Shownotes
Adelina May joins State of the Second to talk about how women actually carry a firearm day to day, and why most of the conventional advice misses the people it claims to serve. She runs Girls Just Want to Have Guns, a company with women instructors and women attendees that teaches women across the country to go from anxious around a gun to confident enough to carry every day. Her path started young. She grew up with guns in the home, started training around age 12 when her dad pulled her into his church security team's range sessions, moved into competitive shooting, and has been a grandmaster for the last six years. Working at a manufacturer during Covid showed her how many people buy a gun and assume they can use it, and a conversation with her own mom, who couldn't unload the gun kept by the bed without being shown, convinced her most women in America had never actually been taught.
Adelina's core argument is about meeting women where they already are. She builds her classes as events, not lectures, with branded pink gear, gift bags, raffles, and a group photo, so first-timers show up excited instead of intimidated. On gear, her first recommendation is always a good holster in hard plastic or Kydex with a clip that won't pull out when you draw, like an Ulti clip or DCC clip. On training, she focuses on conceptual understanding, real-life scenarios through her monthly gun club, and dry-firing from the actual position and outfit you carry in. She is direct about the parts of the industry that hold women back: gun-store staff who steer women to a gun because it's pink or small instead of what performs, product launches that only picture tactical models, and instructors who tear new shooters down or ban long nails from class.
The hosts and Adelina dig into mindset and instruction, including why spouses often make poor teachers, how a single negative comment can take many positive ones to undo, and when an instructor should stop correcting and just let a student shoot. The conversation closes on the soapbox segment, where Adelina names what the industry still misses: relatability. She argues that if every model in the marketing is jacked, tactical, or a dark femme fatale, the average woman concludes the gun world isn't for her. Her fix is to show real people in real clothing doing real things, then train women to perform in what they actually wear, cute dress and heels included.
Questions this episode answers
What is the first accessory a new concealed carrier should invest in, and why?
Adelina Mae's first recommendation is always a good holster in hard plastic or Kydex, paired with a clip that won't pull out when you draw, like an Ulti clip or DCC clip. A holster that stays put on the draw is the foundation everything else builds on.
How does Girls Just Want to Have Guns make a firearms class feel like an event instead of an intimidating lecture?
She builds her classes as events rather than lectures, with branded pink gear, gift bags, raffles, and a group photo. The goal is for first-timers to show up excited instead of intimidated.
Why does Adelina say so many women own a gun but don't actually know how to use it?
Working at a manufacturer during Covid showed her how many people buy a gun and simply assume they can use it. A conversation with her own mom, who couldn't unload the bedside gun without being shown, convinced her most women in America had never actually been taught.
What mindset issues do women bring into a first class, and how does she work through them?
Many women arrive anxious and easily shaken, and Adelina Mae notes that a single negative comment can take many positive ones to undo. She works through it by knowing when to stop correcting and simply let a student shoot.
Why are spouses often the wrong people to teach their partner to shoot?
Adelina Mae and the hosts discuss why spouses often make poor instructors, tying it to how easily a single negative comment can set a new shooter back. A neutral instructor avoids the personal dynamic that makes correction land harder between partners.
How are women treated and sold guns at gun stores, and what should they do before buying?
She is direct that gun-store staff often steer women toward a gun because it's pink or small instead of what actually performs. Her counter is to focus on performance over appearance and to get real instruction rather than trusting a store's snap recommendation.
What is the industry still missing when it comes to reaching women in 2026?
Adelina Mae's answer is relatability. When every model in the marketing is jacked, tactical, or a dark femme fatale, the average woman concludes the gun world isn't for her, so she argues for showing real people in real clothing doing real things.
What everyday drills and practice does Adelina recommend for carriers?
She focuses on conceptual understanding, real-life scenarios through her monthly gun club, and dry-firing from the actual position and outfit you carry in. The principle is to train the way you'll actually perform, cute dress and heels included.
Chapters
- 00:00 — Welcome and rapid fire questions
- 02:01 — First accessory to upgrade: get a good holster
- 03:10 — Top drills for everyday practice
- 05:13 — Who Adelina is and how she got into firearms
- 08:13 — Building a class into a fun, branded event
- 11:37 — Concealing in real outfits and the creator approach
- 14:01 — How companies are building for women
- 15:56 — Mindset issues women bring into class
- 20:15 — Why spouses make poor instructors
- 21:25 — Corrections, encouragement, and the seven-to-one rule
- 27:08 — How women are sold guns at the gun store
- 30:37 — Soapbox: what the industry is missing on relatability
- 38:45 — Where to find Adelina and the GOALS summit
About the guest
Adelina May is a female-only firearms instructor and the owner of Girls Just Want to Have Guns, a company with women instructors and women attendees that teaches women across the country how to go from scared and anxious with a firearm to confident, effective, and carrying every day. She grew up with guns in the home and started shooting around age five. She began training near age 12 alongside her dad's church security team, moved into competitive shooting, and has been a grandmaster for the last six years. She worked at a firearms manufacturer during Covid and has worked at gun stores. She also runs a monthly gun club and shares concealed-carry and educational content on social media.
Key quotes
"the first thing I tell people is that regardless of what you do, you have to have a holster." — Adelina May
"we teach women across the country how to go from scared and anxious with a firearm to confident, effective, and even carrying every day." — Adelina May
"they think they can automatically use them and they have no idea what they're doing." — Adelina May
"when somebody says something negative to you, it takes seven positive things to outweigh that one negative thing." — Adelina May
"we want to train, like, how you're going to perform." — Adelina May
"I think companies really need to start looking at their marketing and going, hey, we need to market to the average gun owner or the person who is just getting into this." — John
Transcripts
Welcome to Gun Owners of America State of the second podcast.
