FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The fall gun show at the Florence Civic Center revealed a new demographic for sales Sunday afternoon.
Vendors who were there say women are buying more guns, hunting and participating in the shooting sport.
Stan Davis is the owner of S&R Gun Sales. He attends the gun show in Florence in the spring and fall. However, this year he’s noticed a difference in people who are buying guns.
“I have seen an increase in ladies, coming in and buying small arms for themselves, getting signed up for CWP classes,” Davis Said.
Executive Director of Paladin Training and CWP instructor Steve Cooper says more women are turning to guns for protection.
“Their reminded that the world is a dangerous place when something bad happens to somebody else and they decide okay I’ve waited long enough, now it’s time for me to get the permit,” mentioned Cooper.
Gun retailers say the fact that more women are joining the market also breaks popular misconceptions about gun owners.
“There is certain anxiety out, they are slowly coming around so to speak, and getting more educated about what’s going on. Most of the time they come out with their husband or boyfriends and other shooters that have experience with a handgun,” said Davis.
While protection seems to be the key for the spike in growth, experts say education is what’s most critical.
“Fire arm training is really important. You’re dealing with something that can hurt people if you mishandle it and so it’s important to get good quality training” explained Cooper.
“We try to explain to them features, calibers, and how different firearms react and safety features that are on them,” added Davis.
The Florence Gun Show attracted 270 vendors across the Southeast.
