he knows Brighton purses are always a winner.  Therefore, he can select and purchase them for me.  Besides jewelry, I can't think of any other items he selects on my behalf.

So, that brings me to the whole point of my article this month.  Ladies, you need to pick out your own handgun!  Do not let a man go buy one for you and bring it home unless you have been included in the selection process.  This goes for other ladies that you know.  If your mother, sister, friend, or co-worker is in the market for a handgun, let her read this article or pass along the message that she needs to be involved in the choice. 

Think about it this way.....a handgun whether carried with a permit or used at home for self-defense could one day be the only thing that stands between you creating more memories with your loved ones or not.  It could be the very tool that saves your life.  Doesn't it make sense then that the handgun, whether revolver or semi-automatic, have a grip fit that fits the lady's hand, that it be a caliber she can effectively control, have a manageable trigger pull for her, and be reliable, and my most important feature, shouldn't it be a gun she LOVES!? If all of these things are true for the lady, then she will want to bring it to the range to practice (try Date Night or Ladies Day).  It will become not only a hobby for her, but also allow her to defend herself, other loved ones, and maybe even other innocent bystanders.  I think people should have a relationship with their gun.  By that I mean find a gun you LOVE.  You will know it when you do (grip, sights, trigger pull, etc.) It may take a while to find it (and maybe many of you settled for a handgun that you just LIKE), but when you pick it up and shoot it you will know it is the one - the one you LOVE. 

There are several ways to find that handgun you LOVE at Range USA.  We have a wide selection of rental firearms, we offer a Handgun Evaluation class where you can try different handguns along with other students and an instructor, and we offer a Personal Handgun Consultation where one individual spends an hour with an instructor shooting different makes, models, and calibers.  All of these options will help individuals narrow down if not chose the best handgun - and hopefully one they LOVE.

Lastly, I have to ask the men that are providing financial assistant to a lady in their life who is purchasing a gun not to buy a P.O.J. (piece of junk....or any other letter you chose to replace the J with).  Remember with guns, you usually get what you pay for.  The cheaper you go, the less likely it will perform correctly every time you shoot it.  For a hobby gun you may not mind sacrificing reliability for cost, but don't sacrifice reliability when your life depends on it.  Men should also keep in mind that most times they are the ones in the front line - whether it is a bump in the night they are investigating or a criminal on the street.  If the man steps up to defend the lady in their life and they are injured, then who is left to protect them?  Is it a lady with a P.O.J. gun, that doesn't fit her hand, she doesn't practice with, and therefore will not shoot accurately? Or is it a good, reliable handgun that fits her hand, which she practices with regularly at the range, and is that handgun that she LOVES?  You know my vote is for the second option.  So, ladies be involved in the selection of firearms (both handguns and shotguns) that you will use for any purpose!  Men, bring those ladies to us and we will help her find the gun she LOVES.  We will love you more for it and of course out shoot you with it!

For those of you that missed last month's Gun Powder article on ladies being better shooters then men see the Range USA February Newsletter.