February 12, 2015 | 0 Comments

New ‘Women Gun Owners’ National Shooting Sports Foundation Report Available.

By nssfnews

“More than half of women (55.6 percent) participating in a new study commissioned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation said they intend to purchase at least one firearm in the next 12 months. That finding and many others reflect the growing popularity of firearms ownership by women, who represent the fastest growing segment of the shooting sports.

“In the past decade, the number of women owning firearms and participating in target shooting and hunting has soared. This study helps us understand why women are choosing to purchase firearms and accessories and what shooting activities appeal to them most,” said Sanetti.

The study, conducted in 2014, focused on women ages 18 to 65 who owned at least one firearm. Over a third of women in the study were new gun owners, having purchased their first firearm within the last three years. This group of new gun owners, who are primarily between the ages of 18 and 34, reflects the changing demographics among women choosing to own firearms—a change captured visually in NSSF’s new infographic, “Girl Power,” which complements the new report.

Among the report’s findings:

The most commonly owned firearm by women in the study is a semiautomatic pistol, with 56 percent of women reporting they owned at least one. Shotguns ranked second, with 50 percent of women owning at least one.
Women say their purchases are mainly influenced by Fit, Quality and Practicality.
Women purchasing a gun in the last 12 months spent on average $870 on firearms and more than $400 on accessories.
The majority of women report they are not driven to buy a gun on impulse but rather considered their purchase for months before deciding.
Nearly all women (95 percent) have tried target shooting, and more than half (58 percent) have hunted.
More than 42 percent of women have a concealed carry permit for their state of residence.
Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of women reported having taken at least one training class.

Placing a premium on safety, women say the single most important reason why they decided to purchase or own a firearm is protection—both personal and home protection. Learning to hunt and going shooting with friends and family were also cited.”