Summer time and livin’ is busy! We saw a 54% increase in league growth compared to last July! Our memberships are growing and our chapters are having a lot of summer fun at the range! Here are some of the highlights:
- In July 2021, AG & AG hosted 261 chapter events with 1,623 attendees.
- We had 4 virtual events with 2,447 views.
- 510 new membership packets were mailed from HQ.
- 6 new chapters were opened: Memorial TX, Yadkin Valley NC, Spartanburg SC, South Bay CA, Lakeland FL, and Bastrop TX.
- We grew to 7,588 subscribers on our smartphone app (3% increase since last month).
- New memberships were up 54% over July 2020!
A Girl & A Gun Files Amicus Brief with U.S. Supreme Court
A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging justices to declare a New York state concealed carry gun law unconstitutional. In the amicus brief, AG & AG joins Black Guns Matter and Armed Equality, organizations whose members also have a vested interest in the outcome of this case. The brief states, “African Americans, women, sexual minorities, religious minorities, immigrants, political dissidents and other historically marginalized groups are especially vulnerable to abuse under New York’s discretionary scheme.” Read more.
Record Numbers Compete in Quarterly Match
In July we announced our 2nd Quarter postal match results, which included a record number of competitors (187) from a record number of chapters (38)! The Quarterly Match is a nationwide competition among members of AG & AG. Facilitated during a regularly scheduled event, such as a Girl’s Night Out, shooters are able to experience a competitive atmosphere: understanding the course of fire, match commands, operation of the shot timer, and scoring. The match allows new shooters to overcome mental barriers to participating in competitive shooting and gives experienced shooters the ability to test their skills in a casual, familiar environment.
AG & AG Members Ring Steel Over a Mile Away
All nine AG & AG members in the precision rifle class hosted by Defenders USA hit the 12×24 target at 1,000 yards — and 3 girls hit it at 2,003 yards! The ladies (plus two of their husbands, one junior shooter, and six other students) powered through three 100-degree days in the desert mountains. They learned how to record DOPE, evaluate mirage, hold for distance, and adjust for wind. In the speed transition drill, AG & AG Executive Director Robyn Sandoval came in 2nd, and her son, 14-year-old Nathan, came in 1st out of all 19 students on the line!
Participation Still Rising for Virtual Events
In July we doubled our virtual offerings and our members logged in for the action! As always, we hosted two Virtual Girls Nights Out, which were attended by 1,600 women. Our first VGNO addressed tactical medicine and our second tackled pistol malfunctions. This month we added a competition-focused event with Adam Weber of Weber Tactical as he educated our members on competition gear, belts, holsters, and mag pouches. Over 100 members logged in to watch Adam’s live presentation and participate in the conversation, and another 600 members watched the recording over the following ten days. We also offered some defensive training to our members who are part of the AG & AG Book Club. Throughout July our members read Lethal Force by Massad Ayoob and the author logged in for an informative Q&A. More than 50 ladies participated in the live discussion, and nearly 200 members viewed the recording in the following four days.
Ruger Taps AG & AG for LCP Max Roll Out
On July 1, Ruger launched the LCP Max and invited leaders of AG & AG to be included in the official roll out. Ruger asked ten of our Chapter Facilitators to provide feedback on the LCP Max and help introduce it to the women’s community. Knowing that our instructors would be able to offer training on the intricacies of a subcompact pistol, along with appropriate holster draw and carry considerations important to our niche market, Ruger sent the micropistols to AG & AG chapters throughout the country — and they are getting positive reviews!
AG & AG Veteran Wins Garand at HAVA Event
Bedalina Rosario is a proud disabled U.S. Army veteran and a member of the North Austin TX AG & AG Chapter. This month she attended a special event for veterans hosted by Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) at the beautiful CMP Marksmanship Range in Talladega, AL. HAVA is a nonprofit to aid disabled soldiers as they transition to their lives after combat. Bedalina was the deserving recipient of training, swag, and gifts, including a WWII M1 Garand rifle with M2 ball ammo!
Out and About
Here are some local news and media highlights for July 2021:
The Central NJ Chapter traveled to PA for a weekend of clinics! Chapter Facilitator Ronnie Siegel (and instructor Sam Callahan) coached 25 AG & AG members on multigun and Steel Challenge with clinics on shotgun, rifle out to 300 yds, PPC, 10/22 rifle, and steel knockdown. The retreat event had a lot of pampering and fun!
On July 10, the Flagler County FL Chapter hosted Master Georgo Rego, Sensei, and his team for hand-to-hand instruction in self defense. More than 20 ladies took advantage of expert advice on protecting themselves with a kubaton when they don’t have access to their firearms.
The Northern CO chapter had a fun Bingo shoot at their July Girls Night Out. Everyone was given a Bingo card and then the Chapter Facilitator Peggy Houchin called out Bingo numbers and if the ladies had the number, then they needed to shoot it. They had 5 gals who called Bingo. Each one of them was given a prize!
Robyn Sandoval was a guest on Episode 240 of the Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast, which is available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Tunein, Spotify, Podbean and iHeart Radio.
Robyn Sandoval is a co-host on the weekly Polite Society Podcast presented by the Second Amendment Foundation.
Sharable Articles
The following articles were published in July 2021:
- Ruger LCP Max: A Monster of a Micro Gun
- 2Q2021 Match Winners Announced
- A Girl & A Gun Filed Amicus Brief Defending Rights to Keep and Bear Arms
- Making ONE Good FIRST Decision
- She-Ra Squad Tackled He-Man Nationals
About A Girl & A Gun
A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) is a membership organization whose events are successful stepping stones for thousands of women entering the shooting community by fostering their love of shooting with caring and qualified instructors who coach them. AG & AG breaks barriers for women and girls in self-defense, and in pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting sports by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting and providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. The club has members in all 50 states and hosts recurring Girl’s Nights Out at more than 200 ranges throughout the United States.
For more information about A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League, or to learn how to join, please visit AGirlandAGun.org. Follow AG & AG on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest for social media and corporate news.
