We Asked Real Women at the World’s Biggest Gun Show: Why Do You Own a Gun?
Laurel Pinson
The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show convention is the biggest trade show in the gun business, hosting more than 1,700 exhibitors from all over the world. (SHOT stands for ‘Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade.’)
This year, the convention is being held in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian resort—just a few miles from the site where 58 people were killed by a gunman at a concert. The sprawling show—about the size of 12 football fields—features everything from rifles to shotguns to crossbows, along with outdoor clothing and gear. And the show isn’t open to the public: applicants must be qualified to register, as the overall convention is meant to be a “trade only business-to-business event for companies and their employees the shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade,” so attendees must qualify to attend. And it’s big business. Kevin Michalowski, executive editor of Concealed Carry Magazine, told USA Today: “This is not just a group of redneck gun owners as are often portrayed by the mainstream media. This is serious business. He added: “Millions and millions of dollars are exchanged, and it helps the economies of many, many states, it helps the economy of the U.S.”
And women are a part of that business. In 2014, the GSS, a project of the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, found that 11.7 percent of women reported owning a gun—a percentage that has stayed more or less consistent since 1980. In 2017, the Pew Research Center conducted a broad survey of gun owners, which indicated that men who own guns “tend to be more immersed in gun culture than their female counterparts,” but does that trend square with the women you’re likely to encounter at an event like SHOT?
We asked 12 women attending this massive industry event a simple question: “Why do you own a gun?” Here’s what they told us.
Photographs and reporting by Chona Kasinger
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PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Leah, 50
From: East Texas, been in Nevada 15 years
Occupation: Uber driverWhy do you have a gun?
For personal safety. You never know what’s going to happen. You just need to have your gun on you at all times so that if something happens, you can protect people. I carry it for my personal safety because I don’t ever know what’s going to happen in this world—so I just want to make sure I’m prepared. I have it at my house for my personal safety, just in case something happens out there too.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
People shouldn’t question private citizens for carrying a gun. If they’re stable and they feel they need their safety protected, they shouldn’t question that. You never know what’s going to happen.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
No. If I was a teacher, I’d love to be able to carry a gun. Because if something like that (school shooting) happens, then you can make sure that… you always have to think of security first. You gotta be able to talk to that person… maybe touch that person to try and get that gun away from them. You need to be able to defend those children and make sure you take that person down. Not shoot them, but shoot them to where they’re unable to shoot again. -
PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Brandy, 27
From: San Bernadino, CA
Occupation: Convention employee
Why do you want to have a gun?
Protection. You always have to be prepared for someone else to do something wrong. I like to be prepared. I’ve wanted a gun for a few years now. At first I was against it, but seeing the things that I see, I’m with it for the right reasons.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
I can understand that it’s scary. Having a weapon, period—that frightens people. It’s only because they’re thinking of themselves getting hurt, but what if you’re in a situation and just… to honestly put it: you have to hurt someone else before they hurt you? Realistically, you have to be prepared. You are your family.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
Yeah. It does. It changed my mind-set from ‘not wanting to’ to ‘wanting to.’ You see stuff, but the media is really where you see a lot of action go down and you want to be prepared for that. -
PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Jade Struck, 19
From: Southern California
Occupation: Firearms instructor and competitive shooterWhy do you have a gun?
I grew up around guns. My dad’s a police officer and I’ve always believed in self defense and the art behind guns—using it as a form of therapy, or just to express yourself.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
I understand. I have friends who are on both sides of the fence. I see that same point as well, but the problems we’re facing as a country regarding gun control aren’t from the actual 2.A. (second amendment) side of it. It’s more so from the behind-the-scenes criminal side of it, and I think the laws that officers are working on are bettering that side of the community.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
No. I’m a firearms instructor, so I believe in instructing people the right way to properly handle guns. It is unfortunate, what’s going on in our world these days, but at the same time, I’m so relieved to be able to have that amendment for me. The right to bear arms makes me feel a lot safer.We work with a lot of women; we teach celebrities too. We taught Keanu Reeves for John Wick at Taran Tactical Innovations. We taught the Kardashians, which is a great experience for us as women to teach some of the most sought-out women for young women, and women as a whole, and to teach them the proper way so that other people in the world can see the proper way.
