With the explosion of interest in owning firearms for self-defense, we turned to A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG&AG) for help with a survey, to ask their membership – which is one of the largest women’s shooting organizations in the country – to tell us particulars about their personal defense lifestyles, especially the brand of firearm a woman carries and how she carries for self-protection.
Robyn Sandoval, executive director of AG&AG, sent a survey embedded into email to the membership shortly after their annual conference. She reports the email received 3,033 opens, and overall, 284 women answered the survey questions, which is 9 percent.
This was the verbiage for the survey: Past membership polling has shown that 61% of A Girl & A Gun members have their licenses/permits to carry, and only 12% have no intention to carry a handgun for self-defense. “Women’s Outdoor News” has asked us to expand on these numbers in greater detail. Please share your feedback so that WON can find out what women are carrying for self-defense.
There was no prize promised for answering the questions, or monetary reimbursement.
The questions included the following, with the answers:
Do you carry a handgun for self-defense?
Yes – 230 (81%)
No – 54 (19%)
Do you have a carry license or permit?
Yes – 270 (95%)
No – 12 (4%)
No, because permit-less carry is allowed – 2 (1%)
How often do you carry?
Always – 77 (27%)
Never – 36 (13%)
Rarely – 31(11%)
Sometimes – 52 (18%)
Usually – 88 (31%)
How do you carry?
Ankle – 5 (1.1%)
Belly band or corset – 65 (14.2%)
Bra or shoulder holster – 9 (2.0%)
Concealment shorts or leggings – 19 (4.2%)
Off-body purse or bag – 125 (27.4%)
Thigh – 2 (.04%)
Car – 1 (.2%)
Center console car – 1 (.02%)
Holster – 5 (1.1%)
Holster with clip for hip – 1 (.2%)
IWB appendix – 106 (23.2%)
Pocket – 5 (1.1%)
Enigma holster – 4 (.9%)
IWB/strong side – 70 (15.3%)
Dropped thigh concealed pouch/bag – 1 (.2%)
IWB Enigma/PHLster, appendix in various positions, depending – 1 (.2%)
None – 32 (7.4%)
Fanny pack – 1 (.2%)
Sticky holster in waistband – 1 (.2%)
What is your preferred caliber to carry?
.38 special – 45
.40 – 2
.45 – 2
.22LR – 2
.22LR, .380 – 3
.40, 9mm – 3
.45, 9mm – 1
9mm – 183
9mm, .380 – 17
9mm, .22LR – 6
9mm, .380, .22LR – 1
9mm, .380, .38 special – 1
9mm, .38 special – 3
.32 S&W – 1
What is your go-to concealed carry handgun brand?
Charter Arms – 1
Cobra Enterprises – 1
CZ-USA – 4
GLOCK – 46
Heckler & Koch – 4
Kahr – 1
Kimber – 3
Remington – 1
Ruger – 15
SAR Arms – 1
SCCY Industries – 1
Sig Sauer – 69
Smith & Wesson – 77
Springfield Armory – 16
Staccato – 1
Taurus – 1
Walther – 12
Wilson Combat – 1
What is your go-to concealed carry holster brand?
1791 – 2
Alien Gear – 11
Bianchi – 1
Black Rhino – 1
Blackhawk – 1
Blacksmith – 1
Blade Tech – 2
Comp-Tac – 6
Concealment Solutions – 1
Crossbreed – 16
Dara – 1
Dene Adams – 2
DeSantis – 1
Double Alpha – 1
Eclipse – 4
Flashbang Ava – 3
Fobus – 1
G Code – 1
GTM Carry Purse – 5
Keepers Concealment – 2
LAG – 1
Legacy – 1
On Your 6 – 2
Other – 56
PHLster – 18
Rx Kydex – 1
Safariland – 1
Sig Sauer – 5
Springfield – 1
Tenicor – 1
Tier1 – 2
T-Rex – 2
TripleT – 3
Unknown – 74
Vedder – 4
Viper – 1
We the People – 8
Weber Tactical – 1
Have you ever used a firearm to defend yourself or someone you loved?
No – 276 (97%)
Yes – 8 (3%)
If yes, would you like to share your story?
One story included this account: “Shortly after I turned 21. I had an intruder while I was sleeping. I was lucky and he left when he came in view of me prepared to defend.”
What is your gender?
Female – 284
Learn more about A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