Speaker A:I'm Kayleigh.
Speaker B:And I'm John.
Speaker B:And today we're joined by Adeline May.
Speaker B:Welcome to the show.
Speaker A:Hi.
Speaker C:Thank you for having me on.
Speaker B:So first we're going to go into our first segment which is rapid fire questions.
Speaker B:We're going to ask you five questions.
Speaker B:You go ahead and answer them as you please.
Speaker B:The first question is what is your dream gun?
Speaker C:Oh, I think I own it.
Speaker B:What is it?
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:No, that's not.
Speaker C:I would really like a.50 cal mounted on top of a truck.
Speaker B:I would also like that.
Speaker C:Or a minigun on a Blackhawk in my backyard.
Speaker C:That's probably it.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker A:If you could make one firearms movie more realistic, what would it be?
Speaker C:I grew up like loving and I don't know why I never watched the first Expendables or the second one.
Speaker C:I just watched the third one and I like loved it for some reason.
Speaker C:And my dad wanted to ruin everything for me.
Speaker C:He was like, that's not realistic.
Speaker C:I was like 11 years old, so probably, probably that one.
Speaker C:So I didn't have to hear my dad say that.
Speaker B:That is amazing.
Speaker B:What is the most underutilized training technique that people should do?
Speaker C:Training?
Speaker C:They just don't train.
Speaker C:Being a firearms instructor.
Speaker C:Training technique.
Speaker C:Honestly, I think like when I'm training people, if something I say doesn't land with them and it's just going over their head, I try to find something else that is like a metaphor or something that they can visually picture for it to help them understand.
Speaker C:I don't know necessarily like techniques wise, but I really try to help people understand things on a conceptual level.
Speaker C:So that way when I'm explaining, they're not confused and I'm trying to show them something.
Speaker C:I want them to, I want them to see me do it, help understand how I explain it and then execute.
Speaker C:Does that answer your question?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:What would be the first accessory you would recommend someone upgrade in their.
Speaker C:On their edc, on the actual firearm itself.
Speaker C:Just in their setup, getting a good holster.
Speaker C:I think too many people, they're like, oh, what products do you use and what this and what that?
Speaker C:And the first thing I tell people is that regardless of what you do, you have to have a holster.
Speaker C:Like it doesn't matter if you want to put it in a purse needs to be in a holster, put it on a belt needs to be on a holster.
Speaker C:Put it in a cakes bag needs to be on a holster.
Speaker C:Like all of them require a holster.
Speaker C:And if you don't have a safe one, that's a problem.
Speaker C:So I just tell people make sure that you get a good holster.
Speaker C:And that means a hard plastic.
Speaker C:So an injection molded plastic or Kydex.
Speaker C:And then I hate the plastic clips that just like are this long and they clip around one belt like they don't do anything.
Speaker C:And as a female, if you are looking for it to like be used on a lot of different products or a lot of different clothing types, get get either an Ulti clip or a DCC clip.
Speaker C:So it actually is hard to take off that way.
Speaker C:When you draw your gun, your holster doesn't come with it.
Speaker B:That is great advice.
Speaker B:Let's go to the last question.
Speaker B:Have to think of a good one.
Speaker B:Last.
Speaker B:What are your top three drills for everyday practice?
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:I actually was just showed this by Santi.
Speaker C:Oh my gosh, what is his last name?
Speaker C:That is embarrassing.
Speaker C:He is a amazing USPSA shooter.
Speaker C:I just shot with him at Waft and he showed me a drill that he had me do at the beginning of our session and then at the end of our session and it just showed the application of what you're learning and how much faster you're getting.
Speaker C:But basically you start at 5 yards, you go 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and you do five rounds at each one and you are timing how fast your coming out of the holster and your five rounds and then how accurate you are.
Speaker C:So it's you're trying to get in the A zone.
Speaker C:And it was really cool to see and I think I left that and definitely said I'm going to apply this to all of my girls moving forward because it's a great way to show them where they are losing accuracy as far as distance and then also show them before and after and then as far as concealed carry.
Speaker C:Every day I always like, like to make sure that I'm practicing the holster draw just how quick I can get it out for if I'm going to be dry firing before I leave the house or trying to show people how to use a concealed carry mechanism in an outfit.
Speaker C:I tell women because you're not carrying under a shirt or a sweatshirt, on pants or shorts every single day.
Speaker C:Practice dry firing from the position you're carrying.
Speaker C:So dry fire, get it out of the holster five to ten times and just show yourself that you can get it out.
Speaker C:If I was at the range I would do that as well.
Speaker C:And then I like to practice levels of confirmation.
Speaker C:So how much do I have to confirm at what distance to be able to get an accurate shot and be able to protect myself.
Speaker C:So I don't know if that's the best drills necessarily, but I like going fast.
Speaker C:So everything that I do is competition based?
Speaker B:No.
Speaker C:But it transfers into self defense.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:I love it.
Speaker B:And that's, that's true for all of us.
Speaker B:We all want to go fast.
Speaker B:That wraps up our rapid fire question.
Speaker B:So, Addie, go ahead and tell everybody who you are, what you do, how you got into the firearms world.
Speaker B:I know a lot about you, but tell the folks your whole story or at least what you want to tell.
Speaker C:I feel like I've said this like 15 times in the last five days, so I got it down.
Speaker C:Hi, I'm Adelina May.
Speaker C:I am a female only firearms instructor and I own a company called Girls Just Want to have Guns.
Speaker C:So we have only women instructors and only women attendees and we teach women across the country how to go from scared and anxious with a firearm to confident, effective, and even carrying every day.
Speaker C:So I started shooting in the industry.
Speaker C:I mean, I started with guns when I was, you know, five.
Speaker C:We had guns in the home all the time.
