SHE CAN SHOOT.blogspot: Girls With Guns

SHE CAN SHOOT.blogspot: Girls With Guns: Recently CNN published an article, Girls With Guns at:   http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-857733. It was an interesting spin that briefly i...

Girls With Guns

Recently CNN published an article, Girls With Guns at:  http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-857733.

It was an interesting spin that briefly introduced the positive effects on what transpires when a girl is introduced to firearms.  In addition, the article proposed that we also begin educating young girls on firearms training in school.

I offered a response:

I think that this article only highlights the endless possibilities of what can happen if a girl is introduced to firearms training.  As the owner of a national SHE CAN SHOOT, LLC, I have seen young women gain the strength, confidence, and empowerment to fight any adversity just because she discovered that as a female, she achieved this hidden talent. This is such an amazing experience and accomplishment for a young girl because the sport and opportunity is usually only introduced to boys.

I have witnessed such accomplished confidence fight eating disorders, bullying, self-esteem issues, and a new drive for achievement.

In addition to being the CEO of SHE CAN SHOOT, LLC, I am also a consultant for various defense contractors. My years of government training and experience have placed me in regions of Africa and Afghanistan. During these periods, I witness many indigenous men within villages deployed to serve as security.  The harsh reality is that these villages leave behind women and children who are vulnerable and unable to protect themselves. 

Training these young women to physically protect their villages and families is much like your comparison of how women protected their homes while the west was settled.  Not only does this empower the community against such threats, it promotes social change and empowerment among women in these countries where their voice is largely ignored.

It goes beyond "teaching her how to fight." Teaching a girl the responsibilities of firearms training and the importance of recognizing what would be considered an actual physical threat to her and her family needs to be involved.  We have witnessed this in a recent Oklahoma incident where a 12 year old female is at home alone.  A home invasion occurs and the young woman is forced to grab the only known weapon that she has been trained with, a shotgun, in order to fight against the threat that had followed her throughout the house.  The end result was that this young woman was unharmed.

As indicated above in your article, "You are not only educating her, but you are helping her realize that she has the rights and that she is responsible for protecting her family."

Tina Wilson-Cohen

SHE CAN SHOOT, LLC (CEO & Founder)

What are your thoughts and suggestions?