Florida in the cross hairs: Number of women with concealed-weapon permits jumps

orlandosentinel.com ^ | 21 April, 2013 | Henry Pierson Curtis and Scott Powers

[marktwain]

Shirley Hedge spent more than 40 years saving lives as a nurse.

Now retired, "Shotgun Shirley" represents the biggest increase among Florida's more than 1 million people who have concealed-weapon permits: women 66 and older.

Hedge, 66, is one of 34,937 women in her age bracket licensed to carry a gun almost anywhere they want in Florida and 35 other states. Their numbers have jumped 619 percent since 2004 — the earliest year with available data — when there were 4,856 women licensed in the same age group, according to state records.

The number of women in the youngest age bracket, 21 to 35, jumped 463 percent to 40,386 -- four times more than men in the same age group.

After the death of her husband three years ago, Hedge began worrying about her safety.

"I didn't realize how vulnerable I was until I started thinking about it. … I was in denial," said Hedge, who five months ago bought her first guns — a .22-caliber target pistol and .380-caliber semi-automatic for self-defense — and received her permit two weeks ago.

Last fall, she joined her Lake County retirement community's gun club for weekly shooting matches across town at The Gun Shop and Gun Range in Leesburg, followed by lunch. Known as the Pennbrooke Pistoleros, every member adopts a nickname; Hedge became "Shotgun Shirley."

[marktwain]

The MSM continue working to convince themselves and everyone else that gun ownership is decreasing in the United States. Hard to do with articles such as this.

Older women becoming proficient pistoleros is not pleasant for gang bangers to contemplate.

[Sacajaweau]

Hey....we all want a pair of 44 mags....

They're real and magnificent.

[FES0844]

I wonder if the permits increased in Boston.

[tgusa]

I expect once a couple of gang bangers have exsanguinated, the word will spread and the crime rate will decline accordingly.

[Puppage]

I wonder if the permits increased in Boston.

They did in Newtown.

On another note, I looked into getting a non resident permit for Massachusetts. They wanted a ridiculous amount of money, and it was good for 1 year. You also have to be fingerprinted.....EVERY year.

[longtermmemmory]

BAD reporting.

there is no permit required to own.

This is ONLY to carry concealed.

This author is atempting to IMPLY there is an ownership of property permit requirement.

[I want the USA back]

Good. I hope they shoot every danmed last rapist and terrorist.

[Venturer]

You also have to be fingerprinted.....EVERY year.

That’s because your fingerprints might change./s/

Nice to hear women can get a Florida carry permit.

I am 70 yo retired firefighter who now volunteers in a Rescue squad in a rural community in Maryland. Veteran, member of American Legion, involved in many community activities, Church goer, active in several community projects, politically active, know my State Senator and representative personally and cannot get a carry permit in Maryland.

Because we have a liberal tax and spend Democrat Governor who likes same sex marriage, a rain tax, almost doubled my gas tax, and thinks he is Presidential material.

God forbid.

[Puppage]

That’s because your fingerprints might change./s/

LOL. Yeah, that was the very first thought to cross my mind, too.

[JoeFromSidney]

I just went through a CCW class this past weekend. About half the class was women, most of whom had never fired a gun before. The instructor had an array of guns for them to try out. The students will be buying some guns now that they know what they want.