Speaker C:I was very comfortable with them.
Speaker C:I started shooting with my dad was on a church security team for a mega church and they went to go train as like a bonding thing, but then also to make sure that the guys that were carrying guns had guns on them and they could actually use them.
Speaker C:So he actually asked if I could come when I was 12 and they said no, which makes sense.
Speaker C:They're like, when we don't really want your 12 year old daughter there, we're trying to get stuff done.
Speaker C:And he pulled me out of school and made me go anyways.
Speaker C:And because I was able to handle myself and be able to do what they were asking me to do effectively.
Speaker C: I was safe and I was using a: Speaker C:They were like, all right, that's what's up.
Speaker C:She can come back.
Speaker C:So I kept coming back with them and then I started shooting more and more consistently with them.
Speaker C:In high school I was half online, so I went to the range and started going with them when I could drive at 7am and then going to school at noon.
Speaker C:So I was able to go and train a lot and they kind of were like, what do we do with you?
Speaker C:Like, what are we training you for?
Speaker C:So they put me into competitive shooting and then very quickly from there started progressing through the ranks of, you know, all the classifications and then getting sponsored and being super, super Blessed to be able to train with some of the best names in this industry.
Speaker C:Honestly, like, I think I did not understand at the time how privileged I was to be able to train with these people, but got to train with them.
Speaker C:And then I worked at a manufacturer in Covid and I was able to see lots of people coming in buying guns and all the stuff that we talk about.
Speaker C:But I was able to see that and realize these people just buy guns and they think they can automatically use them and they have no idea what they're doing.
Speaker C:And I remember asking my mom, hey, can you unload this gun that you keep on your side of the bed?
Speaker C:Like, it's just there, but can you unload this gun without asking questions?
Speaker C:And she said that she needed me to show her.
Speaker C:And so I realized that most women in America have a husband that say, hey, this is the gun you're going to go grab if something happens.
Speaker C:But they give it to their wives loaded and ready to go at the range.
Speaker C:They don't show them how to load it.
Speaker C:So their wife gets a loaded gun, they pull the trigger, and as soon as it's empty or it malfunctions, they hand it back to their husband.
Speaker C:And they have no idea what they're doing.
Speaker C:So they don't know how to actually use a gun.
Speaker C:They know how to pull a trigger.
Speaker C:And that's where I realized my mom needed training.
Speaker C:And then soon after, I realized that's the majority of America.
Speaker C:So I wanted to put together an event where women could come train.
Speaker C:But because we're isolating them from their husband or their dad or whoever it is that they're comfortable with, I wanted to make it more of a fun event that they're excited to go to.
Speaker C:I also have my mom in the background of our family.
Speaker C:We're party planners.
Speaker C:So that's why I was saying first birthday parties.
Speaker C:I got you covered.
Speaker C:But I love events.
Speaker C:And we were very involved at our church at the time.
Speaker C:And so, you know, church events, women's events.
Speaker C:I was like, how do I make this class an event?
Speaker C:Not just a class.
Speaker C:I don't want people to be nervous to come or intimidated.
Speaker C:I want them to be excited.
Speaker C:And so I formulated the first one.
Speaker C:So the first one is a lot more than what we offer now.
Speaker C:Just because the first one was our first event and I had no intention of making this a full time job.
Speaker C:So it was a one off event.
Speaker C:It was, we had a big balloon bath, photo backdrop and my mom did like a huge spread and we had roses in the ice cubes and like everything.
Speaker C:And that's.
Speaker C:We do that stuff to an extent.
Speaker C:Now our photo backdrops don't have to be, you know, like $300 balloon backdrops this time, but we do a photo backdrop or charcuterie board.
Speaker C:Everybody has a gift bag with their name written on it and calligraphy.
Speaker C:Everything is branded pink.
Speaker C:So all my target stands are powder coated pink.
Speaker C:And we spray paint everything pink.
Speaker C:And we, I just wanted to make something that was fun.
Speaker C:And then in their bags they get discounts to companies in the industry that can help them.
Speaker C:They get pink ear plugs, they get.
Speaker C:What else do they get in there?
Speaker C:They get keychains, they get this fun stuff.
Speaker C:And then we do a raffle in between and we take a big group photo.
Speaker C:So on top of actually delivering a high quality and very high value class for them, they also get an experience that they're not going to get from some guy in cargo pants.
Speaker C:And that's kind of what I wanted to offer for them.
Speaker C:So I think that sums up most of what I do.
Speaker C:I also have like my personal Instagram brand and I share a lot of educational tips and try to educate women on how to conceal in different outfits.
Speaker C:So I do lots of videos on this is a dress.
Speaker C:This is how I'd conceal in this specific dress.
Speaker C:This is a jumpsuit.
Speaker C:This is how I would conceal.
Speaker C:This is, you know, just kind of showing them that.
Speaker C:Because I feel like this industry at one time, I don't feel like anymore.
Speaker C:But at one time it was very polarizing.
Speaker C:So it was either you look like a cop or you are a gun bunny.
Speaker C:And there wasn't a lot in between.
Speaker C:And the majority of America wants to just look like an attractive female and be able to present themselves well and be a good mom that are not trying be some like gun chick.
Speaker C:And I realized that's the image that people come to me for.
Speaker C:Everybody says, oh, it's nice because you're a woman instructor and you explain things differently.
Speaker C:And realistically, I'm probably explaining it just the same as a male instructor.
Speaker C:However, I'm not your husband, so you're not losing your patience with me.
Speaker C:And also I realize it's just the image they just want to see, okay, if I can look like a normal female and be a mom and be a business owner and be whatever I need to be, but still be capable, that's what they're looking to me for.
Speaker C:So that's kind of what I want to do and offer to people through social media and through the dumb skits that I do and make people laugh.
