Women and guns, a sign of the times

July 10, 2004
WKYC.com

SUMMIT COUNTY -- In Summit County, nearly 1,000 people have received concealed carry permits and one in 12 of those gun carriers are women.

“A gun makes me feel confident very confident because I can’t wrestle a man to the ground,” said disabled Sharon Pulling. “I look very vulnerable in a wheelchair, so people may want to take advantage of me more. If I have a gun, I feel more confident.”

Now Pulling has a gun permit for a .38 special.

Protection is also why one local businesswoman holsters a .380 pistol. She travels alone and wants the ability to defend herself wherever she is.

“You never know if the car’s [going to] break down, and if someone might walk up to you with a gun,” she said.

The choice of a firearm is also important. A 9-millimeter, .38, or .380 are all popular choices for women because they’re light. Experts say women need to be comfortable.

Firearms instructor Dave Connor says many women gun owners are looking to equal the odds of the fear they might face.

Summit sheriff deputies have issues 973 permits and have denied 18.

According to the FBI, two thirds of all homicides involve guns and nearly a quarter of all murder victims are women.