Girls With Guns: What Women Wish Gun Stores Knew About Their Female Customers

A decade or more ago, it wasn't uncommon to think of a woman in a gun store as the exception, rather than the rule. Today, girls with guns make up roughly 23 percent of all gun owners, and that number is steadily on the rise, according to AccurateShooter.com.

Since more and more women are enjoying gun ownership, it isn't uncommon to hear of the occasional frustrations some women have when doing business with their local firearms stores.

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One of the most common complaints is that women are often ignored by sales personnel. If girls with guns arrive with a male companion, very often, that male will be approached by sales personnel, who don't even seem to notice the female with him.

Another frequent complaint is that when they finally do notice us shopping for a firearm, they happily suggest that a revolver is perfect because it's "easier to handle." Assuming that a female cannot rack a slide or quickly and efficiently clear malfunctions and therefore would be better off with a revolver can be a huge insult.

Many gun stores are taking advantage of the fact that female gun ownership is on the rise, and a few of them have a tiny section of their stores expressly for all things pink. You can have your fill of pink guns, pink range bags, pink accessories and pink t shirts. Many girls with guns avoid this section like the plague.

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It's bad enough that some store personnel already see women as inferior customers to our male counterparts. The last thing women want to do is validate that with a cutesy pink purchase.

Lastly, all girls with guns don't carry their firearms in a concealed carry purse. It's great that these things are available for those that do, but many women prefer the added safety and security of actual on-body carry. When girls with guns ask for your help with holsters, don't just assume they are talking about purses with built in holsters.

Over all, the majority of gun stores treat all of their customers with the utmost respect. However, there are still some out there with employees that continue to ignore marketing data and still treat girls with guns the same way they did twenty years ago.

This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.

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