Speaker C:I've had companies come to me because I just don't take it too seriously.
Speaker C:Like, clearly I'm safe and I have fun and it.
Speaker C:I still am very professional, but I still have fun and make it a life.
Speaker C:And people don't do that.
Speaker C:I guess so.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Well, she already hit on the topic I was going to bring up to you.
Speaker B:You already hit on.
Speaker B:It's the fit thing with.
Speaker B:We're seeing a lot of female instructors and female social media influencers go with this fit thing.
Speaker B:Why did you decide to go with it and how has the response been from your female audience, even your entire audience, of that you can carry a gun comfortably in so many different outfits instead of you're stuck with tactical pants in a, in a backpack or something like that?
Speaker C:Yeah, I mean, well, one with my social media, I've never wanted to be in creator.
Speaker C:I don't like the word influencer, so we'll say creator.
Speaker C:I never wanted to be a creator where guys were following me and their wives were like, you need to unfollow her.
Speaker C:Like, I never wanted to be that person posting inappropriately.
Speaker C:I didn't want to be posting or sharing things that made their wives feel uncomfortable.
Speaker C:I wanted to be a resource because reality is this is a male dominated industry and guys like guns.
Speaker C:So I had 90, 95, 98% of my followers were men.
Speaker C:So I'm not posting for them.
Speaker C:I'm posting for them to go tell their wives or to tell their moms or to tell whoever it is in their life.
Speaker C:And so with the last few months of growth that I've had, I've really been able to see people coming out of the woodwork and saying like, thank you so much for what you're doing.
Speaker C:I follow you and I send my wife all your stuff or my wife sent me your stuff.
Speaker C:Can you suggest specific things for me to buy for her?
Speaker C:And it's just been really nice to see that I'm helping people.
Speaker C:Like, people are actually like, hey, can I get that link?
Speaker C:Oh my gosh, this, this makes it make so much sense.
Speaker C:And I think people think, okay, I want to carry a gun, but I can't because I chase kids around all day and I don't want them to get it out of my purse or I can't.
Speaker C:I wear tight clothing or I can't.
Speaker C:And I basically just want to be like, no, you can.
Speaker C:Let's figure out how.
Speaker C:And there's so many products now.
Speaker C:Even when I was first Starting in this industry, there were not the products that we have now.
Speaker C:And there are so many innovative companies that have come out with things that are amazing for concealed carry for women.
Speaker C:So I just want to be able to kind of connect people to those things and then show them like it's not that hard.
Speaker C:Like you can wear lots of different things and there, you know, there are outfits that you can't and you have to carry off body or you have to carry in a fanny pack or, you know, just different things to consider.
Speaker C:And I think there's a lot of people who just think I'm gonna throw a gun on and that's all I need.
Speaker C:There's a lot more to that.
Speaker C:And so I kind of want to teach them that you need to think about things a little bit deeper.
Speaker B:But yeah, now as we see the, the demographics of female shooters and things grow.
Speaker B:Are you seeing the same response you mentioned that there's a lot of companies who are kind of building and adjusting to that.
Speaker B:Are you seeing the same response from the people on the company side you talk to and seeing that they're transitioning or going, hey, we're building this product.
Speaker B:Can you give some insight on this?
Speaker C:I have had a few companies reach out for that and quite honestly, I tell people all the time on my Instagram, I don't work with companies unless it's something that I actually use or if they say, hey, we want to try this product out, I won't promote it unless it's something that I actually think is useful.
Speaker C:Just because there are a lot of products that I don't necessarily think are the best or I don't think they are safe or I would never personally use them.
Speaker C:So if I'm not going to use them, how is it going to be easy for me to make content with?
Speaker C:But I have have had companies reach out and I give them straight up feedback.
Speaker C:Like I want to tell you my straight feedback, this is a great product for what it is, but not for Carrie or it's not optimized to be safe for Carrie or whatever that might be.
Speaker C:I do see a lot of companies changing their product line because they want to cater more towards females, especially big companies.
Speaker C:I think, you know, corporate style companies are really like, all right, we got to figure this out.
Speaker C:But I also see, I work with a lot of female owned, newer companies that are killing it because they're normal people who created a product to fix the need that they had and everyone else has the same need.
Speaker C:And so it's really cool to See that growth in this industry.
Speaker A:Yeah, I. I have to agree with you, especially in the last.
Speaker A:I feel like three years, especially the.
Speaker A:The products that are coming on online for women are just getting better and better, which is awesome to see.
Speaker A:One of the things that I wanted to kind of hit on that you mentioned earlier, were the type of training events and how you want the training to feel so that people kind of get out of their head and any anxious.
Speaker A:Anxiousness goes away.
Speaker A:What are some of the mindset issues that you've seen in the past and.
Speaker A:And how have you worked to resolve them for what women are bringing into class or what misconceptions they have about carrying a firearm?
Speaker C:So many.
Speaker C:I mean, I teach straight up a lot.
Speaker C:The bread and butter of what I do with my company is just beginner classes.
Speaker C:But I do obviously talk about concealed carry and carrying a firearm because I do think that it's the next step.
Speaker C:I don't think every single person should carry a gun because I don't think everyone's responsible enough.
Speaker C:However, statistically it is, obviously it's the greatest equalizer to be able to protect yourself as a female.
Speaker C:So I'm a big advocate for it.
Speaker C:With that being said, I still teach a lot of people that are like, I just want to learn how to use the gun in my home.
Speaker C:I don't.
Speaker C:I don't think I'm going to be carrying, but I still want to learn.
Speaker C:And it's funny because different geographic areas are different.
Speaker C:Like, oh, you'd think that everybody has guns in Idaho.
