Empowering Women through Guns
Since launching in 2011, the OWHA has been helping #women fulfill their potential when it comes to #hunting and #firearms, and Range Day has played a big part in that. The program allows women to try their hand at shooting pistols, shotguns, rifles and bows, with no licence required. They walk away knowing how to safely handle guns and bows, and how to load, unload and target shoot with proper posture. The members of local gun ranges and I have accomplished this through personalized instruction, working one-on-one with participants and answering questions with experience and thought.
By giving women a place and community to meet others and participate in events and programs to further educate themselves about firearms, archery and hunting, the OWHA also helps rejuvenate interest in Canada’s outdoor heritage. After all, if Mom likes to get out there and participate on the gun range or at hunt camp, then the children will almost certainly follow.
To get involved in the shooting sports, however, it doesn’t mean women are obligated to get up before sunrise and harvest the biggest buck for the dinner table. Rather, participation in outdoor activities provides them with the chance to expand their horizons and learn valuable life lessons. I want everyone to be able to have fun and enjoy the outdoors with their peers, and at the same time lay a solid foundation of skills and knowledge they can build on for the rest of their lives. The ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity for women to get outdoors, learn about Canada’s outdoor heritage and carry it forward.
I’ve been working on Range Day since its launch, after it was pointed out to me there was a demand for assistance in introducing women to the shooting sports. I was flattered that women of all ages were asking me to share my expertise, not just those who wanted to shoot, but also women who wanted to better understand the entire shooting and hunting culture.
