TWAW In The News

Women and Guns: CCW Numbers Growing in Hamilton County

Updated: Tuesday, June 3 2014, 06:53 PM EDT HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio (Rich Jaffe) — Thanks largely to women who want to carry guns, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office expects to set a record for the number of concealed carry licenses issued this year. Do instructors change their classes to accommodate female gunslingers?  The simple answer is yes, according to some experts.  Women seem to be a lot more analytical when it comes to the classes.  In fact, at 6:30p.m. on Tuesday, June 3rd there’s a group of women who readied line for the next installment of “The Well Armed Woman.” They learn things like keeping your gun in a fight and live fire lateral shooting on the move.  Since 2011, the number of concealed carry licenses in Hamilton County have nearly doubled. Sheriff Jim Neal told Local 12, “I’m probably arming more eligible, law abiding citizens than any other Sheriff in the state of Ohio.” Neal and his instructors have also noticed more of the applicants are women.  Hamilton County judges Lisa Allen and Melissa Powers both have concealed carry licenses and say most women can recount threatening situations that make them appreciate the option. Judge Powers explained, “I carry mine at all the times because I feel if I don’t what would happen without it?  And I don’t keep it in my handbag because sometimes I can barely find my car keys in my own purse.  And in a situation where I need to be prepared and ready, I’ll be ready.” Also growing is membership in organizations like “The Well Armed Woman.”  Newtown Police Chief and long time SWAT team leader, Tom Synan, is the lead instructor for the course at Ready Line.  In the women only classes shooters learn about drawing weapons from purses and other concealed locations.  They learn how to clear a room and how to handle a threat in the home.  Synan says teaching women about weapons is a lot different than men because women are all about the details. He says they want instructors to, “Teach me what I need to know about a gun, teach me how it works, teach me how I’m supposed to carry it, and then teach me how to shoot it.  Teach me how to think while I’ve got that gun and then I’ll feel better prepared and it’s empowering.” Sheriff Neal says someone shows up to apply for a concealed carry license at patrol headquarters every 15 minutes.  And that’s just one of two locations.  He’s thinking about opening a third office in Anderson Township.  Sheriff Neal says his portion of the fee for concealed carry classes is enough to pay for three deputies and it’s money he uses to put more “boots on the street.”

 

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