INDIANAPOLIS – More women are purchasing guns and enrolling in training classes, according to firearm instructors in Marion County.
Trainers at Indy Arms said more than 60 percent of their students are female. Those who attend the classes said the trainings help them feel more prepared during emergency situations.
"I do have a lifetime carry permit, so with more and more crime just happening all over the city I just want to be prepared, if needed,” said Lee Crowther.
Training coordinator at Indy Arms, Tony Gregory, said his classes teach how to hold the gun and how to position the body correctly when firing.
Gregory, a retired Marion County deputy and Homecroft reserve police officer, said women considering buying a gun should rent one first and invest in training.
"What would necessarily work for a guy would not work for a woman,” said Gregory. “The gun needs to fit your hand properly. It needs to fit your psyche."
One big component of gun training at Indy Arms is gun storage.
"An accidental shooting with someone getting hurt if you don't store your gun responsibly is higher than getting hurt because you couldn't get to your gun fast enough," said instructor Guy Relford.
He recommends new gun owners research and understand Indiana’s gun laws before purchasing their own.
