“Breitkreuz, Garry – Assistant 1″
Subject: More women drawn to guns
Date: Sep 4, 2008 11:51 AM
PUBLICATION: The Edmonton Sun
DATE: 2008.09.04
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: 2
ILLUSTRATION: photo by Ken Armstrong, Sun Media Dianne Harnois, co-owner of P &
D Enterprises gun store has noticed a 30% increase in gun sales to women in the
last two years. Harnois believes her customers buy for hunting. Others suggest some
women are buying for personal protection.
BYLINE: RENATO GANDIA, SUN MEDIA
WORD COUNT: 264

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More women drawn to guns

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More city women appear to be taking an interest in guns. But the jury’s out
on what’s behind the trend.

City gun store owner Dianne Harnois said she’s seen a 30% spike in the number
of women coming into her shop over the past two years. And she’s got a theory
why. “There’s a lot of women out there who love to hunt,” said Harnois,
owner of P& D Enterprises.

She said women come to the store with their boyfriends or husbands who are firearm
enthusiasts. Later, they also become interested in purchasing a weapon so they can
go hunting or practise shooting with their partner.

A similar trend has been observed in Calgary, with some speculating it’s in
response to violent crime in that city.

Edmonton criminologist Bill Pitt said he’s not surprised that some Alberta women
may be learning to shoot to protect themselves. “There’s been so many violent
crimes that have not been reported and unfortunately women are most of the time
the victims of this type of crime,” said Pitt.

He speculated that at least 90% of sexual assaults in Canada against women go unreported.

An increasing number of women are becoming conscious of their vulnerability and
refusing to be victimized, he said.

Harnois said on occasion she gets a female customer who wants to buy a weapon for
self-protection. “The first thing we do is inform that person that’s not
a legal purpose for owning a firearm,” she said.

They don’t necessarily ask customers why they’re buying guns, but it usually
comes out in the conversation.

Phoenix Indoor Range manager Len, who asked not to print his last name, stressed
firearms must be used properly. “If you go up to a gun store and say, ‘I’d
like to buy a gun to protect myself,’ it’s illegal for me to sell you that
gun,” he said.

He said roughly 30 out of every 100 customers at his range are women. He said about
half have shotguns and the rest have handguns.

Women gun enthusiasts in Edmonton are generally in their 20s and 30s, said Harnois.

Last year, Natasha La Fayette, 21, and Cassie Clausen, 22, told Sun Media they took
up recreational shooting for the thrill the sport provides. The duo were practising
at the Wild West Shooting Centre at West Edmonton Mall

The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security !