Ready? Take aim. Fire!
The College Station-Snook chapter of A Girl and a Gun women’s shooting league provides a positive environment for women to learn about firearms and firearm safety, said Megan McMullen, Class of 2008.
“We welcome all women and all experience levels of shooting,” McMullen said. “We have had ladies come out that have never touched a gun, to police officers and Marines and everything in between.”
McMullen discovered the group on accident, trying to find women-led firearms classes for her and her mother, but decided it would be a fun experience to try.
“My mom never had a high comfort level when it came to guns, but recently she decided she would like to learn more and become more comfortable around firearms so we were looking for a class to take together,” McMullen said. “We were both very excited to learn about the group of all women that go out and shoot together.”
Toni Eubanks, Class of 2002, said she decided to join A Girl and A Gun out of a desire to learn about handguns for self-defense, but stayed for the “no boys allowed” aspect.
“I joined the group because I was interested in learning about the handling, use and safety of handguns,” Eubanks said. “I was drawn in by the ‘no boys allowed’ rule because it removes the ‘machoness’ that the guys tend to bring to the range and allows us to focus on the education.”
A Girl and A Gun was started in 2011 by Julianna Crowder and Renee Blaine after a group of women came together at a range in Leander, Texas to shoot and learn about firearms. Now the league is consists of 55 chapters, including the College Station-Snook chapter, across 22 states with more than 1,500 members.
The local chapter was started by Michelle Kramer Schulte, with her two co-founders, about a year and a half ago. They now have about 50 paid members.
McMullen said she wants women to know that groups designed to help women become comfortable around guns exist.
“Many women are handed a gun and told to go out and shoot,” McMullen said. “We help ladies become comfortable with firearms … learn safety, shoot a variety of guns, learn proper grip and stance so they not only can shoot, but can shoot well.”
Eubanks said she hopes women come out and give it a try.
“You may surprise yourself the first time you shoot,” Eubanks said. “It’s a lot of fun and exciting to continue to improve your skills.”
Leah Hudspeth, junior recreation, park and tourism sciences major, said she finds groups like these to be extremely important to women in helping to educate them.
“The Second Amendment extends the right to bear arms to all citizens, but our society tends to assume that only men should exercise that right,” Hudspeth said. “Groups like this are important for women because it allows them to educate themselves on their true rights, gives them a form of protection and it’s just fun.”
Eubanks said the group can provide useful and critical information for women.
“Even if you don’t plan on ever using or owning a gun, knowing how to use one could save your life one day,” Eubanks said. “The more you educate yourself, the less intimidating it is to shoot, which is important at a very critical moment in self-defense.”