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PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Chrysti Ane, 24
From: California
Occupation: ActressWhy do you have a gun?
I initially started getting into guns because, as an actress, I wanted to move more towards the action film world. I like adrenaline—I love that adrenaline rush. I love adventures, I ride motorcycles, I shoot guns, I snowboard—I mean, act like a guy, I just like looking like a girl. I got into it in order to go that route with my acting career, and I got hooked on that adrenaline rush that gives me the most pleasure in the world. It’s that, but then the discipline behind it, I think, is what kept me there. It’s so much discipline, and it’s a lot harder than people think it is. And that just got me addicted… and then I started competing.Jade Struck (from previous portrait): We met on the range. She came out as an actress—one that we were teaching—and we loved her so much, we were like, “Can we keep you”? She has so much potential. Especially [as an] action star.
C.A.: When I get into something new, I always want to be proficient at it.
What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
C.A.: I also understand. I respect everybody’s opinion, but that doesn’t mean that my own is going to change. I’m very strong in my opinions and I will never knock down someone for believing a certain thing or thinking a certain way—that’s the beauty in life, that we don’t all think alike. My own personal belief is that I do feel safer with a gun.
J.S.: The confidence you learn on the range—it gives you more to work with in life. Even without a gun, I feel safer knowing I know how to protect myself.
C.A.: Also being a woman. Physically, men are stronger than women. In a situation where my life is at risk, I want to be able to know I can handle my own.
J.S.: It’s a last line of defense, but if we can deploy it when necessary, that makes me feel safe. I don’t even carry a gun, but I’m like, “Look. You don’t want to mess with me.” Laughs. We shouldn’t have to feel like that as women. I don’t want to hurt anybody … I’ve been in situations where I’ve needed to defend myself. Martial arts is one of my forms; so is knife work and guns. Gun owners don’t necessarily want to deploy their weapon as a line of defense, but to have it on the back burner is really comforting.
When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
C.A.: It will not change my stance. It’s very unfortunate that these things are happening and that people are the way they are. I’ve heard this said a million times, and I’m a strong believer that it’s not guns that kill people, it’s people that kill people. You can basically use any object if you really wanted to get the job done. That’s horrible, but people are the way people are, and people are always breaking laws. If they want to go off and do something negative with a gun, and give the gun world a bad name, that’s their thing, but that’s definitely [not] going to change my stance and what I believe should be.
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PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Crystal, 38
From: McMinnville, OR
Occupation: Gun salespersonWhy do you have a gun?
For protection, and I like target shooting.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
If they don’t like it, then don’t carry one. Each person is their own.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
No. I don’t watch the news. -
PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Rochelle, 28
From: California and Hawaii
Occupation: Flight attendantWhy do you have a gun?
I was originally given a gun as a gift. I went out shooting once and I happened to be naturally good at it. I was 20 at the time. I’ve done sporadic competitive shooting. I have a lot more fun with it—I’m in it more for fun than competing.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
I think that if there were less guns, there would be less shootings, period. If the government came in and decided to take the guns away, I wouldn’t be mad about it. I think it’s important to be able to feel safe in your home, but you don’t need more than three guns. You don’t need to own a semi-automatic weapon or a silencer.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
Going to the second amendment, I don’t think they had AK-47s and everything else in mind [when they imagined] the right to bear arms and protecting yourself. At SHOT show, you can kind of see how much it’s evolved into thousands and thousands of people dumping millions and millions of dollars into the industry… I guess I’d say it’s almost unfortunate people think that they need so much.
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PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Charlene, 54
From: Arizona
Occupation: Manager for Pioneer ManufacturingWhy do you have a gun?
