Setting the Standard for Women in Firearms | Training. Insights. Intelligence.

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The Calculations Women Make

Women make countless calculations to protect themselves when declining an invitation, ending a relationship, or leaving an uncomfortable situation because they cannot always know who will respect their decision and who may retaliate. Training can give women greater awareness, confidence, and options, but responsibility for violence always belongs to the person who chooses it. Women deserve the freedom to say no without fear, and men of strength and character help protect that freedom by respecting boundaries, recognizing warning signs, and standing against the attitudes and behaviors that allow violence to develop.

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Before You Need That Phone Call: Understanding Self-Defense Legal Plans and Insurance

Self-defense is about more than choosing the right firearm and learning how to shoot. Understanding self-defense legal plans, concealed carry insurance, firearms instructor insurance, and the potential legal and financial aftermath of a defensive incident is another important part of being prepared. Using data from 1,239 A Girl & A Gun members, this guide explores what women gun owners are actually choosing, the common self-defense legal protection and instructor insurance brands they encounter, what these products may and may not cover, and the questions every gun owner should ask before spending her money. Whether you already have a self-defense legal plan or are among the nearly 62% of surveyed members who said “None or not yet,” this guide will help you understand your options and make a more informed decision before you ever need to make that phone call.

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1. New Shooter Zone: Amber Track

Build Skills With Purpose: The A Girl & A Gun Marksmanship Programs

Improve your shooting skills with A Girl & A Gun’s Pistol Marksmanship Program (PMP) and Defensive Marksmanship Program (DMP). Learn how these structured firearms training programs help shooters build accuracy, confidence, defensive skills, and measurable progress through guided practice. Discover which program is right for your experience level and how purposeful range training leads to long-term marksmanship success.

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Women Push Beyond the Limits at DRIFT Academy

Sixteen women from across the country gathered at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for three days of intensive vehicle survival, personal protection, and tactical decision-making training during the 2026 DRIFT Academy, held June 9–11 at the world-renowned motorsports facility near Danville, Virginia.

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Ready Position vs. Defensive Display: What Every Responsible Gun Owner Needs to Know

Understanding when you can legally and responsibly present a firearm is one of the most important parts of self defense training. This article breaks down the critical differences between a ready position, a defensive display, and unlawful brandishing in clear, real world terms. Learn how your intent, body language, movement, and decision making can shape the outcome of a defensive encounter both tactically and legally. Through relatable examples and practical insights drawn from modern self defense training principles, you will gain a better understanding of how to stay prepared without escalating danger unnecessarily. Whether you are new to concealed carry or an experienced shooter, this guide offers valuable lessons on awareness, de-escalation, firearm presentation, and use of force. Understanding these distinctions could help protect not only your safety, but your freedom as well.

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Book Club: Without Conscience

At this month’s A Girl & A Gun Book Club meeting, members came together to discuss the thought-provoking book Without Conscience by Robert D. Hare, a groundbreaking exploration into the minds and behaviors of psychopaths and individuals who lack empathy and remorse. What began as a conversation about psychopathy quickly evolved into a much broader discussion about situational awareness, personal safety, human behavior, and the responsibilities that come with firearms training and instruction. The book left many members both fascinated and unsettled, challenging deeply held assumptions about what danger actually looks like and how manipulation can appear in everyday life. Throughout the evening, women openly shared insights, personal experiences, and practical ways to recognize harmful behavior patterns while emphasizing the importance of awareness, emotional protection, and preparedness. More than just a book discussion, the meeting became an empowering conversation centered on personal growth, confidence, and building healthier relationships and safer communities. For women seeking meaningful dialogue, encouragement, and real-world insight in a supportive environment, this gathering proved to be both eye-opening and deeply valuable.

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Carrying Isn’t Enough: What Our Data Reveals About the Gap Between Carry and Capability

At A Girl & A Gun, we are in a unique position to understand how women are actually training. Each year at our National Conference, hundreds of women from across the country come together with a shared goal: to improve. They bring their experiences, their skills, and their insights, and in doing so, they give us something incredibly valuable: visibility. Through our pre-event skill assessment survey, one pattern emerged with surprising clarity: a consistent gap between carrying a firearm and regularly practicing the drawstroke.

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Slide Manipulation for Sub-Compact Pistols

Sub-compact pistols are easy to carry, lightweight, compact, and concealable. Many shooters choose them as their first defensive gun. Yet these same features make them more challenging to operate The common assumption is that the shooter lacks strength. In most cases, that assumption is incorrect. The challenge is almost always mechanical. Once the shooter understands how sub-compact pistols function, the solution becomes much clearer.

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Situational Awareness for Everyday Life

Recently, I read Jim Shanahan’s perspective on situational awareness in the Rangemaster Newsletter, and his position on the subject was inspiring. Rather than anchoring the discussion in Cooper’s Color Codes or treating awareness as a fluctuating mental state, he reframed it entirely. He defined situational awareness as the intersection of space, time, and self, elevating it from a reactive mindset to a structured discipline that can be observed, measured, and intentionally developed.

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Trigger Control Starts in the Mind: Building Confidence Behind the Gun

Your brain pulled that shot long before your finger did. For new and intermediate pistol shooters, trigger control issues are often cognitive before they are mechanical. Hesitation at the wall. Over-confirming the sight picture. Fear-based anticipation. These are not finger strength problems. They are confidence and decision-making problems. If you want better handgun accuracy and stronger shooting performance, you must train your mind as deliberately as you train your grip.