Speaker C:Like, everybody has guns, but not a lot of people carrying because everyone has guns.
Speaker C:And everyone.
Speaker C:It's like, just like, no problems.
Speaker C:And it's funny because I'm like, no one really cares here.
Speaker C:Like, I'm sure a few people do, but for the majority of people don't.
Speaker C:So just funny geographically, but as far as mindsets, that's kind of why I made my company, is because we have women coming to us because we're us, because they have been held at gunpoint before because they've had domestic violence issues, because they have trauma because their husband was murdered by a gun.
Speaker C:Because, like, we have that seriousness coming in.
Speaker C:And then we have another, you know, 15 other girls that are like, I'm just here to learn, you know, and we have to.
Speaker C:We have to cater to all of it and, like, hold their hand and then, like, talk them off the cliff of crying and walking away.
Speaker C:And then, you know, this person over here is doing just fine.
Speaker C:And that's.
Speaker C:It's A delicate balance, but it is really rewarding to see.
Speaker C:I do have a lot of other women that come and they're like, I just don't want to learn from my husband.
Speaker C:It's just, it comes from the wrong person.
Speaker C:And I complain completely understand because I've had significant others tell me how to do things.
Speaker C:I'm like, well, you could have said it nicer.
Speaker C:I didn't hear anything they said, but all I heard was the tone.
Speaker C:And if it was anybody else, I would have been like, yeah, for sure.
Speaker C:I got it.
Speaker C:I can handle that.
Speaker C:So I just think coming from the right person is a lot of the times the smart thing.
Speaker C:And also you're not going to lose your patience with your significant other if you're not with them.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:But as far as like, mindsets, yeah, we have lots of different coming into that.
Speaker C:I mean, as far as concealed carry, we do have a lot of girls that are uninterested.
Speaker C:We have a lot of girls that are very interested.
Speaker C:We have a lot of girls that feel like they need way more confidence than they already have.
Speaker C:Meaning, like a lot of girls are not confident when they learn.
Speaker C:And I would say, hey, you're at a, you're at a level, knowledge wise that you can absolutely carry safely and effectively and you're very accurate and you're very responsible.
Speaker C:And they're like, oh no, no, no, I'm not ready for that yet.
Speaker C:And it's a confidence thing.
Speaker C:So there's a certain point where I have to tell them, you need to fake it till you make it a little bit with your confidence.
Speaker C:And I never ever tell that to somebody who I don't think is safe or responsible.
Speaker C:But there are just some people that they just feel unconfident in themselves.
Speaker C:And so that's probably the other thing is just really encouraging them that they are doing a good job.
Speaker C:And that's another reason why I started my gun club that I do, which is a month of monthly meeting.
Speaker C:And I make them after a beginner class, I make them actually draw from concealment, move and shoot, get out of a car and shoot and like put them into real life scenarios.
Speaker C:And it's nothing crazy, but it's just pushing them past standing still at an indoor range with the target not moving and your adrenaline not high and taking as much time as you want to shoot the target, like that's out the door when it's real life.
Speaker C:So like, let's put you in real life.
Speaker C:And so that's kind of why I wanted to attack that to get rid of the mindset of whatever it is.
Speaker C:It's scary.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:I'm afraid or I'm not confident enough, or I had this in my past.
Speaker C:I want to just tell people, like, you can do this.
Speaker C:Like, let's make you do it.
Speaker C:So, yeah.
Speaker C:Did I answer your question?
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker C:Yes, she did.
Speaker C:I clearly like to talk.
Speaker B:So you hit the nail on the head.
Speaker B:As a firearms instructor, as somebody who's been training a lot, I know personally that I don't teach my own wife.
Speaker B:I have somebody else teach my wife, because I know that that can be stressful.
Speaker B:And I make.
Speaker B:I'm probably one of the few.
Speaker B:I go, hey, you're gonna have to load your mag by yourself.
Speaker B:You're gonna have to do this.
Speaker B:Because she's gonna have to learn those basic skills, and I'm not always gonna be there.
Speaker B:And so, again, everyone's gonna hate me in the comment section because I say it all the time.
Speaker B:Don't trade your spouse.
Speaker B:You hit it right.
Speaker B:It can be frustrating.
Speaker B:I watch from afar and encourage, and then I see things, and I don't want to be.
Speaker B:I'll look at the instructor and be like, there's this.
Speaker B:And try not to, you know, discourage.
Speaker B:Because the minute you discourage somebody or something happens, a lot of.
Speaker B:Especially with new shooters, a lot of them will get discouraged very easily because they're not good.
Speaker B:You're learning a new skill.
Speaker B:Like, I know that any time I learn a new skill, if I'm not perfect at it right away, then I get discouraged.
Speaker B:But it's the same thing goes for new shooters.
Speaker B:And as instructors and husbands and spouses and things like that.
Speaker B:You need to know where the limitations are and how to adjust around them.
Speaker C:Yeah, and that's another thing that I am really careful with as far as, like, corrections, because I.
Speaker C:Even my own dad, she'd been growing up, he was like, keep your finger off the trigger.
Speaker C:And it's like, okay, I get it.
Speaker C:Absolutely.
Speaker C:It's unsafe.
Speaker C:You know, I hear him saying that to somebody else.
Speaker C:I'm like, dude, you are just tearing them down.
Speaker C:You're making them so scared of you.
Speaker C:And they're.
Speaker C:They're so like this that they don't even know what they're doing with their finger on the trigger.
Speaker C:Like, yes, be aware of safety.
Speaker C:Yes, call them out for safety.
Speaker C:But there's no reason to be yelling or to be, like, belittling them, especially in a class in front of other people.
Speaker C:They already are unconfident being there.
Speaker C:They're already like, nervous or they feel dumb by being there, there's no reason to make them feel more done.
