Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, February 23, 2012
(UNDATED) - An increasing number of women are packing heat, arming themselves with handguns, according to a Gallup survey. Personal protection is the main reason for the uptick, but it’s not an easy decision.
Many women who bear arms are also taking lessons on how to use them. The firearms industry is targeting the new market of female buyers, making pink guns, pink ear protection and weapons for petite hands, among other changes.
According to the Gallup poll, 23 percent of American women own a gun, up from 13 percent in 2005.
Indiana State Police say more Hoosier women have received gun permits over the last three years.
While women are getting gun permits in larger numbers, gun ownership is still primarily a man's world.
Indiana men were granted 217,000 permits over the last three years, compared with 50,000 women.
Theories abound about why more women are buying guns. Some suggest fears about a government crackdown on purchases are a big driver, while others think the influence of reality and other TV shows focusing on women with guns are the cause. For many, personal protection seems to be the primary motivation.
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