Firearm Training – Why Women Only Range Staff can be Important
The Women’s Defense League was the first firearm training organization in New Hampshire to offer women only firearm training classes with women only range staff. We are one of the few organizations who actually provide this environment.
Why is having women only range staff important?
Some women have had horrifying experiences with men where they were either abused, stalked, or attacked. While they don’t blame all men for these horrific experiences, seeking firearm training to empower themselves often makes them feel vulnerable. Having an actual women-only environment helps ease any anxiety they may have.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having men teach women-only classes, but some women prefer to be in an environment surrounded by women. We also only recommend male instructors that we have worked with who we personally know are excellent at training women.
Issues that may affect women
Some women may have previously had bad experiences with men teaching them how to shoot. Their husband, boyfriend, father, or brother may have handed them a firearm that was a larger caliber that scared them when they shot it for the first time. There were no bad intentions on their part, but it affected the women to the point they became afraid of firearms.
This is why we train women using .22 caliber firearms. There is little recoil and their first shot doesn’t scare them.
Women and Encouragement
We have had women who are members come to several shoots before they actually went on the range and shot a firearm.
They were terrified of firearms but a women-only range staff provided the encouragement and empowerment that allowed these women to take their time and move at their pace to beginning their journey of becoming proficient in protecting themselves.
Firearm Instruction
As an organization, we keep our instructor/student ratio low – typically one instructor for every two students. Some classes we’ve been to have maybe two instructors for a class of 25 students.
This enables us to personalize, customize, and encourage training women in the areas they need help the most.
There are a variety of reasons women want and/or need a women-only environment when working on their firearm training path, and that’s one of the reasons we do what we do.
You can check out our calendar for upcoming classes and events – https://wdlnh.org/events/