Speaker C:And to your point, something that I had thought of, I actually learned this fact, and this is in relationships or anything, when somebody says something negative to you, it takes seven positive things to outweigh that one negative thing.
Speaker C:So when you're having a conversation with somebody and you say one thing to tear them down, that would take seven reiterations of how good they are until they feel like they actually are.
Speaker C:Or that evens out.
Speaker C:So it's definitely something to consider when you are teaching new beginners.
Speaker C:And I will say, just to add on, the best husbands that I see are the husbands that are like, I'm so exciting you're coming.
Speaker C:Like, even if they do pack the bag, they pack the bag and they're like, I'm so excited you have fun.
Speaker C:Or like, I would be, I would love for her to get training.
Speaker C:And they're like excited and encouraged and they don't tear them down and they don't tell them how to do things and they don't like, try to over correct or like insert or inject.
Speaker C:They're like, yeah, do your thing.
Speaker C:And they step back and they go shoot them down like by themselves at the range and they drop them off for the class.
Speaker C:And like, those are the best husbands because they don't stop the training from continuing because they heard one small thing that they wish they could.
Speaker C:And I think there are certain points as instructors too that there is a point where you are overcorrecting.
Speaker C:Yes, they might be standing the wrong way, but they are focused so much on so many other things that who cares if their one shot is off?
Speaker C:Let them get through through it and learn.
Speaker C:Okay, I did that shot with really good grip.
Speaker C:Now I don't understand why I'm not hitting the target.
Speaker C:Okay, well, what else did we talk about?
Speaker C:Let them kind of get through it.
Speaker C:Because sometimes you're going to say things and say things and say things and it just goes all over their head and they're overwhelmed.
Speaker C:So sometimes people are having a problem and I literally tell them, I want you to stop and I want you to shoot five rounds as fast as possible.
Speaker C:I don't even care where you hit on the target.
Speaker C:Just shoot in a safe direction and don't drop the gun.
Speaker C:Just shoot as fast as you can.
Speaker C:And I want you to just feel what it feels like to shoot a gun without getting correction after every single shot.
Speaker C:And sometimes they're just like, okay, I got it out of my System.
Speaker C:I'm not nervous of the gun going off.
Speaker C:Now I can actually learn and listen.
Speaker C:And so it's hard as an instructor to find that balance, to see who's capable of what.
Speaker C:But you do have to pull those tricks out and be patient with everybody's learning.
Speaker B:No, I 100% agree.
Speaker B:One of my favorite tactics I used to use and I trained youth, youth shooting sports for a long time.
Speaker B:One of my favorite tactics is they always get discouraged when they don't hit the center of the target.
Speaker B:But then you talk to them and you're like, well, you put five on top of each other.
Speaker B:It's just a little to the right.
Speaker B:So what do we have to do to fix this?
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And giving those encouraging words is what I highly recommend, especially with new shooters and things like that, because I don't know about the three of us, but when I first started shooting, I could hit the bullseye perfectly.
Speaker B:But then if I shot a group low right, I knew in my head I was like, wow, I really suck.
Speaker B:But then you got to think of the positive.
Speaker B:The positive is, okay, well, I put a group that is the size of a dime, and now I just got to figure out what I did wrong to move it.
Speaker B:And that's something that I encourage everybody to do, is like, think of the positives before you start thinking of the negatives.
Speaker B:Because if you're doing one thing right, then you know how to fix other small things as time goes on.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I think, to add on to that, I think there's a.
Speaker A:A big.
Speaker A:A big thing to remind anybody, whether you're taking them shooting for the first time or you're attending a class with someone that's never attended a class before, or if you are the.
Speaker A:The more experienced shooter.
Speaker A:And it's very easy to get into a comparison if you're new at something, comparing, you know, your target to someone else's, especially if.
Speaker A:If they're the ones taking you to the range or.
Speaker A:Or, you know, attending the class with you.
Speaker A:And it's important to remind somebody that, you know, they're circling everyone that chose to not train today, and they're going to be better at the end of the class than at the beginning of the class.
Speaker A:And sometimes just changing the perspective of what they're looking at and their mindset helps move the needle and make it a more enjoyable time.
Speaker A:You know, nobody wants to be in a position where they feel like they're not doing well or they're failing or they're getting to a point of being overwhelmed.
Speaker A:And if you're the person that's attending the class with them or, or taking them to a range, you know, being that that voice of reason and that calming presence can really help someone be able to enjoy their time at the range and also get more from the instructor by just being that positive support.
Speaker C:Yeah, I agree for sure.
Speaker B:So I have, since you trained so many women, I have a question that has been brought up here in the past is how do you feel with how the gun stores are doing when they sell firearms to women?
Speaker B:Are we seeing, are you seeing that they're getting the right product or are they being talked into something different?
Speaker B:Like that is a question that from somebody who trains a lot of women who come in first time gun owners and things like that.
Speaker B:How are you seeing that process and how women are being treated at the gun store?
Speaker C:I will start this off by saying that there are a lot of, I'm sure there's a lot of really great knowledgeable people that work at gun stores.
Speaker C:However, there are also unfortunately a lot of people that work at gun stores because it makes them feel cool.
Speaker C:For whatever reason, they feel like they have something to teach people or they know a lot about guns or they were a cop for 32 years or whatever they want to say that they are.
Speaker C:Or it's just some guy guy that just feels cool because he can say that he works at a gun store and he likes guns and he wears a gun on his hip.
Speaker C:Unfortunately, I know this because I've worked at gun stores before and there are certain gun stores that the people behind the counter know a lot and that's fantastic.
Speaker C:It's just hard because you don't have like a disclaimer in the front.
Speaker C:Like I've been a competitive shooter and I'm a grandmaster for the last six years.
