PRESS: Woman of The Gun Award

It’s SHOT Show week! I love SHOT, not only to share the latest and greatest guns and gear, but also to connect with old friends and the opportunity to meet new ones. No thanks to the pandemic, SHOT Show was canceled last year. Huge hats off to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) for putting together the show for 2022, despite incredible challenges. Yes, many companies and attendees had to pull out and attendance is lower due to COVID and winter weather, but the fact that there’s even an event this year speaks to the dedication and resiliency of our industry.

One of the many highlights at SHOT Show for me is the Women of the Gun Event. Hosted by the NSSF and sponsored by Women’s Outdoor News, it’s a fun meet-and-mingle-style get-together to celebrate the women in the firearms industry. More than an influencer event, the Women of the Gun brings women from all around the industry, from bloggers to Olympians, directors, and executives to those working at local gun shops. It’s amazing… and so inspiring. 

This year, the NSSF and its Project Childsafe program announced the first-ever Woman of the Gun Award. The nominees represent superstar women who strongly support firearm safety and safe storage practices. This year’s nominees…

• Barbara Baird, publisher of Women’s Outdoor News. I’m honored to say that Barb is a longtime, personal friend of mine. She’s not only an articulate gun writer, she also truly celebrates the diverse women of the outdoors.
• Ashley Hlebinsky, President of The Gun Code is a treasure trove of knowledge as a firearms historian. Before you think old-school librarian, let me tell you, this lady has some serious sass and spunk.
• Dana Loesch, gun rights advocate and host of The Dana Show. Dana is an articulate and charismatic communicator who is fiercely dedicated to the Second Amendment and gun rights.
• Kristy Titus, host and producer of Pursue The Wild is a shaker and maker. She’s relentless in sharing her passion for hunting, and shooting.

And… I am so humbled to be included as a nominee among these pioneer women. First, it’s an incredible honor to even be considered for this award in such a field. I respect each of these women for their talents and dedication. To be acknowledged among them is something I am very proud of. When I learned that I was selected as the recipient of this inaugural award, I couldn’t help but feel emotional. As someone who’s spent their life competing on the range, this isn’t a competition, but rather a celebration of what we as women are doing to not just stand out in the firearms industry, but to share the programs and messages that are making a difference in gun owners’ lives.

Sadly, I’m not at SHOT Show this year to be able to accept this honor in person. Many who’ll read this post know that my oldest daughter is battling a rare and serious disease, juvenile dermatomyositis. That means this mama is at home as we navigate her care. A huge thank you to Michelle Cerino for relaying how honored I am and to all the women who continue to inspire me. Thank you to the NSSF, SHOT Show, Project Childsafe, and Women’s Outdoor News for making the event possible, my family, and Smith & Wesson, Federal Premium, Trijicon, Caldwell Shooting Supplies, and Frankford Arsenal for supporting me in my goals to share safe, responsible gun ownership.