American women buying guns and packing heat in growing numbers

An item in the Washington Times gives a whole new meaning for guys thinking about "hitting on" a strange woman. Before you "hit" you better consider that she might hit back. You could be bringing nothing but a bad attitude to a gun fight if you won't take "no" for her answer. Uh oh.

American women are buying guns and taking aim on firing ranges in growing numbers, according to a recent study and interviews with gun-shop owners.

A 2009 study found 70 percent of shop owners reported more female buyers.

The study, conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Southwick Associates, also found 80 percent of the female gun-buyers who responded said they purchased a gun for self-defense, followed by 35 percent for target practice and 24 percent for hunting.

Women and shop owners interviewed by The Washington Times offered similar, narrow-ranging explanations for the increases — largely self-defense and concerns about the possibility President Obama would further restrict gun ownership.

A large part of the Obama gun boom was and is being fueled by women, who are frequent customers at the gun shop where I work. And most are first-time gun buyers, they tell us at the gun shop. We don't ask why, but they often volunteer they decided it was time to get armed while they still can.

Since women are supposedly more likely to be Obama voters than men, perhaps a woman gun buyer fits the description of a conservative: a liberal who's been mugged.

And it's an unusual concealed-carry handgun class that I teach monthly that doesn't have at least one woman, often more than one. Look out dudes, the women are buying and packing.

And they just might be packing something bigger than a mouse gun. I handle the gunbroker sales at our shop and the last 4" barrel S&W .500 Magnum we sold was to a woman.