Speaker C:You don't have that on their chest.
Speaker C:All you know is they got hired to work at the gun store.
Speaker C:So it's hard for me because I see feel like the majority is some guys like, oh well, this is a great gun because this, this and this or this would be a great gun for you because it's going to fit your hands better.
Speaker C:Or they don't give them any information that's actually applicable to them, which is hard.
Speaker C:Or the girl says, well, I want something that's easy or I want something that's I don't have to think about a lot or I want something that doesn't malfunction.
Speaker C:And they give them an answer for, for those things.
Speaker C:But they don't suggest what would actually be best for them?
Speaker C:And I tell people, they say, okay, well, what guns should I get?
Speaker C:I can't tell you that, but I can tell you the top few guns that might be best for you.
Speaker C:And I can tell you don't go buy a gun until you get training because you don't know how it fits in your hand the right way until you know how to grip a gun the right way.
Speaker C:So why are you trying to go buy a gun without going and renting and trying them first with training under your belt, too?
Speaker C:And now go rent a gun and actually figure out what guns you like instead of spending 700 on a gun you hate and then buy a gun.
Speaker C:Like, make an educated decision on this.
Speaker C:It's not just like, they're an investment, so going with somebody else's.
Speaker C:I've shotguns my whole life, and I like this one.
Speaker C:That doesn't necessarily help.
Speaker C:I try to avoid, like, putting down certain brands or certain models just because, like, obviously this industry is very small.
Speaker C:But, I mean, there's a few guns that I see in glasses a lot that when I see them, I'm like, why?
Speaker C:Like, why do you do this to yourself?
Speaker C:And I'll tell them straight up, like, I'm not gonna lie to you.
Speaker C:Like, this is a more difficult gun to use or this is gonna be more challenging for you.
Speaker C:And this is why.
Speaker C:And I don't tell them they can't use it or they're not capable.
Speaker C:I just tell them it might be a little bit more of a challenge, so they're gonna have to rise to the occasion.
Speaker C:But as far as, like, guys or people at gun stores selling women guns, of course you're going to see a lot of the, like, you should get a revolver.
Speaker C:You should get this because it's pink.
Speaker C:You should get this because it's small.
Speaker C:You should get this because you can conceal it easier.
Speaker C:You can throw this in a purse.
Speaker C:And unfortunately, like, that's not what I base my sales of guns off of.
Speaker C:I base it off of performance and then, you know, concealability or home defense and how well they're able to shoot it.
Speaker A:So, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker A:So now it is time for my favorite segment from the Soapbox.
Speaker A:The time that we take a spicier take on what is going on in the 2A community.
Speaker A:So throwing it over to you, what kind of spicy topic would you like to take on today?
Speaker C:This is delicate because I have to, like, tiptoe around certain things just because I don't want to say the wrong thing if I Don't have the education on it.
Speaker C:I don't know, just throw things at me.
Speaker C:I don't care.
Speaker C:Oh, if I don't know, I'm straight up and I'll tell people I don't know enough about this to have a conversation on it.
Speaker C:But if you tell me things, I'll tell you my opinion.
Speaker A:It's no, no shock to anybody that women are the fastest growing demographic and, and have been for several years now.
Speaker A:You know, we mentioned that some of the new products that are coming out are fantastic and way better than anything that we've ever had before.
Speaker A: o reaching women right now in: Speaker C:What is my take on what the industry is not doing to grow?
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Like what, what are we missing?
Speaker A:Yeah, what are we missing?
Speaker C:So Prior, I feel like we were missing kind of reaching people who are in like, like we talked about as a mom or as a female, having kids and being pregnant is a big part of some people's lives.
Speaker C:So like some people have young kids, you know, they have four or five kids or three kids, that's five to 10 years of their life of having little kids or being pregnant.
Speaker C:And so I think prior it was how do you carry or how do you have a gun in the home with kids and stuff like that.
Speaker C:And I think that's kind of being addressed now because of how many women are in the industry and how many women influences are influencers are now having kids and showing people like this is what I'm doing as well as like safe firearm storage and that kind of stuff.
Speaker C:So it's, it's hard to say what it is, but I would say, honestly, like I was saying, like, we're just trying to reach normal people.
Speaker C:Like we're not trying to reach people who want to be cops and we're not trying to reach people who want to like over sexualize themselves for Instagram with guns.
Speaker C:Like, we are just trying to reach the normal person.
Speaker C:And I think what's really frustrating for me when I see like new drops from big companies is it's very tactical and like it's very not the normal female.
Speaker C:Like, let's just get this straight.
Speaker C:If a girl wants to carry a Louis Vuitton bag, she's not going to start carrying a 511 bag.
Speaker C:I love 5 11.
Speaker C:I have nothing against it, but that's just, that's the normal demographic of females.
Speaker C:So they're not going to start changing their fashion because of this is what's available in the gun industry.
Speaker C:So they're either not going to do it, or they're going to figure out how to do what they already do and add a gun in.
Speaker C:And so that's kind of where I want to be at, is like, meeting them where they're at.
Speaker C:I've seen female instructions that are like, you can't have long nails and come to my class.
Speaker C:Like, why?
Speaker C:That's a whole demographic of women that you just told that you can't teach them.
Speaker C:That's not true.
Speaker C:You can shoot.
Speaker C:Like, that's.
Speaker C:I want to show people how to do that.
Speaker C:And I think in this industry, it's like they're fighting through it to be less polarizing.
Speaker C:But then at the same time, the industry is very catty.
Speaker C:So it's like, well, I'm already doing it, so you are my competition and I don't like you anymore.
Speaker C:And it's like, okay, well, let's just stop that because we're all working together.
