Encouraging news is emerging about the increase in women who are purchasing and using firearms for self-defense, recreational, sporting and hunting uses.

A report by the National Shooting Sports Foundation was released Wednesday at the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas indicates that women are the fastest-growing segment in the shooting sports industry. The SHOT Show brings together shooting, hunting and outdoors industry representatives along with news media from around the world.

One clear bit of proof as a small example of this interest is the Women’s Outdoor & Shooting Industry Dinner, which was organized by some women to highlight and celebrate the sport. The dinner is in its second year and was a grassroots effort but has grown to overflow capacity. FOX News contributor, TownHall.com editor and award-winning author Katie Pavlich is attending this year’s dinner, too.

Here’s the press release from the NSSF:

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.

NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti discussed the findings in the new report,“Women Gun Owners: Purchasing, Perceptions and Participation.” NSSF, which owns the SHOT Show, is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.

“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.

“The women’s market is a force in our industry, and manufacturers, retailers and shooting ranges are making changes to their products and services to satisfy women’s tastes and needs. This report will assist anyone interested in knowing more about women’s enthusiasm for and attitudes toward firearms,” said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF Director of Industry Research and Analysis.

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.

The report shows women are attracted to shooting activities such as practical pistol, clay target shooting, long-range shooting and plinking; they were not as active, however, in gun collecting or 3-gun and cowboy action shooting.

Growth of the women’s market is quite visible among firearms retailers. In NSSF’s Annual Retailer Survey, more than 74 percent of retailers reported an increase in women customers in their stores in 2013 over 2012.

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, female engagement in target shooting grew 60 percent to 5.4 million participants between 2001 and 2013, and was up 85 percent for hunting to 3.3 million participants during that same period.

NSSF’s “Women Gun Owners” report is available to NSSF members and to media by request.

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