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The Evolution of Skills and Mindset: A Journey in Firearms Proficiency

I remember being a new gun owner, looking at female instructors with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. I would ask myself, “Are they really as confident as they appear?” Back then, every question seemed monumental: How will I know what to do? What if I can’t do it? Nearly fifteen years later, I can reflect on that journey and see just how far growth, practice, and mindset evolution can take you.

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Threat Management: How to See Trouble Coming and Stop It Early

Violence and predatory behavior aren’t always completely random — many attackers reveal intent before they strike. As Craig Douglas of Shivworks says, “We can’t do anything about being blindsided, but we can take care of a problem we see coming.” The goal of threat management is simple: see problems early, deselect yourself as a victim, and get away safely before a situation escalates. This article provides proven, practical strategies you can use the moment you sense something is off, plus the key legal principles that govern the use of force in self‑defense.

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Stay Safe in Garages, Parking Lots, and Vehicles: Smart Strategies for Everyday Situational Awareness

According to FBI data, more than 30% of violent crimes, including homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, occur on streets, highways, alleys, parking lots, parking garages, and gas stations. These public spaces are accessible 24/7 and often lack lighting, visibility, and security oversight. Because of their isolation and poor surveillance, they are common locations for harassment, carjackings, robberies, and shootings.

Safety in these environments is not just about where you park, but how you think and move through these transitional spaces, the moments between your vehicle and your destination.

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Spooktacular Halloween Safety Guide

Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year, filled with costumes, candy, and fun. With so many people out and about, a little preparation can go a long way in keeping everyone safe. Here are some simple ways to make sure your Halloween celebrations stay enjoyable from start to finish.

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Heading to Missouri for Fall Fest? What A Girl & A Gun Members Need to Know About Firearms Laws

Fall Fest is right around the corner, and we’re excited to welcome more than one hundred A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) members, sponsors, and friends to Missouri for a weekend of camaraderie, training, and competition. Whether you are driving across state lines or flying in from afar, understanding the firearm laws in Missouri is essential to ensure your trip is both safe and lawful.

As proud partners of A Girl & A Gun, U.S. LawShield provided this essential legal travel guide to help you navigate the rules with confidence.

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Preventing Firearm Suicides: How Education and Community Make a Difference

Firearms are a crucial tool for self-defense, and when paired with education, community support, and safe storage, they save lives. The CDC cites more than 2 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) per year; however, there are also tragedies involving firearms that can be prevented. Nearly 60 percent of all firearm-related fatalities are suicides, highlighting the importance of providing emotional support, resources, and education on safe storage options. By combining knowledge, community engagement, and responsible practices, firearm owners can help save lives while protecting their rights and the safety of those around them.

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Book Club: The Deadliest Men

This month, the A Girl & A Gun Book Club read The Deadliest Men by Paul Kirchner. This book profiles 50 of history’s most formidable warriors, from Miyamoto Musashi to Jim Bowie and Geronimo. Through 44 detailed accounts, it highlights their skill, courage, and ferocity in combat, showing how they shaped battles and left lasting legacies across eras and cultures.

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Evasive Driving for Everyday Heroes

Let’s be real: most of us aren’t dodging RPGs on the freeway. But knowing a few evasive driving techniques can save you in the real world. Think aggressive tailgaters, unexpected road hazards, or just plain bad luck. Here’s your cheat sheet, military-style but totally street-legal.

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When Disaster Strikes: How AG & AG Members Can Help

The recent catastrophic flooding in Texas has shaken families and communities to their core. Lives lost, homes swept away, and the path to recovery will be long. While this piece was inspired by that specific tragedy, the strategies and support outlined here are relevant to any natural or community disaster. Whether it’s a wildfire, hurricane, power grid failure, or local crisis, the question remains the same: How can we help responsibly, compassionately, and effectively?

As members of A Girl & A Gun, we train to be steady under pressure. We prepare not just for personal emergencies, but also to lead and serve others when the unexpected strikes. Now is the time to act on those values with clarity and care.

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6 Must-Know College Safety Tips for Students and Parents on Move-In Day

Heading off to college is one of life’s biggest milestones. The thrill of decorating your dorm, meeting new people, and embracing independence is unforgettable. But as exciting as this chapter is, your personal safety should be part of your back-to-school checklist. Whether you’re a college freshman or a parent sending your teen into a new environment, here are college safety tips that can make a real difference.

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Situational Awareness in a Digital Age: 8 Smartphone Safety Tips

Being aware of your surroundings is the first step in taking responsibility for your personal safety. Situational awareness means learning to scan your environment, anticipate others’ behavior, and remain alert, whether you’re out running errands or relaxing in a familiar place. At A Girl & A Gun, we continually remind women to keep your head on a swivel. And it’s equally important to apply that same vigilance to your digital presence.

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Book Club: Gun Fight!

This month the AG & AG Book Club read Gun Fight! by Richard Nance. This book a practical, real-world guide to surviving armed encounters. Drawing on decades of law enforcement and tactical experience, Nance breaks down the mindset, strategies, and skills needed to respond effectively under pressure. From situational awareness to decision-making in split seconds, this book equips readers with the knowledge to stay safe when seconds matter most.

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