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Armed Self-Defense: Women Arm Themselves at Record Rates in the U.S.


Woman aiming a handgun for self defense and protection.
Women are the largest group of new firearms owners in the U.S.

A recent report from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) highlights an unprecedented surge in firearm purchases among law-abiding Americans, with women representing one of the most significant demographic shifts. The NSSF data, drawn from an analysis of the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System for 2023, indicates that approximately 15.8 million firearms were purchased last year alone.


Women Show Big Rise in Gun Ownership


A number of pressures seen recently during our cultural and political fracturing are prompting more women to become gun owners. Firearm ownership among women has witnessed a significant uptick in recent years. Between 2019 and 2021, half of all firearm purchasers were women with a 77 percent increase in gun ownership by women from 2005 to 2020.


This rise in female gun ownership, particularly among women of color in crime-prone neighborhoods, reflects a growing awareness of the need for self-defense.


Instructors like Robin Evans and Maj Toure of Black Guns Matter are two of the many people who are introducing women in urban environments to responsible firearm ownership and armed self-defense.


Women Now Make Up the Largest Group of New Gun Owners


Women now make up 42% of new gun owners accounting for nearly half of all new gun owners over the past 5-years according to a study done by Harvard University


Earlier studies show that this trend accelerated in 2020 during the pandemic, violent civil unrest in a number of large cities, and increasing violent crimes such as home invasions and carjackings.


It would not be a stretch to assume that women are seeing the negative results of the defund the police efforts in cities as evidenced by increased response times by police and EMS.



There is a resurgence in recognizing the right to self-defense to those who face an increase in deadly threats. And, armed citizens are proving the effectiveness of concealed carry (CCW) permit holders in thwarting criminals and preventing potential tragedies in public spaces.


Contrary to FBI statistics, the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) reveals that more than one-third of "active shooter incidents" are stopped by CCW-licensed gun owners, a stark contrast to the strikingly small single digit percent figure presented by the FBI.



Yes, it's true. Good citizens with guns can -- and do -- protect themselves from the bad guys.


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