Every month, “The Women’s Gun Show” podcast cohosts randomly select a fan from several entries. That fan receives a box of goodies from The Well Armed Woman, an opportunity to be interviewed by host Carrie Lightfoot at the podcast and a vignette, such as this one, at The WON. We think you’ll like what Jay told us, and we are delighted that through the show, she found training opportunities.
The WON: What’s your answer for when people say, “What do you do?”
I am retired. Hobbies keep me busy. I like to create stained glass pieces and I also dabble with jewelry and charm making. I love fishing, spending time with my kids and grandgal! I like working out, and target shooting. I have been on a 22 league for about 5 years. I spend a lot of time at the lake where we plan to move permanently in about 2 years, so fixing up the city house also keeps me busy. I have done some volunteer work with Feed My Starving Children. I split my time between the city and the lake for now.
The WON: Three words that best describe your attitude toward being able to shoot safely and competently.
The WON: You mentioned your children in the interview. How did you know if was time for them to learn about shooting?
This is hard to answer because my children were grown up by the time I started shooting. I was afraid of guns. The only thing I was ever taught about guns was to stay away from them. I had no interest of them ever being in our house. Heck, I even gave my boys a hard time when they wanted paintball guns. They laugh at me now about that by the way. I can say, my grandgal is 6 and is not around guns or shooting. Talking to her I do not think she is ready yet. It is not my place to make that decision for her but I do hope she gets early and proper training when her parents think she is ready. That being said, another 6 year old or younger might be ready. I think it is will be different to the individual child depending on their exposure.
The WON: What’s your next gun?
I absolutely love my Springfield XD 9 sub compact that I carry now but have been actively looking for a smaller 9mm that I would feel as comfortable shooting but would be easier to conceal on my body. I own a Ruger LCP 380 that is a great size for me but I’m not comfortable with the kick. After 5 shots … ouch [Note: Many times the smaller guns will have more recoil and we recommend wearing gloves when practicing at the range with these types of firearms.]. I will be trying out a Glock 43 and a Springfield XDS next week. I held them both and I must say the minute I held the Glock it felt like home. I have a small hand and it was amazingly comfortable. If it feels as good firing … well that will be my next gun!
The WON: Is there training or a trip you’d like to take that revolves around shooting? What is it?
Not that I can think of right now. I recently joined a Chapter of TWAW so maybe I will find some training classes through them. I have only been to one meeting and enjoyed talking to other women shooters. Our next meeting we will have a (hands-on) self-defense training instructor so I am excited about that. My shooting experience so far has been practicing on my own and participating in a .22 league. I am the only woman on the league, so finding TWAW is very exciting for me. Don’t get me wrong, the men on the league are very helpful, I have learned a lot from them and they make me feel very comfortable. It will just be fun to get a different view and expand my education!
The WON: How do you talk to women in this election year about your strong Second Amendment views?
Anytime someone starts a conversation with me and they are against guns … I tell them my story. I was just like them until one night at the lake, chatting with my friends (lots of hunters). I casually mentioned that I wanted to target shoot. Next thing I know … I am sitting in a conceal carry class — geesh — all I wanted to do was shoot targets. The instructor recommended a few books to read and they totally changed my view on, not only gun owning, but also on myself carrying a gun for protection. From Luby’s to the Legislature was one book and I can’t remember the name of the book, but one of the stories in it was about Katrina and New Orleans. Before reading these, I had a false sense of security that in a time of disaster, I would be taken care of by people in authority. That naïve idea was quickly shattered. The lesson I learned is that I am afraid NOT to be armed now. And don’t even talk to me about gun-free zones. Unless everybody walking into a gun free zone is put through a metal detector, it is not a gun free zone.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
