NWTF's Women in the Outdoors Offers Handgun Safety and Personal Protection Classes Near Boston
According to Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), 21 percent of frequent pistol target shooters were female in 2001. This equates to 600,000 females across the country who shot 15 or more days per year.
With this in mind, Women in the Outdoors, an outreach program of the National Wild Turkey Federation, will offer classes on basic handgun safety and personal protection techniques near Boston, Mass. at the American Firearms School in North Attleboro. The event takes place Jan. 17.
"Our program has always been about encouraging women to try new sporting activities in a safe environment that also helps them feel at ease," said Trish Berry, national coordinator for Women In The Outdoors. "It was a natural progression to organize handgun safety classes in the Boston area as well as other cities across the country, because the shotgunning and handgun classes that are at other Women In The Outdoors events usually fill up first. "
The classes will include instruction on basic shotgun safety, basic handgun safety and personal protection. Cost to attend is $40. To test newly acquired skills learned throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to shoot in an indoor shooting range. Participants may also purchase, for an additional $40, the required certificate needed to carry personal defense sprays in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
"This handgun safety class is great because it's for women only, there is no intimidation factor and participants are not expected to know anything about handguns or personal protection coming into the event," said Pat Thompson, Women in the Outdoors regional coordinator.
The classes take place on Saturday from noon until 8 p.m. A light lunch and dinner will be provided. There'll also be raffles, prizes and a silent auction in the evening. The American Firearms School in North Attleboro is located approximately 25 minutes from Boston and 15 minutes from Providence, RI.
For more information about the handgun safety class, contact George Kleczka at 800-338-7770. For information about the Women in the Outdoors program, contact Pat Thompson, WITO regional coordinator at (401) 491-9047.