Self defense. The way the world is today, it’s your protection. It’s fun to go out with the guys, too, or with the family and go out shooting.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
This is how I feel. This is my prerogative—if I want to go out and shoot guns, that’s fine. If you don’t want to, then that’s your prerogative. It is what it is. If you don’t like guns, that’s fine. Don’t tell me and don’t preach to me that “guns are bad,” and this and that. Guns don’t kill people.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
If you’re selling guns to people, I do believe they should get a background check instead of just giving guns to anyone—especially if they have mental issues. The thing is, even if they do put a law on buying guns, people are still going to buy them off the streets. -
PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Denise, 30
From: Originally from Czech Republic, now living in Nevada
Occupation: ModelWhy do you want to have a gun?
I think it’s good to protect yourself in case of an emergency, and to bear arms is your right as an individual. And for a female, it’s necessary to be able to protect yourself because you never know! Crazy world out there. I’ve always been an advocate of firearms. I’m not for hunting—for animals and stuff—but I believe in protecting yourself from harm.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
It’s hard because they have a right to their own opinion. Some people are scared of firearms. They are dangerous, but I think [that with] proper training and education on them, anyone can use them properly and safely. They just have to try it, usually. I tell people to try things once or twice, just to see how it is. Then if they really still do not like it, it’s not for them. You don’t have to argue—they’ll find protection in other ways … I don’t like to argue with people a lot.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
No. I don’t think so. Things happen in the world all the time … I think it’s just good to have the basic knowledge of protecting yourself, and ever since I got the training that I did, it’s made me more aware of things and comfortable in life-or-death situations. -
PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Danelle, 27
From: South Africa
Occupation: Gun show demosWhy do you have a gun?
We do a lot of sports shooting in Africa—just for fun, but also you have to defend yourself.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
It’s your own opinion. I believe you should own a gun to protect yourself. A lot of people we see in the store get robbed, then they want to buy guns. If they just had guns from the store, then they can protect themselves.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
The gun laws are very strict [in South Africa]. It takes three months to get a gun—you have to license every one. It’s not like here where you can just walk into the gun store and take one home.
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PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Jessica, 27
From: Duluth, MN
Occupation: Real estate managementWhy do you have a gun?
I grew up hunting—that’s my primary reason. And then for self protection. Both my parents hunt, so I grew up doing it, since I was … before I can remember. It’s just something I’ve always done.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
I think it’s hard to make that decision when you don’t know both sides of it, so I just encourage people to learn both sides of whatever the topic is.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
No. I don’t take anything that mainstream media really [says] to heart. I like to do my research on things and be well informed instead of just following what I hear on the news. -
PHOTO: Chona Kasinger Regine, 30
From: Houston, TX
Occupation: NurseWhy do you have a gun?
In Texas, it’s more for protection—girls especially. He got me into it (gestures toward boyfriend and his family) and we started shooting competitively.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
If [questioning gun ownership] is what they prefer, that’s okay, but for me, it’s more for protection—for feeling comfortable. It’s like, if you get in a public place like this (SHOT) and you don’t carry one, they could shoot you, and you can’t do anything about it. It’s about security for yourself.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
No. -
PHOTO: Chona Kasinger https://www.glamour.com/gallery/we-asked-real-women-at-the-worlds-biggest-gun-show-why-do-you-own-a-gunAlicia, 26
From: Duluth
Occupation: Freelance journalistWhy do you have a gun?
For hunting purposes. I shoot to practice so I can take an animal when the time comes. We’re getting ready for bird hunting now—we probably go shooting at least ten times before the season starts.What do you say to people who question the value of a private citizen owning a gun?
People who don’t know any better, I can see what they see on mainstream media—that they can have this perception of guns that isn’t completely accurate. People are smart and they can find out the truth. People should find out for themselves. What I tell people is to come shoot with me or watch me shoot and educate them that guns aren’t these dangerous things. People are the ones that shoot the guns. If you have control over the gun, you’re fine.When mass shootings or school shootings happen—like the one this week—does it ever make you rethink your position?
No. At this point, I’m educated enough about guns. There are just bad people in this world and it’s not necessarily guns that are the problem.
