Women buying more guns, taking firearm classes

On a cold and snowy day across the Pikes Peak region, Ava Flanell is getting in some target practice at Whistling Pines Gun Club on Colorado Springs’ east side.

“There’s a lot more females buying guns and taking classes,” Flanell said.

A firearms instructor, Flanell has seen her business soar in recent weeks.

“It’s no longer a male-dominant industry, so it’s OK for them to take up that hobby,” Flanell said. “In addition to that, they want to protect themselves.”

Thursday night at a town hall event at George Mason University in Virginia, President Obama campaigned for his executive action that includes expanded background checks for gun sales online and at private shows.

The president believes the gun lobby and his opponents misunderstand his position.

“We put out a proposal that is common sense, modest, does not solve every problem, is respectful of the Second Amendment. And the way it’s being described is we want to take your guns,” Obama said.

Colorado Springs homeowner Cyndy Kulp supports the president’s proposals, saying it comes down to safety.

“The body count is mounting and it’s not acceptable,” Kulp said. “I do not feel safer having more people carry guns and I feel like the women I know don’t buy into that myth.”

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, the number of women who practice target shooting jumped 36 percent between 2004 and 2014.

A CNN poll shows 6 in 10 Americans favor Obama’s executive action on gun laws.