Bonnie Stecher is a friend who works in a place where I occasionally shop. We ended up talking about guns one day and I was delighted to find that she is a founder and instructor of the Snohomish County chapter of the Well Armed Woman organization (link).
Bonnie kindly let me ask her a few questions about her experiences in the shooting community.
"How did you get started in shooting?"
Bonnie said that her dad got her started, fishing and shooting as a kid. She raised a family and, after her kids were grown, found herself looking for a hobby. She returned to shooting and then heard about the Well Armed Woman organization. She founded the Snohomish County chapter just over 5 years ago and is pleased with the turnout of ladies who shoot. Though there is an element of turnover, with some people joining, learning a little bit and then moving on.
"What have your interactions in the gun community been like? Do you feel that you have been welcomed as a shooter?"
The community mixed when it comes to how welcoming it is. Norpoint Range in Arlington (where Bonnie's group shoots) is good. There was a training facility on Whidbey that was so-so.
"How can the gun community reach out to a variety of shooters?"
That gets challenging but we've got to organize and stick together. A common shooting facility would help...there's been one in the works in Sky Valley for some time.
But the political side of it is a tough one.
"Are there any other things you would like to say?"
Bonnie indicated that she has found her work with the Well Armed Woman organization to be rewarding. The dynamic when a woman gets a gun often is that a husband wants his wife to be able to protect herself so a gun is purchased, stored in a dresser drawer, forgotten.
It is better when people take the initiative and get trained because they can then have the knowledge and experience needed to use that gun to keep her safe. It is better to be an alert sheepdog than a defenseless sheep. Being a victim is not good and so many people just do not stay aware of their surroundings, walking around with their eyes on their phone.
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