The Nation’s Best Shooting For Women

"In a recent visit to Front Sight Firearms Training Institute I was surprised to find such a large number of women students. I had come to Front Sight to polish up on my handgun skills, which after five years since I last attended a professional firearms training course were in need of significant sprucing up. I was literally shocked to find that 30% or more students in my class were women. During one of my reload breaks I took a head count to find that 12 of the 38 students on our range alone were female. This is in stark contrast to what I had experienced in prior training, where approximately five percent of students were women. I wanted to know what it was that was bringing women, apparently in droves, to Front Sight for firearms training. Which I soon found out was the lack of macho, boot camp mentality by the instructors, and in its place a personable, friendly form of constructive instruction, the likes of which are rare, if non-existent in this industry."

Women shooters have found an alternative to the drill sergeant mentality so prevalent in firearms training. Constructive, personable training using positive reinforcement, such as found at Front Sight, is bringing record numbers of women to the firing line.

Does this mean that the so-long entrenched drill sergeant method of instruction is dying, maybe even past the point of no return? Certainly for these women shooters they were completely satisfied that none of this boot camp stuff was being used at Front Sight.

One female attorney, also taking the Two-Day Defensive Handgun course, and a multiple-time Front Sight student, made it very clear, "It just makes for a much easier, and more constructive learning environment". Judging by her shooting ability, which was exceptional, I would have to agree.

Of all the places you can go to get firearms training, Front Sight appears to have the broadest spectrum of students. Possibly this is because of the way their instruction is conducted. For sure, Front Sight has within its student ranks policemen, military, emergency personnel, experienced hunters, and they also train a substantial number of firearms instructors themselves. But there is another side of Front Sight students that you don't see in such concentration anywhere else. College professors, teachers, nurses, mothers, flight attendants, real estate agents, and other occupations where there is a high propensity for women.

"The Front Sight course was great fun." Says Nancy Speer, a teacher, "I learned the correct way to handle a gun, both for target shooting and when there is a need to use a gun in extreme circumstances. I now feel I could better handle a fight if necessary. Front Sight is a great confidence builder."

"You'll enjoy safe and responsible firearms training that far exceeds those levels found in the law enforcement and military communities with one big difference — there is no boot camp mentality or drill sergeant attitudes. With one instructor for every 4 to 5 students on the firing line, our instructors are caring, supportive and naturally bring out the most in you. Afterward, you too will acclaim our training as a positive, life-changing experience."

For more information on safe firearms training for women, please contact Front Sight Firearms Training Institute.

"Front Sight is an awesome place to learn to shoot a gun. The instructors are professional, personable and patient. I enjoyed it immensely." Says Maita Castellanes, an office manager.

"A lot of women are afraid of guns." Says Kamie Blake, a homemaker, "Coming to a course at Front Sight taught me bow to be more confident with weapons and myself. I learned bow to defend myself and those I love."

"Front Sight is safe, thorough, and by the numbers. You walk away with skills to keep you alive." Says Deborah Williams, kindergarten teacher.

"As a woman student I was concerned whether I could really do the class." Says Juliana Bernabe, a CFO. "I was glad I attended because I learned so much more in two days than I had in the last year of shooting. I now have confidence to draw my gun, shoot, and even clear any malfunctions in two to three seconds."

"The Front Sight instructors are great! They treat you with positive reinforcement constantly." Says Katherine Bohn, a registered nurse and paramedic. "I totally loved this course, it gave me great pride to be one if its students."

"I approached this training with an extreme anti-gun attitude that I've had my whole life. Front Sight definitely changed my attitude significantly." Says Mallika Albert, massage therapist. "I acquired important life-saving skills."

"The instructors are true professionals. They were helpful and 100% safety conscious." Says Dr. Suzanne Hedden, a college professor.

Looking around at the other 26 students in our class who are males, coming from all walks of life, of all ages, and all levels of shooting experience, it became clear to me that they, as well, were quite a bit enjoying the non-drill sergeant training style.

Could it be that for these many years, we shooters have been fooled all along into believing that to really learn to shoot well we had to have it drilled into us with boot camp tenacity? Fortunately, Front Sight has developed a better way to train just about anybody in the proper use and safety of firearms, using positive reinforcement and constructive correction. In fact, their method is so successful, that each year they train more students than all the other private schools combined.

Front Sight has made world-class firearms training very appealing and very accessible to women, and without getting into the macho, boot camp mentality. If popular consensus is any indicator, Front Sight will continue to be center stage in the firearms training arena, and we will see increasing numbers of women learning to effectively defend themselves by acquiring the skilled use of firearms.

Robin Schmitt is an outdoors writer based in Santa Susana, California

www.shootingforwomen.com