More women taking up firearms

May 26, 2004
New York Journal News

TARRYTOWN — In her new book, "Blown Away: American Women and Guns," Caitlin Kelly takes the gun debate recently galvanized by filmmaker Michael Moore to another level.

In his Academy Award-winning documentary, "Bowling for Columbine," Moore examines gun violence in America, but does not address the role firearms play in women's lives, Kelly said.

The Tarrytown author, however, does just that in "Blown Away" (Pocket Books Original; $13), taking what she describes as an unbiased exploration of a woman's right to bear arms, while also calling attention to the many women who succumb to gun violence every year.

"I'm glad Michael Moore started the conversation," said Kelly, 46. "I'm just continuing it. In this country, you are either wildly pro-gun or wildly anti-gun. We need to better understand both sides of the issue.

Female gun use appears to be on the rise. The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago estimates that 17 million of the country's 90 million gun owners are women. Westchester, Rockland and Putnam women are not immune to the trend, authorities said.

Kelly took aim at the subject after discovering, much to her surprise, that two of her friends — middle-class, white women living in safe neighborhoods — owned firearms. Kelly said that in 1996, after taking a three-day defensive weapons class at the Smith & Wesson Academy in Springfield, Mass., while on assignment for The Wall Street Journal, she was intrigued by the power she felt from firing a weapon.

"I liked the novel feeling of power this gave me — and briefly imagined a life where I kept a sleek, familiar 9mm near me," she wrote. "A life in which I might never fear rape, robbery, mugging."

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Though Kelly said she decided against owning a gun, she understands why a woman would make that choice.

"Women are crime victims at alarmingly high numbers. They are not protected in this society," Kelly said. "If you don't want a woman to own a gun for self-defense, write a check to your local domestic violence shelter."

At an Ossining Public Library book-reading event last week, Kelly addressed these issues to a small audience, offering statistics on the gun industry and gun deaths in this country, along with a glimpse into the types of women she interviewed for the book, from petite college students to wealthy, elderly women to Olympic gold medalists.

"I never realized so many women looked at guns the way they do," said Susan Weingast, a 60-year-old substitute teacher from Croton-on-Hudson. "I'm definitely anti-gun, but I think it's a fascinating subject we need to think about."

Though more and more women are taking an interest in firearms, the comfort level in discussing it, particularly in suburban communities, is low for fear of what others may think. Kelly said 25 publishers rejected her book, which she will discuss again today at 7:30 p.m. at the Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road.

Yet, figures show that handgun ownership among women throughout Westchester, Rockland and Putnam, has been steadily rising for many reasons, including the Sept, 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, officials said.

"The desire to own a gun is not confined to race or socioeconomic status," Kelly said. "But women keep it a secret because they don't want to be judged. Women are supposed to be gentle and kind. There is a real repugnance for women fighting back."

Pistol permits issued to Westchester women increased nearly 50 percent from 1998 to 2002, according to county figures. Executive Deputy County Clerk Dennis Gallego said 1,467 women currently have pistol licenses. From January 2003 to the present, 86 permits have been issued to females, he said.

In Rockland County, 4,000 women have handgun permits, said Charlie Lowther, the county's pistol clerk.

"Lately, we've seen an increase," Lowther said. "A lot has to do with being the wife of a police officer. If you are married and have a gun in the house, women are saying they should be licensed also. Women are becoming more aware."

About 11,000 Putnam residents have handgun permits, said Deputy County Clerk Michael Bartoloti. Figures by gender were not available. Still, there has been a noticeable increase in Putnam women applying and acquiring pistol permits, he said.

Permits are not required for shotguns or rifles.

On the range, there has also been a sizable jump in women pulling triggers, range operators said.

"I see a tremendous increase from week to week," said Steve Eisenberg, owner of The Firing Line indoor shooting range in Pearl River. "Since 9/11 and the rise in crimes, more women are keeping guns at home for self-defense."

Eisenberg said that of the range's 5,800 members, more than 850 — or some 15 percent — are women. When the range opened in 1997, females made up 2 percent of its members, he said.

At Putnam County Fish and Game in Carmel, members must pass a safety course to use the range, said John Kruglinski, chief range safety officer. In the past year, the number of women taking the course, offered bimonthly, has tripled, Kruglinski said.

"Before, if we had two women, that was a lot," he said. "I think there may have been a fear factor at one time, but no longer. We have a lot of husbands and wives coming. It's about learning a new technique."

At the Coyne Park range in Yonkers, director Chris Rotolo said that since Sept. 11, 2001, he has offered 13 pistol courses, a requirement for those seeking permits. About 26 women have taken the class, he said. Since Sept. 11, Rotolo said, he has seen more female law enforcement officers using the range.

Though the state Department of Environmental Conservation does not break down by gender the total number of hunting licenses issued in each of the three counties, the trend has been that more and more women are picking up firearms to hunt. Becoming an Outdoors Woman, a state program that trains women in hunting, shooting and taxidermy, has also increased in popularity since 2001, said coordinator Kelly Stang.

"In the past two years, I've seen more women in programs and on the range," said Tom King, president of the New York Rifle and Pistol Association. "I attribute it to more women looking for a means of protecting themselves. As much as no one wants to admit it, a firearm is a good equalizer."

Gun-control advocates, however, do not approve of women's purchasing firearms for self-defense.

"Statistics show that if you have a gun in the house, it's 12 times more likely that the gun is going to be used to kill the owner or someone else in the household," said Andy Pelosi, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and a northern Westchester resident. "I can understand wanting to protect yourself, but a gun is just creating more danger."

There are approximately 29,000 gun deaths per year in the nation, Pelosi said.

Though Kelly offers no solutions to the polarized and highly political gun debate, she hopes her book will heighten awareness on such issues as responsible gun ownership and public policy on women's safety.

"We need to raise the consciousness of why women are picking up guns," Kelly said. "We need more moderates to get involved. This is not just a battle between the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign."

Commentary:
Someone needs to tell Andy Pelosi, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, that the study he is quoting has been throughly and totally debunked.

America's soccer moms are finally beginning to see this type of gun control rhetoric, which certainly explains why the Million Mom March pulled just 2000 people to their recent Washinton D.C. rally against allowing the failed assault weapons ban to expire.