September 2002

Newsletter

Page 2

www.legallyarmed.com

"The Internet Site For Legally Armed Citizens"

Homeland Security Is Being Legally Armed

"Legally Armed In Tennessee"

During the 1990's, states started to enact Right To Carry Laws.  Now, 32 states have laws allowing citizens to carry weapons.   Men still hold the highest number of permits or licenses but, women have increased their percentage dramatically.  What has changed the most over the years regarding women, is that they are know more knowledgeable regarding what type of handgun they want to buy and carry.

More Sophisticated Buyers

Guns & Ammo in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the leading firearm retailers in the state.  Bill Langham is the store manager.  He addressed some of the changes he has seen regarding women buying handguns over the years. 

"I have been in the firearms business over fifteen years.  In the past, almost all the women who came into to a gun store were not alone.   Their husband, father, or male friend came along with them to help guide their decision regarding what handgun to purchase.  Even now with first time women buyers this still occurs."

"What I have seen that is different is that after the woman has been licensed to carry a gun for a few years, they have discovered that the first gun they bought with the assistance of the male friend,  may not be practical for her. She now  wants something that is easier to operate and less bulky to carry."  

Women Are Learning About What They Want In A Pistol

"When they come back to purchase another gun they are doing it on their own, and they have done their homework about what they want to buy. I believe that the Internet has been instrumental in helping women do research on handguns and what is available in the market."  Kangham went on; "The woman who is looking to purchase a handgun who has been licensed to carry a gun, is a more sophisticated buyer than what we saw in the past.   We can attribute a lot of the new lighter or smaller guns will sell to women buyers"

Women Are Calling Gun Stores Checking On The Arrival Of New Handguns

Jerry Hassler and his sons Brain and Mike, own the Franklin Gun Store in Franklin, Tennessee.   They have also noticed some changes in the buying habits of women. 

"Smaller guns in .32 and 9mm are both popular handguns with women.  We get more calls from women than we did in the past as to when some of the newer handguns will be arriving like the Kahr PM-9."   "Women want to carry their handguns with them.  Once they get their permit, they are probably carrying guns more often than the average male permit holder.   A lot of the smaller guns we sell like the Beretta Tomcat, are sold to women."

Handgun Manufactures Are Catering To Women Buyers

Back in the early 1990's, the normal carry gun was a S&W .38 caliber handgun.  Now that same size handgun is a lighter pistol that can fire a .357 round.  Handgun manufactures placed a lot of study into making lighter handguns like the Titanium pistols on the market today.  

As Jerry Hassler said, "Every day we get more calls for handgun permit training.  A lot of these calls are from women.   I think this interest in getting a permit to carry a handgun, might be the same for the rest of the country.  More women are carrying handguns, and the manufactures are catering to these women by making lighter pistols that are easier to carry."