At Hot Shots Shooting Center, 64% of our customers are women — from group classes to personal one-on-one firearms training. That’s more than just a statistic; it reflects a powerful shift in who’s stepping up to train, carry, and lead in the world of firearms.
📈 Women Are the Fastest-Growing Gun Owners
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Since 2007, women’s gun ownership in the U.S. has climbed from 16% to around 22%.
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From 2020–2022, over 5 million women purchased a firearm for the first time — about 37% of all new buyers.
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In 2022, women accounted for 40% of new firearm purchases, with women representing 27% of hunting participants and 32% of shooting sport enthusiasts.
While we can’t say 64% of women in our local community are gun owners, we can proudly say 64% of Hot Shots’ customers are women — and we’re committed to serving their needs with excellence.
🔫 What Are Women Carrying?
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The most popular firearm for women continues to be the Glock 43/43X — a compact 9mm handgun favored for concealability and reliability.
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9mm remains the most popular caliber for women due to manageable recoil, effectiveness, and wide availability.
At Hot Shots, we stock a wide variety of concealed carry handbags, each with a dedicated compartment for your firearm. Many are available in-store and online to fit both function and style.
👩🎓 Why Are Women Flooding to Firearms and Training?
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Protection & Empowerment: Many cite personal safety and self-defense as their primary motivations.
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Community & Support: Women-only leagues and classes (like AWA) offer a supportive, encouraging learning environment.
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Coachability: Women often outperform men when trained well, thanks to their strong listening skills and composure under pressure.
🔎 Women vs. Men: Training Trends
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Women are more likely to seek professional, structured training environments.
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They tend to prefer spaces that de-emphasize ego and politics and focus instead on skill development and community.
💪 The Armed Women of America — North Central Ohio Chapter
Hot Shots is proud to be the only Simulation Range in Ohio approved to sponsor an AWA Chapter — The Armed Women of America: North Central Ohio Chapter.
AWA’s Mission: To enable women to be their own self-protectors, creating freedom, peace of mind, and confidence.
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Chapter meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of each month from 6:00pm–8:00pm.
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Meetings are led by a female certified firearms instructor.
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Cost is just $20 per meeting — and includes range time!
💻 Want to Join?
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Join at the national level: $75 annually
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Visit: https://armedwomen.org
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Select: North Central Ohio Chapter
If you are — or know — a woman in North Central Ohio who might enjoy such a strong and encouraging group, we hope you’ll join us!
🎯 A Legacy of Strength
Annie Oakley is often quoted at Hot Shots Shooting Center, and for good reason. She was a force to be reckoned withwhen she held a gun in her hand — a pioneer in proving that skill knows no gender.
One of her most endearing quotes:
“I would like to see every woman know how to handle guns as naturally as they know how to handle babies.”
And often to people’s surprise, Annie Oakley was born in Greenville, Ohio — not too far from us. Her spirit of self-reliance and confidence lives on in our community of strong, empowered women who are rewriting the narrative around firearms and female self-protection.
Another of Annie Oakley’s most powerful quotes has inspired the two founders of Hot Shots Shooting Center — both passionate gun enthusiasts:
“Aim for the high mark and you will hit it. No, not the first time, not the second time and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect. Finally you’ll hit the bull’s-eye of success.”
🏛️ Built by Women, For Women
Hot Shots was founded by two women, and the mission of empowering women to find confidence, preparedness, and a passion for ongoing training can be felt throughout the entire facility — from the Yellowstone Lounge to the Dutton Classroom, and through every inch of our premier, one-of-a-kind Simulation Shooting Range with its five private Shooting Suites.
A Women’s League will launch in September 2025 — watch our website for full details!
🔑 Ready to Join the Movement?
… women will feel empowered and find confidence… at Hot Shots Shooting Center.
👋 Come Try Us — Women-First, Skill-Driven, All-Inclusive
Visit our website to schedule a free 30-minute session, check class availability, or shop our concealed carry bags.
👉 https://hotshotsshootingcenter.com
