Empowered 2A
The female demographic has been underrepresented in the gun industry for decades because women just weren't that into guns as much as men. But in the pandemic years, many things changed, and the number of women buying guns exploded. Data from 2021 show that women accounted for nearly 40 percent of first-time firearm purchases.
I've been into guns for about 16 years and have seen a lot of positive changes over the past five. Companies are creating more products specifically designed for women, like firearms that fit small hands and concealed carry gear that works with feminine outfits.
Related: Best Handguns for Women
With all the new female gun owners, there is also a huge need for education and training. Specifically, education and training that caters to women. Yes, the basic principles are genderless, but in my experience, women engage and learn differently than men when it comes to firearms.
This is where organizations like Empowered 2A come into play. Founded in 2017 by Antonia Okafor Cover while she was in college, it aimed to educate and train female students to carry on campus. Antonia took her mission on the road as the movement grew, speaking at over 20 different universities like Harvard and Yale.
Related: Three Reasons Why Women Don’t Carry Concealed
In 2019, she brought Empowered 2A to Gun Owners of America. The target demographic has grown from only college students, and it now serves as the women's outreach arm of the powerhouse Second Amendment organization. Their mission is to educate, train, and advocate, because gun rights are women's rights.
Inaugural National Event
Over the past couple of years, the Empowered 2A team has organized small range days for women throughout the country. Armed with what they had learned, they felt ready to take on a national event. It took a year to plan and finally came to fruition on March 9, 2024, which also happens to be International Women's Day.
Antonia Okafor Cover, GOA's Director of Women's Outreach and Founder of Empowered 2A, said, "I'm so excited to work with countless women from all walks of life as we celebrate International Women's Day at the range. Research confirms that women are empowered through the Second Amendment, and studies highlight the increasing number of women choosing to exercise their rights – just during the pandemic, over 4 million became gun owners."
She went on to say, "This event will provide a space for women to grow, learn, and equip one another to be effective Second Amendment advocates and well-trained gun owners. I encourage all women to join us on March 9 as we celebrate womanhood, true empowerment, and our right to defend ourselves however we choose."
Media Day
I arrived in Texas on Friday afternoon and headed straight to Texas Gun Experience in Grapevine to attend media day. It was my first time at this gun store and range, and it did not disappoint. TGE is over 35,000 square feet of gun-lover heaven with 26 high-tech shooting lanes, two large training rooms, a lounge, and a patio.
You can rent over 150 machine guns and a ton of other firearms. There’s also a knife showroom with thousands of models to choose from. There's so much to look at that you almost have to spend the entire day there. The staff was friendly, and the owners were generous in sponsoring and hosting the event.
Media day in the gun industry is all about networking and getting content. When I arrived, I headed to the reception room, where all the sponsor vendors were set up. I made my way through talking to representatives and connecting with other content creators I know from social media.
Shortly after the range opened, we were free to come and go as we pleased. You've never seen women run so fast as when they hear, "There are full autos in there!" Brands like Walther, Tippman Arms, and Rost Martin brought guns for us to shoot. To say it was a blast is an understatement.
After the range, Antonia and her team discussed their vision for this and future events and how Empowered 2A is expanding to help women nationwide. It was inspiring to be in a room of 50 pro-Second Amendment women all coming together to learn more about how we can play our part in arming women.
Public Range Day
Saturday was the main event, and I have to say, it was the best way to celebrate International Women's Day. We kicked off the morning with Grammy Award-winning artist Kaya Jones beautifully singing the national anthem. Shortly after, GOA representatives held a safety briefing, and then the ladies were free to head into the range. There were also instructional classes and Second Amendment advocacy talks throughout the day.
Admission was only $20 and included unlimited range time, firearm rentals, and ammo. GOA was able to facilitate this affordable price thanks to the generous sponsors. Attendees had access to 25- and 50-yard lanes and could shoot their firearms if they desired.
Over 200 women showed up, and it was a sight to see! The line to the range was almost as long as the building. As I mingled through the space, I saw women of all different ages and backgrounds happily chatting and connecting. I handed out stickers and met many women I've chatted with online, which was a highlight for me.
Next up was the concealed carry fashion show sponsored by Alexo Athletica. It was helpful to see their line of carrywear modeled on different bodies. Concealed carry can be tricky for women, and seeing it in person is a game-changer.
Related: Do I Have to Ditch My Personal Style to Carry Concealed?
The vendors were set up on the main floor with tables to chat with attendees and give out swag. I spent some time behind the Walther Arms table talking with women about firearms choices, concealed carry, and the Second Amendment. This is all stuff I regularly talk about online or write about here at Guns.com, but I rarely get to do it in person, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It's crucial to support organizations like Gun Owners of America that are on the front lines fighting to preserve our rights and defeat gun control laws.
Future Events
If you're feeling bummed that you missed out on this event, I've got good news for you: Empowered 2A has plans to do this again next year. They'll also be hosting events throughout the country and may be coming to a state near you. Events planned so far include:
- North Carolina, May 11
- Michigan, Sept. 14
- Pennsylvania, Sept. 28
Florida, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and Arkansas will also have events, with dates to be announced shortly. Make sure you sign up for the GOA newsletter to stay informed and get first access to tickets.
My Takeaways
I'm occasionally invited to events as a writer and content creator in the 2A space, but I am always slightly hesitant to attend because I'm not your typical industry person. Running a gun-centric Instagram page and writing here on Guns.com is a fun side gig for me. I knew I couldn't say no to this event, though. There's no way I would miss the first-ever National Women's Range Day. And I'm glad I didn't because it left a lasting impression on me.
Internet connection is great but doesn't match the power of in-person gathering. I found this event to be more about creating community than anything else. Sure, it's fun to shoot with your friends, but the gathering part is what matters.
Women are just as passionate about the Second Amendment, although they show it in different ways. We were all there with a shared mission, and that was immediately apparent. It was so valuable to talk to women with different backgrounds and perspectives. I'm always interested in learning how to approach the issues from different angles, and I definitely got what I asked for. I've been around for a while, but I still have so much to learn, and I am grateful to those willing to spend time teaching.
Related: 10 Concealed Carry Facts And The Data To Support Them
I think the thing that will stick with me the longest is the multiple women who came who'd never shot a gun before. They decided that National Women's Range Day would be their first experience, and I found it very brave. It speaks of how welcoming the community is and also the excellent job Antonia and her team did to make women feel comfortable.
And finally, I learned women will stand and wait in line to shoot – especially if a machine gun with free ammo is waiting for them in the bay!
