Setting the Standard for Women in Firearms | Training. Insights. Intelligence.
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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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03/24/2026
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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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03/10/2026
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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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02/26/2026
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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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12/06/2025
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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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10/30/2025
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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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07/07/2025
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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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06/05/2025
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“Scan and Assess” Seeing Beyond the Bang

There’s a moment in every defensive encounter when the gun goes quiet, but your responsibility doesn’t. That pause after the last round is fired is often the most dangerous, overlooked, and misunderstood part of a confrontation. It’s a common shortfall, and one that has little to do with marksmanship. Many shooters perform well right up until the moment the last round is fired. But what comes next, the pause, the aftermath, the unknown is where their training often stops. Not because they lack skill, but because they haven’t been taught to stay mentally present once the immediate threat is controlled. That’s the true value of “Scan and Assess.”

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05/27/2025
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Beyond the Blade: Versatility and Innovation of SOG and Cold Steel Gear

In the realm of everyday carry (EDC) items we should all consider as part of our walking around “kit,” two names stand out far above other imitators. SOG and Cold Steel have a rich history of innovations and developments for everyday enthusiasts, hobbyists, outdoor adventurists, law enforcement, first responders, and the military. These two giants stand out, showcasing where precision meets durability. Each brand boasts a legacy forged through innovation and a commitment to excellence, yet its approaches and designs diverge in fascinating ways.

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04/14/2025
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Review: Liberty’s 50gr Carry Ammo

I asked a couple of our favorite instructors and friends to test out Liberty Ammunition’s Civil Defense and Ultra-Light 9mm +P rounds and give us the down-and-dirty on it. It’s incredibly lightweight, which makes it attractive for EDC, but how does it perform?

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01/11/2023
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Loading to Capacity

Semiautomatic handguns come in a wide range of single and double-stack magazine capacities. Subcompact single-stack semiautomatics like the GLOCK 43 have a total of 6+1,

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08/16/2022
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Book Report: Concealed Carry Class

I recommend that you read Concealed Carry Class: The ABCs of Self-Defense Tools if you carry a gun for self-defense and would like to be more informed as to the many aspects involved with doing so, whether you are just getting started or have been carrying for years, there is much to learn and consider, and this book should be part of your library to guide you on that path. This book is filled with so much content, data, and great information. It’s a book you want on your shelf to be able to pull down and read again and again, and you will always get something more out of it each time you do so.

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12/09/2021
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Holstering a Pistol into a Purse

Maintain a proper grip while placing your pistol in a holster within a purse or bag. If holding your pistol carelessly, the middle finger could slide inside of the trigger guard and result in a negligent discharge. By defaulting to a master grip with the trigger finger in a register position and the rest of the fingers around the grip of the pistol, you exhibit control and safety at all times.

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05/11/2021
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Review: Left of Bang

In Left of Bang, authors Patrick Van Horne and Jason A. Riley outline the principles of the US Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter program. This program gives soldiers a way to identify and communicate pre-incident indicators. Being able to do this before an attack, or left of bang (as pictured on a linear timeline) can mean life or death in combat. While the authors use the context of combat, they do provide civilian examples at times in the book. At several points I noted how observing villagers in Afghanistan isn’t much different from observing people at the local mall. The framework of this program can definitely apply in many different walks of life.

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12/10/2020
Carry & Self Defense

Vehicle Safety

In this video Adam Winch reviews best practices of vehicle safety. He reminds students that cars are not safe spaces; vehicles are the nexus of a vast majority of attacks. You will learn how to park your car, where to park your car, and how to walk to and from your car. He encourages students to develop safer habits so that you can reform your movements around your vehicle and prevent being a victim.

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08/05/2020
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Threat Identification

Joshua White will teach you how to identify and address a threat! In this video series, you will review the fundamentals of shooting, and then go further into target identification and the aftereffects of possible deadly force situations. Shoot/No Shoot drills will challenge the students’ OODA loops and understanding of the responsibility if weapons are used in defensive situations.

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07/05/2020
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How to Draw Your Pistol from an Appendix Carry Position

Drawing your pistol from the appendix carry position follows a lot of the same principles of the strong-side holster draw, but there are nuances that are different with this particular carry method. As Tatiana Whitlock explains in the following video, this discussion focuses on the technique of the drawstroke without the additional training considerations of managing cover garments.

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06/16/2020
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Carry with Confidence

This 2.5-hour presentation is a complete walkthrough of the essentials of everyday concealed carry. From the very first step, you’ll be guided through the critical knowledge and habits that form the foundation of safe, reliable, and confident carry. You’ll learn how to develop rock-solid safety habits, build comfort and consistency in your daily carry, and apply practical skills to defend yourself and protect your loved ones. This is a structured path to safe, effective concealed carry that you can revisit anytime. Whether you’re brand new or ready to refine your routine, this training will give you the confidence to carry every day with purpose and peace of mind.

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05/19/2020
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Knife Counteroffense

There are locations where you cannot have your firearm, so you may opt to carry a knife. Learn how to select the best knife for you, and how to defend yourself against the most common threats by an attacker armed with their knife. In this video, Larry St. Clair teaches you strategies for self-defense against a knife-wielding assailant both with and without your knife.

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05/05/2020
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Everyday Weapons

Use what’s around you in an emergency by turning everyday objects into “weaponized” tools that may be found around the home, office, or on your person in the absence of a knife or firearm to gain valuable time to escape or escalate to a greater force multiplier. Larry St. Clair of Martial Way Legacy shows you how to defend yourself with everyday items.

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05/05/2020
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Unarmed Defense

If you are unarmed, you need to know ways to survive a physical assault. In this video, Larry St. Clair teaches you essential techniques, drills, and strategies. These will include simple strikes as well as escapes from various grabs, holds, and positions. Boost your confidence with scenario-based flow drills that will enhance your awareness and self-defense.

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05/05/2020
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Flexible Weapons

Meet our favorite flexible weapon: the AG & AG face mask is multifunctional headwear that is everyone’s best friend! Use it as a face mask to protect from dust and sun’s rays, as a foulard to keep your hair back, as a headband to keep sweat out of your eyes, or as a scarf. In this video, Larry St. Clair will teach you how it can give you the upper hand and neutralize an assailant in seconds! Take this knowledge of flexible weapons and apply this curriculum to your purse strap, scarf, or even a garment.

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05/05/2020
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Drawing from Concealment for Accuracy

What is your most common mode of carry?  Can you draw, fire and hit what you want to hit when you want to hit it?  Can you gauge the distance and time it takes to hit accurately? Participants will learn concepts on how to work from holsters, move on the draw, and learn to understand how important it is to be aware of what we are doing in each nano-second from the decision to draw to the hit on the target.  In this video, Vicki Farnam reviews the elements of the draw, grip, sights, trigger control, recoil, and trigger reset.  Wishful thinking will never make it happen consistently! 

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05/05/2020

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