Women in Shooting

[Conor O'Gorman]

In July 2023, the Home Office released its annual statistics on shotgun and firearm certification in England and Wales, and the facts were plain to see. Only six per cent were female between April 2022 and March 2023, of the 516,500 people who held a shotgun or firearm at that time. This is a figure we must tackle head-on as a shooting community. It is an issue that BASC has been addressing for several years and we have recently revitalised our approach.

Click the link below for more information

Redressing the balance

BASC Ladies Shooting events were rebranded to Women in Shooting events to modernise our language and align shooting with other sports.

basc.org.uk

 

[HallyButt]

How on earth can you tackle it head on? MAKE people go shooting that don’t want to? Stop people going who want to? What on earth is BASC spending money on this virtue signaling mission for?

Why differentiate between male and female? We are just humans, this ‘inclusiveness’ derived segregation is causing problems in order to a) virtue signal and/or b) ‘fix’ to give them something to do ideally in order to distract from what they haven’t been doing.

Can I suggest that BASC should focus on relevant activities benefitting their paying members rather than this ‘special project’ simply creating tasks?

Who is accountable for this waste of resource?

 

[Morkai]

How on earth can you tackle it head on? MAKE people go shooting that don’t want to? Stop people going who want to? What on earth is BASC spending money on this virtue signaling mission for?

Why differentiate between male and female? We are just humans, this ‘inclusiveness’ derived segregation is causing problems in order to a) virtue signal and/or b) ‘fix’ to give them something to do ideally in order to distract from what they haven’t been doing.

Can I suggest that BASC should focus on relevant activities benefitting their paying members rather than this ‘special project’ simply creating tasks?

Who is accountable for this waste of resource?

In 2021, 93% of the nail technician workforce was female and 7% was male.

Best start a campaign hadn't we, tackle it head on.

Let people silo themselves into things they enjoy, nobody needs forcing into things.

It certainly makes no difference what's between your legs.

 

[jall55]

We have nearly as many lady beaters as we do lads - to be fair i would say the ladies like it better - they respond to requests - texts - communication far better too

Would they want their own day away from us lads - i doubt it - they do claying as a set of ladies but if men wanted to go that would be no problem

I think encourage them to be part of the day - dont try and make them think they need their own - because they dont

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Shooting is open to everyone, and there are barriers, whether real or perceived, to get into shooting, whatever the discipline, and there are lots of initiatives to encourage more women into many sports not just shooting. The more diverse we can be the more inclusive we can become. And that includes LGBTQQIP2SA shooters.

 

[NullMac]

Why differentiate between male and female?

Because men can't help telling women how to do it "properly". Which, unsurprisingly, they find deadly boring. Also us guys are happy to pish in a bush and quite reasonably they are not.

The various women's shotgun clubs are, frankly, a better, friendlier, fun way of getting into the sport.

It is an obvious way to grow participation in the sport as a whole so we should do what we can to get numbers up.

 

[Morkai]

I just asked my GF about what she thought of this, she just shook her head.

 

[NullMac]

We have nearly as many lady beaters as we do lads - to be fair i would say the ladies like it better - they respond to requests - texts - communication far better too

Would they want their own day away from us lads - i doubt it - they do claying as a set of ladies but if men wanted to go that would be no problem

I think encourage them to be part of the day - dont try and make them think they need their own - because they dont

Excellent mansplaining. See post above for details...

 

[Morkai]

Shooting is open to everyone, and there are barriers, whether real or perceived, to get into shooting, whatever the discipline,

Yes, understaffed FLDs and long waiting times is a big one.

and there are lots of initiatives to encourage more women into many sports not just shooting. The more diverse we can be the more inclusive we can become. And that includes LGBTQQIP2SA shooters.

 

[Apthorpe]

The numbers of gun licences is not especially representative of participation in shooting. There are various other roles apart from pulling the trigger. On our shoot, although there are a couple of female guns, women usually account for a good 50% of beaters and particularly pickers up. A fair proportion of female guns don't bother with a licence because their other half or dad has one and they shoot together. This also means that the man always has to pay for the cartridges. They are neither stupid, nor intimidated by perceived barriers in the field.
To the extent there are barriers, one of the more frequently mentioned is the attitude of police licensing staff.

 

[kripton]

Yes, understaffed FLDs and long waiting times is a big one.

We have a lady FLD in our area (Avon and Somerset) - charming and very thorough with it. I had purchased a moderator and neither the gun shop nor I could see any serial number - The lady FLD found the number however !!

 

[MarinePMI]

Interestingly, I think BASC is following the US NRA's lead on this. Females in the shooting sports here, is the fastest growing demographic. Has been for the last 5-7 years now.

As mentioned previously, everyone should be embracing this. Why? Tell me, once you received your first firearm, were you apt to give it up? Or the way of life that goes with it?

If you want firearm ownership to grow (and not remain stagnant or shrink) you should be recruiting as many as possible. And for each one gained, is likely a vote, that will help ensure (at minimum) your voice is heard, and at maximum, begin to slowly turn the tide of public perception of who gun owners are.

It's working wonderfully here. With the recent rise in crime, and increase in firearms ownership, (IIRC) over 70% of new gun owners....were women. And their votes on 2nd Amendment issues are starting to show their effect at the ballot box.

JMTCW...

 

[Morkai]

Interestingly, I think BASC is following the US NRA's lead on this. Females in the shooting sports here, is the fastest growing demographic. Has been for the last 5-7 years now.

As mentioned previously, everyone should be embracing this. Why? Tell me, once you received your first firearm, were you apt to give it up? Or the way of life that goes with it?

