More women take interest in guns

The (Toledo) Blade

TOLEDO

Deborah Pierce enjoys living alone.

There are no kids to clean up after and no one else to cook for.

“I’m OK with living alone,” said Pierce, 52. “But other people worry about my safety.”

A growing number of violent crimes, including robberies and home invasions, has the Toledo woman considering some extra protection.

“There’s been so many shootings in Toledo that it’s unnerving,” said Pierce, a glass inspector. “If I ever have an intruder, I want them to know I mean business.”

That’s why she’s learning to shoot a gun.

Though firearms have been more commonly associated with men, an increasing number of women are showing an interest in owning and using guns. From mothers protecting their families to young professionals who live alone, to women in their 60s, it’s a trend that’s catching on.

Concealed-carry course instructors say they’ve seen a steady increase in the number of women getting concealed-carry permits.

“The percentage of women carrying guns is increasing faster than that of men,” said George Benore, owner and instructor at the Institute of Firearms Training in Sylvania. The institute offers courses in gun safety and handling guns properly. “In the past two years, enrollment for women has increased 20 [percent] to 30 percent.”

Nationally, the percentage of women who report having a gun in their home or elsewhere on their property is 43 percent, up from 33 percent in 2009 and 36 percent in 2010, according to an annual Gallup Crime Survey conducted in October. The poll showed that 23 percent of women reported owning a gun, up from 13 percent in 2005.