Speaker C:So I don't know if that answers your question, because I feel like there's not a ton of major gaps necessarily, but I do think that the gaps are closing in.
Speaker C:So it's a good thing.
Speaker C:We're making forward progress, people.
Speaker A: I agree: Speaker A:We are definitely making tremendous progress.
Speaker A:But I agree.
Speaker A:Most women, I would dare say, are not going to rock tactical will dance every day.
Speaker C:They will if they think it.
Speaker C:They're going to a class or they want to go learn something, and they're like, oh, I want to wear that.
Speaker C:This outfit, because I want to look like the tactical girl.
Speaker C:Great.
Speaker C:But that's not what you wear every day.
Speaker C:And we want to train, like, how you're going to perform.
Speaker C:So if you're going to perform with a really cute bag and a cute dress and heels, let's make you train like that and see how effective you really are and then go from there.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker B:I can't.
Speaker B:I can't say anything to this.
Speaker B:My cute dress and heels don't show up very well.
Speaker C:So, yeah, you got to keep that at home, don't you?
Speaker B:No, I. I think I agree the.
Speaker B:The market has really adjusted.
Speaker B:But I also agree with what you're saying is, like, when you do a big launch, like, not everybody is going to be a door kicker.
Speaker B:Not everybody is going to wear tactical pants.
Speaker B:I think companies really need to start looking at their marketing and going, hey, we need to market to the average gun owner or the person who is just getting into this.
Speaker B:Because if I'm new to this and you know, guns can scare, be scary to people.
Speaker B:If I'm new to this and I.
Speaker B:All the marketing I see is big muscular people or tactical, tactical people kicking indoors.
Speaker B:I'm going to be like, I can't do that.
Speaker B:Let's, this is down.
Speaker B:So I think that, well, that comes.
Speaker C:Down to like relatability and marketing, right?
Speaker C:So like Marketing 101.
Speaker C:Like part of what you're trying to appeal to somebody's like ethos, pathos or the other one.
Speaker C:And part of that is relatability.
Speaker C:And so that's kind of why people are.
Speaker C:Okay, the majority or not majority, but Americans are plus size.
Speaker C:So we need to have plus size models to show them.
Speaker C:This is what it's going to look like.
Speaker C:Like, that's.
Speaker C:And I'm not saying that's a bad thing or a good thing.
Speaker C:I'm just saying that's what relatability is.
Speaker C:It's like, okay, I don't see any women that look like all of them.
Speaker C:I mean, I even said something in on my story, like, there's so many women influencers that are dark black hair and tattooed and like dark femme fatale and it's so cool and mysterious.
Speaker C:And I was like, and unfortunately, that's just not me.
Speaker C:Like, I would love to be that, but that's just not me.
Speaker C:And I think like, how many of us are that in real life?
Speaker C:Or how many women do dress like that or how many women.
Speaker C:Like, I just feel like you have to be who you want to relate to.
Speaker C:So yes, of course, if you are some guy and you see some dude that's like jacked and tattooed and tan, like, of course I want to be that.
Speaker C:Whatever, great.
Speaker C:But if you, if they all look like that, it almost makes you feel like, okay, well, that I can't do that then because I'm not that.
Speaker C:And it's the same thing with women.
Speaker C:It's like, okay, well I can't do that.
Speaker C:Like, I'm not super tough or like I don't have jacked arms or like I don't want to wear the cargo pants that are uncomfortable.
Speaker C:Like, if you're not giving them something to relate to, they're going to feel almost like they're outside of the clique.
Speaker C:And I don't want that to be what they have in anything.
Speaker A:Yeah, I, I think that it's real life and practical application always went out right.
Speaker A:We don't live on a Pinterest page.
Speaker A:We don't live in a Instagram reel.
Speaker A:We live in real life and showing what things look like in real life is relatable because that's reality and we can try to to appeal with all of the amazing Hollywood effects and that's awesome.
Speaker A:And if that's what you want to do, that's great.
Speaker A:But I think people like seeing themselves reflected in the marketing and I think that's how we reach the next generation and the next group of people.
Speaker B:We are at that point where we are ready to wrap up before we go.
Speaker B:If I can reach this Addie.
Speaker B:We have our gifts for our guests brought to you by Palmetto State Armory and AAC Ammo.
Speaker B:So you'll be Alex will reach out to you to get that all handled.
Speaker B:Go ahead and shout out any socials where people can find you and how they can get involved with your company.
Speaker C:Yeah, you can find my company at Girls just want to have gunsevents.com but Socials is definitely the place to be.
Speaker C:That's where everything is updated and content.
Speaker C:Content is uploaded every day, if not multiple times a day.
Speaker C:So my personal Instagram, Facebook, tick tock, YouTube, it's a D E L I N A period M A E. So it's Adelina May.
Speaker C:And then my business Instagram, that's the word I was looking for is girls just wanna have guns.
Speaker C:So it's Girls just wanna W a N N A have guns and then there's an extra S at the end.
Speaker C:So G U N S. Yes, because we are shadow band.
Speaker C:I have to clarify.
Speaker C:You will not find us if you do not type it in perfectly.
Speaker C:So type it in perfectly.
Speaker C:You'll find us.
Speaker C:My personal account you might be able to find.
Speaker C:But you can find us everywhere and you can find all of our events and online courses and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker B:Awesome.
Speaker B:Well, again, thank you for joining us today, guys.
Speaker B:Make sure to like share and subscribe.
Speaker B:Hit the little bell.
Speaker B:For notifications, go to gunners.org goals to secure your tickets for the Gun Owners Advocacy and leadership summit happening August 1st and 2nd in beautiful Des Moines, Iowa.
Speaker B:Again, that's gun owners.org goals.
Speaker B:Make sure to secure your ticket today and we will see you next time.