If you want firearm ownership to grow (and not remain stagnant or shrink) you should be recruiting as many as possible. And for each one gained, is likely a vote, that will help ensure (at minimum) your voice is heard, and at maximum, begin to slowly turn the tide of public perception of who gun owners are.

It's working wonderfully here. With the recent rise in crime, and increase in firearms ownership, (IIRC) over 70% of new gun owners....were women. And their votes on 2nd Amendment issues are starting to show their effect at the ballot box.

JMTCW...

It's the segregation of these sorts of things I don't like, treating people (women in this case) as if they're fragile and need to be seperated from the rest of the community.

 

[User00047]

Shooting is open to everyone, and there are barriers, whether real or perceived, to get into shooting, whatever the discipline, and there are lots of initiatives to encourage more women into many sports not just shooting. The more diverse we can be the more inclusive we can become. And that includes LGBTQQIP2SA shooters.

I like that you’re trying to encourage girls to go shooting. I don’t think very many are actually interested but you do get the odd one here and there and I guess it’s probably difficult for some of them to know where to get started.

That includes WHAT shooters?
What’s that? The postcode of your second home on Pluto?

 

[MarinePMI]

It's the segregation of these sorts of things I don't like, treating people (women in this case) as if they're fragile and need to be seperated from the rest of the community.

I don't think you have to; we don't in most cases (treat them as if they are fragile and need help). Heck, I know some women that will shoot circles around most male shooters. But, to get them into the sport, it does help if they have a female nexus of other female shooters, to help them learn. Many men tend to "mansplain" crap to women, which is demeaning and off-putting to them. But, when they have other female shooters and good male instructors who don't talk down to them, they tend to flourish, and become life long members of a sport and lifestyle.

Case in point. 20 years ago, it was damned near impossible for women to find female sized waders, boots, trousers and what not, geared for the shooting sports. I remember hearing a couple women talking to each other about it, somewhere around 2002. It was only after getting a small toe hold in the shooting sports, that the apparel companies woke up and saw a market (albeit a small one at the time). That small market niche is now a multi-million dollar market space....which then encourages other women to participate in hunting, shooting, etc.

We joke about pink camo, but that was driven by women who wanted to playful version of camo to call their own. And other women responded in droves supporting it.

Anyways, JMTCW...

 

[MarinePMI]

I like that you’re trying to encourage girls to go shooting. I don’t think very many are actually interested but you do get the odd one here and there and I guess it’s probably difficult for some of them to know where to get started.

That includes WHAT shooters?
What’s that? The postcode of your second home on Pluto?

I can tell you, as a PMI in the Marines for many years, the female shooters were always the easiest to instruct. usually because they didn't have the ego that a guy has, and didn't come into things thinking "I already know how to shoot".


Then add to that, that physiologically, women tend to be better shooters. It's the same reason they are becoming known as better fighter pilots in this day and age. Why? Because the multi-task much better than men.

 

[Morkai]

I don't think you have to; we don't in most cases (treat them as if they are fragile and need help). Heck, I know some women that will shoot circles around most male shooters.

I dont doubt that at all, shooting sports are great because you dont always need physical strength advantage or ability to compete (depending on the discipline).

But, to get them into the sport, it does help if they have a female nexus of other female shooters, to help them learn. Many men tend to "mansplain" crap to women, which is demeaning and off-putting to them. But, when they have other female shooters and good male instructors who don't talk down to them, they tend to flourish, and become life long members of a sport and lifestyle.

Those bell*nds do it to blokes too, probably more demand for a campaign to remove the big heads at the sporting grounds.

Case in point. 20 years ago, it was damned near impossible for women to find female sized waders, boots, trousers and what not, geared for the shooting sports. I remember hearing a couple women talking to each other about it, somewhere around 2002. It was only after getting a small toe hold in the shooting sports, that the apparel companies woke up and saw a market (albeit a small one at the time). That small market niche is now a multi-million dollar market space....which then encourages other women to participate in hunting, shooting, etc.

We joke about pink camo, but that was driven by women who wanted to playful version of camo to call their own. And other women responded in droves supporting it.

Anyways, JMTCW...

There is a group called The Country Girls UK, it was only established in 2018 and on IG they have over 24k followers. The lady that started the group has over 27k alone. I believe BASC gave her the Ladies Shooting Award but due to the cr*p website, you cant really find it on there.

BASC Women In Shooting has 4.5k and BASC has 39k. Already behind and they're meant to be the main player.

Social media may not appeal to some of the older generations but it will to the next gen of shooters.

BASC should use their presence in the shooting world to give more support and promotion to these groups already doing the work, or team up with them instead of starting their own when they have many other issues that they seem to be dragging their heels over.

If they were on their game (excuse the pun) then, yes, run these events. But they aren't, so knuckle down.

I've always seen people slate BASC on here and was never entirely sure why, but im starting to.

 

[Stalker62]

LGBTQQIP2SA shooters.

You forgot FFS...

 

[alberta boy]

The number of women that hunt or own firearms is considerably higher here than in the UK . Both of my daughters hunt and shoot recreationally . I run into a lot of women out hunting every year , either alone , or more common place , out with their family . Hunting in Canada is usually a family activity with a few generations going out together .

AB

 

[Stalker62]

... that includes LGBTQQIP2SA shooters.

Just a thought.

If you are going to use such 'signalling", then at least be inclusive about it. Your failure to add the "+" symbol at the end, excludes all those who do not identify as belonging to one of your 'designated' groups,

Tricky...ain't it...