Detroit, Michigan – -(AmmoLand.com)- Gun rights advocates, from several different organizations, worked together this past weekend on May 19th to train over 800 women how to safely and accurately operate handguns. The program, now in its eighth year, supplied everything that a new firearm operator would need to participate without cost. All training, firearms, range time, and ammunition were donated by sponsors. The event is permanently scheduled to run every year on the first Sunday after Mother’s Day.
The program was launched in 2012 when Rick Ector, a Detroit resident and founder of “Legally Armed In Detroit (LAID),” saw a disturbing news report of a woman’s body being discovered in a deserted field. The story haunted Ector, who felt that something should be done to empower women to protect themselves. He talked to several fellow firearm trainers who were willing to donate their time and expertise. In addition, a local range was willing to donate the needed range space and range time to conduct the program. Ector supplied the firearms and ammunition. The program successfully introduced 50 women to firearm safety and the skills needed to accurately operate a 9mm caliber semi-automatic handgun.
This year’s event, now in its eighth iteration, successfully introduced 814 women to the field of shooting. Enrolled participants ranged in age from 12 all the way up to 76. All student participants arrived at the Top Gun Shooting Sports range in Taylor, MI at their scheduled time. Their range time and the needed meeting space was provided free of charge by the owners of the range.
All participants in the program were first subjected to one of ten scheduled safety briefings led by Ms. Tanisha